Those of you who are regular readers of the magazine will be familiar with Harry Borden’s name. He has made a long and successful career shooting portraits of all manner of celebrities, often showing off a glamorous or, at least, a public-facing aspect of their persona. The resulting work has been featured in our long-running When Harry Met series.
But, like many commercial photographers, Harry does plenty of more personal or thought-provoking work. You may have seen our previous features on his projects such as Holocaust survivors, single fathers and his approach to portraits in lockdown.
Now, a new book published by The School of Life uses his portraits – and his and others’ experiences of the subject – to explore what can be a hugely difficult, tumultuous and life-altering time in life. On Divorce brings together 50 portraits (including of himself) to try to show a more positive side.
Like with many of the best personal projects, Harry brings his own experiences to this. He credits his own divorce from his ex-wife Jane, as well as the subsequent significant relationship with his ex-partner Abbie, as transforming him as a person – particularly as both enabled him to become a father. His son Florian, from the second relationship, is featured in the book.
Speaking to and interviewing Harry is always a treat. Rarely do I get the opportunity to chat with someone who is so open about both their life and methodology. I knew from reading this book and his previous Single Dads monograph that Harry’s overall outlook on the subject is overwhelmingly positive, so I expected our chat to be refreshingly open.
It’s clear that Harry’s own divorce had a profound effect on him. He explains, ‘Up until 2009, everything had gone brilliantly in, , I’d shot a cover of magazine, I’d had a solo exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery, won a couple of World Press Photo awards and joined an agency, IPG, and they’d started getting me really well paid advertising jobs.
