Glasgow in 1980 by Raymond Depardon. He was a war photographer who spoke little English and was commissioned by the Sunday Times to photograph the more genteel aspects of Glasgow.

“I went to the wealthy neighbourhoods from Glasgow, but these areas were not very interesting. I went to golf courses, to tearooms, but I couldn't get anything...a Mini Cooper next to a golf course with a guy in a cashmere jumper does not really make a photograph...”

“Before this assignment, I'd only worked in the Middle East and in Africa, so I arrived in Glasgow as if I had landed in the desert: a red car might as well have been a camel for all I knew... I was almost scared of people & I couldn't understand a word of what they were saying”

“The people were extremely kind so I had a lot of freedom. Coming back from the Middle East, it was gift in comparison to men armed with Kalashnikovs so Glasgow was bliss...”
Raymond Depardon

In the end Depardon’s photos of Glasgow were considered too bleak to publish at the time. He had broken the rules of his assignment and the photos remained unpublished for decades. They now offer a unique view of Glasgow in 1980.

If you like this photo by Raymond Depardon there is a book. It reads best when purchased from an independent book seller.