The kiss
Some projects come together over many years; occasionally the photographer is not even aware that a project or series of pictures exists at all. But as time passes, they may look back through their work and find a common thread.
One series that has been shot over the past quarter of a century is The Kiss by Brian Harris.
Brian was a staff photographer at The Times and then chief photographer of The Independent newspaper when it launched in 1986.
Brian told me that:
"While travelling the world as a news photographer covering insurrections and politics, it was a blessed relief sometimes to just go off for a long walk with one camera and one lens looking for pure images that were gentle and kind."
And so the series was born. I asked Brian to outline his thoughts behind the collection:
"I started looking, waiting, to photograph couples kissing following the likes of Robert Doisneau and his iconic photograph taken near the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
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"I enjoyed the experience of trying to capture in one or maybe two frames that moment of pure joy as a couple embraced, kissed and were oblivious to all around, including me.
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"It was a way of training my eye and brain and camera to all work in harmony. I think my first really nice kiss image was made in Paris, where else? It was of a young couple sitting on a bench in the Jardin des Tuileries. They would be middle-aged now and I wonder if they are still together.
"The series now contains photographs from Italy and Malta, from Berlin and London and more recently from my home patch of Cambridge where I now live.
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"I've never asked permission, it was always one-two frames taken on the wing and then I moved on. So far, no-one has ever objected and no-one has punched me on the nose - but with the awareness of photographers working on the streets by the police and the public, I suppose it is only a matter of time before someone calls foul.
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"Enjoy these images for what they are at this Valentine's period: all you need is love, love, love..."
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