Portrait Of A Friend, Stanley Rawlings
Portrait of a friend, Stanley Rawlings, Derbyshire, England 1982. I recently came across this image that I made of my old friend. In the mid to late seventies this man taught me the techniques of black and white photography. He and I built a darkroom in his basement’s former coal cellar. I spent many an evening down there developing negatives and making prints, often ending the night drinking Stan’s homemade elderberry, nettle, or dandelion wine. I still refer to it as “Chateau Stanley.” Stan taught me how to see, and how to apply my vision to photography. Stanley drove a twin carb, Triumph Dolomite, far too much horse power for him. That said, he piloted us on many occasions, around the Yorkshire Dales, the moors, the coast and beyond. At the time I was using a Russian made Zorki camera. Shortly after that I graduated to a Canon AT1. This portrait of Stan was made on a pre WWll Rollei, Twin Lens Reflex, that spent more time in the repair shop than it did making images. I’m glad I got to use it on this photo of Stan. He’d be proud, as I am of him. Thanks for looking. G
