B and R CCD surface photometry of late-type galaxies

We present B and R CCD observations of 16 late-type galaxies, mainly Magell anic irregulars and blue compact galaxies, at a limiting surface brightness of mu(B) similar to 26-27 mag arcsec(-2). The sample is derived from a HI- rich subset of an HI survey of late-type dwarfs and consists of objects wit h 19.5 less than or equal to M-B less than or equal to-14.4, nine galaxies being fainter than M-B=-17 (H-0=75 km s(-1) Mpc(-1)). Radial luminosity dis tributions for all the sample objects are presented. We find that the blue compacts become redder in (B - R) with increasing distances from their cent res confirming other studies indicating that recent star formation in these galaxies may be centrally concentrated. The Im and Sm galaxies show flatte r (B - R) colour profiles indicating less centrally concentrated recent sta r formation. The majority of the galaxies have an identifiable exponential disk while half also have a central bulge.