Viva Brighton Issue #62 April 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY
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Axel Hesslenberg
Capturing Charleston
Last year was my tenth year
photographing the Charleston
Festival. I always liked to
read, and this combination of
literature and the house and
the garden attracted me. You
don’t have to be a Bloomsbury
aficionado to feel that it’s a place
of great creativity. The authors
who come to speak really
connect with the place. They
are quite often used to working somewhere alone,
locked away, but to see them in the green room,
sitting around the kitchen table chatting with
other writers... it’s a special atmosphere, a great
place to be a fly on the wall.
Once I meet them I begin to think where
I’d like to photograph them. The house is
very important and makes for an incredible
backdrop, so I usually photograph in landscape
format to ensure that it’s included. I can’t tell you
everything about the history of the house, but
visually I know it very well.
I’ve photographed actors, artists, writers and
performers at Charleston. You get wonderful
rewards working with creative people. One of my
favourite portraits is of Tom Stoppard. I wanted
to photograph him in Duncan Grant’s studio
because he creates plays, starting with a blank
page and filling it, like an artist. I photographed
Ian McEwan in the library against the beautiful
black wall. It made sense to photograph him
surrounded by books. Colm Tóibín appears
brooding in his portrait, looking directly into
the camera, but he’s a consummate entertainer,
a wonderful storyteller. I photographed the
Canadian author Madeleine Thien in Vanessa
Bell’s bedroom because she was moved by Bell’s
life and work. She was quite in awe, touched by
the house. Another favourite
was Richard Ford. He’s one
of America’s best authors but
a quiet, well-spoken man. His
quietness comes across in the
image.
There are often a lot of
people around, and I have to
carve out the opportunity.
The image of Fiona Shaw was
made with ten people around
her in the small kitchen. I stole the photo in a
moment when she was framed against the grey
door. I like to photograph in the kitchen. There
is an old fridge that I like to use as a backdrop for
what I call ‘British icons’. I’ve photographed the
likes of Alan Bennett, Joanna Lumley and Maggi
Hambling there.
I have been particularly impressed with the
older generation of writers. They have a great
deal to say and stories that are grounded in
experience. PD James was so active and engaged,
to think that she has since left us is strange.
As well as the portraits, I have tried to capture
what is special about the festival. It’s about the
audience and the person on stage who holds their
attention, and the whole world is there to discover
because the subjects are so varied. At the book
signing table it’s wonderful to see the authors
engaging with their readers. I’ve seen six or seven
school kids standing there with Ali Smith and she
says, ‘ask me a question’. Sure, they ask ‘what is
your favourite book?’ but the conversation leads
somewhere else. There are these great storytellers
in this special environment and you don’t have to
be in awe. As told to Lizzie Lower
See more of Axel’s works at thepebbles.com. The
29th Charleston Festival runs from the 18th to the
28th of May. charleston.org.uk/festival
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