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Wish you were here? Idyllic Summertime scenes capture buckets, spades and happy holidays at British resorts during the Sixties
- The remarkable photographs were taken by John Hinde, Elmar Ludwig and Edmund Nagele
- Photographers' quest for perfection involved removing unsightly objects or eyesores from the scenes
PUBLISHED:
22:11 GMT, 5 August 2013
|
UPDATED:
00:06 GMT, 6 August 2013
They were the sort of holiday postcards that cried out: ‘Wish you were here!’ to the folks back home.
Children
playing in the sun with their buckets and spades and charabancs
disgorging their hordes of happy passengers at resorts as far afield as
Ramsgate and Mevagissey.
Hole in one: Players in floral skirts and bright
jackets make a breezy day at Gyllyngvase beach and crazy golf course in
Falmouth look better than any exotic holiday
Picture perfect: No one has sand in their
sandwiches in this wholesome image of the sunny seaside at Gorran Haven
harbour, near Mevagissey in Cornwall
Roll up, roll up: From a helter skelter to a
carousel, visitors are guaranteed to have a good time at Battersea Park
fun fair in London. Lines of bunting and colourful rides create a sense
of nostalgia
Inspiring: This tranquil river scene, where
swans bob on the glassy water and willows hang overhead in
Stratford-upon-Avon, could feature in a Shakespeare sonnet
Sign of the times: The distinctive architecture
of the Sixties comes to the fore in this image of the Oasis Tower in
Great Yarmouth
Anyone for a spot of fishing? The tall masts of
fishing boats at Ramsgate harbour complete the perfect snap of a seaside
promenade
These are the iconic, idyllic
summertime scenes from the Sixties created by Somerset-born photographer
John Hinde, whose encapsulation of happy holidays are currently
featured in Postcards, an exhibition at London’s Photographers’ Gallery.
It
is no coincidence that each one appears to have come straight from a
glossy brochure, because Hinde, who used the ground floor of his house
as studio and production department, was meticulous in making sure every
scene looked just right — even down to removing or covering up
eyesores.
‘We were given instructions to
get the best shot possible, no matter how long it might take’ said
Edmund Nagele, one of the small team of photographers recruited to
Hinde’s burgeoning business.
Splash of colour: A swathe of identical beach
huts in pastel colours, painted two-by-two at Bude in Cornwall look
artificial against the backdrop of craggy cliffs and waves
Not-so-natural: The artificial-looking grass in
the foreground of this photograph gives Plymouth's Tamar Bridge an
otherworldly feel
Taking the plunge: The azure blue of Ramsgate's
popular outdoor bathing pool draws the eye in contrast to the muted
colour of the sea behind
Revving up: A crowd gather to watch motor racing
at St Quen's Bay. The scene, bursting with detail and energy, shows the
style of the era off, both in fashion and motors
‘And it often took several weeks to capture a single postcard snap.’
Hinde also wanted people in his
postcards — ‘they gave the picture life, a point of interest and more
importantly a blob of colour’ — and was not averse to getting his
Italian editors to remove unsightly telegraph poles or make dull colours
more vibrant.
Born in Street, Somerset, Hinde was the great-grandson of James Clark, founder of the town’s Clark’s Shoes.
He
worked as a war photographer capturing scenes of the Blitz, then in
1949 he briefly put down his camera to work as a PR manager for
Chipperfield and Bertram Mills circuses where he met his wife, Jutta, a
trapeze artist.
On the river: The historic Bodinnick to Fowey
ferry in Cornwall takes off with just four cars on board. Two boys watch
on in amazement as the ferry sets off on its journey
The perfect way to spend a day: The photographs
of outdoor activites and nature at its finest would encourage the
laziest of viewer to get out of the house and embrace the great outdoors
Psychedelic: A rare nighttime photograph
highlights the neon colours of a the funfair in great Yarmouth, giving
the photograph a dynamic feel
But he went back to photography and founded John Hinde Ltd in Dublin.
Over the next decade he produced
idealistic and nostalgic images of Ireland for postcards which still
sell in their millions today.
He was also responsible for a series of photographs of Butlins holiday
camps which made him proprietor of one of the biggest postcard companies
in the world.
In 1972 he sold the company to pursue a love of painting which took his family to France, where he died aged 81 in 1997.
Postcards,
an exhibition from John Hinde Limited is on show at The Photographers’
Gallery, 16 to 18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW until October 6.
Plain sailing: The sere-looking boating lake in
Cromer, Norfolk is a haven for young rowers, who can paddle around
safely as their parents watch on
Paddling perfection: Happy children at play in a
lido St Nicholas¿s Park, Warwick. The pastoral background of a church
spire, chimney tops and lush trees adds a tranquil element to the
dynamic image
Sea view: Caravans form a regular pattern as
they are parked side-by-side in neat rows at Pentewan Sands, Cornwall.
Their owners couldn't get much closer to their sea view- they're almost
on the sand
Full of life: From the shoppers storlling along
the pavement to the queue outside the ice cream van, the promenade at
Havre des Pas, Jersey is bursting with action
Ship ahoy! Two boys approach an anchored ship in
St Ives. From the fluffy clouds to perfect blue sky and lighthouse,
it's a perfect Summer's day
Do you dare? The winding roller coasters at the
famous pleasure beach in Blackpool may not look up to today's health and
safety standards, but they look like a lot of fun
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