The majority of the pictures in this series are of Herdswicks (the ones with the smaller ears and wider white faces which are my favorites) and Swalesdales (the ones with the narrow faces with black markings which are my wife's favorites). These are the dominant breeds in England's Lake District where the pictures were taken.
My first portrait of a sheep was a Herdswick ewe. I looked at it later expecting a totally blank expression. And perhaps it was blank, or perhaps if you look longer you might also wonder if it's actually an enigmatic expression. Is it looking at us asking itself the same question?
Are these portraits of an animal of limited intelligence or one that is so content with its existence that, unlike we humans, it doesn't see any reason to continuously demonstrate how smart it is? Watch them for a while in the sheep pens at a farmers' show, catch them looking at you and you wonder whether they aren't just humoring us and waiting for us to do something intelligent first.
Spencer Stephens grew up in post-war North London and graduated from Sussex University with a degree in Physics. After graduating he spent his early years in the music industry as a tour manager.
For the last two decades, Spencer has lived Los Angeles and employed as the senior technologist for a Hollywood studio, working on everything from the camera to the screen. He spends part of his time working with directors of photography on camera and lens technology, and new ways to shoot.
A lifelong photographer, Spencer has several long-term photographic projects captured primarily in Europe exploring an eclectic mix of subjects and has also worked in the commercial field.
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