Another huge talent on the PUMA roster, Man Utd's Falcao. Alas my Spanish is very shabby but we both speak keepy uppy, I'm very happy to report.
New season PUMA
New season races off with PUMA and the wonderful Santi Cazorla. Lovely fella and consistently great to shoot. He's warm to be around and cool to shoot, and hot on the pitch right now too...
Ginger Baker from MOJO
Now this was a big one. Being asked to shoot Ginger Baker for MOJO magazine is of course a tremendous privilege but it's not without it's own 'atmosphere'. The story is well laid out in the new issue of MOJO (December 2014) and it's worth the read because while Ginger is a legendary drummer, he is also a properly cantankerous old man, loaded with defensiveness and a lot of bitter memory. The reasons for these are well documented too but it does create a challenge when you need to sit the fella down and shoot a portrait. His health is ailing, he chain smokes, he's just done a two hour interview (like this one) laid out on a LazyBoy so it's true to say he wasn't that up for it but I harangued a good 15 frames from him, including, rather brilliantly, some happy-looking ones and I got the briefest of glimpses at what might have been some friendliness and warmth. I then proceeded to bugger that up by letting his dog out. As we left he shouted 'YOU IDIOTS!" then slammed his door. He's probably right.
Independent spread for On/Off
Lovely feature here across a whole 5 pages in the print edition. What better way to spend your Sunday.
On/Off goes big
Home page of the Guardian? NME.com? Kerrang? Shortlist? Yeah ok. Plus Metro, The Sun, Star, all sorts. The press team at Dawbell properly took this on and delivered BIG. Full respect for their efforts, the On/Off project has launched finally and Pledgers are pledging. Need more of course but we will get there, I have belief. Thank you if you've chipped in for War Child, it means a huge amount to me and of course the rehabilitation of children in war torn countries. Here's the link, go on, nab a book or a print.
Oh man, this has taken a while. I've had more meetings, permutations, promises, hopes raised and dashed, and highs and lows than anything I've ever worked on, but now, having started 6 years ago (first featured in The Fly magazine), this project is live. Click here to see more on PledgeMusic. You can pledge for prints and books, even a jpeg - if you'd care to contribute to the wonderful work of War Child and get some of my work as a tasty payback then I would just love you all the more. If it's not for you, then please share it - you know someone somewhere who loves at least one of the artists featured. Thank you - it genuinely means a huge amount to me, War Child, the artists, and the victims of war around the world. Please read more about where your contribution will go by clicking here.
On/Off for War Child. I need your help.
Ian Poulter for PUMA Cobra
Shot on location in St Albans, we put up the Colorama on a thankfully windless day and let Ian do his swing thing. We knew of his characterful reputation but am delighted to report he was a great to shoot, a consummate professional and well up for a laugh. Shot for PUMA Cobra's Arsenal golf range, I really like this artworked final version.
Sir Richard Branson for Portrait Salon
I've photographed Richard Branson many times over the years but never have successfully captured a portrait I was proud of, until I determinedly set up this image and grabbed it in 45 seconds a few months ago, at his house in Oxfordshire. Rejected for the Taylor Wessing alas but embraced by Portrait Salon, I'm really proud to be part of the show and am happy with nailing a shot I wanted to capture a long time ago.
Leve - Galaxy Alpha Competition Winner
Samsung Galaxy Alpha for Cheil
Apologies for the radio silence, have been busy shooting some lovely work for this campaign. Appearing all over town currently, I nearly crashed the car on Sunday night when I saw one on Great Eastern St looming large.
Usain Bolt for Sport Magazine
Shot for PUMA at his training ground in Brunel University, West London on a glorious summer's day, this I'm afraid was another absolute gem of a shoot. We set up early, watched the fastest man in the world ever train, then nailed a few lovely images at a very relaxed pace. Grabbed this image below as Usain timed, then comically berated, his fellow sprinters. Not the worst gig ever.
Smokey Robinson, The MOJO Interview, London July 2014
Can you imagine, looking through your viewfinder and seeing Smokey Robinson smiling at you? When this happened to me, I have to tell you dear blog reader, that I lowered my camera and in a flash of incredible unprofessionalism, I had to proclaim to the room 'I CANNOT BELIEVE SMOKEY ROBINSON IS LOOKING BACK AT ME!' before carrying on with the shoot. Shot for the forthcoming MOJO Interview (August issue) I can honestly tell you it's the phonecall I've dreamt of getting my whole career and thank goodness Smokey was so delightfully courteous and warm else I would have been ruined. Geoff Brown's piece in the mag is an insight and a half so if I never shoot anything again it doesn't matter because this happened. Shot on a Hasselblad 50C with 35-90 lens, with Elinchrom Ranger lighting through a Photek Softlighter, photo fans.
Rummaging...
From The Bays in Mexico, unearthed on a hard drive and never likely to see the light of day, so fly Turismo, fly!
More to come but really enjoying this series of self-initiated work, that exists just because it bloody well should - it's not client-driven or with any agenda other than fun (and creating solid imagery, of course). If you're into it, please share it and stay tuned as there's a big shoot with more Derny coming up. I love me a Derny race.
On going work: Herne Hill Velodrome
Back to the 'drome
Another fine shoot at the Herne Hill Velodrome, for a personal work series I'm working on. Love the place and photographically you can't put a foot wrong - so much subject matter everywhere. Saw some incredible riders that were so focused on their craft it put my chubby self to shame. More to follow in the form of a new gallery, coming soon. Cheers to all participants, inc Lee Valley YCC here and Derek the lap counter and starter gun firer. He's a laugh as you can see. Oh yeah, the bike image at the top was left by a summer shower. Aaaah.
DZ Deathrays take to the streets
Cool fellas, great band. Pre-order Black Rat now why don't you, huh?
The Deceptionist is chuffin' magic!
Shoot portraits of a massively well-respected magician and have your mind blown while you're at it? OK! Sav The Deceptionist came and wowed us at the studio while we nailed a new set of press images for him. I love it when he sidles up to us at a party cos you know pure mischief is about to go down - and you will too. More about him here: http://www.deceptionist.co.uk/
Matt Halsall at The House of St Barnabas
Just wonderful. The chapel space is so versatile here, yet everything musical works because it is so focused. Maybe it's one's reverence for the Church but that combined with the sonics and the anticipation of seeing an incredible young jazz talent made for a fantastically delicate night of live jazz at The House. Loads more info here.
Professor Green deep in the lab 2
He rapped about his wife a lot, which was nice to hear as well. Shot on the new Hasselblad 50C with Elinchrom Ranger Quadra lighting and another bleeding bloody Photek Softlighter 2 because they keep breaking and despite providing a beautiful quality of light the build quality is proper crappy.
Professor Green deep in the lab 1
New project for Lynx Make Beats Not War. I can confirm that Stephen is a thoroughly decent and obliging chap FYI.