Michael Joseph (1941-) - En route to a shoot - immortalised instant
03
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09
hours
21
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01
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Current bid
€ 7
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Selected by Elena Vaninetti
Has over ten years of experience in art, specialising in post-war photography and contemporary art.
Estimate € 750 - € 900
 | €7 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €6 | |
| €5 | |
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Michael Joseph, En route to a shoot - immortalised instant, 1985, a gelatin-silver print in vintage black and white authentic darkroom print, 14 cm high by 21.3 cm wide, signed and in original state.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Michael Joseph - Mountaineers’ Tea Break, London, 1970s
Original vintage photographic print • Signed and inscribed by the photographer
A wonderfully surreal and unmistakably Michael Joseph image from the 1970s - a heroic mountaineer, apparently fresh from some formidable expedition, emerging through the snow and mist… only to encounter a perfectly composed lady serving tea from a tray.
The humour lies in the collision of two completely incompatible worlds: ice axe, goggles, ropes and expedition gear meet teapot, cups and impeccable domestic hospitality. The absurdity is treated with complete seriousness, making the photograph all the funnier.
But behind the apparent spontaneity lies the considerable complexity of creating such an image in the analogue era. Costume, props, models, artificial snow and atmospheric effects all had to be brought together physically in front of the camera. The swirling, near-white environment had to remain convincing while still preserving detail in the mountaineer’s dark clothing and allowing the tea lady to emerge almost dreamlike from the background.
Nothing could simply be added later with a few clicks. The joke had to exist - and work _ in front of Michael Joseph’s lens.
The composition is particularly clever. The mountaineer dominates the foreground with almost monumental seriousness, while the wonderfully incongruous tea lady appears through the haze behind him. Only after taking in the heroic figure does the viewer fully register the tea service - and the photograph’s visual joke suddenly lands.
The warm, almost sepia-toned surface of this vintage print adds another layer of atmosphere, giving the scene the feeling of some fantastical expedition photograph discovered decades later.
Hand-inscribed on the mount by Michael Joseph:
“Mountaineers’ Tea Break” — London, 70s
and boldly signed by the photographer.
An original, eccentric and beautifully theatrical example of Michael Joseph’s particular genius: taking an impossible idea, constructing it for real, and making the resulting absurdity look completely natural.
#MichaelJoseph #MountaineersTeaBreak #VintagePhotography #BritishPhotography #1970sPhotography #AdvertisingPhotography #SurrealPhotography #AnalogPhotography #OriginalPhotograph #VintagePrint #SignedPhotograph #StagedPhotography #PhotographyCollector #PhotographicArt #BritishHumour
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Michael Joseph - Mountaineers’ Tea Break, London, 1970s
Original vintage photographic print • Signed and inscribed by the photographer
A wonderfully surreal and unmistakably Michael Joseph image from the 1970s - a heroic mountaineer, apparently fresh from some formidable expedition, emerging through the snow and mist… only to encounter a perfectly composed lady serving tea from a tray.
The humour lies in the collision of two completely incompatible worlds: ice axe, goggles, ropes and expedition gear meet teapot, cups and impeccable domestic hospitality. The absurdity is treated with complete seriousness, making the photograph all the funnier.
But behind the apparent spontaneity lies the considerable complexity of creating such an image in the analogue era. Costume, props, models, artificial snow and atmospheric effects all had to be brought together physically in front of the camera. The swirling, near-white environment had to remain convincing while still preserving detail in the mountaineer’s dark clothing and allowing the tea lady to emerge almost dreamlike from the background.
Nothing could simply be added later with a few clicks. The joke had to exist - and work _ in front of Michael Joseph’s lens.
The composition is particularly clever. The mountaineer dominates the foreground with almost monumental seriousness, while the wonderfully incongruous tea lady appears through the haze behind him. Only after taking in the heroic figure does the viewer fully register the tea service - and the photograph’s visual joke suddenly lands.
The warm, almost sepia-toned surface of this vintage print adds another layer of atmosphere, giving the scene the feeling of some fantastical expedition photograph discovered decades later.
Hand-inscribed on the mount by Michael Joseph:
“Mountaineers’ Tea Break” — London, 70s
and boldly signed by the photographer.
