Zak Waters

Zak Waters (born 1966) is an award-winning editorial photographer, whose newspaper clients include The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times and Le Point.

Early life

He was born in London but was brought up in the North East (Washington, then later Gateshead, Sunderland) from the age of three months. His early interests included music and radio: Waters was a regular contributor to the Sunderland Star, in what his website claims was "reputed to be the most successful column in free press history in the early 1990s".^[1] The column was called Disappearing Wear and gave depictions of local history through words and photographs.

After studying Film at the University of Northumbria, Waters moved to London where he took on jobs as assistant to Magnum photographers Ian Berry, Peter Marlow, Stuart Franklin, Philip Jones Griffiths and Bert Glinn. After working with photo agency Insight Visual (London), Waters went on to work as a stringer in the UK for Agence VU (Paris), Agence REA (Paris), Springer News (Berlin). In addition to his freelance work, he now strings for Black Star.

Work

Although Waters is best known for his editorial work, his portraiture is critically acclaimed and he has received numerous commendations in this field.^[2]

Birdmen

Waters' interest in the working-class North East and its dying industries and traditions led him to shoot his highly acclaimed Birdmen series which tells the stories of pigeon fanciers from the area. The photographs are shot in black and white and are in a reportage style.

Awards

References