Thank You Rowan

It was about ten years ago that I stood a couple of feet in front of Rowan Williams to make this picture. He was about to take his position as Archbishop. He talked back then about the growing 'cult of celebrity' which really resonated with me as a young photographer, and since has helped inform the way I shoot portraits. 

This week I was invited to photograph the unfolding events at Lambeth Palace as Justin Welby is announced as the new Archibishop. I was pipped to the post by someone who was (as I am led to understand) not concerned with upholding industry standard copyright terms (as I am) - for the sake of what? He would have no right to use his own images under those terms, even in his own portfolio. And I really hope he didn't accept an inappropriately low fee either. 

My years working at Magnum photos really taught me a respect for our photographic pioneers who fought hard to ensure the skill and rights of the photographer are protected, which is why we have the laws we do. Perhaps this person has different views, but what he did this week is why it is so difficult to make a living out of photography now. This, and a common misconseption that anyone can take a decent photograph if they have an expensive-enough camera is eroding photography as a profession. 

As I sit at my desk in Bristol this morning rather than run around in Lambeth with the new Archbishop, I am obviously evaluating what I do this for, and how. So here it is:

As a photographer, I believe each of us has precious dignity that a good photographer knows how to capture. This involves having insight, wisdom, respect, kindness - travelling the journey together and caring to look after each other for the long haul. Approaching people with my camera with integrity and respect carries all the way through to how I run my business. I do experience David and Goliath moments in negotiations quite often, but I choose to stand firm and honour both my business and the people I work with. 

I lost this job, but I keep my integrity, which is what I'll still be shooting with in decades to come even if the photography industry has gone to pot.

So, back to Rowan.

Thinking on themes of enduring and wise love of our fellow humans, this man has been a role model for me. I treasure Archbishop Rowan for the careful measure he brought to serious debate, and his ability to thoroughly mix compassion and intelligent reasoning in the tough job of steering fiercely strong heads towards workable positions that involve all of us. He has an immense grasp on the fact that life is never a quick fix, and as a leader—for me at least—models beautiful courage, insisting on a long 'road to Emmaus' journey while we ponder our spiritual lives, rather than the blinding 'road to Damascus' hit that would only satisfy a superficial, short-term desire for good headline solutions.

Every time I look at this picture today I feel really sad that a very great and wise man has resigned his position at the table, and I feel we—as a church, nation, or society—are losing a dignified voice worthy of brave, compassionate comment on social and global issues. Archbishop Rowan stood with integrity for social justice (he was once arrested for demonstrating against nuclear armament by singing Psalms, and remember his criticism of the Coalition "for which no one voted"?). I wish I had listened to him far more than I did.

But I know for certain that I'm glad he did speak the way he did, and I'm thankful to have this photograph. If it should be any Archbishop, I'm glad it is him.

Thank you Rowan.

{Today's Soundtrack: Yo-Yo Ma and crew - Here and Heaven}