Just Popping to the Blog.

Year 4 Winner (just)

2019-08-29T15:13:00.005+01:00

Wow, after making the final edit for three years on the trot, I have made the edit of winners of the 2019 Portrait of Britain Award, for the published book version (and not the digital displays).

Strangely, this was an image shot specially for the competition-something I've not done before . Planning next year's entry as we speak..

New acquisition by the NPG

2018-12-07T16:59:00.004+00:00

Finally, six months after submission, I am thrilled to see that my Jacob Rees-Mogg image is now hanging in Room 37 of the National Portrait Gallery.

Whilst i am chuffed to bits, I'm not sure Mr Mogg will be asking for a copy..

Winner!

2018-09-07T10:50:00.002+01:00

I've just returned at some ungodly hour from the Winners' party for the Portrait of Britain exhibition in London's Docklands. A great night, with a chance to catch up with many influential snappers (and partake of a free bar..)

This image of the Deputy CEO of Hadlow College in Kent was selected along with 99 others, and can be seen on digital billboards across the country during September. This is my third year as a winner, which means I'm going to have to really give it some to get in next year..

Sir David Attenborough met a lion.

2018-03-09T09:46:00.000+00:00

The thing about a commission is that it is rarely straightforward. A while back, Radio Times called to ask if I would like to photograph Sir David Attenborough (again), but with a few 'props'. Hmm,props ..ah yes of course-lion cubs, nice and easy.

The idea developed into a simple Lion face/David face picture, except of course, you can't quite plan what might happen.

We turned up at David's house on a rainy day complete with backdrops and the usual disturbing amounts of kit. David looked worried when he saw it all. 'Can't we just do a quick snap in the garden?' he said. 15 mins later after much convincing, David let us in to set up in the available space. Thing is, I just wasn't sure exactly what was possible. The lion keepers suggested that milk might be the answer, but endless shots off a milk bottle would not be ideal.

So, lights up and a table in place, I started to try and direct the shoot. Big mistake. David immediately engaged with the little beauties, but the head on head idea was just not going to be a reality. So we swapped cubs, but the second was even worse and not even interested in the milk..

Time was ticking and I needed to get some sort of relationship going between the two. After a background change to black, I asked if David could just try a profile to profile shot by picking a cub up. Thing is you don't want a cub too close to you, but of all the people to ask, David Attenborough is the one. He then started mouthing sounds at the cub until it gave little roars back. Bingo!

The final cover uses two sequential frames for the perfect match and to make them slightly closer together than was safe to do on the day.

Portrait of Britain Exhibition 2017

2017-09-07T16:23:00.000+01:00

It's been a while since I added to this Blog. I must have been busy..or lazy. Just to let you all know that for the second year running, I have been selected to be part of the Portrait of Britain exhibition in association with the British Journal of Photography. My picture will be part of a series showing on JC Decaux billboards in shopping centres and railway stations across the UK. The subject is Rebecca Bunce who I photographed originally as part of a feminists collective shoot. The struggle she had to stand for my photograph is hopefully reflected in the dignity of her stance. I'm not big on entering awards (let alone being selected), but this is one that I will continue to participate in, if it continues next year.

When an image ends up going viral..

2016-11-08T10:35:00.004+00:00

Just occasionally, I will shoot an image that gets picked up a creates a (minor) Twitter moment, and I see it gaining a life of its' own.

This image of the MP Jacob Rees-Mogg (Brexit enthusiast) is one of those moments. Shot originally for the Times Magazine, it was only when the Guardian reproduced it in a profile piece, that it got picked up on social media. The author and journalist Bonnie Greer reposted the image along with much praise, and before I knew it, it was bouncing all round the internet. The picture was then reposted by celebreties whilst being endlessly adapted by a few (cruel) Photoshop geeks, who added flames and comments on to my original image which gave it extra life in a new form.

Following multiple online suggestions that the National Portrait Gallery should buy it, I added the image to a list of suggestions that I was already in the process of sending the gallery.

