Stills shoot accompanying the promotion of KIA’s newest electric launch.
The World Class Jodie Kidd for the promotion of KIA’s new electric vehicle, the EV9. It was an absolute pleasure to photograph Jodie - she was the perfect professional and made the whole day so enjoyable. Many thanks to Henry Warrington at Third City and Tom Richards at KIA for the commission, Tori Ball for hair and make up, Liesa Miller for Styling and Joe Conway for his brilliant assistance. Shot at Big Sky Studios.
Back at Canons House last week for a workshop on Photographic Storytelling. It sounds maybe grander than it is, but through 20 odd years of editorial commissions I realise that so many of my jobs entail creating a narrative from a number of images rather than just a ‘hero’ shot.
So I gathered some recent work that I consider portraits that tell a bit more of a story as well as the reportage features that always ask for a change in pace and style.
I was hoping those in attendance would see their snaps from holidays or weekends away could be viewed as more important than a search for one image worthy of a framed print (as many often were thinking.) A selection gathered from these moments can really create marvellous stories from our nearest and often overlooked environments
All this week I will be working on a new project for the Canons House and Grounds Lottery Project.
https://www.thecanonsmitcham.co.uk
Canons House & Grounds is a £4.4 million project made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund. The project is being undertaken by Merton Council with support from many community groups.
Running until September 2023 and includes both a major capital works project and a programme of community events and activities.
Stills to accompany Saga’short films leading up to last year’s World Cup.
Nothing makes me happier than spending a few days discussing Pies, Subbuteo and the terror of attending an Edinburgh Derby in 1986, so hopefully the fun I had comes through in these pictures. Thanks to the wonderful people at Zinc I was able to follow Joe Briffa around again as he composed these three short films. The legendary DJ Norman Jay MBE was interviewing, and his professionalism and sweet nature made this a joy. Day one was at Gigg Lane, home of Bury FC, sadly defunct, but hopefully soon to be resuscitated.
So all done and dusted.
My first Solo exhibition was in January. Curated by Mindy Lee at Blyth Arts, the show was the first time I had shown these portraits in a Gallery - the first time I had exhibited in a decade.
This may seem like a long time, but is indicative of how I see my work, and how the function of an editorial photographer differs from the job of an artist. Taking these images out of their usual area is quite fun - the days they were up filled me with an immense pride, and validated all I have learned working alongside some fantastic people for the many magazines, newspapers and commercial projects I have undertaken.
I held two talks and a walkthrough which, although initially terrifying, has only made me happier about what I do and the experience and ability I can call upon in the future.
There’s another in the pipeline …
I was very lucky recently to join Izzy Aron on a trip to Nailsworth in Gloucestershire. We were commissioned by Oatly to investigate the experience of watching professional football at the home of the world’s very first vegan, carbon-neutral football club. I’m never happier than going behind the scenes, even more so when there is a sport stadium involved, and it was fantastic to see how this club, still as small as most non-League outfits, is able to punch above it’s weight in League One of the Football League. Unfortunately, FGR got a drubbing from Exeter City on the day, but the warmth of the fans we met, and the staff who helped us so much throughout made it a fantastic day.
Read Izzy’s marvellous piece here:
https://www.oatly.com/things-we-do/stories/shove-your-vegan-burgers-up-your-arse
https://www.isabellearon.com
Very sad news that Eamonn McCabe, the Sport and Portrait Photographer and Picture Editor has died.
A few years back we were due to shoot David Hockney at the Royal Academy…As I, aArt Director Nick Booth and camera assistant Ed Marshall arrived, the PR announced that due to space and time constraints we would need to share the space with another photographer - from the Guardian.
Of course this isn’t ideal, it’s hard enough shooting with several people in the room, let alone another photographer. Then she told us it will be Eamon McCabe.
My heart sank - I feel imposter syndrome at the best of times, let alone when one of the most revered photographers is able to watch you stumble through a job .
As it turned out, he was relaxed, kind and understanding as we shuffled our kit to one side for him to take the simplest of pictures in a small pool of daylight. This polaroid is a nice reminder of how lucky I was to watch someone with so much experience put someone at ease and nail the shot.
I’m very excited, and a little terrified, to be working on a solo show at Blyth Arts, Imperial College - curated by Mindy Lee. It is still very much a work in progress but seems to be taking shape.
