In The Limelight, a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

If asked the vast majority of the people in the UK wouldn't have the faintest idea who the Chief Executive of the English Arts Council is (or Arts Council England as it's better known).

This is an organisation that has a major impact on our country in so many ways and which people tend to take for granted ......and for which the whole story is seldom told.....the media likes stardom and controversy a little more than the humdrum human interest stories inevitably - but this organisation funds a thousand others on a regular basis to make some real differences in peoples lives......and funds thousands more to run particular projects, many thousands of artists to produce work and is a significant influence in many other policy areas..... and of course the National Lottery.............but the man at the helm is a mystery to most.

In my bumbling way the first time I met him we didn't get past the entrance door for the whole visit because I was so excited to tell him what we were doing I forgot all the pleasantries........the second time I spilt a cup of coffee over him......graciously dealt with on his part........

I find that he comes from the more humble origins of our sector of the arts........a background in community and participatory arts......someone who understands the importance of fostering and developing participation at a grass roots level, in education and through supporting people who make it their business to engage others in creative activity. I've got a lot of time for him. He's fought hard to bring resources into the creative life of this country........with the Olympics coming to the UK in 2012 he's going to have to fight a lot harder.......the sports lobby is already leaching away at the arts spend.....or so the word is on the street.

So for today Peter Hewitt remains in the TE shadows......is he a giant of a man.......maybe that depends on how we define giants.........

delnaja, Elaine_Blath, pgorod, Cretense, starbug, dougie, designsoul, AnimeshRay, luisafonso has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

delnaja (2056) 2007-02-02 4:28

very interesting image. The "double" silhouette of the man is great. Love the tones also.
Pleasant to look at : )

jinju (14265) 2007-02-02 4:30

Very nice blending of shadows here Kev, its actually quite Sasaesquem I tghink she might be called the queen of shadows and reflections of TE and youve got both here. Making a move for the king title? I do see your newly found b/w purpose here Kev, I think too you are choosing the right compositions to go with b/w, this one is simple and highly graphic.

RGatward (20108) 2007-02-02 4:36

Still having fun with relfections I see. Another effective result, and amsuing note, so reminiscent of my own embarassing incidents.

ninaL (21348) 2007-02-02 4:41

Hi, Kev.
An intresting one.
Double...(or triple)? ...man ;).
Good, emotional effect.
I like it.
Best regards. Grazyna.

Elaine_Blath (8471) 2007-02-02 4:49

Hi Kev,

this photo of yours immediately caught my eye...such a special atmosphere, almost surreal with a lot of hidden stories behind it...fantastic shot, I have to say...

Take care, Ivana

suhan (3552) 2007-02-02 4:58

very very interesting photo. incredible!
reflection(s) is great.
very well done
tfs
merve-süleyman

pgorod (1019) 2007-02-02 5:21

When you sketch the biography of a man, we get only glimpses of what he is and imagine the rest. The image here is exactly like that, I think it goes really very well with the note... just a fuzzy image with some beauty in it.

nicoz (1979) 2007-02-02 5:21

Hi Kev,
Mr Herwitt would be happy to read such a tribute! Your note works well with your photo as well! The mistery of the silhouette and the shadow, the stand and microphone, no audiance...
Very clever phot I think!
Well done!
Nicolas

Cretense (68709) 2007-02-02 5:56

Hi Kev!

Amazing picture! Excellent play of reflections, light and shadows. You have multiplied reality. Congratulations!

Best regards,
Hercules

starbug (6924) 2007-02-02 6:57

hi Kev, i love how the shadow/ reflection overlap, we actually have a three-dimensional character here, each with a different intensity...nice to think this might correspond to different personas in one body...a professional, a private aquaintance, a ...? fantastic effect, and very interesing note.
best regards
A.

dougie (2523) 2007-02-02 7:04

Hi,
Very interesting shot, shows much lateral thinking - sometimes we are remembered by the shadows we cast! Thanks.
Dougie.

designsoul (17843) 2007-02-02 9:07

Hello dear Kev, absolutely splendid, so layered and sensitive at the same time, it goes WAY beyond an ordinary shadow shot (such as the one I posted just last night). I love the intensely graphic approach in the shot, and that it clearly expresses your sentiment of Peter Hewitt remaining in the shadows just adds another level of depth to it. Superb. I am in awe, Kev. You have been posting stronger and stronger shots, dear friend.
sasa

AnimeshRay (9089) 2007-02-02 13:45

Love your description of your meeting this man, and your respect for him. You have captured that mood well in your photo...a depiction of solidity and resolve.

SamB (1948) 2007-02-02 23:14

Hello, Kev--
Great tribute here, and interesting composition, with shadow and reflection overlapping and complementing each other well. The form really follows the function nicely, also, serving to depict him "in the shadows", as you said.
Thanks!
sam

Furachan (0) 2007-02-03 6:29

What a subtle and thereby infinitely mnore revealing portrait. You've managed something tremedously exciting here - you've represented this arts Cuncil chap in a way that he is unrecognizable yet...there somehow and all clothed in this arty spider's web of lines and reflectins.
BRILLIANT!
bw,
Francis

michiels (4170) 2007-02-03 8:32

hi Kev,

Very interesting photo. This view reminds me at the moment when you are gazing and dreaming and at a moment you notice that your vision is blurry and you see double subjects . Difficult to explain in another language ;)
I like the blueish colour and the composition. Great photo !
greetings, inn

vapours (8264) 2007-02-03 12:37

I really enjoy this type of modern shadows/reflection genre of photography. I do like the way you have kept him anonymous, which connects us to the note of his unfamiliarity.

luisafonso (862) 2007-02-05 4:02

Brilliant! And after reading your note it evens makes more sense... A man in front of the giant or the giant behind the man... One can really feel the gratitude you owe to this man. It's good to know that you feel that way towards such an institution. Back to the photo; it's very very good. I just have some doubts about the color. I don't like this blue particularly, I think it's a bit emotion deprived, but I won't hold it against you. It's just my thing and a very small detail. What matters here is your game of shadows, very sensitive, very clever. It tells a whole story. A giant indeed!

brevbrev14 (140) 2007-02-05 8:47

Hi KEv, great great image!
i lpve this composition and the game of shadows!
a great high graphic work!
I like a lot the fantastic graphic impact of your latest works!:)
ciao!
Valeria

dolin (7369) 2007-02-05 14:00

Hi Kev.
Excedllent effect, I really like the result, and the colors tones are nice.
No more comments...
Fred