Photographers who inspire me - David Eustace
David Eustace
©David Eustace
David Eustace - visual artist
I found David through his work, specifically, his photography. His photographs are beautiful; subtle, meaningful, simple, quiet. The word ‘quiet’ features frequently on David’s website, in fact he has a portfolio titled ‘A Quiet Portrait’.
His portraits are exactly in the style that appeals to me. They are beautifully composed and shot with a real sense of empathy for the subject. The invite the viewer to connect with them and reveal an insight into their life and personality. They are simple and elegant and invariably shot just with available, natural light. The settings appear sparse and minimal but if you take the time to look deeper, they are crafted to reflect the character of the sitter. They are unpretentious and exquisite, and this coupled with superb technical execution, allow the photographs to portray a real sense of intimacy.
‘My portraits are often quiet, always considered and hopefully offer a moment without forced performance. I’m fascinated by a greater connection often between strangers, even for a moment, and one that can last long after an event has passed. At the same time I'm hopeful through my portrait work I can introduce and allow strangers who, on viewing the results, may absorb a sense of intimacy or connection with the sitter. A simple look, a moment when the sitter's glance goes beyond me and acts as an introduction to others. It then becomes a moment and connection shared.’
There is a timeless quality to the portraits. They have a painterly aesthetic, which probably chimes with David’s ability to work with and within a variety of artistic genres. An interesting aspect is that as as well as a timelessness to individual images he is also unafraid to undertake long term projects. The portfolio ‘Dear John’ spans 30 years. David describes it as a Thirty Year Portrait.
I like to read the biographical details that photographers write about themselves. David’s is a detailed recording of a lengthy career in the arts and his creative milestones. But it was actually the first paragraph that caught my attention;
‘Leaving school at 16 I undertook various jobs. At 19 I served on a Royal Navy Minesweeper and at 21 I became a prison officer, serving at HM Prison Barlinnie in Glasgow. At 28, I decided to return to full time education as a mature student and travelled daily from Glasgow to Edinburgh to study at Edinburgh Napier University. I graduated with a BA Distinction in Photographic Studies.’
It struck a chord because here was someone who’s life and career had changed significantly. I don’t imagine that 16 year old David could envisage that he would one day be chancellor of a Scottish university.
This resonated quite strongly with me as there were some parallels to my life. I’d had a 30 year career in law enforcement, a world away from what I do now.
I’ve always resisted the notion that anyone should be pigeon-holed, only having one track in their life, one lane.
And as I delved further into his work I came across ‘Thereafter’.
This exhibition explored the story of David’s birth and adoption in 1961.
Described as;
‘Beautiful, honest, vulnerable, serene, thoughtful, and though-provoking photography and sculpture, sensitively installed in a richly historic space.’
It was in itself an intriguing and captivating work of art, but for me this introduced a much deeper sense of connection and resonance.
I was also adopted in very similar circumstances to David a few weeks earlier in 1961. And although our stories are different, unlike David I have never been able to actually meet my birth mother, there are many similarities, particularly around identity, family and who we are.
Perhaps this provides an insight into my interest in portrait photography. Ultimately it is about identity, layers of connection, how we see ourselves and how we are seen by others.
What started as an appreciation of the portrait photography of David Eustace evolved into a deeper connection with David through some shared history and story.
I’m hoping to meet David at some point. He runs some natural light portrait workshops in Edinburgh which I would love to attend.
I highly recommend checking out his work.
All of his work is beautiful but his portraits in particular mesmerise and they inspire me.
