18percent April. 2016 | Page 26

Photographers:

Ramsgate 1967. Tony Ray Jones.

Tony Ray Jones (1941 – 1972)

© National Media Museum. Science and Society Picture Library

Although relatively unknown and
unpublished before his untimely death in
1972, British photographer Tony Ray
Jones left a body of work which has
gradually become more popular and
influential in the succeeding years. He
studied Graphic Design at the London
College of Printing, and was encouraged
by Bill Brandt during this time. Following
graduation he won a scholarship to study
in the U.S.A. at Yale University, where he
was influenced by notable American
photographer and designer Alexey
Brodovitch and later studying at the
Design Laboratory in New York before
becoming a freelance photographer in
1964. While in New York he became
acquainted with Gary Winogrand and Joel
Meyerowitz with whom he used to shoot

street parades. In the words of
Meyerowitz,
‘We used these parades as a laboratory.
We learned how to shape pictures that
were not about an event but about an
observation.’
After this excellent grounding he returned
home to London in 1966 with, in his own
words, ‘a foreigner’s outlook as well as
that of a native.’ This perspective led him
to examine the class structure, customs and
eccentricities of the English at leisure and
ultimately led to the body of work for
which he is remembered and which is best
represented by the ‘Only in England’
exhibition. Martin Parr, who admits to
being greatly influenced by Tony Ray
Jones, curated the exhibition.