SCROLL ︎
GRANTA MAGAZINE
PHOTO EDITOR
OVAL PRESS
FOUNDER
SPLASH & GRAB
FOUNDING EDITOR
PHOTO EDITOR
OVAL PRESS
FOUNDER
SPLASH & GRAB
FOUNDING EDITOR
LCC, BA PHOTOGRAPHY
SENIOR LECTURER
FT WEEKEND MAG
FREELANCE PHOTO EDITOR
PORT MAGAZINE
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
SENIOR LECTURER
FREELANCE PHOTO EDITOR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a3fc5bade24218fff563cceedf372b690f41723c29103e544f12616b21ba59cc/Deadfall-Max-Fergsuon-PR03.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e54d189c5913d54e1a5a7d27c8d587778ea0c3eee91976d1b3b5f5b66c69cd57/Deadfall-Max-Fergsuon-PR06.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b712a55dcc31193ae75cb3d7e2daab8f3163ad8f41dfa8b7d713f23210cc7be8/Deadfall-Max-Fergsuon-PR02.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9f901c5f1ffefcead17e90fe343a3b4e9d3f99de89b9e35f2748cd8530ece0b1/SS22103.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5a80b65aefb91b753fc791adb7aa146dc30a728dcd4caa7ec3d57ae244876e7f/Deadfall-Max-Fergsuon-PR09.jpg)
WHISTLING FOR OWLS ︎
Max’s first book (published, 2022), from his new imprint Oval Press, is a story in two parts: image and text; France and London; memoir and fiction; truth and lies. The oblique photographs and sometimes-poetic texts bring together a loose narrative of love, loss and longing inspired mostly by literature.
Max’s first book (published, 2022), from his new imprint Oval Press, is a story in two parts: image and text; France and London; memoir and fiction; truth and lies. The oblique photographs and sometimes-poetic texts bring together a loose narrative of love, loss and longing inspired mostly by literature.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a4dc067ac064ac1042d4b307b4bb99c9686969391b22756633e4b4fc55ab4dff/Whistling-for-Owls-6.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/101b68db06ac5f6ef12e6c217a8d2699e2622dd5d38926a94245b76ace9c27da/2a.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c642c5f81ddd034bc8c3f9e3c2a5f37d4e001642ee4f3a72ff2365bc4a916391/Whistling-for-Owls-2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f3b83738cd0e90ce03e8ac212f7c39f37767a109d6cf32a961155635b5300493/Whistling-for-Owls-7.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35bf25982fc9c1b8825b3e7eafba5d6500b10b10055437635eddee0efa4a8e2f/-scan1286.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2336d9cb299b9e7fa14fa8f92c2013dd63fd11f3fb6040c2c134c95821f54a46/Whistling-for-Owls-12.jpg)
BOOKS ︎
Max is the author of three books. Two are books of his own photographs, and texts, and the other is an introduction to portrait photography he wrote with the photographer Cian Oba-Smith.
Max is the author of three books. Two are books of his own photographs, and texts, and the other is an introduction to portrait photography he wrote with the photographer Cian Oba-Smith.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fa9d348b707075e26021f2551a6ca568f1af4e6e1381c5fc43dc0db83d2b1e63/Screenshot-2023-11-13-at-20.31.40.png)
Deadfall is the second book from Max Ferguson, and his imprint Oval Press. It is a photographic novel that weaves together literature and photography, inviting the reader to slide in free-fall through the life, dreams and memories of its faulted protagonist.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c8131b83a09c626600c72b3e899c9e57197f7ac69d7eafdeb6944326da74c648/9780500297131_The-Portrait-Photographers-Manual_Packshot4-copy.jpg)
“Anyone looking to enhance their skills in portraiture will find this new volume useful. Drawing on the work of 20 photographers from around the world, authors Cian Oba-Smith and Max Ferguson assess established approaches to portraits and explore the latest contemporary thinking. Readers can also get involved, with each chapter containing projects to follow.”
