“GOLDEN THREADS” - The stories behind the lens of a famous photographer.

"Through the tapestry of my life as a professional photographer, golden threads have been woven through meeting people behind the lens . The golden threads have arisen from the opportunity to engage with some of the most famous and influential  people of our times, getting to know them, absorbing their life stories with a mixture of sadness and laughter, creating fond and everlasting memories...

 

Whilst under pressure, during the production of my books from the 1980’s- 1990’s.- 2000’s, I would look forward to relaxing after a demanding day - in some cases laughing out loud, reminiscing over the unexpected aspects of the photographic sessions, which were totally unpredictable.

Through this book, I would like to share some of these rich and precious golden threads, the human connection - that enabled me to create the photographs you see. A photograph captures a moment - a second - in someone’s life that is preserved forever.  Here, I reveal the emotions, compassion and laughter behind the picture that speaks a thousand thoughts.

All proceeds from this publication go towards Lymphoedema Research, managed by St George’s Hospital Charity. Lymphoedema, a chronic lifelong disease without a cure, is one of the most  neglected conditions in Health Care today."


Gemma Levine. FRSA

 

Biography


Gemma Levine was born in London, in 1939. Her career as a photographer began in 1975. Since then, over the course of half a century, she has published 25 books of photographs and shown over 60 exhibitions world-wide.

Gemma is best known for her striking black and white photography. Since 1984 she has taken photographs of many major contemporary British people. These include politicians, sportsmen, actors, artists, writers, dancers and important business figures. Her subjects range from six Prime Ministers, to Royalty and to leading Theatre artists. She celebrated 25 years of her work at the National Portrait Gallery in 2001.

Her best seller “Go with the Flow” (published by Quartet Books in 2012) was based on her personal journey through cancer on the positive side.

In her latest book “Just One More” (published by Elliot & Thompson in April 2014) Gemma related her memoirs in the form of vignettes from her professional life, which were extracted from her diaries. Each story is accompanied by photographs, letters or poems. The book has three main sections. Henry Moore, Israel, and Famous Faces of the UK.

Publications:


1978

‘With Henry Moore’ Photographs and Text. Sidgwick & Jackson.
‘Israel: Faces & Places’ Photographs (Foreword Golda Meir) Weidenfeld & Nicholson.
‘Living With the Bible’ Photographs & Watercolours. (Text Moshe Dayan) Weidenfeld & Nicholson.

1981

‘We live in Israel’ Photographs and text. Wayland Publishers.

1982‘

Living in Jerusalem’ Photographs and captions Wayland Publishers.
‘The Young Inheritors’ Photographs (Foreword Herman Wouk) Dial Press USA.

1983

‘Henry Moore ; Wood Sculpture’ Photographs and Text. Sidgwick & Jackson.

1985

‘Henry Moore – an Illustrated Biography’ Photographs (Text William Packer) Weidenfeld & Nicholson.

1987

‘Faces of the 80s’ Photographs (Foreword The Rt Hon Margaret Thatcher) Collins.

1990

‘Faces of British Theatre’ Photographs (Foreword John  Gielgud) Prion Books.

1995

‘People of the 90’s’ Photographs (Foreword HRH Princess Diana) Harper Collins.

1998

‘Memories’(Foreword Jonathan Miller) Ebury Press.

1999

‘My Favourite Hymn’ Photographs (Foreword HRH Prince Michael of Kent) Robson Books.

2004

‘Claridge’s – Within the Image’ Photographs (Foreword David Frost) HarperCollins.

2008

‘Mayfair’ Photographs (Foreword Martin Gilbert – Text Michael Portillo) HarperCollins.

2012

‘Go with the Flow’ Text and photographs (Foreword 1. Prof Daniel Hochhauser 2. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall) Quartet Books.

2015

BBC 2 TV Documentary “Welcome to Mayfair” (repeats on TV).

2017

Let’s Talk Lymphoedema: The Essential Guide to Everything You Need to Know (co-author Prof Peter Mortimer) Elliott & Thompson publishing.

2018/2019

Gemma Levine’s black and white, iconic photographs of Princess Diana appear in Kensington Palace at a public exhibition “Diana: Her Fashion Story”.

2019/2020

Gemma Levine, supported by Dame Judi Dench, is raising awareness for Lymphoedema and money for research. She has a card designed by a top British artist, for ‘Seasons Greetings’. To purchase the cards call, St George’s Hospital Charity. (Telephone no: 020 8725 4522).

2020

'Blissful Isolation' A lockdown experience . Chipping Norton. Oxfordshire.

“Aqua”  Co - author Professor Peter Mortimer. A book explaining the lymphatic system through photographs of water . (All proceeds - Lymphoedema Research Charity.)

2021

'Covid Thoughts' Famous personalities expressing their personal thoughts and actions  over the pandemic. ( All Proceeds - Lymphoedema Research Charity. )

 

Exhibitions:

Over 60 photographic exhibitions; UK and worldwide.

25 years Retrospective at The National Portrait Gallery.

Others: Sotheby’s; The Royal National Theatre; House of Lords; House of Commons: Serpentine Gallery; The Royal Festival Hall; The Barbican; Leeds City Art Gallery; Tel-Aviv University; University of Jerusalem. (others)

Gemma Levine’s Henry Moore archive is housed and on permanent exhibition at The Tate Gallery – Tate Britain, London. Gemma lectures at Tate Britain on Henry Moore.

Gemma is a trustee of Lymphoedema Research Fund

Gemma is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.