The Rory Gallagher of Photography

Tony Ray-Jones

So much has been written about Tony Ray-Jones, but I would like to relate my own discovery of him. I think of him today, because I am reminding myself that I need to look at others work. Work that inspired me. I have a great library of photo books, and it has been awhile that I sat and really looked at them. I need to remind myself of a simpler, uncomplicated time, when I was a teenager, and a young adult. When all that mattered was music, friends, girls, school, and making images. Some might ask, “That was simpler??” Looking back, yes.

I first saw a Ray-Jones images in Modern Photography Magazine. It was used, if I remember correctly, in an article about surrealism in photography. I was blown away by his images. Up until that time I have never seen images like his before. 

Just prior to moving into NYC, there was a small book store on Broadway near W. 32nd Street. If I was early for my train, I would sometimes stop in there and browse through their stacks of books. This shop had stacks of books, literally,  piled four feet high or more everywhere. I was going through a stack of photo books and there at the very bottom was a hard cover edition of Tony Ray-Jones’ book, “A Day Off”. I was excited because all the books in this shop were remaindered.  I finally reached it, and it was in pristine like new condition. I bought it for $15. It was even a first edition Thames and Hudson, I knew was out of print.

To me, Ray-Jones is to photography what Rory Gallagher is to music. Known to many in their respective worlds, respected, influential, but not as famous as Winogrand or Meyerowitz. 

Look Ray-Jones up. You won’t be disappointed.