DIGITAL CAMERA WORLD
DIGITAL CAMERA WORLD
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1b1fb4613789c97342924abe59de893c9023a367ecde96c4b2622e30a343b3e/cover-crop--copy2.jpg)
“In the end, what is significant is the way that Ferguson offers images that frequently move beyond their own physical limitations as flat images by extending out to our senses and our memories.”
1000 WORDS MAGAZINE
1000 WORDS MAGAZINE
PHOTO EDITING ︎
Max has over 10 years expereince working with print and magazines as a photo editor, director of photography and editor. Some of the selected covers he has worked on are shown here.
Max has over 10 years expereince working with print and magazines as a photo editor, director of photography and editor. Some of the selected covers he has worked on are shown here.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/70f519c42daee9fda633b1a29bda8792183c790f801f3c397d873fe2e2bc8c5b/Screenshot-2024-05-24-at-11.33.55.png)
Granta 167
Cover: Salvatore Vitale
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3f8d664dc83c1d4b56c3e8aa47e209fa75712d8760281575147f7fd3251849b5/Screenshot-2024-05-24-at-11.33.43.png)
Granta 166
Cover: Thomas Struth
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1b0310717f16ccdc54dda2c394c4dedcf6660a11061b33262ecb03dd9f7afdb3/Screenshot-2023-12-11-at-20.02.20.png)
Granta 165
Cover: Muhammad Salah
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6880dd63f31776660343def78db160db4256795c14ca7abb76550250dcaac9be/G164-Cover-HR93.jpg)
Granta 164
Cover: Etal Adnan
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6350be0a1922b8d8ebb19bc1b7b6ffef60aecbba524081183880c42283213570/Screenshot-2023-05-10-at-15.04.19.png)
Granta 163
Cover: Donal Sturt
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/74b69d3c5e039b157363824996f4e1d5bbbc94a6bbef707ee479532d1ad29f8d/G162-COVER-web.jpg)
Granta 162
Cover: Walker Evans
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/025b78348279b2b2ef29220116affa666a7145d55bcb89cb4c656687f507dfaf/G161-COVER.jpg)
Granta 161: Sister, Brother
Cover : Najeebah Al-Ghadban
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82e1a8c6c2715d0b0bb741aa7fee52435370a7fb41c845e358606b788d55e9b3/G160-FRONT-COVER-web.jpeg)
Granta 160: Conflict
Cover: Thomas Duffield
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1eebd79c3cb55085b3dae1a9016dec88499ce0404d8cf649e99c2c6e4681269/G159-COVER-lowres.jpeg)
Granta 159: What Do You See?
Cover: Suzie Howell
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dd3ace0193685801026001d090409a6903ed49903c58b0d29e8c0eaf74cc96aa/Screenshot-2022-04-27-at-18.58.28.png)
Granta 158: In the Family
Cover: Lewis Khan
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/db97eb5225404302b20f272aff7d1cf7b0ad6621bcc83c71f25e609f836b4041/Screenshot-2021-10-27-at-00.11.37.png)
Granta 157
Cover: Teju Cole
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7eafe9289e7dd0bac2c05d5b72e266b5f92532c5132a960db781a933a5e1f4b/9781909889415.jpg)
Granta 156: Interiros
Cover: Kaitlin Maxwell
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/028c83f96367cdd44ae3afde3c16046630fc8a33fe3366c60f6be6767aa4a406/SG_Cover_Final-1.jpg)
Cover: Isabel Okoro
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ddf8f6d035727edc78f249e7e99fd0626c45c1a83ea1920b9003c95e1aecba25/Cover.png)
Splash & Grab 4
Cover: Gábor Arion Kudász
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/804584665c57824be4768ff1701d6d64e6e1c94ad21c75309f2ed7d09bee2ea9/Cover---Julia-Autz.jpg)
Splash & Grab 3
Cover: Julia Autz
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1a7ab66253b4e28e0a8ef81d9461204843059db207ee210a6b07d52bb53d83bf/SG2-Cover-crop.jpg)
