Photograph by George Rodger, copyright Magnum Photos, courtesy of Diemar/Noble Photography
One of the 20th century's most important and constantly on-the-go photojournalists, George Rodger set a tone and standard for reportage photography that still holds relevance in today's digital age. The founder of Magnum (and we do so love Magnum photography here at Londonist HQ), Rodger traversed the world - with a particularly prolific stint in Sub-Saharan Africa - capturing iconic images that simply must be viewed by anyone with an interest in photojournalism and its history, adventure travel, the roots of today's geopolitical landscape and plenty more topics of timely interest. Luckily Diemar Noble Photography is hosting a retrospective of his works at their 66/67 Wells Street gallery until the 16th of January.
Of another era, when itineraries were banged out on typewriters or hand drawn with red grease pins on maps and a journo's notes were pencilled in gorgeous Hermes notepads, The Most Travelled Correspondent: A Retrospective of George Rodger gives a cool Indiana Jones-y chance to see the world as it once was through the eyes of a masterful photographer. The exhibition is guaranteed to amaze and certain to provoke quality conversations. What's most interesting about this show, from a London-centric perspective anyway, are Rodger's shots taken in London during the Blitz. He captured British stiff-upper-lip resolve as wholly as perhaps any war correspondent could (Rodger worked for Life Magazine during the Second World War). An accompanying book, George Rodger One The Road 1940 - 1949 is available at the gallery and, as a diary of the late British photographer, provides great insight to the mind of this self-described "photographer and adventurer.“
For details and to see more phenomenal images from this show at www.diemarnoblephotography.com.
