- Stephens Orr
J. Stephens Orr was a 20th century Scottish
Glasgow photographer with an interest in people and motor cars. Practicing between1930 and1970 in Glasgow's Langside and later at No. 4 Somerset Place, Charing Cross, he became known for his portraits of society figures in magazines such as "Scottish Field ". He worked in an age when Scottish culture was highly regarded, and people of all classes saw nothing wrong with "The White Heather Club " (a 1960s Scottish TV show, viewed now as hopelesslykitsch , but still part of the Scottish psyche).His usual subjects were judges posing in full
regalia ,antidisestablishmentarianism lawyers, Duchesses and controversialmusic hall characters. Orr also photographed some internationally famous celebrities and captains ofindustry , all visitors to Glasgow. Here is a small selection of personalities that he photographed:*
Paul Robeson — U.S. vocalist and black activist
* DameMarie Rambert — Polish dancer and choreographer; founder of Ballet Rambert
*Marc Chagall — Jewish painter
*Richard Burton — Welsh actor
*Stanley Baxter — Scottish comedian
*Jacques Tati — French film maker
*Paul Tortelier — French Catholic-Jewishcellist
* David Brown,Aston Martin cars
*William Lyons , Jaguar, Austin cars
*Walter Owen Bentley , Rolls Royce/Bentley cars
*Nicholas Fairbairn — Scottish lawyer and British politicianOrr wore a distinctive
kilt and photographed in a portrait style similar toYousuf Karsh . He recorded the last glimmers of a confident Scottish society in flamboyant style. His later life was spent with his wife, Jenny, on the Scottish Clyde coast island ofCumbrae .References
* [http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_p/1_photographers_orr.htm] History of Photography in Edinburgh
External links
* [http://www.scottishfield.co.uk/] Scottish Field Magazine
* [http://special.st-andrews.ac.uk/saspecial/index.php?a=collections&s=item&key=C&pg=5] Robert M. Adam (contemporary)
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