The luckiest person on the planet, he lives with his wife, two Border Collies, a Lesotho mountain dog, cats and a transient population of wild and not-so-wild animals on a small farm in the beautiful Dargle valley in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, South Africa.
Trained as an interior designer, he designed houses, shop interiors, exhibition stands and fashion shows, played drums and worked as an art director before drifting into fashion and advertising photography.
In 1993, he became inspired by the story-telling possibilities of digitally manipulating his photographs, and developed a style of photo-illustration. His technique consists of taking lots of photographs, throwing them into a photo-snaffling machine, stirring it up, and sticking it all together with computer glue.
He combines a love of detail, with a fascination for non-verbal communication. He also likes a good laugh.
Currently working with major clients, ad agencies and publishers in the UK, USA, South Africa and Australia, as well as working on illustrated children's books, creative concepts and other personal publishing projects.
His first book, an illustrated version of the "Little Red Hen" story for Simon & Schuster (New York) was launched in March 2004, with a follow-up already in the works.
His own illustrated story concept, "Carla's Famous Travelling Feather & Fur Show", a ballet-dancing chicken and her entertainment roadshow, with iBooks in New York, released worldwide in March 2006. (Both books are available on online bookstores such as amazon.com, as well as major bookstores.)
His third book, a retold version of "The Hare & The Tortoise" fable, has been completed and is scheduled for release in February 2008.
His "Cow Planet" range of greeting cards, calendars and posters, is available worldwide in poster & card stores, as well as online.
He is passionate about animal welfare and biodiversity conservation concerns, and a percentage of proceeds of sales from all he does is donated to animal welfare.
He sits under a 100 year old oak tree, plays soccer with the Border Collies and likes cows, chickens and chocolate.
The Barry Downard Thought Process
1. The most important value being: "Enchant yourself and you will enchant others".
2. Don't give the client what he wants. Give him something he never knew he wanted, until he sees it and realises that's what he wanted all along.
3. Add value. Take the client's concept and make it work even better.
The Work Process
1. The aim is "Communication" and the philosophy is "Every picture tells a story".
2. Figure out what needs to be communicated, to whom, and the most effective and engaging way of doing that.
3. I call the style "photo-illustration", and all the source material is photographic. Photograph the elements that best combine to tell the story, drop them into a photo-snaffling machine (patented), and then stick them all together with Photoshop glue, and watch as the visual evolves.
4. For long distance clients, the whole process is simple: a) E-mail or fax me some sort of visual reference with any comments b) We then talk over the phone to connect on the various issues.c) I'll then send low resolution JPEGS or Acrobat files at various points in the progress path for comment and approval. d) When final visual is accepted, I send the final file either via courier, or satellite internet connection, whichever is most convenient, and whichever the client prefers.
Awards
*6 Silver Quill awards for photographic craft. (South Africa)
*1 Loerie award for photographic craft (South Africa)
*Won the the South African section of the 2001 Hasselblad International Competition (South Africa)
*Won the "John Dodds Challenge" for digital manipulation (South Africa)
*Awarded 4 pages in prestigious Hirt & Carter calendar competition (South Africa)
*Won a gold and a silver "RX Club Award" (New York)
Exhibitions
Has had 2 solo exhibitions, and several joint exhibitions in Durban.
Was invited to exhibit some of this Cow Planet work at the prestigious Soho House club in London.
No animals were hurt in the making of any of these images, in fact, they had a real good time!