Alan Horne, by Harry Papadopoulos.

A retrospective exhibition of the work of the photographer, Harry Papadopoulos, has just opened in Glasgow. Stephen McRobbie tells us more:

I’m looking forward to the Harry Papadopoulos retrospective which opens this Saturday in Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow.

These days Harry is probably best known for his iconic Orange Juice photographs and in my mind I always associated him with Postcard and the moment that Glasgow transformed itself from punk straggler into something fantastic and new. Harry’s remit was way wider and his ‘guerilla lensmanship’ extended to Blondie, Bowie, Joy Division, The Birthday Party, The Cramps, Suicide, Lizzy Mercier Descloux as well as Aztec Camera, Josef K, The Bluebells (Ken McCluskey is co-curator), Strawberry Switchblade and early Pastels.

Edwyn Collins by Harry Papadopoulos.

Although Harry worked between Glasgow and London, it’s the Glasgow shots and faces which resonate strongest. The comparative toughness of late 1970s, early 1980s Glasgow backdropping some fairly wild, improvised styles in the days before you could go to Urban Outfitters to buy your look. The faces look lively, hopeful and alert – like you never knew when you’d have to make a run for it. Harry’s photos are magical and technically fantastic, he was a photographer that these spectacular times deserved.

What Presence! The Rock Photography Of Harry Papadopoulos
17th December 2011 -25th February 2012
Street Level Photoworks, Trongate 103, Glasgow G1 5HD

streetlevelphotoworks.org