To my suprise, the NPG recently agreed to acquire the image (printed by Metro Imaging), and Bonnie then wrote this lovely article about it that appeared in the New European newspaper in the UK.

I've no idea what Mr Rees-Mogg thinks mind you..

Winner

2016-11-08T10:35:00.003+00:00

Competition Winning

2016-08-30T18:10:00.002+01:00

Occasionally I will enter photo competitions. Now I'm not very good at them-in that, I'm not very good at knowing what they are looking for.

However, when the BJP announced the 'Portrait of Britain' themed competition, I knew exactly what might slot in. And so, you can see these three winning images of mine in amongst many more across the country shortly. The images will rotate on digital screens within main railway stations and transport hubs across the country during September 2016.

The Concert

2016-04-29T14:32:00.000+01:00

First and foremost, I'm a portrait photographer. I like to control situations and light them accordingly. This commission was though, the very opposite.

Shooting a gig is nuts-how do you know what will happen or what the light will be or where in the room to be? I have shot concerts before, but the snapper normally only gets the first three songs and is in 'The Pit' with a few others, hugging the sweet spot. So a chance to shoot the whole event with an Access All Areas pass is a rarity and a gem.

Underworld are a great band and the Roundhouse a great venue, but with no proper instrumentation and not much movement, trying to find the best angle and moment is a challenge. Great night it was, which would have been perfect if I hadn't had a lens lost and never to reappear in the crush and dancing..

Here is a small edit including some shots that the band used as part of their US promotion.

Our Tina

2016-04-29T11:24:00.001+01:00

Causing a bit of stink recently has been the demise of BHS and the acquired wealth of Sir Philip Green's family.
I was asked a couple of years back to capture Lady Tina Green at an event opening in the West End. My ten mins with her was strange-she gave little away and did not want to be drawn on any friendly chat about Monaco. Mind you, I remember being told not to take my "professional looking camera outside" in Monaco, "the Police will stop you as the LOCALS don't like it.."
Still, checkout the BEAST of a diamond on her finger. Tax free of course.

Murray Mints

2015-06-26T15:42:00.000+01:00

Stars and their dogs. Well, it's not easy with pooches. Mr Andy Murray handed me one or two fun shots in between all the barking.

From the other side

2015-04-30T15:11:00.003+01:00

It's not often that I get to see one of my shoots from the other side-the sitter, that is. The poor bugger who has to put up with my quirks and working methods.
Well, the lovely writer Clare Dunkle, has just directed her time spent with me in a studio in Frankfurt last week:
http://www.claredunkle.com/claresblog/

Smaller Gallery (ever)

2015-04-28T15:49:00.000+01:00

Seems I am Photographer of the Month in the Lucid Towers (Agent) office currently.

The Ark

2015-03-25T09:51:00.001+00:00

Back in the summer of 2014, I was asked to join a BBC drama filming in the desert in Morocco, with the task of producing all the 'Specials' over the course of a couple of days.

Sounds great - yup, I'm up for that. Great cast, great location-now all I had to do was ge the panning sorted.

Arriving in the middle of the night, I dragged my bags down to my room with a porter, which was set way back from the main hotel. Keys in, I slumped into the darkened space, throwing my bag onto the floor. Now, when the local porter yelps, you can be reassured that it is ok to join in: My room was covered in ants. Covered. So, being British, I said 'thank you' to my helper and turned to make the best of it. Cut to 5 mins later and I m at the desk asking for help as ants overrun my bags, and I switch rooms.

The following day, and I am out in the searing heat. This was a great shoot all round, despite the lack of location power and the occasional 'mistral' windstorms which played havoc with my kit.

Infact, my abiding memory will be the actress Joanne Whalley looking at me anxiously and insisting that I see a medic for my eye, which has swollen like a toad now that the sun cream has drizzled into it and mixed with the sand and sweat.

They had planned to shoot the building of the Ark in reverse-start the scenes with it finished and then gradually disassemble it so it appears to be progressing. Otherwise you'd have to wait every day whilst the team added on another layer. The day I left, an enormous water truck was due to arrive to add the flood effects. In 35 degrees, I have no idea where it came from. In television, anything is possible.

