Richard Billingham is one of the great British documentary photographers. Billingham’s photo book ‘Ray’s A Laugh’ released in 1996 shows a graphic documentation of Billingham’s home life. The book features Billingham’s alcoholic father Ray and Billingham’s, heavily tattooed mother, Liz. The Photo book ‘Ray’s a Laugh’ shows his parents partaking their version of mundane activity’s, the Claustrophobic and cluttered council flat is one of the main attractions of this photo book. Billingham documented his parents during his late teens and early twenties. All of the photographs were taken on disposable cameras as this was all Billingham could afford at the time. ‘Ray’s A Laugh’ remains as one of my favourite photo series of all time.

The book opened many peoples eyes to what lower class living was actually like during the 90’s. Billingham highlighted his home life and many people were left in disbelief of the quality of life Billingham’s parents were living. The book highlighted the poverty found all around England and especially in the North. I chose to include Billingham in my research for this story telling unit because, the book ‘Rays A Laugh’ displays such a strong and clear story line. Billingham is telling the story of his life and his parents in-particular. Each of the photographs work so well within a series and as individual images. Each of the photographs plays a part in telling the story of Ray and Liz.

Each of these images tell a story, the expressions in the photographs are so real and do not look at all staged. The subjects in this book seem oblivious to the camera, whether that be because the pair are intoxicated or simply don’t care about being photographed. One of the advantages to documenting and telling the story of someone close to you is that there is a foundation of trust already formed between the subject and the photographer. Billingham’s book remains as a vital piece of inspiration for my story telling project. I want the photographs that I take for this unit to be in a similar candid fashion, a genuine documentation of the events I am photographing.