ALLAN TITMUSS

Why do I take pictures?

Well ...

click on the images to enlarge

Bristol, a Friday night. I was there for a weekend birthday party, and briefly left alone in the house with two sleeping infants while the other grown-ups were out buying booze. The little boy woke up crying - rigid against the bed-head when I went to see if I could help, tears rolling down his face. 'What happened Finzi - did you have a bad dream?' Backing up still harder, his heels digging into the mattress, 'You hit me' he said. Uh oh. I'd never even met him or his family before, and you could say I was anxious. Quietly desperate, I reached for the story book on his bedside table and began reading to him, 'Once upon a time ...', and his body softened and the tears stopped, he slid back down under the covers, and before the others came back, he was asleep again.

Jeff 'Tain' Watts

John Patitucci

Ron Carter

McCoy Tyner

Joey Calderazzo

Tim Garland

Don Byron

Whatever I was going to do for a living, I'd long thought it would be something with words - an actor or writer or broadcaster, or maybe teach in a university English department. I'd already ruled out politics and music - I'd spent too much time on them at school. So after abandoning a chemistry degree in London and completing an English BA Hons in Newcastle, I began a PhD on London's Royal Court Theatre. I was sort of groping my way towards repeating the Finzi experience I think - of finding work that involved saying things well - 'What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed', of storytelling.

Ahmad Jamal

Billy Hart

Billy Cobham

Joe Lovano

Bill Frisell

Branford Marsalis

Bobby McFerrin

Brad Mehldau

A string of happy accidents and a few well-chosen fibs later, and I'm at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London one Saturday night, the last show of a week's residence by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, who I'd been hanging out with and photographing all week. I'd been taking pictures for a few months by then, but not thinking of myself as a photographer. Having got to know their work well, it seemed fair to show them mine, and that night I took my portfolio. Playing all finished and most of the audience gone, they put the piano lid down, spread the portfolio on top, and gathered round. And suddenly everything went quiet, Finzi-like, as they turned the pages. 'Hey man, these are baaaaaaaaaad - when you coming to New York?'

Danilo Perez, Photography by ALLAN TITMUSS

Cassandra Wilson

Chick Corea

Danilo Perez

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Dave Holland

Esbjsrn Svensson

Enrico Rava

Django Bates

Herbie Hancock

And several things happened at once. I realised I could tell a story in pictures, not just in words. And I realised musicians could know and like my work in the way I knew theirs. And I started to think of myself, cautiously at least, as a photographer.

Gwyneth Herbert

Gerard Presencer

Jamie Cullum

John Abercrombie

Jack De Johnette

Joshua Redman

Working closely as I do with makers - with musicians and dancers and actors and writers and directors - recalls a childhood experience of my own, of hanging out in the kitchen when my mother was baking, me stealing pastry scraps to make biscuits.

Jane Monheit

Kurt Elling, Photography by ALLAN TITMUSS

John Taylor

Kurt Elling

Jason Moran

It's real riches to be allowed so close, to be part of the making process in the rehearsal room or recording studio. Back in the kitchen - waiting for scraps.

Allan Titmuss

Michael Brecker

Lizz Wright

click on the images to enlarge

Wynton Marsalis

Kenny Wheeler

Oscar Peterson

When he's not working with jazz musicians, Allan Titmuss photographs all other arts subjects.

Altynai Asylmuratova

Sir Peter Hall

Michael Clark

Walter Matthau

John Updike

	This site contains images that are protected by copyright.? Please note that our terms and conditions apply to all users of our website.? Unauthorised usage of any images will incur substantial charges.? All Rights Reserved. webmaster ? 2008 ARENAPAL Photo Archive