Sotheby's photograph specialist leaves

[Michael Pritchard]

Francis Hodgson, Sotheby's head of photographs in London has left the company. A company spokesperson was unable to explain the reasons for his departure but did confirm that the the auction scheduled for 19 May would go ahead with Jocelyn Phillips managing the sale. Hodgson's last sale, held in autumn 2008, had disappointing results, reflecting the global financial clash. Sotheby's also announced this week that they were further reducing lots below $5000 to continue focusing on the top end of the market. Hodgson joined Sotheby's after a long involvement in photography. He worked as the manager of the print room at the Photographers’ Gallery in London and later founded and directed Zwemmer Fine Photographs, a gallery specialised in photography, and has worked with several other galleries. Hodgson was also director of photography at Photonica, a major stock image library, where he was responsible for opening up the stock photography market to more artistic photography than had been considered possible. He was also at one time director of content at Eyestorm, the online art dealership. He has acted as representative and agent to photographers, and has been a writer and broadcaster on photography for many years.