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Christopher
John Ball is a widely exhibited, London based, Fine arts photographer
and lecturer. Chris studied at the famous University of Derby, under the
guidance of world renowned fine art photographers John Blakemore,
Richard Sadler and Olivier Richon. Here he gained a BA(Hons), in
Photographic Studies.
He
was later awarded an MA, in Cultural Studies from Thames Valley
University. His work is housed many public and private collections and
is displayed within the pages of several major international online
galleries.
He
was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, within the United Kingdom, in 1960
and has been working professionally for almost 25 years and, whilst his
photography covers many genre, he now specialises mainly in fine art
erotic imagery. Though he has used professional models he prefers to use
amateur, or aspiring, models that he finds on his travels around London
or who approach him after being recommended by models he has previously
worked with.
Rarely
working in colour, these images are produced using traditional
monochromatic techniques, often selenium and/or gold toned for both
archival and aesthetic reasons, and alternative processes such as
cyanotypes and gum bichromate's. Producing images in series and Chris
often displays the resultant photographs in hand made book form.
Examples can be found within this site.
During
the 1980's Chris helped set up Action Factory Community Arts, an
organisation devoted to promoting the arts within the community of
Lancashire, and empowering disadvantaged members of that community with
the skills to produce art in various mediums and exhibit their work to a
wider audience. In the mid 80's Chris produced a major exhibition based
upon his home town, entitled ' Blackburn - a town and its people'. This
was widely exhibited, funding being provided by The Arts Council and
Blackburn Borough Council.
As
a lecturer Chris is a photographic evangelist, believing it to be the
most democratic of artforms. He encourages students to explore an
emotional/subjective response to the medium and in so doing bring
something of themselves to the images they produce, believing that every
photographic image should contain the " signature " of the
author.
Ever
keen to promote and encourage the use of photography as a creative
medium, Chris posts many of the formulae and techniques he uses within
the pages of his website.
In
addition to photographic work Chris also works in film and theatre. He
has recently completed a play ' Throwing Stones', co-written with Dean
Sipling. They are now at work on another piece to be entitled ' An
English Dead ' .
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