Beyond the Frame 65/

B-Sides and Rarities. Previously unseen photographic outtakes and why they still sing.

Jul 20, 2025

Jakar, Bhutan. Outtake from an assignment about Buddhist temples.

People often ask me, “Gavin, what’s the greatest rock/pop compilation album of B-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased songs?”

The answer, of course, is Suede’s peerless 1997 double-album, Sci-Fi Lullabies.

Twenty-seven louche hymns of frayed suburban glamour and cul-de-sac ennui, Sci-Fi Lullabies is the soundtrack to a thousand gold lamé and faded velvet backseat misadventures – anthems of yearning dissolving beneath rain-soaked provincial streetlights.

“Oh, day after day, every morning
The city sighs and cars collide
Oh, we take the train
Through the winter hinterlands and garage bands
And we wash it away, we wash it away this grey”

This Time by Suede

What is a B-side?

For the benefit of millennial readers, a B-side was the song on the reverse of a single. The A-side featured the main track, intended for radio play. The B-side was a bonus, often an experimental track, typically seen as less commercially viable.

Oh, and a “single” was a flat vinyl disc with tiny grooves on each side, spun on a turntable at precisely 45 rpm. A needle would sit in the groove, transmitting vibrations via a cartridge to an amplifier, which in turn powered a speaker or headphones, out of which music would play.

(This is probably the reverse of explaining Generative AI to a Boomer!)

Sometimes, B-side tracks would become fan favourites, eclipsing their A-side counterparts. And artists often preferred their B-side songs, even though they might have strayed beyond the commercial expectations of a record label.

Nawalgarh, India. Outtake from a story about Indian railways.

In honour of the B-side, here’s a collection of images which have never previously seen the light of day, but which nevertheless possess their own, unique value.

Some photos don’t exactly fit the assignment brief for which they were made. Some were made simply for pleasure, but don’t have any commercial value to a stock agency.

Some pictures come from NGO assignments where the subjects’ anonymity was required. Mostly, photos from those sensitive jobs show people in silhouette or deliberately out of focus but I would still have made portraits for identification purposes. Sometimes those portraits turn out to be the most compelling pictures but they can only be shown out of context.

Buddhist monk, Bhutan. Outtake from a story about Bhutanese festivals.

Occasionally, a photo has a technical issue, a lack of critical focus perhaps. But if you’re not pixel-peeping, you might never know, and the picture might even have a more authentic feel for its imprecision.

“Sharpness is a bourgeois concept.”
– Henri Cartier-Bresson

My B-sides

So these are some of my many B-sides. A few, random portraits from the 99.9% of previously unseen images which didn’t quite fit the original bill, but which continue to grow in my affection.

Jennifer

From a collection of portraits for a client. Jennifer Robertson is a vegan and raw food chef.

Even though this portrait, made when we were setting up, wasn’t appropriate for her promotional material, there’s something about Jennifer’s unflinching gaze into the lens that I admire.

Jennifer Robertson. Outtake from a client portrait session.

If I remember rightly, Jennifer’s colourful top is Laotian, possibly Vietnamese, but I think Laos is correct. We did make many more suitable pictures, of course, just in case you’re concerned on Jennifer’s behalf.

Sita

The photo of Sita was cut from a tight narrative edit but remains one of my most memorable portraits.

Often, B-side photos become favourites because of the memories associated with them. Such memories remain only in the possession of the photographer though, they lie beyond the reach of every other viewer.

Sita, India. Outtake from an editorial story.

Dean

Dean Buonomano is a renowned neuroscientist and author of the excellent book, Brain Bugs.

I like this B-side portrait because it’s a reminder of our conversation and of how clearly Dean explained his work to me. In Dean’s expression I see the friendly look of a man who, whilst clearly possessing an impressive range of knowledge, is happy to share what he knows in layman’s terms. I respect that.

Why didn’t this picture make the cut? You’ve probably already noticed. Even though I was using a 50mm lens, I was simply too close and Dean’s arm looks kind of awkward. I made better portraits of Dean but I can overlook my poor choice of perspective for this friendly, relaxed, B-side memory.

Dean Buonomano. Outtake from a portrait assignment.

Dean introduced the concept behind Brain Bugs at a TEDx conference.

Raj

Raj approached me on a street in northern India.

“Hey! I’m an actor. Can you take pictures for my portfolio? I want to send them to a producer.”

Naturally, with respect for his straightforward approach, I said yes.

Raj. Portrait from an impromptu model portfolio session.

Raj had all the poses prepared. He directed, I photographed, he checked the images in the back of the camera. When he was satisfied, he wrote down his email address. A week later, I sent the pictures and I presume he’s now a Bollywood star. He certainly deserves to be.

Flower Girl

The final track on this collection of B-sides is a 30-year throwback to a low-resolution scan of a Fuji Velvia slide.

Walking through a forest in the Kathmandu valley, this girl wandered up the path. She held out a yellow carnation and said, in perfect English, “For you.”

She handed me the flower, smiled, and continued on her way.

Who can know the reason for her random act of generosity? The fact that I remember it 30 years later probably tells us all we need to know.

Strange to think that she must now be nearly 40 years-old. I wonder if she has a family. What are the chances that I’d be able to find her if I went back to that same stretch of forest path?

I still have the yellow carnation, pressed between the pages of a notebook, safely locked away.

My photographic B-sides might never have made it to the main stage but I think they have their own value and charm. Just like my most-played singles, perhaps they’re scratched and imperfect, but they can still carry a tune.

Until next time, go well.