The Ark BBC1 30th March 2015.

McQueen & Moss: a lesson learnt/Part 2

2015-03-24T10:36:00.005+00:00

Arriving at the enormous venue with my assorted camera bits hanging awkwardly off both of us, we gained entrance and were shown to a drab entrance area, where the Taylor-Wood picture was mounted rather high up on a wall.

Now there's only so much you can do with one light, a battery system and a reflective background, so I set up in the only way possible-head on, and blast 'em with light. Camera on tripod we waited. And waited. Finally, Kate Moss arrives, looks at me, says nothing and walks on by looking around the various preparation areas for the models and make up. I waited a while and then went to ask about the shoot and where McQueen was with Miss Moss. Just then, the man himself arrives, looking shy and flustered.

Five minutes later and I have dragged two extremely reluctant subjects in-front of my set up. My goodness they did not want to do this-perhaps no-one had told them, but they just looked defensive and well, furious. 10 frames for the sweaty photographer and they are gone.

Not a great start, but hey, it can only get better. Except it didn't. Infant the rest of the evening was meant to be a breeze-celebs would be brought to me for a considered snap in amongst the throng of the party. Trouble was, by now I felt like dying and my dear old Pentax had decided to refuse to load any film. And then Kristin Davis, star of the top show of the time "Sex in the City' comes over.
" Hi," she says. " We have some photos to do?".

'Er, yes, I mumbled, as I crouched on the floor, camera in hand, in pitch black trying to get the bloody camera loaded. 'Any chance you could pop off for a bit and I will come find you?' I pleaded. And so with enormous grace, she did. She popped off, forlornly, glass in hand. I kinda admire her for not telling me that my time was now past, but that's a star turn in my books.

And so the evening never quite recovered-Tim Burton,Manolo Blanik..a passing group of the weird and wonderful and I am snapping with a useless piece of kit, knowing it is going to be a failure.

Jess and me retire for a think. 'Why don't we go and see if we can sneak into the fashion show itself?' I suggested. Jess looks at me like I am mad, but we gather our kit and creep in to grab a seat around the perspex box the will hold the event.

Ten minutes later and myself and Jess are being unceremoniously ejected from a back door onto the street, camera gear everywhere.

So there is only one picture I can add to illustrate this story. It's not the best I have ever shot, but I will never forget taking it (see Part 1).

This whole fiasco set a template for every shoot since-think and plan ahead, don't take too many chances and, just occasionally, you have to say no to a job that you can't do brilliantly.

McQueen & Moss: a lesson learnt/Part 1

2015-03-24T10:36:00.004+00:00

Back in 2004, film was still king, and Alexander McQueen and Kate Moss were the royalty of the fashion world.

Sitting outside my sunny office in Tunbridge Wells, I answered a call from the Times Magazine picture desk: Did I want to want to cover a rather special 'party' event in London. It would mean a visit to the PR to get a special pass for myself and an Assistant the following day.

Now, I don't really shoot parties, however, the American Express 'Black' party would be the exception. I was told I was going to be the only photographer on the inside, apart from Richard Young, and that it would be held at Earls Court. ALL of Earls Court-and all completely dressed in black velvet.

I was given a somewhat restrictive list of conditions that I had to sign as I collected the passes for myself and my Assistant (Jess): 1 camera/1 lens/1 light, no bags and no stands or tripods, we CANNOT enter the Fashion Show itself and we must wear only black. My shot list was to be a two shot of McQueen and Moss infront of a Sam Taylor-Wood photo of Moss, followed by shots in the party of specific celebrity guests and then leave before the fashion show.

The day came, and I felt terrible. In-fact so terrible, that I rang to try and pull out of the whole shoot. 'No, I 'had to attend' was the response as I paced the office wondering how I could stave off that dreaded feeling of acute nausea:you can never be ill as a photographer.

