Amor, 1969
Colin Osman was a photographer, editor and collector whose publications in the 1960s and 1970s played a major part in the development of British photography and the recording of its history.
Osman was born in London and began his photographic career on Racing Pigeon, a weekly magazine founded by his grandfather. He subjects varied over the years that followed, with later publications of his own work including Amor Amor: In Praise of Women (1969).
He is best known for championing the work of others as the writer of articles and monographs and, above all, as the publisher of the ground-breaking journal Creative Camera. The journal was edited first by the influential Bill Jay and subsequently, from 1970 until 1986, by Osman himself. It featured and promoted a new generation of British photographers, including Tony Ray-Jones and David Hurn. It also looked back, producing the first studies of previously unexamined photographers, such as Kurt Hutton, in pioneering pieces of British photographic history.
He is best known for championing the work of others as the writer of articles and monographs and, above all, as the publisher of the ground-breaking journal Creative Camera. The journal was edited first by the influential Bill Jay and subsequently, from 1970 until 1986, by Osman himself. It featured and promoted a new generation of British photographers, including Tony Ray-Jones and David Hurn. It also looked back, producing the first studies of previously unexamined photographers, such as Kurt Hutton, in pioneering pieces of British photographic history.