An original, eccentric and beautifully theatrical example of Michael Joseph’s particular genius: taking an impossible idea, constructing it for real, and making the resulting absurdity look completely natural.
#MichaelJoseph #MountaineersTeaBreak #VintagePhotography #BritishPhotography #1970sPhotography #AdvertisingPhotography #SurrealPhotography #AnalogPhotography #OriginalPhotograph #VintagePrint #SignedPhotograph #StagedPhotography #PhotographyCollector #PhotographicArt #BritishHumour
Seller's Story
My father, Michael Joseph, was a London-based advertising photographer from the 1960s to the early 1990s, perhaps best known for his iconic photographs for the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet album.
Such was Michael’s extraordinary talent for orchestrating elaborate group scenes, often bringing together large numbers of people and animals in seemingly effortless harmony, that these wonderfully theatrical compositions became known within the advertising industry simply as “a Michael Joseph” - a style so distinctive that his name became a description in its own right.
Our continuing mission is to share what we affectionately call “the other photographs”: lesser-known treasures from his remarkable archive, including original vintage darkroom prints, experimental test prints, alternative images from major shoots, celebrated group compositions and more intimate, personal photographs.
Among our most exciting discoveries is Michael’s extraordinary 1964 Vietnam archive, photographed when he was just 23. Many of these powerful images have never previously been exhibited or offered for sale, revealing a fascinating, lesser-known side of his career.
There is also a wonderfully poetic quality to much of his work: unexpected encounters, fleeting moments and what we like to call “immortalised instants” - those unrepeatable fragments of everyday life that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
All beautifully summed up in Michael’s favourite adage:
“Always keep a camera handy, every minute of your living day.”
A philosophy he certainly lived by, leaving us an extraordinary collection that we are still discovering today.
Alongside Michael’s authentic vintage prints, we are introducing new interpretations of his work: striking photographic prints on aluminium and handmade cyanotypes, created from his original negatives and transparencies using the Dordogne sunshine. Some are produced on vintage papers from Michael’s own photographic library, giving these historic materials a wonderful new lease of life.
Together, these works celebrate photographic history and contemporary creativity - from unique prints made by Michael himself to imaginative new interpretations of his archive.
We hope you enjoy discovering these photographs as much as we enjoy bringing them to light!
A Small Note About the Presentation Photographs
Some of our in situ illustrations showing artworks displayed in interiors have been created using artificial intelligence (AI).
These are intended simply to help you imagine how a piece might look in a home, office or gallery. Although we aim for faithful representations, proportions and scale may occasionally vary.
Please refer to the actual artwork photographs and stated dimensions for an accurate representation of your purchase.
A Personal Note About Packaging
We prepare and pack every artwork ourselves, taking great care to protect each piece with several layers of suitable materials.
To keep costs down and minimise waste, we reuse and upcycle packaging wherever possible. Your parcel may therefore contain recycled cardboard, protective sleeves, old photographic boxes or envelopes - occasionally even materials from Michael’s own photographic library!
And please don't be surprised if the outside looks rather plain, or even a little unattractive. This is often deliberate! We prefer valuable or irreplaceable artworks to travel as inconspicuously as possible.
One small favour: please unwrap your parcel slowly and carefully.
We sometimes use several layers of cardboard, paper and protective wrapping, secured with tape. Please take particular care when using scissors or a blade, as tape can occasionally catch on adjoining layers or items inside.
We would rather spend a little extra time protecting your purchase than risk damage in transit, and hope you will forgive our occasionally unconventional packaging!
After all, it's what's inside that matters, not the wrapping!
Every purchase helps us preserve, explore and share Michael’s remarkable photographic archive, while giving these images a new home and another chapter in their history.
For US Buyers
Customs duties and applicable import charges are paid at source and included in the shipping cost. No additional charges should normally be payable upon delivery, subject to changes in customs regulations.
Details
Date of print
1985
Artist
Michael Joseph (1941-)
Sold by
Owner or reseller
Title of artwork
En route to a shoot - immortalised instant
Condition
Original State
Technique
Gelatin-silver print
Height
14 cm
Edition
Vintage black and white authentic darkroom print
Width
21.3 cm
Signature
Signed
Genre
Landscape
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