A Photographic Life - 12: Plus Craig Aitkinson/Cafe Royal Books

In episode 12 UNP founder and curator Grant Scott is in his shed considering the importance of photographer experiences and his own experiences as an art director working with Paris based photographer JeanLoup Sieff and New York based Sylvia Plachy. Plus this week publisher, photographer, lecturer and founder of Cafe Royal Books Craig Aitkinson takes on the challenge of supplying Grant with an audio file no longer than 5 minutes in length in which he answer’s the question ‘What Does Photography Mean to You?’ Craig Aitkinson set up Café Royal Books, as an independent publishing house based in Southport, England. Originally as a way to disseminate drawings and photographs, in multiples, affordably, quickly, and internationally without relying on 'the gallery'. Since 2012 he has been making an ongoing series of publications, the broad subject of which is British Documentary Photography since 1960. This includes international photographers working within the British Isles, and photographers from the British Isles working internationally. There are a few exceptions. Craig publish's at least one title every week, presenting, generally, one series by one photographer. Every 100th title, he publish's a limited edition boxed set of those 100 books — aimed at public collections, so that the books remain accessible. Café Royal Books is just Craig Aitkinson. www.caferoyalbooks.com