Timothy Allen
Timothy Allen (born 1971 in Tonbridge, Kent) is an English photographer best known for his work with indigenous people and isolated communities around the world.
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[edit] Early life
Timothy Allen was born in Tonbridge, Kent, the second son of two school teachers. He attended The Judd School and took further education at Leeds University where he received a BSc in Zoology. Whilst at university, Allen undertook a three month ecological research project in remote jungle on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesi during which an encounter with a reclusive forest dwelling tribe proved to be a pivotal point in his life.[1] Subsequently, after graduating from university he returned to Indonesia where he spent a further 3 years traveling and studying. It was during this time that he discovered his passion for photography. At the age of 27 he began a part time diploma in photography in Hereford and for his first year project he joined an aid convoy to Mostar during the town's struggle to rebuild itself after the Yugoslav Wars.
[edit] Career
After returning from Bosnia, Allen was offered his first job as a freelance photographer working at the Sunday Telegraph and consequently dropped out of college and moved to London. A year later, after commissions from all of the British broadsheet publications, he eventually settled into a six year position at The Independent.[2]
A member of Axiom Photographic Agency since 2002 his more recent work has revolved around indigenous peoples. It was a personal project in Bhutan, India and Nepal designed to escape the "rat race back home" that lead the BBC to commission him as part of the Human Planet team.[3][4]
[edit] Human Planet
In 2008, the BBC commissioned Allen to shadow its film crews during the shooting of the documentary project Human Planet. This was the first time that the BBC had employed a dedicated stills photographer on a landmark series.[5] He spent over a year and a half travelling with 4 teams, covering stories of human endeavour in over forty countries around the world. The resulting imagery was published in a best-selling[6] BBC book, formed an exhibition and was used in the program's worldwide branding and publicity.
[edit] Awards
Allen has won various awards including; Arts Photographer of the Year presented to him by the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.[7] He has received six Picture Editors' Awards and has been both a winner and runner up twice in Travel Photographer of the Year.[8][9][10]
[edit] Notes
He wrote a weekly blog for BBC Earth, documenting his work during Human Planet.[11]
- ^ Leeds Alumni Magazine. Issue 09
- ^ http://humanplanet.com/timothyallen/about/
- ^ http://humanplanet.com/timothyallen/about/
- ^ http://blog.travellerspoint.com/90/
- ^ http://www.humanplanetblog.com/?p=143
- ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/story-of-survival-how-the-bbc-has-revived-photojournalism-2179589.html
- ^ "Picture Perfect: Prestigious award for Independent photographer Tim". The Independent (London), 28 May 2002. At findarticles.com; accessed 9 April 2009.
- ^ http://tpoty.com/2010/winners/gallerytpoty2007.html
- ^ http://www.tpoty.com/2010/winners/gallerytpoty2010.html
- ^ http://www.tpoty.com/winners/2011
- ^ The blog may be found here (bbcearth.com).
[edit] Sources
- BBC News audio slideshow conversation with Timothy Allen
- Interview on NBC's Carson Daly Show
- BBC Radio 4 'From Our Own Correspondent' despatch from Timothy Allen
- BBC 1 interview with Timothy Allen (UK only)
- Independent on Sunday: Interview with Timothy Allen
- The Press Photographers’ Year Awards
- Debrett's People of Today, Timothy Allen Biography (2009 Print Edition)
