The Spoken Image

The photographer and former Picture Editor at The Guardian, Eamonn McCabe, curates a photo exhibition on the radio, featuring images that have moved and inspired him during a career which has spanned nearly 60 years.

Pictures by acclaimed war photographer Don McCullin and portrait photographer David Bailey remind Eamonn of his youth in North London. He talks to the British photographer Michael Kenna about the tricks of light and the merits of black and white versus colour prints. He also offers some very personal reflections on his colleague at the Observer, Jane Bown.

We hear from Joel Meyerowitz whose images of the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center in September 2001 offer a visceral example of photo reportage, despite being taken after the event. Joel's moving account, courtesy of The National September 11 Memorial and Museum, raises questions about whether it is right to make something aesthetic from something tragic.

Other photographers featured include French greats Willy Ronis and Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Hungarian colour specialist Nickolas Muray, the Observer sports photographer Chris Smith - famous for his pictures of Muhammad Ali, and the cult British photographer Raymond Moore.

(Photo credit: `Boats, Dingle' © Michael Kenna/Supervision New York)

Producer: Olivia Landsberg

A Whistledown production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2015.

Photographer Eamonn McCabe curates his own photo exhibition on the radio.

(Photo credit: “Boats, Dingle' © Michael Kenna/Supervision New York)