Old Negatives, New Perspectives: The Enduring Art of Lynne McPeake

Today on the Street Photography Magazine podcast, we have a fascinating guest who I met in an unusual way – Lynne McPeake, a retired graphic designer and photographer from the Peak District in the UK.

I first crossed paths with Lynne during my travels to Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Scottish Shetland Islands early this summer. It was in Shetland – inspired by the TV show “Shetland” – that I stumbled upon the Shetland Museum & Archives in the town of Lerwick showcasing Lynne’s 1971 documentary-style photography of dock workers. Her work was so compelling, it led to our conversation that you will hear on this episode.

Lynne’s journey into photography started with a simple Kodak Brownie camera she received at age eleven. From there, she honed a unique artistic approach by blending her love for drawing and photography. She’s experimented with movement and multiple exposures, bringing a dynamic edge and painterly style to her photos.

During the Covid pandemic, Lynne found herself diving into old black and white negatives, which caught the attention of her friend Colin Smith and photographer who showed the work to the Family History Society in Shetland. This sparked the idea for an exhibition featuring Lynne’s work about local subjects. With support from Smith, and local fine-art printer Lynne creates a display of 18 framed images for her one-woman exhibit at the museum.

As a result of the exhibition Lynne has reconnected with subjects from her old photos, like a 71-year-old former dock worker reminiscing about his crane-operating days.

Throughout our chat, Lynne shares her artistic journey, touching on everything from her time in art college to her recent experiments with intentional camera movement (ICM) and an inspiring online course with photographer Charlotte Bellamy.

She’s got some exciting projects lined up, including an exhibition in Derbyshire titled “A Different Point of View,” where her photos will be showcased alongside a friend’s paintings. Lynne believes in the power of drawing to enhance observational skills, which translates beautifully into her street photography.

Lynne’s insights and experiences demonstrate that old work never dies. Give the show a listen to learn from her passion and creativity.

A selection of Lynne’s work

Links from the show

• Lynne’s Instagram
• Shetland Museum & Archives