Clive Murphy, Snapper

Click here to book for The Gentle Author’s Tours My old friend Clive Murphy regarded himself as a snapper rather than a photographer. Yet Cafe Royal Books have published a splendid zine of his pictures from Spitalfields 1987-1996. Click here to buy a copy for £6.70. Pauline, Animal Lover, 77 Brick Lane, 16 July 1988 When it comes to photography, Clive Murphy – the novelist, oral historian and writer of ribald rhymes – modestly described himself as a snapper. Yet although he used the term to indicate that his taking pictures was merely a casual preoccupation, I prefer to interpret Clive’s appellation as meaning “a snapper up of unconsidered trifles” – one who cherishes what others disregard. “I carried it around in my shoulder bag and if something interested me, I would pull out my camera and snap it,” Clive informed me plainly, “I am a snapper because I work instinctively and I rely entirely upon my eye for the picture.” In thousands of snapshots, every one labelled on the reverse in…