Patrick Litchfield - 11th November 2005.

Doug · 11-11-2005, 19:41

This iconic Gentleman will be missed deeply by those who knew him and his work. This man was a guide, mentor and inspiration to generations of would be Photographers. Age 66, this is no age for someone who had give so much to die. God rest your soul and may journey home be a pleasant and uplifting one.

cashman · 11-11-2005, 20:00

he certainly made it in a difficult field,and being one of them was no help to him,R.I.P.(didn't realise he was FAMILY/FRIENDS) doug lol

Margaret Pilkington · 11-11-2005, 22:09

He was a great photographer.....I liked his work. Sad that he has gone.
Rest in Peace Patrick Lichfield.

katex · 11-11-2005, 22:24

Yeh, and very fanciable too.

garinda · 12-11-2005, 00:02

I'm so not being horrid, it's sad, but it didn't harm his career being cousin to the Queen.

grannyclaret · 12-11-2005, 00:09

he was a very nice person...

garinda · 12-11-2005, 00:20

I think he was a good photographer. I loved the one he did for the Queen Mother's 80th birthday, of her and the Queen and Princess Margaret, all in blue silk.

Doug · 12-11-2005, 00:25

Horrid or not you well wide of the mark. Litchfield had established himself as a world class photographer in the 60s at a time people didn’t build careers on kinship, blood or otherwise. Litchfield Started his business with a bank loan like most other people and worked long and hard to build something of his own. He was a master of his art and did everything he could to give other people who where prepared to work a step up. Being cousin to the Queen had nothing to do with it. He was a gracious human being and a very genuine person loved by those that knew him…

garinda · 12-11-2005, 00:30

Oh excuse me, in my book he's not up there with Man-Ray, Cartier Bresson, or even Helmut Newton or Robert Mapplethorpe. He was a perfectly competent photographer, who wisely made use of his Royal connections.

I don't remember Charles and Di booking Garth Dawson.

garinda · 12-11-2005, 00:33

Like I said, it's sad he died, but please don't try to argue aesthetic mertit here.

Doug · 12-11-2005, 00:43

You’re ill-informed and arrogant Sir. He made little of his family connections and produced some remarkable photographs. Those you have named are world class photographers who used there own connections to build reputations and careers. It’s the way of the world. But for your information his clients didn’t do business for the Queen, so first cousin once removed status did little for his business or reputation. He was established 20 years before that wedding and well you know it.

Doug · 12-11-2005, 00:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Like I said, it's sad he died, but please don't try to argue aesthetic mertit here.

Get a grip of yourself..........

garinda · 12-11-2005, 00:50

Doug I'm not going to argue on the merits of his photographs in an obituary, just making the point that having access to the Royal family, and exclusive rights to photograph them on inumerous occasions, did no harm to his career.

Like I said he was a perfectly good photographer, and his untimely death is sad, but in the great scheme of things his photographs will mainly be remembered for their historic Royal images, rather than their artistry.

Doug · 12-11-2005, 01:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I'm so not being horrid, it's sad, but it didn't harm his career being cousin to the Queen.

You sir are entitled to your opinion, and I mine. Should you not wish to argue the merits of his photographs in an obituary, you have perhaps refrained from making statements that are demeaning not only to his memory but also to his profession like the one that I have quoted and prompted my response. That is the end to it.

garinda · 12-11-2005, 01:04

I will not argue with you, like I said earlier.

I stated my opinion of his work, of which I am entitled to do. Never mind about a world stage, even nationally he doesn't compare to his contemporaries like Parkinson, and nowhere near as inventive at photographing the Royals as Cecil Beaton was.

Case closed.

His death is sad.