Harbour Lights

Pagham Harbour has inspired photographer Richard Dunkley for20 years. Ahead of a charity event he introduces his favourite shots

- Duncan Hall

Photographer Richard Dunkley spent most of his childhood holidays in Pagham Harbour. When he made the return to the UK in 2000, after 13 years living and working in the US, he found himself drawn to the landscape as a possible backdrop for his work.

“As a commercial photographer most of my life was spent in the studio,” he says. “I like location photography – those great collectors of stolen moments like Cartier-Bresson.”

His first experiment putting a dancer in an outdoor location took place while he was living in New York. “There was a wow factor,” he says. “I did some more and really got into it. Dancers are very special – they are the greatest athletes. They have to be flexible and creative. Often with contemporary dance you’re working with a pure body – it’s the next best thing to nakedness. A lot of the photos came from taking them to a location and seeing what happened.”

After more than 20 years of working with dancers in wild locations as a photographer, he has directed a film with flamenco dancer Maria Vega capturing her away from a traditional dance set-up, with some scenes shot in Pagham Harbour. Spanish Dancer, London Life is being screened in London’s Regent Street Cinema on Thursday 1 November as part of charity night The Dance Project, which will auction iconic dance photography in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. The film and a live performance will also come to Kino in St Leonards on Saturday 3 November.

Richard is a fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK after surviving a battle with the disease himself. “Someone will die from prostate cancer every 45 minutes,” he says. “From the age of 40 men need to start taking care and having the test.” The Regent Street Cinema event features prints donated by international photographers which normally sell for thousands. “In my circle of friends they all know two or