Arbroath

Home of The Smokie, The Red Lichties and The Declaration Of Arbroath - None of which appear in these pictures.

London Cocktail Week for Kanpai Magazine

London's Six Essential Cocktails for Merchants Heart and their Kanpai! Magazine. Clockwise from top left: Swift's Irish Coffee, Termini's Negroni, Hawksmoor's Shakey Pete, Three Sheets' French 76, Coupette's Champagne Pina Colada and the Experimental Cocktail Club's St Germain De Pres

Budapest Formula 1 Grand Prix Weekend

At the end of July I was asked by Thomas Cook Sport to visit Budapest. The idea was to illustrate, apart from the excitement of the event itself, the buzz of the bars, restaurants and culture. It is an amazingly photogenic place, a perfect size for a weekend break and definitely somewhere I would like to visit again.  

Daniel Day Lewis

I am very sad to see DDL has retired - I photographed him twice, and both times he was utterly charming. There was a hint of mischief in his manner, a feeling he was both totally aware of the absurdity of 'the junket', yet equally happy watching the various dynamics between Journalists, Publicity Officers, Photographers, and Artist Management.

This was at odds with the view I have read several times today, that he was difficult or avoided interviews or publicity.

Like most people who excel at a chosen field, he probably is excelling in many more areas of his life we never see. I remember that Barry McGuigan was convinced he could have been a fighter after training him for The Boxer. Bit late for that Daniel, but let's hope he changes his mind on retirement.

Weald and Downland Living Museum

On the edge of the Sussex Downs a Living Museum. A very wet day!

The Weald and Downland Museum was launched in 1967 by a group of enthusiasts led by  Dr. J.R. Armstrong MBE. The principal aim of the group was to establish a centre that could rescue  examples of vernacular buildings from the South East of England. Staffed by among others a large number of volunteers, the museum is a fantastic place to explore what we have tried desperately to destroy in our pursuit of architectural excellence. It seems we sometimes should look back to take a step forward.

 

Artist Stephen Wright in his House of Dreams

This shot was taken whilst documenting Stephen's House/ Museum in Dulwich a couple of years ago. It is an amazing collection of found objects and  re-fashioned dolls and toys created over the last two decades. Only open on a few days a month on average, perfect for lovers of Outsider Art. I found it incredibly moving hearing his stories of the objects and the driving force behind the project, it is a must see for anyone searching for those London secret gems we all harp on about endlessly.

http://www.stephenwrightartist.com/houseofdreams.php

The Lord Alfred Dubs

It was quite a feat trying to keep up with 84 year old Alf Dubs as he raced through the corridors and communal areas of the Palace of Westminster. He was constantly stopping to check from the numerous TV screens that he was not needed in the chamber and hailing all and sundry as he whisked us towards Westminster Hall. His energy was matched only by the generosity with his time.

As always it was so good to be working with an old colleague from TO - Alf was interviewed by Rebecca Taylor for Jewish Renaissance Magazine, and sitting in on the interview was a great pleasure.

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The Infatuation

American Foodies have been relying on this site for a while - well now they are in London.

Over the last couple of months I've helped in a very small way with a number of restaurant shoots.

Here's a selection. Check out the site and don't forget the Rennies!

https://www.theinfatuation.com/london

British Airways Business Life

From the March Issue of the in-flight magazine for British Airways. It was great getting a call from Art Director Henry Elphick and Picture Editor Carl Harrison to work on this magazine. Not only was it nice to reach so many readers with a well produced and fantastically designed magazine, it was amazing to spend even a short time with these people. Article compiled by Hannah Hudson.

All fresh and successful businesses in the East End of London. Particularly nice, along with Jose Neves of Farfetch, to share a few memories of our mutual friend Ian Webster.

BABL MarchAAA.jpg

Triptychs

I don't necessarily think that these triptychs are the only way to present these pictures. I like the unconnected subjects or objects in this form anyway, but whenever shooting with no particular project in mind it is a way for my brain to try and find a story to fit the illustration - rather than the other way round. I often mix them with commissioned work or group them in a more literal way and the relevance often changes again.

There was an interview with Anthony H Wilson from the early 90s I remember (hazily) where he talks about the theory, or lack of, behind the many creative decisions that were made by Factory Records - he said the word 'praxis' throughout. At the time, I misunderstood this to mean 'do what you want and eventually you will understand what it is you are doing.' Only in maybe the last 5 years do I fully realise how important it is to perform your acquired skills over and over again, whilst constantly assessing how the bigger picture is affected.

Anyway - before I launch into stories of Wolfgang Tillmans and his constant and forensic editing... or until a future blog where I will embarrass myself further with the full Peter Saville/ Factory obsession, here is a selection of photographs.

Nuno Mendes and Steak Tartare

As well as being one of the most talented and successful Chefs in the world, he is also one of the most relaxed and friendly people you could meet. Here is a Portrait I took when shooting for Timeout's 100 Best Dishes a little while back. 

Impact Magazine from D30 Labs

Tucked away on an Industrial site in Croydon is a firm making a remarkable orange putty that is protecting everyone from Motorcyclists and American Footballers to Military Personnel. D30 have produced a magazine highlighting their developments along with Content Agency Seven46.

Here are the results of a day being shown around their complex, with portraits of Sam Lowes, Moto2 rider and Ambassador for D30.

Design Chris Allen

Sir Derek Jacobi

Its sad when your child grows out of things you yourself find fun or comforting. As my daughter hurtles towards her fourth Birthday, we no longer watch 'In The Night Garden' - haven't for a good while in fact, but she is very keen on her Ballet classes - no matter how chaotic they seem. So, as a thank you, I am posting this picture from 2008 of Sir Derek Jacobi at the Central School of Ballet. He looks a little bemused as the realisation dawns that he is doing my job while I bark instructions from behind the piano. 

I cannot credit the dancers unfortunately - any help would be gratefully received

London Midland for Timeout

...or is it Timeout for London Midland?

http://bit.ly/2iKFIsM

Possibly the wettest shooting day I can ever remember - but the UK's second city holds a great deal more than you are generally shown. I was trusted to capture as much as I could by Sarah Dawson and Laura Lee Davies at Timeout and the supplement was designed by true professional Patrick McNamee.

Many thanks to all the folks in Birmingham who helped us on the day - Bank, Yumm, Faculty, Sixteen, Mockingbird and the Sara Priesler Gallery.

Ably assisted by Joe Conway - who may just have dried out by now. 

Here is a selection from the shoot.

 

Corke Wallis Design

Head Designer Nicola Wilson at Corke Wallis orchestrated this campaign for the Education Charity, Ambition School Leadership. She got me involved, and this is the result of a chaotic but fun day in two North London schools. 

Royal Automobile Club Magazine

Recently I was very excited to provide photography for Pell Mell & Woodcote, the Royal Automobile Club’s Quarterly members’ magazine. Whatever you say about Private Members' Clubs, anywhere where the members are up in arms at the disappearance of Coronation Chicken sandwiches from the menu is okay by me.

Beautiful design by Rivington Bye

Cannon & Cannon

Amazing cured meats from Cannon & Cannon. They source the best British cured meats to sell at Borough Market and online. I was very pleased to have helped them as they get ready for the Christmas rush by shooting some of their packs for NotOnTheHighStreet. 

Our Neighbourhood

Its what you do on frosty mornings, isn't it? The new Boardwalk over the wetlands in Morden Hall Park... plus some details. Hats off to all who worked on this brilliant project.