NORTHERNER Kevin Cummins is one of the world’s most renowned music photographers.

He has snapped David Bowie, Mick Jagger, The Happy Mondays, The Smiths, as well as working as the New Musical Express’ chief photographer for ten years.

However, it’s the time he spent photographing Joy Division – where he created the defining images of a band still hugely influential today – that arguably produced the best examples of his work.

“Joy Division were relatively unknown when I did that photograph of them on that snowy day in Manchester in 1979, and it’s one of the first band shoots I did,” said Cummins, who will talk about his life at the Louder Than Words Literature Festival in Manchester this weekend.

“I only had two rolls of film, as that was all I could afford, so I had to make every frame count, and it was probably my best known photograph.

“I’ve noticed that when students move to Manchester they have their picture taken on that bridge.

“It’s an honour that people feel the photograph defines the city and the band.”

Included in his vast archives is the photograph Cummins took for The Smiths’ very first NME cover.

The image went on to grace the covers of several books.

It shows Morrissey, Johnny Marr and co in a Manchester park, at a time when the trend was to show bands with urban, industrial Manchester as a backdrop.

“The photographs define how music fans perceive a new band.

“Sometimes they see a photograph before they’ve heard any of their music.

“I didn’t think an urban setting would suit them, so we went to the outskirts of Manchester, to the park, to give them a softer feel. I thought that was essential.”

Off all the stars that Cummins has photographed Morrissey still stands out as his favourite subject.

“I’d always pick Morrissey, he’s got an aura about him,” he revealed.

“There are very few real stars these days, certainly in rock and roll.”

Cummins, though, does lament the changing face of the media industry, especially the role of social media in recording history.

“I’m not sure photography is a valued art anymore, we’re in a period where everybody documents every second of their lives, taking photographs of everything they do.

“So they’ll sit there with a pint, take a picture of it, and put it on Twitter.

“And it is also not that interesting, however fascinating musicians think they are, for them to take their own pictures on their camera phones.

“In the past dressing room shots were rare, and they were always valued if you were able to do some pictures of a band in that environment.

“Now they do it themselves.

“Consequently, there’s no musical underground because if you chance upon a band that nobody’s heard of, by the end of the first two numbers it’s all over twitter and facebook.

“It’s a very odd world at the moment, and there’s no mystery anymore.”

Kevin Cummins, Louder Than Words Festival, Palace Hotel, Manchester, November 14-16.