I really really admire this person. So much so that I got embarrassingly starstruck and did a LOT of staring at him, which I hope wasn't too noticeable (or cringey). If you don't know Dave Eggers, my favourite works of his are The Circle and Zeitoun plus the whole McSweeney's thing too is a wonder BUT he also came up with the idea for The Ministry of Stories and now they're dotted around the world giving kids the chance to invest more time in their creative writing skills, after school and behind a themed shopfront. It's beautiful and brilliant and so worthwhile. Here sits THE LEGEND with Nick Hornby and Paddy Doyle, being interviewed at Second Home last week by three Junior Minister writers aged ten or so. Everyone laughed a lot including me, though I doubt everyone filled up 3 times and nearly cried. It's cos I'm a parent I'm sure but honestly, if anything was going to set me off it was this.
Alesha Dixon is astonishing.
Portrait for BGT. Over in a flash and ever shot a winner. Work is easy.
Sam Sure
Personal work - all important you know. Loved meeting Sam. He's got a great sound and a great look too. With those sharp cheekbones he's an obvious choice for some Tom love so crank that gridded softlighter and let's shoot some portraits eh?
Cesc Fabregas for PUMA
The coolest gentleman on the park, we love Cesc over here at Tom Towers. Here featuring the PUMA Evospeed SL, for Q3 launch.
Mario Balotelli for PUMA
Mighty Mario for PUMA, in Liverpool. OK, he was a little bit late but it was well worth it and man can this fella whip a ball.
Sergio Aguero for PUMA
Nice punchy aesthetic for the Q3 launch with the Argentinian goal king, Mr. Sergio Aguero for PUMA. Movement frozen with Broncolor Move of course, what else you gonna use on location huh? Challenging as these fellas travel quick and we needed to capture the apparel in flight, plus we had to shoot in all the conditions, day and night and rain and shine. And freezing cold, in Manchester here. Brrrrrr. Great though, home of football and all that.
John Cooper Clarke for National Trust 3
Whoever said don't meet your heroes was wrong. Am always banging on about the privilege of my job but DAMN, sometimes this job floats up opportunities I still am so excited by. To spend the day at Ringstead Bay in Dorset, where I swam as a nipper, to shoot this most beautiful of talents was a nice call to get for someone like me. The portraits were for the National Trust, via Mischief PR, who have commissioned John to write a poem to help save and celebrate our wonderful coastline - More here. My friend described him as the Dad you wished you had. My Dad is great but I could happily accommodate more JCC in my life. Printed in the Independent and Express, and elsewhere online. Very nice indeed.
John Cooper Clarke for National Trust 2
John Cooper Clarke for National Trust 1
James Kingston for EE
This was just bloody magnificent. A press and PR shoot for EE of James Kingston, freerunner and generally fearless danger monkey launching a 4G streaming camera. 3 months of planning, 60 people in production and then me, up in a helicopter, leaning out and shooting this. Good, right? We tethered to a laptop and WeTransferred the RAW files from the air via EE's 4G dongle to an editor below in Wembley Stadium. Insanely quick and enabling the pictures to splash, big. Made every national print version the next day and everyone involved got a pat on the back. Solid work chaps.
Everyone needs The Ministry Of Stories
I got involved because I truly admire the work of writer Dave Eggers and he inspires me to achieve bigger and better. He started this in America like Nick Hornby did in the UK and you could help too if you'd care to by clicking here and acting. They optimise the creative writing talents of local kids (junior ministers) around Hoxton Street and I sometimes am lucky enough to go and shoot their activities. It's wonderful, honestly, and really good fun. Go ahead punk.
Gilbert and George for Time Out NY
Captured here in their studio in Spitalfields. An honour and privilege, like you would imagine. This was a call I didn't know I was waiting for. But when it came, from the angels at Time Out New York, it was quite a moment. Shooting portraits for a living is a wonderful thing as it is, and when you get asked to go to the home of a truly great British artist, with a free brief, and it goes swimmingly because we spend just the right amount of time doing three really quick set-ups, you realise that all of this work is properly worth it and mornings like this are the pay off. Huge thanks to Brian Whar for accompanying.
Gilbert and George no. 2
Gilbert and George no. 3
Gilbert and George for Time Out New York no. 4
Liam Howlett of The Prodigy
I first saw The Prodigy in 1991 at Sterns in Worthing (see flyer above), and to be honest while not exactly having much regard for the future back then, I definitely did not foresee that the act I saw that night would become the mightiest of all the world's dance acts. We know how huge they are today, though you would not get that sense from Liam here, shot for The MOJO Interview. An engaging, cool, sharp mind with a hard edge and happily, luckily, well up for chatting with old ravers like me. I didn't get all misty-eyed with him though, don't worry.
Cesc Fabregas for Sport Magazine and PUMA
Great to shoot this footballing hero once again, and especially when for the cover of Sport Magazine (circulation 304,700). The design is slick, photos are BIG, the designer knows what he wants, happy everyone. This shoot took 2.5 minutes, mainly because Cesc is such a friend to the lens (and Team Tom was readier than you would ever believe).
Location iPhone snap.
Had worse moments in my life. More shots to follow.
Graham Coxon, guitarsmith.
The hug Graham so willingly offered me was very welcome, I can tell you. In a tricky situation you need a friend, and Graham I thank you for your kindness.
Damon, Blur, MOJO.
Photographed for MOJO at the House of St Barnabas, you wouldn't call Damon keen and eager when it comes to photoshoots. You have to respect that though, not everyone is up for it and you can't knock his achievements which you wouldn't call inhibited by his lack of love for the lens. He's edgy, decisive, firm and very, very cool. I love the shots.