New work for The National. A trip to the beautiful Hampshire countryside and a peek into the world of top end Flat Racing. Ebrahim Nader is a Bahranian jockey working for the next few months at the stable of Andrew Balding. There is a steady stream of top jockeys coming throughBalding’s yard, although it is not an official academy, and Ebrahim is tipped for stardom. A dream job for me - thanks to Charlotte and Jake at the National, and to journalist Mark Souster for making it all happen.
A selection of the Artists I have photographed
Portraits of Laura Whitmore and her guests for the Zinc Media and Universal Music podcast. It goes on air on the 8th March 2022, International Women’s Day.
An editing suite was set aside for the portraits which were squeezed in to a very strict schedule - Although very small, the space lent itself really well to pick out the colour that everyone brought on the day.
I really shouldn’t advertise the fact too much, as it may be used against me, but I think I do pretty well in these tight spaces with minimal time to get a subject to relax enough for a portrait.
Laura Witmore, Yola, Lucy Porter, Amy Lamé, Birdy, Nicola Roberts, Daisy Buchanan, Olivia Dean and Rio Fredrika
I recently was commissioned for some studio and environmental portraits for a group of authors. To use my time better, I advertised to shoot test portraits for friends and colleagues in this excellent Bermondsey space. Thanks to these five who came along and proved excellent models.
L-R: Emily Jane Jupp, Journalist. Sonya Barber, Journalist. Banny Ng, Make Up Artist and Stylist. Rachel Halliburton, Journalist. Sam Afhim, Charity Campaigning Consultant.
Recent portrait commissions for editorial and commercial.
Omran Maroofi and his son Mohammed, for an article on Afghani refugees in London. Debbie Ariyo OBE, Chief Executive of AFRUCA, a UK charity she founded in 2001 to address child safeguarding and child trafficking issues in African diaspora communities. Chantal Coady, Chocolatier and artist. Photographed in her Kennington home . Diana Augustin, Head of Brand Marketing at StepStone. Photographed for Axel Springer Inside.
Portraits for the excellent Jewish Renaissance magazine, edited by my old Time Out pal Rebecca Taylor. Always the most interesting people to meet, and beautifully designed by Becky Redman. This feature focussed on Jewish life in South London. Many thanks to all who took part and allowed me time to shoot in and around their homes during the pandemic.
Judith Ish-Horowicz, Daisy Abboudi, Ruth Doniach-Durant, Gemma Seltzer and Sophie Herxheimer
This can be a challenge when you are given little time with a person - there is always a danger that it can end up looking like a passport photo. But luckily, with expressive, talented and generous subjects such as these, there is a lot more scope for hard pressed designers to accommodate images in layouts.
Last year I was asked to do unit stills on this Sky Arts show, highlighting the work of some of the most successful British photographers working today.
It was a fantastic opportunity to talk with these people, all in differing fields and in various stages of their careers.
Surprisingly, every one of them was very open and helpful to being photographed - something I find difficult. I cannot remember a more rewarding or enjoyable single job in the last few years. Many thanks to the people at Tern, the photographers and the brilliant crew that allowed me so much time to shoot these portraits.
A cover story for National Geographic Food, shot at Bentley's Oyster Bar & Grill off Piccadilly. Within a matter of minutes, mid service, Richard had managed to create this amazing winter soup - injecting colour and taste off the scale to a few cups of chopped root vegetables and stock. Many thanks to Richard and his team.
Commissioned by Lauren Atkinson Smith, who also did the wonderful layout - including the landscape shot from Getty.
A shoot from back before the start of this pandemic, which has turned London life upside down. These shots of busy restaurants for Time Out London look strange in the extreme these days. Thanks to Ben Rowe for the commission. Being asked to shoot during busy dinner or evening service is often hard. I struggled with the low lighting and longed for the daylight and undivided attention of staff that I am usually spoiled by. Looking at them now I am fairly pleased, though.
Time Out London sent me to four corners of the capital to shoot Londoners who had discovered new loved sites that had become vital throughout the pandemic. Here is a selection of Portraits.
From left: Leah Reynolds, who was shot in the Otherworlds Virtual Reality cafe, in Haggerston, Steven Kavuma in the rehearsal space of the Lyric in Hammersmith, Brodie Meah, restauranteur in Adana on Green Lanes and Aisha Mirza in a reclaimed allotment in Chingford.
