Documentary Photography · Manchester · 1970s–1980s · Represented by BCA
Thomas Blower is a documentary photographer whose work spans more than five decades. During the 1970s and early 1980s, he photographed Ancoats, Hattersley, Moss Side and central Manchester, documenting housing, childhood, public transport, political activity and music.
Working independently and returning to familiar places over several years, Blower photographed the city during a period of extensive clearance and redevelopment. His photographs remain close to individual subjects while also showing the streets, housing estates and public spaces around them.
Two principal bodies of work are presented by British Culture Archive: his wider Manchester archive and the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis, photographed on 15th July 1978 as marchers travelled from Strangeways Prison to Alexandra Park.
British Culture Archive represents selected photographs from his 1970s and 1980s archive for image licensing, publishing and exhibitions. Selected works are also available as prints and editions through BCA.