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28 November 2011 8:11 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

The understated observational reportage style of Russell's 'still films' is an antidote to the surrealism and extravagance of his movies

In March last year, I interviewed Ken Russell, who has died, aged 84. We spoke over the phone about his days as a working photographer in the 1950s. It was a tough call: he was slightly deaf and very grumpy. Our first attempt at communication ended abruptly when he shouted: "That will be all, thank you very much!" and slammed the phone down. I persevered and, with the help of Lucy Bell, who was hosting an exhibition of his work in her gallery in St Leonards-on-sea , finally got a more illuminating interview.

Having given up on his ambition to be a dancer, Russell started working as a freelance photographer in 1951, aged 23. In the interview, he referred to his photographs as "still films" which, in a way, they were. Initially he was a street photographer, »

- Sean O'Hagan

1 item from 2011