Bring in the gels, fair studio hand and don't hold back. Last shot these chaps at Electric Ladyland Studios in NYC in their live room, but I gotta tell you it didn't go great - purely down to using an A Head and an S Head in the same pack. They sync at different speeds and therefore inconsistently, thus screwing everything up much to my complete ignorance and frustration - plus only having an hour I could do nothing to sort it. Sorry Yeasayer, I travelled a long way to fail you that day but I hope this addresses that.
Yeasayer Anand in the studio
Yeasayer in the studio. Lots more artists making the shlep to our studio now. It's great for my practice, technique, ideas, control, everything. Better than plonking them against the wall as has been the music editorial practice forever, which I'm still not averse to but trying hard to avoid.
Last Jessie Ware for now
Hard light look for the cover. Hope you like.
Jessie Ware 2
More Jessie, hitting it again.
Been a while huh, so here's Jessie Ware!
Lovely shoot with Jessie Ware, she offered up so many winners that we had a ton of cover options. Here's what we went for anyway.
PiL feature shots go big in MOJO
Regular viewers round here could be a tad tired of seeing Johnny's chops but imagine my delight on viewing this PiL feature in the current issue of MOJO. There's another full page band shot further in but this use of the close up is pretty much exactly how any snapper would like to see their work displayed, especially when of a music legend, and in a serious music title with a dedicated readership. It's what I was hoping for when I shot it, and I feel like I say this a lot, but this is definitely the target. The shoot went off brilliantly, and despite my admitted nerves, we bowled in and nailed it and it's great to see the fruit of that on the page - hence another bloody re-post about it. Sorry.
Niki & The Dove
Just a nice frame from a shoot with a fun loving band. Nothing more. Bring on the dancing girls I say.
Liars in The Fly
Stone cold bonkers this lot. Hilarious too. They made an iPhone movie where they blew me up but I think they did it cos they like me, don't worry.
Twin Shadow in NY for The Fly June 2012
Such a fantastic experience in NYC to shoot the new Fly cover. It was hot hot hot and happily we kicked off on a Monday morning bright and early, me and Tom Bunning on the rooftop of the Ace Hotel. A first rate hotel and location fyi (they keep bees up there you know) and we cracked through a good few options in no time at all. Luckily the Ranger Quadra was up to countering the bright sunlight, George Twin Shadow was every inch the perfect subject and then, when the job was done, we got to flounce about giving it the big one NYC-style like a pair of chubby Kanyes. I think probably, about as good as an international location shoot gets, for me anyway. Until I say that again of course. Thanks 4AD - hugely appreciated and especially Annette Lee.
A huge project with Future Tense. Have shot about 30 bands so far, one minute before their gig and one minute after. Am very excited and honoured to be doing this in conjunction withWar Child. We'll make a splash with it when we've nailed the most exciting bands in music and until then, I will be out most evenings. More here.
Be Here Now.
Joe Goddard of Hot Chip for The Fly Magazine June 2012
Album everywhere, playing live everywhere, in the new Fly mag everywhere soon!
Gaz Coombes looking very handsome
Superquick, in and out, bang pop shoot on the roof of the label with Gaz Coombes. Cool guy of course, you knew this.
Mystery Jets in a knackered old church in Stokey
Heavy location, dusty and dirty and all graf'd up, great to shoot these chaps in a different spot, and as a 3 piece too - which makes for a simpler composition if nothing else.
Beach House, all nice
Getting love for these shots of the very popular Beach House, which is nice.
Yup, more Grimes.
Look, it was a good shoot, ok? Why not enjoy it and share the love a bit. That's what I thought anyway.
Grimes in Montreal
Am being hounded for more, so enjoy these cautiously please.
The famous Grimes pussy rings
You probably know the story but it's a mould, of whom I have no idea. Good story and they look alright. *Please note I didn't make any jokes at all in the post. I think I'm getting better.
Stop going on about Grimes will ya?
I just can't help it. Sue me. Performing at the exclusive Fly show upstairs at The Garage where she delivered wonderfully.
Grimes for The Fly May 2012
Possibly The Best Fly Cover Ever? Mortreal would have been a long way to go to come back with anything less I suppose but when Grimes slipped in those grillz, popper her collar and gave me that look I knew the journey had been well worth it. The fun didn't stop there - the feature shots she smashed out the park with this dingy grimy urban shithole location that you couldn't have designed better, all of Claire's own choosing. Then beers and relax, Montreal style. Thank you Grimes and Rich at 4AD, you made it for us.
Mahali Hlasa, Riders For Health
I love Riders For Health. Hopefully you know this already, but in case you don't, I regularly travel to their supported programmes in various African nations to shoot for them. It's always full on, scary, hardcore, a great laugh, worrying and more. The whole team met together in Northampton and I got to shoot some head shots they needed, which was really enjoyable. More info on this wonderful organisation here.