Tom Oldham's Photo Blog

Kurt Vile for the bloody lovely reworked Fly magazine

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:52:38 GMT

Hiya. So The Fly has relaunched with a perfect bound, slightly larger format on really nice new paper stock which complimented this Kurt shot really well. The Fly's website will tell you where you can get one. I got my mates in, Tom Bunning and Tom Andrew, and they have both shot solid portraits for it and it feels refreshed. There's a new enthusiasm about the magazine, from both outside and in and I'm still very proud (hence my constant shitting on about it) to be part of this, after a very long involment. Frankly, most sensible snappers would have long since wandered off but I'm a stubborn stalwart. It's one of my more attractive qualities. Don't get off the fucking bus, especially here in Helsinki.

Child of Lov for May Fly

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:45:45 GMT

Another supercool session with Cole Williams aka Child of Lov. Follow him why don't you. His music is heavy and good people like it.

Rainy's sensitive side for The Fly May issue

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:42:12 GMT

Listen to her music and agree with me please. God I hope she makes it big, it would really help me career-wise. I'm not sure these shots are career defining but I really love them, hence the stream below. It's such a great feeling when someone steps in and gets the tone of what you're trying to do immediately and then doubles, quadruples, the success of the shoot and all your effort. That's the beauty in this job I think.

Rainy 3

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:41:23 GMT

Range is what she has. Rainy can do all the looks.

Rainy 2

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:40:21 GMT

Rainy Milo. Please credit me if you take this. Thanks.

Rainy Milo for The Fly 1

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:35:36 GMT

Current obsession, it'll pass but will enjoy it while it's amongst my everything. Incredible to shoot. Beautiful music. More above.

Ministry of Stories take over No.10

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:41:44 GMT

So this WAS fun. We went down to Number 10 for a ministerial takeover where the ministers of the Ministry of Stories gave new roles (eg Minister for 90s R+B) to some MPs that were up for getting involved a bit. It was magical and the junior ministers were such fun and managed the situation so perfectly. Heartwarming.

Ekow Eshun at HofStB

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:35:31 GMT

Bug is a cultural collective, who last night hosted a thoughtful, energetic, expansive discussion about the hidden meaning of shoes at the House of St Barnabas. Ekow here lead the talk and I shot 50 guests' footwear on a plinth for projection during the show. Marc Hare's ten minutes were enthralling and I can see why the word charisma is never far from his name, when you search for him on your internet.

Ruen Brothers press shot

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:26:37 GMT

Lovely fellas the Ruen Brothers, I can tell you.

Roman Weidenfeller for PUMA

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:16:11 GMT

I have never, ever, been colder on a shoot. The temperature plummeted in Dortmund (I blame the weather) and the snow fell and we set up and waited. Moan, blub, winge and gripe. Poor, poor me. But Roman was supercool and toughed it out with us, and we nailed some really strong shots. Shooting friendly people that believe in portraiture being participatory can really help out when the elements are trying to actually kill you.

Marco Reus for PUMA

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 23:07:29 GMT

Hitting some more big names with PUMA, enjoying huge press coverage with it all of over Europe too. Prior to the shoot we were kindly treated to some hospitality at the Dortmund vs Schalke darby - a bloody huge local rivalry with the most astonishing atmosphere. It was like a banging gig, where Schalke were the Chilli Peppers playing a homecoming show to 78000 of their most extremely dedicated fans. Bloody magic, with currywurst.

Skaters under a bridge

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:54:19 GMT

Hmm, awkward. To start with anyway. I was offered a baseball cap by these friendly, warm chaps and I said no, as I completely wrongly thought they'd plundered a shop they'd been playing at locally, only to find out it was like THEIR OWN MERCH. Non-music people be warned - THIS IS THE ULTIMATE DISS. Backtracking was futile and I had to wow them with some first rate snapsmanship to get them back on Tommy's track. Which I did. Afterwards, they offered me the cap again and I took it, merrily and not without a little relief. I hate bad vibes.

Living the dream with Peace

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:46:04 GMT

Deep inside the experience, Peace are properly having it right off currently and I've been assured that wherever they are is exactly where the party is. Right there. Photographed here at some gig in a back garden sort of space and Usher was there. Huh? Yup. Don't ask me, I don't really understand much of this myself.

Follakzoid in Austin

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:41:29 GMT

Chilean cosmic rockers at sunset. All hair and good vibes and sonic atmosphere. Good for when you're feeling wide.

Slow Club at the House of St Barnabas

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:20:14 GMT

Just astonishingly good. The harmonies had people in tears (in a good way), just so well suited to the chapel. That said, not much has fallen on its arse in there but this was one to remember alright. New material coming soon.

I fucked up Parquet Courts for The Fly at SXSW

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 22:06:42 GMT

I did fuck this up. A proper shitty situation leading to an experience that could have been managed loads better with some simple communication. Parquet Courts DO NOT POSE FOR PHOTOS. EVER. So don't bother trying. Don't bother flying to Texas to shoot portraits of them, cos they don't do it. Rather reasonably I thought, I understand their position and when you hear their music live (which is really strong and supertight) their values make more sense in some ways but I just think any band that moves beyond playing in their garage, gets signed, gets a publicist, loves free clothes from the nice backstage brand people, is already dancing with the devil and there's little point working hard to fuck up a shoot when there's a hundred more lining up behind me. Read all about it here in Ben Homewood's well written account.

It's Nice That feature the newspaper

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:53:51 GMT

So It's Nice That have featured my newspaper, which is nice. Here's the link - do let me know if you can fathom the caption they wrote. I have very little clue what it refers to but I think it might mean they think it's not that nice.

Brian Cox at the House of St Barnabas

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:25:04 GMT

Speaking with Richard Strange at the 'A Might Big If' event at the HofStB, Brian Cox kept the chapel enthralled with Hollywood tales of a career that's spanned almost 50 years and has taken him a long way from Dundee. The shoot was perfect, a nice soft light in a lovely location with an incredibly gracious actor who responds well to light, like they all do really. It's just these musicians... More events forthcoming at the House, including their members club opening this year. I'm in on that for sure.

FWA Photo of The Day with AK

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:44:20 GMT

While I do find their content quite hit or miss, I still get excited when The FWA Photo Of The Day pick one of mine. An obvious hit. You should try it, go on. It's easy and makes you feel you're out there, cos it can be quite solitary sometimes huh.

Peace cover for The Fly

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:43:36 GMT

New issue out now! Peace are thoroughly decent chaps, very pleasant company plus their music ain't half bad neither. You wouldn't believe the crappy location and sticky carpet environs surrounding this shoot but the ringflash irons out all the rough spots always.