Brian Bower - A Tribute To A Fellowship Member
19th December 2025
In: Short Stories, News
A TRIBUTE TO BRIAN BOWER
We wrote about Brian's death on last week's news update and this week we thought we would give a fuller tribute to our esteemed member.
Brian was well known for his excellent books on the Leica systems both the M and R cameras. He knew both the history and the functions of the cameras and their systems and his books were excellent references to any of us who use these cameras.
Brian was also a well respected photographer who had been president of the Royal Photographic Society.
While Brian was an authority on Leica equipment he was also a fine photographer who captured many first class landscapes from across the world and just browsing one of his books will show you that talent.
Those books show the range of his landscapes and we could have chosen any of hundreds of his photographs. However, as his home was Cheshire, the webmaster thought it was apt to include photographs in that county.
So I've chosen two photographs taken on a hillside on the east side of Stockport close to the town of Romiley, it is called Werneth Low. I lived close to Werneth Low for eight years in the 1970s and never achieved anything close to the mood that Brian creates in the two photographs I've chosen. Brian could use the conditions created by the time and place he visited to beautiful effect.
In both of these photographs, published in the David & Charles book 'Lens, Light and Landscape' you can see how Brian was a master of the landscape.
If you haven't seen Brian's books published by David and Charles I recommend that you seek out copies and add them to your library; as well as the above book there is one on Leica M Photography, one on Leica Reflex Photography and one on Leica Lenses.
Members of the Fellowship who attend the weekends will remember an excellent lecture Brian gave to us a few years ago and I will remember him from the various lectures I attended over the years when I read his books.
Cled Lewis, our President, has sent a letter to Val Bower expressing our condolences.
You can see another tribute on the Macfilos site:
https://www.macfilos.com/2025/12/17/brian-bower-frps/
Werneth Low - M6 35mm
Werneth Low - M6 90mm
We wrote about Brian's death on last week's news update and this week we thought we would give a fuller tribute to our esteemed member.
Brian was well known for his excellent books on the Leica systems both the M and R cameras. He knew both the history and the functions of the cameras and their systems and his books were excellent references to any of us who use these cameras.
Brian was also a well respected photographer who had been president of the Royal Photographic Society.
While Brian was an authority on Leica equipment he was also a fine photographer who captured many first class landscapes from across the world and just browsing one of his books will show you that talent.
Those books show the range of his landscapes and we could have chosen any of hundreds of his photographs. However, as his home was Cheshire, the webmaster thought it was apt to include photographs in that county.
So I've chosen two photographs taken on a hillside on the east side of Stockport close to the town of Romiley, it is called Werneth Low. I lived close to Werneth Low for eight years in the 1970s and never achieved anything close to the mood that Brian creates in the two photographs I've chosen. Brian could use the conditions created by the time and place he visited to beautiful effect.
In both of these photographs, published in the David & Charles book 'Lens, Light and Landscape' you can see how Brian was a master of the landscape.
If you haven't seen Brian's books published by David and Charles I recommend that you seek out copies and add them to your library; as well as the above book there is one on Leica M Photography, one on Leica Reflex Photography and one on Leica Lenses.
Members of the Fellowship who attend the weekends will remember an excellent lecture Brian gave to us a few years ago and I will remember him from the various lectures I attended over the years when I read his books.
Cled Lewis, our President, has sent a letter to Val Bower expressing our condolences.
You can see another tribute on the Macfilos site:
https://www.macfilos.com/2025/12/17/brian-bower-frps/
Werneth Low - M6 35mm
Werneth Low - M6 90mm
Comments
By Pam: Thank you Ken. You have covered everything. By Don Morley: Dear Ken, Thank you for publishing such a fine tribute to Brian, I must have missed the notice you put on the Site last week about his so sad demise, but like a lot of our fellow Leica users I knew Brian and regarded him as a person let alone as a Leica user so very highly. He was in short he was a lovely and talented human being, and one who was always happy to help others whilst sharing his expertise with anyone who needed his advice or help. R.I.P Brian, You will be fondly remembered. By David Askham: Brian Bower will be greatly missed as a knowledgeable colleague and friend. My last conversation with him was held a few years ago. It was in Albert Dock in Liverpool during a Leica Fellowship event, when we were both ‘picture-making’. I think the photograph that I like best of all his work was taken during his Christmas day walk, in rural Cheshire, with his newly arrived Leica camera. It captured a simple countryside scene; a twisty lane, a characteristic cottage with chimney smoke lazily twirling above the roof. Peace. Calm. It was very atmospheric. When I remarked on it later, he said that it was one of his tried and tested landscapes, but this version was his favourite. He used the picture in many of his lectures. Rest in peace, dear Brian. Your work will never be forgotten by Leicaphiles!