christopherball

Christopher John Ball BA (Hons) MA is a widely exhibited and published, London based, fine arts photographer, playwright, filmmaker, lecturer and campaigner. With over 40 years experience as a photographer - his work is in public and private collections worldwide. Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery hold a large selection, of his documentary work, in their permanent collection.

He has contributed articles on photography for various publications and has acted as an external moderator for several photographic courses in London. His images have been showcased in Italian, German, Spanish, Hong Kong SAR, British and mainland Chinese publications and also displayed within the pages of several respected online galleries. He has also been interviewed, and filmed at work, for Television programmes that have been transmitted in Europe, the USA and Great Britain.

Christopher was selected as a juror for both the 2008/09 'Erotic Signature' annual international arts competition and the 'Erotic Review Photographer of the Year Prize 2009.' In 2011 Chris sat on the international Jury for the 2011 '12 inches of Sin' competition and juried exhibition sponsored by the Sin City Gallery, Las Vegas and organised by Dr Laura Henkel. The 2012 '12 inches of Sin' juried exhibition saw Chris sitting on the selection committee of what is fast becoming a prestigious annual diary entry for artists. He was again asked to sit on the selection committee for the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 '12 Inches of Sin' competitions.

Drawing inspiration from philosophy, film, music and disability politics; Chris believes that how we see ourselves, alongside our objectification by the camera, society and the state, takes the form of an existential challenge and his work is an exploration of this rationale. Whilst his work covers both social documentary and fine art, his methodology is consistent throughout. His images explore and play with the 'sense of distance', 'lack of access', the 'mundane banality of modern life'. The themes of a 'sense of distance' and 'lack of access' have become increasingly important to Christopher as his disability deteriorates. The reaction of 'others' to a visible impairment can often be hostile leaving one feeling an 'outsider' 'looking in' 'abject' and 'kept out'. 

You can view a wide selection of his work by visiting his website at http://cjballphotography.org.uk/

Chris creates images on both film and digital cameras and often uses non-conventional photographic equipment - such as pin-hole, Holga, Diana, home-made, adapted and vintage cameras - and alternative photographic processes, such as the cyanotype, to create a specific aesthetic.

"...sensual nudes that pay homage to the female form in a manner that is both graceful and elegant. Very rarely do we come across a portfolio that strikes us so deeply..." - The New Nude Magazine

Over the past 14 years, due to the unprecedented and pernicious Government attacks on disabled people and carers, which the UN 'Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' in 2017 called a 'human catastrophe', Chris has found himself campaigning heavily on disability related issues, participating in demonstrations, meeting and lobbying MP's etc.

A book of Christopher's photographs, made during this period of disability campaigning, was released in September 2024 and is entitled 'The Reckoning - Photographs Of Disability Activism In The Age Of Austerity' and is available through Amazon.  

This campaigning work has eaten into Christopher's photography time but, though that fight is still ongoing, he is now back creating images, with various projects on the go. These projects include more exhibitions and books.

Several books have already been published - examples via this link. If you are interested in taking part and being included in future book/exhibition projects, please feel free to contact Chris, through the PurplePort message system, for more information.   

Given his experiences with disability, and also because he is a carer for one who lives with mental health, he is very understanding of cancellations due to model ill-health. These things happen. 

He is also very interested in working with models with a dance/drama background and models who want to explore creatively, issues relating to visible and invisible disability. 

Chris is also open to collaborate in producing content (stills and 4K video) for your social media presence. 

In addition to his teaching and photographic work; Chris also works in film and theatre. ''Throwing Stones'' was co-written by Christopher John Ball and Dean Sipling. 'Throwing Stones' was published in October 2013 in an updated version and is available through this Amazon link.

“Throwing Stones has just opened at the Greenwich Playhouse and it enters the dark and perverse world of child pornography in a studied and highly creative way. Indeed, it comes close to being a totally absorbing evaluation of what some might believe is true art while others might cringe in horror at the sight of what they see is an indecent image ... Anton Krause’s direction is impeccable; Helen Chadney, Christopher Vian-Smith, Shaun Stone and Geraldine Garner generate performances which are outstanding while Laura Murphy exudes sex from every pore.” - Roy Atterbury – Bexley Times

“Mid-life male photographer meets young, nubile female student-cum-artistic muse - so far its old hat. But photographer turned playwright Christopher John Ball and co-writer Dean Sipling, whose background is film and television, bring the pairing into a thoroughly contemporary world of intercepted emails, sinister insinuation and sharp retorts. Their ‘guilty until proved innocent’ plot ... is thoroughly watchable and believable - perhaps as a result of Ball’s professional insights and DS Dom Lucas’ services as police advisor to the production.” - Barbara Lewis – The Stage