The magazine of the photo-essay
Jan/Feb 2022 issue
Life Force magazine is a free, monthly, online, photo-led magazine which celebrates the art-form of the photo-essay. It has been described as the “Picture Post of the 21st Century” - a magazine that investigates the world and the human condition through the narrative of photography. Our photo-essays are about great photography and pushing the boundaries of the medium to explore conciousness and human perception, by harnessing the unique power that photography holds to capture a moment for analysis. Movies are often fantastic characterisations of life, such as Saving Private Ryan in which the ‘hyper-real’ is explored to great effect. Life Force magazine takes images directly from reality, exploring life as a movie that is continually playing out around us.
Editor Damian Bird is a photographer and photojournalist with many years of experience, working in war zones and trouble spots around the globe. He was educated in Photography at the Surrey College of Art and Design and at the London College of Communication where he studied for a post graduate degree in Photojournalism. In 2011 he founded Life Force magazine with his business partner and wife of 17 years, Alice. As well as Editing Life Force magazine, he is currently engaged in photographing a series of photo-essays on English culture and has recently returned to Afghanistan (Aug 2013). His first book Seabird was released in November 2017. His second book Farming Adrtmoor was published at the end of 2019. He continues to have his work published in national and international newspapers and magazines including The Times, the Telegraph, the Express, the Observer, GQ, Esquire, Dazed & Confused, The Face, Country Life and Geographical magazine.
Editor Alice Bird graduated from Durham University with a degree in Linguistics and English before embarking on a career in public relations and marketing. She worked in large London agencies on well-known consumer brands and in smaller, in-house roles for eccentric entrepreneurs. Brands include: Kelloggs, Top Shop, Hugo Boss fragrances, Yo! Sushi and Simon Woodroffe of BBC’s Dragon’s Den. Whilst in London, she studied Art History at Birkbeck College, University of London. Alice founded online art gallery The Robin Rae Gallery in 2020. She grew up on the coast in West Dorset with her clothing designer Mother and artist/ lecturer Father. She married Damian in ‘02 and has four children and three dachshunds.
About the Founders
Life Force magazine is dedicated to Paul Bird 1923 - 1993
Paul Bird (father of Life Force magazine Editor Damian Bird) served with the British Navy from 1943 to 1945 during World War II and saw active service in Burma and the Pacific. He was a war artist and two of his paintings (commissioned by the Royal Navy during WWII) remain in the Imperial War Museum in London to this day. Bird was the Vice Principal of the Central School of Art and Design, London, for twenty years during the 60s, 70s and 80s and his teaching is considered to have been influential. “Whilst working on my degree in Photography (1991), my Father became my most influential teacher until his death in 93. I learnt more from him about photography than from any one else.” Damian Bird. www.independent.co.uk/obituary wikipedia
Paul Bird WWII, Officer RN
A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine. Fabulous! Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film maker