A proper one at that. I spoke at a really lovely event recently for young Dorset and Hampshire based photographers. Titled: Developing Nicely YPCC, I was nervous about speaking but once I got going it seemed to flow and the work carried over the moments when I was a stattering shambles of a presenter. Though you best judge for yourself. I do enjoy this stuff, always say yes, then try to figure out why over the course of the few months I have to get my material together, then panic the night before and realise what I should have done. The main highlight was being featured in the same arena as the gob-smackingly brilliant artist Stephen Gill (here), so inspiring. Thank you Chris Francis and everyone who sorted this out. I like you a lot.
Felt for MOJO
One day I'll tell you about going to Lawrence from Felt's flat for MOJO magazine, just not today. OK?
And Kurt Vile is #11
Kurt Vile's LP is eleventh on The Fly's Top 50. OK, so he's not leaping with joy but he was quite happy when we said.
April 2012 Fly cover with Best Coast
Digi click thru here for the new Fly issue. Photographically, it's a chuffin belter. The words are funny too. Do you like Fink? I do. He's not in The Fly unfort, but he is here of course.
Best Coast in Austin
After a day of recce'ing locations, Ben Homewood found this hillside beauty so we jumped at the chance to shoot Best Coast with such a view. The Fly saw them play 4 times out there, and it was great to be stateside, stomping about in blazing heat on a mission to eat BBQ meat and drink bottled beer. SxSW was a musical bonanza but the sight of Snoop Dogg playing on a stage crafted from an enormous Doritos vending machine was a nudge too far for me.
Toy
Some of them used to be in Joe Lean and The JJJ, but let's not hold that against them. Cool guys (hence the blue tone, done with a blue colorama on a bounceboard) and a great sound. No need to Google Toy, here ya go.
Graham Coxon for The Fly April 2012
Just the best shoot with Graham. Illustrated his own backdrop with a fanciful mindfart doodle, and then was also up for shooting the portrait series himself with a cable release. More about that here. Just a great opportunity fully optimised really.
David Byrne in The Times
Nice to see a nice shot used nice and big. Nicely.
Vint Cerf, Internet Don
Should say that on his business cards. Was so wrapped in what Vint Cerf was saying I almost forgot I was supposed to be shooting. Launching Life Online, with Virgin Media, I felt truly privileged to be in the room with this guy, who was humourous, erudite, wise beyond belief but completely able to talk to normal folk like me. Incredible, honestly.
Sam's BBQ in Austin
You don't need teeth to eat our beef. That's a motto that says everything about the restaurant, the food, the attitude, the area. It's earthy, you can buy beers opposite and bring em in, and the music and general experience was the best that I had in Austin. There, I've said it.
Cystal Antlers
I guess a favourite aspect of SxSW was not walking for miles with a furnace on my back, but actually sitting in the dust watching some really fucking good bands every now and again. Here's one: Crystal Antlers. Absolutely rocking.
Mo Kolours for Brainer Magazine
Kaya Kaya Records for Volume Magazine
Spectrals in Austin, TX
Spectrals at SxSW, backstage (in the car park) behind Urban Outfitters. Then we walked and walked and walked, this place needs loads more cabs.
2:54 on 6th
Nice to see 2:54 here, they're doing great and the people are enjoying their beautiful music, which is nice news. The streets are awash with talent like you wouldn't believe here, flippin eck.
Keep Austin Weird
It's not weird but it is fun and everything's going very well so far thank you. This was shot at the Best Coast show out the back of an Urban Outfitters store. Yup.
Florence in Living South magazine, no less
Yup, in your face fancy pants fashion magazines. Have some of THAT. Well spotted @EdBartlett.
23 seconds with Sir Richard Branson
The man is a whirlwind of a powerhouse with a diary more like the phonebook. He crams more into a day than I ever imagined possible and having spent 8 hours with him yesterday, I realise I could definitely squeeze more into my life. He's @RichardBranson if you'd like evidence of this.
Dry The River feature shot in The Fly's March issue
Froze my bits off for you I did. Worth it though, I think anyway. Who needs bits?
First effort for Huffington Post
Hi. So my first blog for the Huffington Post is up, click here to view it. It's the story of a great fun shoot I did with Graham Coxon for The Fly, and so memorable were it that I thought I'd document the process in full and share it with your good self, dear viewer. Recorded forever, on the HuffPo. Something for the grand kids, you know. Heritage.