Ben Harman, Director of Stills: Centre for Photography in Edinburgh, speaks to Simon Murphy.

Simon Murphy is a photographer based in Glasgow. His career has enabled him to travel extensively shooting human interest stories in countries such as Bangladesh, The Democratic republic of Congo, Rwanda and Cambodia. His portraiture subjects range from individuals such as the Dalai Lama to musicians and actors including Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie and John Hurt. Murphy's ongoing project, Govanhill, is a celebration of people and community but photographed with a raw reality. A portrait of circumstance, hope and aspiration:

“The project is about community and diversity. Govanhill is not without it’s problems but it’s also a place where people come together and share culture and experience. It’s an exciting place that I love and where I have many connections.” 

To date, the images from Govanhill have only been available through a limited edition newspaper that Simon publishes and distributes free around the shops and café’s in the area:

“The idea is that to get hold of a newspaper, people have to come in to Govanhill and find one. I post clues on my Instagram page. While searching for a newspaper the individual might buy a coffee or a record, contributing a little to the local economy, or perhaps change pre conceived ideas that have been formed due to negative publicity.”

In describing his work, Murphy has said:

"My images have always been about celebrating diversity and seeing beauty in our differences. Sometimes it's important to ask yourself difficult questions and Photography has the power to trigger thoughts in people's minds that can plant the seeds for change"

For more information:

www.simonmurphyphotographer.com

@smurph77 (Instagram)

Simon's recommendations included:

Podcasts:

United Nations of Photography (see unitednationsofphotography.com)

Photographic Memory with GarçonJon

Books on:

Albert Watson

Joel Meyerowitz

See/Saw: Looking at Photographs by Geoff Dyer. Published by Canongate Books in 2021