Photographer: Michael Joseph
Date: 1968
Image W: 310 mm H: 440 mm
Mount w 500 mm h: 700 mm
This charming, vintage photograph was taken in Bedham Woods, near Petworth, and captures a festive, wintry scene full of nostalgia. A group of people—including agents Roger and Peter, Michael, Manfred, Julie, Susan, Helen, and several other assistants and colleagues—are gathered around a traditional sleigh, surrounded by a team of remarkably well-behaved reindeer (or possibly model stags). The photographer and his assistants alike are dressed warmly in period-appropriate clothing, their smiles and poses lending a joyful, celebratory feel to the moment.
The image exudes rustic charm, with the woodland backdrop and the sleigh evoking the spirit of a bygone era. Its sepia tone enhances the timeless quality, as if plucked from an early 20th-century holiday card. Michael’s handwritten note on the mount—“Agents Roger & Peter, Michael, Manfred & Julie & Staff”—adds a personal touch, hinting at the camaraderie of the group.
This photograph was a special keepsake, staged for a holiday card and treasured by Michael, who has always kept a copy displayed on the wall of his library as a fond reminder of “the good old days. »