Cover: Laurence Rasti
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e7dee2efc508b2c10a16d2d9712e7454240f9f4dd3b8fffcff7f3dd18d7bf87a/24-september6066-crop.jpg)
Splash & Grab 1
Cover: Juan Madrid
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/68d242b4fb7abdf7ce6ee227b4b5b80707049cc325adbc7110b1794a4692a985/Port30_Covers4.jpg)
Port 30
Cover: Ryan James Caruthers
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/716939fed2bb3d61213437ade9ea02bfbb41078f155d1872c263874a8df334c8/Port30_Covers3.jpg)
Port 30
Cover: Jessica Madavo
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4fed36751330fcb92cbd5f5b4f88218bdcdd38ccad48ca4d7a855e9c79e5d804/Port30_Covers2.jpg)
Port 30
Cover: Ian Kenneth Bird
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c2395c2a5c533514c0e5f1b2663e78079f408d977195407d7dc09e5522cb4849/Port30_Covers.jpg)
Port 30
Cover: Adama Jalloh
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2d1a90c843292285d62577d215781ab296f714ba55343a1ff7021e66e5a80092/Port-29_Covers-for-Social2.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Silvana Trevale
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/23cfd6f99cad14c59a10d02b8fdf5de1f3860307a4797e624f9344ffe4cfebcd/Port-29_Covers-for-Social.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Cecily Eno
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a3471d78f2ec9fb1415aad50e85059a8fd05a514117cc8b120d8cd67c2b73aed/Port-29_Covers-for-Social3.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Liz Johnson Artur
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/877524d64e12f0cc6654c88f9ec16cdcc3ddfdd7b29bd5f8453ee05167cba59a/Port-29_Covers-for-Social4.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Andy Massaccesi
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/597fd1a713810dfb17cbb1fd1649b9552ab2fdc36b4c90b7fc81de9b4e275d6f/Port-29_Covers-for-Social5.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Jeff Boudreau
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9f000f2e083b8ab6242d6ba042411f5268d42886580c683f5cb94082a0085b4e/Port-29_Covers-for-Social6.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Ana Larruy
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5f4665b3516563803eb9f084c01a11e43b606caa46247cbad688ad6eb95a0f0c/Port-29_Covers-for-Social7.jpg)
Port 29
Cover: Gavin Turk
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a82cda093d20e4f5384526035123f35ba52a2f9a8198cb6de471cc46b9aa8047/Screenshot-2021-08-06-at-13.07.13.png)
Port 28
Cover: Luke Page
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1d5610b8c06e2dca398b416703472a588959a11136568c2ba830d05e04ccb191/Screenshot-2021-08-06-at-13.07.32.png)
Cover: Donavon Smallwood
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e67d8df30f72151124c51862c0e7891cc95864b69ff8c202ba8748de3ced4991/Screenshot-2021-08-06-at-13.06.30.png)
Port 28
Cover: Marlen Keller
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d5ef7c3ea6723582d0b60fb5d5e2d15e04d696af720c8a84fd2dbab8669c0a1e/Screenshot-2021-08-18-at-12.07.26.png)
Port 28
Cover: Guen Fiore
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/39fd95e37f1a7533b856ae90ba22d04b17ccdc2d0b75c67e30980a945248a7db/0PORT28_COVER_FA5_grande.jpeg)
Port 28
Cover: Rahim Fortune
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/30278216c1e5cb73672bc1be1001ee205d3445d1d7038aa9281e953ee4112dab/0-PORT-27_COVER.jpg)
Port 27
Cover: Liz Johnson Artur
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec5078e92edeec01a890225839900ff966e0318bae8750e1423ae46bb9705797/PORT_26_001_NEW.jpg)
Port 26
Cover: Justin French
