Barbara Chandler to Hold New Exhibition

Local photographer helped by Snappy Snaps to present 'The Joy of Design'

Chiswick photographer and journalist Barbara Chandler (whose images have sold worldwide) is showing around 60 photographs of international designers at designjunction, a huge design show in the West End during September's London Design Festival. Barbara, who is also design writer for Homes & Property at the London Evening Standard, has photographed such national names as Sir Terence Conran and Sir Paul Smith, and the maverick French designer Philippe Starck, at the numerous design events she has been to in the last ten years. Also captured are Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the Olympic Cauldron, and the designers of the Olympic Torch, Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby.

The photographs at Joy of Design, a mix of colour and black-and-white, show designers passionately involved, happy and engaged in their work, expressing their personalities, not posed in a studio but usually in some way "on the job." Hence the title. Says Barbara Chandler: "I often had only a few moments with a designer usually in very poor lighting conditions, and the challenge was to make the very most of every opportunity, whether at a festival, design event, trade show, or during a presentation."

Working with Barbara Chandler on her show is Snappy Snaps Chiswick (SSC) whose shop/studio on the corner of Turnham Green Terrace has printed photographs for Barbara's last three exhibitions, including her show Stars at the Habitat Gallery on the King's Road last Christmas. But this show is the biggest yet, with over 18,000 visitors expected (based on last year's figures). "I have come to rely heavily on SCC expertise," says Barbara. "In my long exhibiting experience, they offer a unique service. They look at every single image individually, and we have long sessions poring over the screen – which is the way it's done these days." SSC also help to plan show layouts and have taken up the framing, now the framer on the High Road next door has closed down. But Barbara now prefers to show her photographs unframed "for a more dynamic effect", mounted onto a thin blockboard with veneered edges, and heat-sealed.

"We love working with Barbara," says SSC director John Fitzgerald. "She has a unique vision and style."

Indeed Snappy Snaps now work with a number of local artists and photographers on high-quality exhibition prints. Each image is individually discussed and adjusted before printing goes ahead, making this is an exceptional service. Older photographs are of course on negatives, and SSC have a high-quality scanning service to digitalise such images. They also have their own studio, with a local fan base for family portraits.

Barbara's book Love London was published two years ago, and features several pictures of Chiswick. Barbara has also created a Love London range of textiles which sell at John Lewis. A best seller here is a teatowel and a cushion of a red phone box by Turnham Green church with Ring Ring graffiti.

"I've lived in and around Chiswick and Acton for about 35 years," says Barbara, who is self-taught, with a big fan-base for her handmade photo-cards. Her current home is a modern apartment overlooking the High Road. "I buy all my cameras and lens at Chiswick Cameras in Acton Lane, and have done all my photographic life. I love photographing on the street and by the river, in Gunnersbury Triangle and in Chiswick Business Park. Not to mention Chiswick House, oh, and so much more."

August 30, 2013