The History Hour

The history of photography


Listen Later

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

The expert guest is Dr Mirjam Brusius, a research fellow in colonial and global history at the German Historical Institute.

First, we hear about Martín Chambi - Peru's pioneering documentary photographer.

Then Amaize Ojeikere talks about his father, JD 'Okhai’ Ojeikere, who created an iconic collection revealing the elaborate ways African women styled their hair.

Plus, the story of Magnum Photos – the picture agency started up by World War Two photographers.

And, Vivian Maier, the nanny who - since her death - has been hailed as one of the best street photographers of the 20th century.

Finally, the mystery behind Lunch Atop a Skyscraper – the famous photograph showing 11 ironworkers eating lunch nearly 70 storeys high.

Contributors:

Roberto Chambi – grandson of photographer Martín Chambi

Dr Mirjam Brusius - research fellow in colonial and global history at the German Historical Institute
Amaize Ojeikere – son of photographer JD 'Okhai’ Ojeikere
Christine Roussel – Rockefeller Center archivist
Jinx Rodger - widow of George Rodger, one of the founders of Magnum Photos
Inge Bondi - Magnum Photos employee

This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.

(Photo: Two books of photographs in the exhibition 'Martin Chambi and his contemporaries’. Credit: Getty Images)

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The History HourBy BBC World Service

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

558 ratings


More shows like The History Hour

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,913 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

376 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,067 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,576 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,808 Listeners

HistoryExtra podcast by Immediate

HistoryExtra podcast

3,196 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

977 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,910 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,729 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,018 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,952 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

580 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,791 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

965 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

410 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

746 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

841 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

363 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

471 Listeners

Death in Ice Valley by BBC World Service

Death in Ice Valley

2,734 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,245 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

3,358 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,010 Listeners