As seen through my lens: Patrick Lichfield

Recently I was lucky enough to be visiting Shugborough while Lord Lichfields private apartments were open to the public. Lichfield had not really been on my list of photographers to research but when I started looking at his work I revised my list. I prefer his natural shots but appreciate the work involved in setting up the portrait shots he took. Maybe this is because I am now looking at photographs in a different way from doing this course?

Lichfield - "Remember that the person you are photographing is 50% of the portrait and you are the other 50%"

There were many of his pictures on display and a lot of them had never been published. I saw two that particularly caught my eye. One was taken at the front of Shugborough by the pillars at the main entrance. It was taken in black and white and the only colour was the red balloons that a young girl was holding. It worked so well with the tall straight pillars and the shape of the balloons drew the eye into the shot.
The second one was taken in colour of the Walton sextuplets. They were all young toddlers and were outside. Each one was busy doing something, either climbing, swinging, moving around a rope that was used to corden off a pathway. The shot captured each child's movements brilliantly. These shots have never been published. I would recommend that its worth a visit to Shugborough to see Lichfields private collection.

Patrick Lichfield (aka The fifth Earl of Lichfield) was a cousin of the Queen and born with a silver spoon in his mouth which was in the form of a vast country estate - namely Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire While many of us would have thought that this would have opened many door for him it actually caused him far more problems as he wasn't taken seriously as a photographer for much of his career and had to work extremely hard to achieve his reputation,

He was given a camera by his mother when he was eight years old. When he went to Harrow, he took photographs of his class mates when they left college and learnt that he could sell them for 4p each while the school shop sold them for 6p each. After leaving the Grenadier Guards he got a job as a photographer assistant and built up his own reputation. His family thought he was playing at being a photographer so they cut off all his personal allowances until he 'came to his senses' - He went on to find worldwide fame for his 'hobby'.
His first commission was in 1964 and from then on his reputation grew. A lot of his shots were set up and posed by famous people, Britt Ekland, Joanne Lumley, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Jacqueline Bisset and also with his connections there was royalty including the Queen and the late Princess of Wales.

Britt Ekland - taken in the grounds of Shugborough in 1970.
Lichfield was quoted saying "You need the model as much as he or she needs you. If they don't want to help you, it will be a very dull picture."

This shot uses the rule of thirds very well. The branch above the models head helps frame her and the tonal range is used to good effect. I like the soft feel to this picture.

Jacqueline Bisset - Taken at Wilton Place, London in 1964

I like the perspective of the wall on this photo as well as the tones. The shape and lines of the bricks make the picture feel solid while the shape and form of the model softens it.

Princess Diana - 1993

One of the most photographed women in the world. Lichfield has captured at first glance, a relaxed informal pose but when you look closely you can see sadness reflected in her eyes.

In 1983 he was commissioned to take the photographs for the Unipart Calender which he went on to do for 17 years.

The main focal point is the monument that the model is leaning on and the image has been cleverly framed by the edge of two pillars just out of the shot. I like the use of the black and white tones and just the small amount of colour.

A picture taken for one of the Unipart Calendars. I think this shot captures Lichfields belief of

"A photograph is two people - one the subject, one the photographer. They must get on."

I believe that this quote sums up this photograph.

As well as taking the set, staged photographs , Lichfield also took pictures 'in the moment'.

The Hon Nicholas and Lady Miranda Beatty, Chicheley Hall, Bucks, taken in 1966.

I love the movement that is captured in this composition. The scale of the mower against thechildren making them look quite small and the use of the tree used as a background. The tonal shades work very well.

The Earl of Snowdonia. Watersking in Sardinia in 1969

This photo has good perspective with the use of the mountains in the background and the ski rope coming out of the foreground. There is a lot of movement captured and the skier stands out which draws your eye to him as the focal point.

Rock musician Mick Jagger and Nicaraguan Bianca Perez Morena de Marcias just after their wedding in St Tropez, France on 12 May 1971

This is one of Lichfields more famous photographs. Besides it being a photo of two very famous people - Mick and Bianca Jagger - from a photographic angle it has great use of tone, movement, texture, shape and form. A fantastic composition.

Britannia fools the waves ... Queen Elizabeth II larking on the royal yacht in 1971.

There are very few informal photographs Queen Elizabeth and Lichfield was in a very privileged position to be able to capture this shot. An almost bland background frames The Queen to make her the focal point.

Her Majesty the Queen and Prince Phillip - Offical portrait for the Golden Jubilee in 2002

When shooting his portrait of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh for the Golden Jubilee, Lord Lichfield was told by Buckingham Palace he could have as much time as he wanted to "recce" the Palace.
But he was warned the Queen "would walk into the room at 6.25 and walk out again at 6.30" giving him less than four minutes to capture the perfect portrait.
Lichfield was known for getting his photograph in almost one shot - given that he had 5 minutes from start to finish it was a good job!

Below are a few images that I took while visiting his private apartments.