Paul Berriff

Artistic background

I began taking photographs at the age of twelve. Five years later my career started as a photographer on the Yorkshire Evening Post in Leeds. Around the same time, in 1963, the pop scene emerged. Being a teenager this was great news. I decided to use this new phenomenon to produce a photographic essay using these pop artists as a subject to improve my photographic skills. I already had good contacts with the theatre managers who gave me free access to all areas of the theatres when these pop groups appeared. So, in my own time I would go from dressing room to dressing room, and on stage, to photograph these up and coming stars using my Rolleiflex medium format film camera and my Nikon F 35mm camera. I photographed The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Marianne Faithfull, The Hollies, The Searchers, Roy Orbison, Gerry Marsden, Adam Faith and many many more. I met Pink Floyd at a gig in Leeds University and Roger Waters invited myself and a reporter to join them in a recording session at Abbey Road Studios in London during their recording of 'Scarecrow' which, a few weeks later appeared on their first album 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn'.
I use Kodak Tri-x monochrome negative film to capture my images. This film stock is ideal especially when working in low light conditions. I like using available light so this film was ideal for capturing the rock groups in relaxed situations without using a flash gun. I have a collection of around 40 great images of these pop and rock groups who all became rock legends. My photographs have been exhibited around the world in key venues such as Carnegie Hall New York, San Francisco Art Exchange, Menier Gallery London, Harvey Nichols Dubai, Prague Museum of Music, Memphis Rock Museum and Salts Mill Bradford. These rare limited edition images have been purchased by museums, leading rock stars and collectors worldwide including the Lennon family. I am still photographing people and places using the film cameras I used back in the 60s. These unique images will make outstanding displays for art designers, commercial offices and of course on the wall at home. As well as a photographer I am also a TV documentary filmmaker. I have been awarded two BAFTA's for Best Documentary and nominated for a BAFTA for my cinematography. In the Queen's 90th Birthday honours I was awarded an OBE.