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/72a69e27496619f1a0ce71072a40d28c63604fa69fa69b586660520cac737695/Kelvin-Harrison-Jr.jpg)
Port 26
Cover: Geordie Wood
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/271739f69bbb2c1cc51a2d9f1701ca127e1348593db363da9539ba82c4230efd/PORT_26_003_NEW.jpg)
Port 26
Cover: Mous Lamrabat
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ae6af892f536968320d135aadfa169413792792074842d42bacf4b0c546cb4a/image-asset.png)
Port 25
Cover: Clement Pascal
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4026104ef7d867cbee53440c6e7a621e846e9c9aa6bf9078cd409e92fce94f33/Port24_COVER_001.jpg)
Port 24
Cover: Ryan Pfluger
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b18ea45abbdb77e1f70e3b06fa96350bca30f140defa499bc1c3f279d839f7c/Port24_COVER_002.jpg)
Port 24
Cover: Jack Davison
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/607fed6150fe2916e8959897c8653aa4e01c4277783d26a725876f1be22d9370/Screenshot-2021-08-17-at-22.56.43.png)
FT Weekend Magazine
Cover: Chantal Anderson
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c7de352681670052cb73f0458db06ae0ec183dab067f93a103feb734cb869f3d/D9gnBegXoAAWcca.jpeg)
FT Weekend Magazine
Cover: Anaïck Lejart
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5efcb3503b512e63a5833f4612eb398af59693f6c4447967677d05310d8e2d2c/emmamax.jpeg)
© Cian Oba-Smith
Max Ferguson is a photographer, writer and curator. He is the Founder of Oval Press and Splash & Grab Magazine, and the Photo Editor of Granta Magazine. Alongside Cian Oba-Smith, he co-authored The Portrait Photographer’s Manual (Thames & Hudson). He is the author of two photobooks: Whistling for Owls and Deadfall. Max is a Senior Lecturer in photography at the London College of Communication and a regular visiting lecturer on various photography programmes across the UK. Previous experience includes five years as the Director of Photography of Port Magazine and several as a Photo Editor at the Financial Times Weekend Magazine. Max recently completed his MA in Photography at UWE in Bristol.
Publications
Granta Magazine
Port Magazine
Splash & Grab
Financial Times Magazine
Financial Times Life & Arts
Photoworks
How To Spend It
TenTen
British Journal of Photography
Huck
Granta Magazine
Port Magazine
Splash & Grab
Financial Times Magazine
Financial Times Life & Arts
Photoworks
How To Spend It
TenTen
British Journal of Photography
Huck
Exhibitions
(curated/produced/exhibited)
Deadfall, 2024
On Purpose, 2022
UWE MA Show, 2022
My London, 2019
Peckham 24, 2019
Construction, 2019
My London 2018
Splash & Grab 2017
Splash & Grab 2016
London Art Fair 2016
London Art Fair 2015
Splash & Grab 2015
(curated/produced/exhibited)
Deadfall, 2024
On Purpose, 2022
UWE MA Show, 2022
My London, 2019
Peckham 24, 2019
Construction, 2019
My London 2018
Splash & Grab 2017
Splash & Grab 2016
London Art Fair 2016
London Art Fair 2015
Splash & Grab 2015
Teaching
London College of Communication
Autograph ABP
The Photographers’ Gallery
Photofusion
Magnum Photos
Calvert-22
Getty Images
University of Plymouth
Falmouth University
University of West England
Birmingham City University
Huddersfield University
Bournemouth Ars University
London South Bank University
Bath Spa University
Norwich University of the Arts
Ravensbourne University
London College of Communication
Autograph ABP
The Photographers’ Gallery
Photofusion
Magnum Photos
Calvert-22
Getty Images
University of Plymouth
Falmouth University
University of West England
Birmingham City University
Huddersfield University
Bournemouth Ars University
London South Bank University
Bath Spa University
Norwich University of the Arts
Ravensbourne University