Capturing Childhood: A Coventry Photographer’s Post-WW2 Lens on City Life

A photographer noted for having “inspired generations” has been commemorated posthumously for his early contributions in the city of his origin.

Born in Coventry in 1936, a large portion of John Blakemore’s foundational work focused there after World War Two concluded.

His captures of the Hillfields neighborhood in the city, where he spent his childhood, were among his initial projects as a photographer.

He took these images right after completing his National Service in Libya, where he first cultivated his passion for photography.

During that era in Coventry, which had suffered significant damage due to the Blitz, the region was undergoing redevelopment, replacing some of its Victorian terraces with high-rise buildings.

Numerous photographs depicted the local inhabitants, especially children.

Dr. Ben Kyneswood, an associate professor of digital heritage and culture at Coventry University, utilized the photographs for an exhibition titled Imagine Hillfields.

“Hillfields in 1964 largely resembled its state post the 1940 bombings,” he remarked.

“Prolonged redevelopment initiatives by the council concentrating on the city center resulted in residents living in adverse conditions.

“Children played in bombed-out houses on abandoned land for over 25 years following the war.”

Referring to a more recent exhibition held in 2015, he stated: “Our goal was to portray Hillfields as a vibrant and fascinating locale and to confront some of the biases.”

The photographer shared several of his images for Coventrians to display on the University’s Coventry Digital website.

M. Blakemore est décédé le 14 janvier après une courte maladie à l’âge de 88 ans.

Décrit par le Centre de la photographie britannique comme “l’un des photographes de paysage et de nature les plus éminents au monde”, après sa mort, la Royal Photographic Society a salué son œuvre comme “belle, méticuleusement exécutée et réfléchie”.

S’exprimant sur le photographe décédé, Dr Kyneswood, directeur de Coventry Digital, a déclaré : “Il a été le meilleur imprimeur au Royaume-Uni pendant de nombreuses années et a publié des livres sur comment photographier et imprimer comme lui.

“Ses paysages et ses photographies de tulipes sont très recherchés.

“Dans ses dernières années, il s’est turned vers la reliure, créant de petits livres faits à la main qui étaient également très recherchés.”