Simon Cliffe from the BAPLA Academy meets with David Redfern to discuss his life and works. We discover the memories behind the pictures and the kit that was used to create his iconic images.

David Redfern’s career began in the twilight jazz clubs of 1960’s London. He risked his one and only camera amongst the jiving teenage crowds. The British Trad boom was under way. His first published photos featured Kenny Ball, Chris Barber, George Melly, and the old Marquee Club. David began photographing TV Shows like ‘Ready Steady Go’ and ‘Thank Your Lucky Stars’ which were shot during the day. Here he made many of his now classic shots of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Dusty Springfield.

Nights were spent at the 100 Club, Ronnie Scott or the Marquee, where he captured on film all the jazz greats from Miles Davis to Ella Fitzgerald. These pictures were to contribute to what is now the most comprehensive jazz collection in Europe. To break into the commercial world by chasing the big American names, David became a regular visitor to the Jazz festivals in Newport, Antibes and Montreux, and the big rock festivals, photographing such greats as Hendrix and Dylan.

The BAPLA Academy is brought to you by the industry that knows photography and knows how to sell photographs. BAPLA (The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies) is a trade association that represents the interests of hundreds of businesses. For Academy members, we bring the knowledge and experience of that industry directly to you. Through our news, tweets, Facebook feeds and podcasts we paint a picture of the commercial photography world, bring entertainment and offer you education on things like protecting your work from infringement and tips on monetising your pictures.

Our portfolio reviews expose you to the very best picture editors in the business who offers cutting edge commercial feedback, tips on trends and advice on your work. Our seminars expose you to leading experts offering a wealth of experience, learning opportunities and debate. And our store gives you a place to show off your work and even pick up some print sales. As the Academy grows, so will the services we offer. We plan to add further discounts, workshops, exhibitions and bigger competitions. So if you love photography – join today!