My first mistake therefore, was going-I sweated the whole way there trying to pull myself together. My second was that I had also packed a daft set of photographic choices- a sturdy, but completely unreliable Pentax 6x7, and one underpowered Bowens head with a battery and a softbox. These are the days of film and I was going to be working in giant black rooms with only tiny amounts of available light, oh, and my editor would be popping in to see how things went.

Oh, and how they went...

See Part 2

The Body

2015-01-08T17:45:00.002+00:00

Shot this recently-when no model could be found, I , er, stepped in..honest.

On set Specials Photography

2015-01-07T12:02:00.001+00:00

Death in Paradise-BBC One:

Once or twice a year, I return to where I started, by shooting a TV series Specials set up. Specials are different to stills in that they are choreographed set piece images where you get to control the look of a shot. These pics usually end up as magazine promo pics or DVD box set images.

This is the third time I have taken on this easy going detective drama, twice in 2014 in fact. On the plus side there is the Caribbean, and what with most of the settings being outdoors, the sun/beaches/jungle...actually surely it's all pluses? Well almost. It's just INCREDIBLY hot. That sort of humid heat that means you are wet within two mins of leaving any air conditioning, you are soaked. And more's the point, your camera gear is soaked.

The other main challenge has to be shooting for a week, on location, with lights, but without my usual Assistant and with limited help. Still, that O'level French finally came in handy as Guadeloupe is a French dependancy with little English spoken.

Glad to see the shots out there-even if you can't see the impending storm that followed several set ups, or my extraordinary shorts, and yes, that is me IN THE SEA.

More Miranda

2014-11-26T11:58:00.001+00:00

So another fun day with Miss Hart. Falling over to instruction and generally mucking about whilst trying to stop her dog entering the frame. Perhaps I should have a 'Miranda' section on my website which you can view as a flick book..
The falling shot was done onto a crash mat using a high speed camera and flash-I tried it, and it was not easy to both look at the camera and land well. Over to the professional then.

Le President

2014-11-24T18:42:00.001+00:00

A trip to Paris to snap President Hollande's ex proved enough to make the front of the Times, and the interest of much of the French media. I wonder what Valerie herself thought?

Update-now in Paris Match too..

Graham Norton AR cover film

2014-11-02T17:36:00.001+00:00

Here we go again..10 mins left at the end of a busy location shoot and we have to shoot the AR (Augmented Reality) film. Well, I did, and here is the full extended (sic) edit.

Graham Norton AR (via Vimeo)

Graham Norton - Times Magazine interview (behind the scenes)

2014-10-30T18:27:00.001+00:00

Working to Brief

2014-10-02T14:58:00.002+01:00

New shoot out-They could have asked me to model this...but then again..

oooh, I remember this..

2014-09-17T12:11:00.000+01:00

Found a link here to a behind the scenes on my Charlotte Church shoot for Stylist Magazine from the studio hire blog from 26th Feb this year if you'd like to take a look:
http://www.pinegate.co.uk/stylist-magazine-hire-the-studio/

Caitlin Moran

2014-06-24T10:07:00.000+01:00

It's not easy writing anything about someone who's job is to write about anything, but write it REALLY WELL.

I've been snapping Caitlin Moran for many years now. Sometimes for the Times, where she writes both a column, and for the magazine where she is often required to tolerate such extremes as camping at Glastonbury, and doing extended photo shoots with me. In fact shoots with me can go on long enough, that they make it into her writing. I'm not sure if pride or horror should accompany her description of sobbing after 8 hours of being photographed by me-a story that made it into her bestseller 'How to be a Woman'.

Still, we get along fine, and I think I know why as she says here-

"I have such insane love for any photographer who SORTS HIS FUCKING LIGHTS OUT before people come on set. You'd be amazed how many don't, and faff around while you stand there, with all your vibe slowly draining."

Another couple of cover shoots featuring Ms Moran will be out shortly, along with some general publicity stuff we shot around her new book. Truth is, she's a great collaborator-willing to mess with the ideas, and throw in a few of her own. As long as I'm quick..

UPDATE!

Times covers here-other mags to follow soon: