Harry Borden In-depth Interview (Part 1) | The Man Behind the Lens

Описание: In Part 1 of this in-depth conversation, I sit down with renowned portrait photographer Harry Borden to explore the personal history and emotional undercurrents that shaped his creative life.

Best known for his powerfully intimate portraits of politicians, actors, and cultural figures — including work published in outlets such as The Observer and The Guardian — Harry has built a career on capturing presence, vulnerability, and truth.

But before the recognition and the assignments, there was a childhood — and a father whose influence left a lasting mark.

In this first chapter of our two-part interview, we discuss:

• The moment he “caught the bug” for photography
• The complicated influence of his father on his identity and ambition
• The psychology behind his approach to portraiture
• What it means to photograph someone honestly

This is not just a conversation about cameras or career milestones — in our in-depth conversation, Harry shares sharp insights into portrait photography while speaking with surprising candour about his life and formative relationships. What emerges is a revealing portrait of the man behind the lens.

If you’re interested in portrait photography, creativity, or the emotional forces that shape an artist’s life, this conversation offers a rare and candid insight.

Part 2 will expand on Harry's process, philosophy, and his photographing of high-profile subjects in even greater depth.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Coming up...
00:21 Introduction
01:46 Welcome Harry!
02:00 Jumping right into The Epstein Files
02:11 Sarah Ferguson looks like a prostitute?
04:22 The problem with celebrities
06:18 Photographers living the 'high' liife
07:48 The shrinking world of celebrity photography
09:04 What kind of photographer does Harry think he is?
10:28 Do we need a "safe word"?
11:08 Harry's Origin Story: Life on a Pig Farm
11:43 The role of Harry's father
17:57 The influence of classic films
18:34 Harry gets serious about school
20:22 Harry's epiphany
21:13 Did Harry set goals for success?
22:12 Harry can be irritating
23:26 Warren is shooting for the stars!
24:16 Was Harry's father supportive?
26:42 The importance of Harry's children
28:32 Harry's dad's reaction to his book, "Survivor"
32:45 Harry's dad was an unhappy man
34:06 Our parents help shape who we are
35:26 Success with The National Portrait Gallery
38:35 Harry's Personal Style
42:23 Harry's dylexia informs his graphic sensibilities
44:41 Harry works quickly
45:57 Harry's style is like improvising jazz
47:28 Fitting Stephen Merchant into tight spaces
48:36 The joy of improvisation
51:01 Building a rapport with celebrities
53:01 Adrien Brody likes Hip-Hop
54:17 Harry annoys Fred
54:51 Photographing Johnny Marr of The Smiths
55:50 Coming up in Part 2


Interview by Warren Shepherd
Portrait Photographer | Toronto / UK
All images © Harry Borden (unless otherwise noted)

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