Lockdown Tails: Jonathan Self

TO CELEBRATE DOGS, PEOPLE, THE POWER OF COMMUNITY, AND TO GO BEYOND THE SURFACE AND LOOK MORE DEEPLY INTO THE HEALING POWER OF ANIMALS AND HOW THEY'VE HELPED US ALL IN LOCKDOWN.

In this exhibition Jonathan Self capture’s the special relationship 45 loving dog owners of Woodstock have with their canine companions, placing them one of their favourite spots in the town and surrounding areas. Taken over the lockdown period up to the present time these timeless images are accompanied by ‘lockdown tails’ that provide moving, sometimes emotional stories of that particular moment in time

Dogs of Woodstock places the individual dog as the primary subject in fine art photography. Jonathan says “the photos were taken at the eye level of the dog so the human owner can only be seen in relation to their dog height! However, the landscape of Woodstock has been built into the photo and highlighted – Blenheim Palace, the High Street, a favourite café etc.” 

A leading portrait photographer, Jonathan has worked with over 200 families in the past 10 years as well as with leading high-street brands. In the words of the Master of an Oxford college: “Jonathan’s photographs have a strong emotional charge, and he builds an immediate and strong rapport with all his subjects.” 

Jonathan specialises in taking beautiful, authentic portraits and works around the theme of “story”, believing that everyone is beautiful and worthy of being photographed and that everyone has a story to tell and it’s what drives him in his work, photographing someone’s truth. 

He discovered a talent for photography as a result of 9/11, photographing the fireman and other key workers during the months following the tragic events. He subsequently travelled around the world, this included photographing HIV/AIDS work in Southern Africa, community work in two slum areas of Peru and orphanage and leprosy projects across India.