PHOTOGRAPHER Bernard Fallon was born into a large Liverpool Irish family in Crosby, Liverpool, in 1949. He recently returned for a real labour of love.
He pursued an interest in painting and photography while at the Liverpool College of Art for four years. Now his life has come full circle with this exhibition at the Conservation Centre.
It is a stunning collection of 60 images in black and white.
Called The Long Way Home, it covers the period between 1966 and 1975, when Bernard was "exploring" Liverpool and commuting to the art school.
At a special launch attended by family and friends, including Mike McCartney, Bernard said: "I was simply fascinated by the changing urban landscape and social environment that I saw en route to college, and I began documenting life around Liverpool.
"My approach was inspired by the photo journalism, and what I call the candid style, of photographic masters such as Henri Cartier-Bresson."
Many of the images were taken during 1969-70 when Bernard was becoming increasingly drawn towards Scotland Road.
"I was keen to document the great social changes that were taking place in the area at that time," he said. He says of his photography (he is also an accomplished painter) "I was interested in strong composition and a desire to capture the ‘essential’ moments . . the tension between beauty and reality. I took these pictures as an amateur in the true sense of the word."
Bernard has travelled extensively and his work has been published around the world. He has two sons, and divides his time between photography, painting and teaching.
There are many great images in the display such as Five Kids. One of the young lads taken in Scotland Road in 1969 attended the opening night.
Other highlights include Grannies; Laundry Gossip and Wedding Cake in which four people sit looking melancholy after a "do" in Crosby in 1968.
An exhibition that is packed with real Liverpool life.
