Pier Closing Time:
A journey through North Wales
This Newsletter is later than I'd hoped as I've been busy with interviews and research for the sixth issue of Offline Journal to be published in early April. Hopefully the audio interview included here will make up for that.
When we were putting together The Photobook & Wales issue of Offline Journal, myself and Ellie Hopkins who co-edited that issue were aware many books and zines wouldn't make it in due to space limitations but we did try hard to include a mention for new and recent titles. However, a book that slipped past us is the one featured in this interview - PIER CLOSING TIME by photographer Michael Bennett.
Published in November 2020 by Cow On The Roof Press, this book of photographs is described as “a bitter-sweet portrait of seaside resorts in and out of season” shot across north Wales in 1979.
It was a pleasure to speak with Michael and hear the story of his career, the work in north Wales, a resulting exhibition in 1980 that didn’t turn out as planned - and his admirable efforts to share the work as a self-published photobook forty years later. My thanks to Martin Parr for introducing us.
I hope you enjoy listening.
Copies of the book and a selection of high quality prints can be ordered direct from Michael’s website www.cowontheroofpress.com
All images © Michael Bennett. Used here with permission.
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This (online) Offline Journal Newsletter is published monthly to offer the wider photography community an opportunity to discuss photography in, from and of Wales. Back issues of and Subscriptions to the limited edition Offline Journal in print (published every April & October) with special print supplements are available via www.offline.wales
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#20 - Offline Journal Newsletter