The Incomplete Picture
A restless soul ( see chronology )
My life has taken many twists and turns as a result my photographic career has too. I’ve learned to be adaptable professionally. Borne out of necessity, for one has to be adaptable when arriving in a new country, city, town. As an outsider, one is immediately competing against the ‘established class acts' .
I enjoy been versatile. Wearing different hats. Facing the challenge of making new contacts, finding new clients in strange new cities. And I’ve had the great fortune to work on inspiring projects, while meeting truly inspiring and creative individuals along the way.
This website is a collection of my people centric work.
You won’t find an obvious image style here.
I know some say this is important in this day and age. Beneficial to have a ‘look’ that stands out.
But I'm too much of an electric photographer. Pulling on a variety of influences. Applying ideas from my conceptual advertising days in London and melding them with a 20 year photo-journalism reportage career. I do the best with the resources I have, in these wayward places I choose to live.
I enjoy receiving ad agency layouts as much as I do editorial assignments. And when the phone is not ringing, I'm calling on friends to photograph or finding myself a street theme to shoot.
I love street photography as much as I do relish the studio working with lights. I’m drawn to places, and places are about people. I love pop art, movie posters, neo noir vibes. Existential themes.
Rather than trying to be the best at just one thing, I attempt to be the best at the idea I have or the commission I'm given. It’s as simple as that really.
The journey of discovery and experimentation continues.
Richard Mark Dobson
Penang Malaysia
2022
LIFE CHRONOLOGY
1963
Born. Bradford, England
1975 – 1985
Johannesburg South Africa
1985 – 1989
London
1990 – 1997
Hong Kong
1997 – 1999
Johannesburg South Africa
2000
New York
2001 – 2003
Cape Town South Africa
2004
Paris
2005
Cape Town
2006
Seoul
2007-2008
Cape Town
2008-2016
Saigon Vietnam
2017
Phuket
2018-2022
Penang Malaysia
Clients
Published Editorial
GEO (Germany), GEO (France), GEO Special (Germany),GEO (Russia) GEO Saison (Germany),Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung, Financial Times (UK), National Geographic Adventure (USA), National Geographic Traveler (USA), Toyota Infront Magazine (UK), Landrover ONELife Mag (UK) Guardian (UK), Restaurant Magazine (UK), Guardian on Sunday (UK), MERIAN Magazine (Germany), 100 Ideas Jardin (France), Conde Nast Traveler (USA), Air France Madam (France), Outside Magazine (USA), World Traveler (USA), New York Times, Departures (USA), International Herald Tribune, New York Times, Asia Inc (Hong Kong) Discovery (HK), Expression (Amex Publishing), Islands Magazine (USA), Forbes Magazine (USA),Travel & Leisure (USA) Town & Country (USA),Orient Magazine (Hong Kong), Morning Calm (Korean Air), Silk Road (Dragon Air) Business Traveller (Hong Kong), Business Traveller (UK), Mandarin Oriental (HK), Outside Magazine (USA) Lufthansa Magazine (Germany).
Published Advertising
Couldrey Jones (Hong Kong),Thompson’s (HK),Thompson’s Megacom (HK), Couldrey Jones (HK),Couldrey Jones (HK), BATES Advertising (Thailand), Old Shanghai Firecracker Factory (South Africa),Grey Advertising (SA), BLGK BATES Advertising (HK), Ogilvy & Mather (SA), Mc Cann Erickson (SA), Network (SA), Saatchi & Saatchi (SA), SMLB Leo Burnett (SA), The Agency (SA), Grey Advertising (SA), DMB&B (SA), King James Advertising (SA), Ogilvy & Mather (SA), TBWA Fusion (SA), TBWA Paris Nissan Z350 ‘cops’ Cannes ’05,, TBWA Paris Spontex Cannes Silver ’05,TBWA Fusion, Jupiter Drawing Room (SA), Joe Public (SA).
Published Corporate
Shanghai Tang, Business Enterprises Dong Fang Hotel Brochure China, HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Council) Hill & Knowlton H.K. Ltd, Re-Act Communications Credit Lyonnaise, Hilton Hotel Hong Kong, Dalat Resorts Inc, Dalat Pine Lake Golf Course, Island Shangri-La Hotel. Hong Kong, Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel Hong Kong, Park Lane Hotel Hong Kong, DWC Tang Development China Club-Peking, International Herald Tribune China Summit-Beijing, DWC Tang Development. China Club Peking, Shanghai Tang Hong Kong, International Herald Tribune-Korea Summit, Stocks Leisure Resorts. Bakubung, Kwa Maritane, Andersen Consulting (SA),TheYamuThailand,Movenpick Jordan.,Abu Dhabi Golf & Equestrian Centre, PearlValle golf estate Cape Town, New World Hotel Saigon, Ramana Hotel Saigon, DWP Saigon, Veolia Water Systems,, Ale Heavy Lift UK, Strategic Marine Australia. Aqua Expeditions, Accor Hotels. Pullman, Sofitel. Vestas. EDF Renewables. UPC Renewables.
NGO’s
Greenpeace Africa, Medicine Sans Frontiers, British Red Cross.
Books
Karoo Moons ‘A photographic journey’.
NEONOPOLIS