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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Yaya Toure for PUMA
Lovely shoot with Yaya. A great, supercool guy and strong imagery for PUMA editorial. More shoots to follow hopefully.
PLEASE DO THIS!
Really pleased to be involved with the wonderful 100 Project who raise funds for the Prince's Drawing School. I thought (well, hoped) as you're reading this that you might be into my work and therefore want to possibly own a unique print - a punt I know, but hey. It's on eBay but not for much longer. Please bid or tell your mates or get involved in some way, it'll make you feel good I swear. Cheers.
Grimes, uh huh
That's it. Probably, almost certainly.
Riders for Health Feature on CNN
A decent gallery and feature on Riders here. The greatest people doing the best work with the simplest solution. Please distribute!
So many shoots...
That I needed January off. Well, not quite but the end of year runaround for The Fly's (bloody brilliant) Bands for 2013 issue got pretty hectic. Ideas were bashed out quick and strong and Team Tom delivered wonderfully. Thanks fellas. Have a peep at the digi version here and gauge for yourself tho I guess. The King Krule shoot was memorable to say the least, low tide at Surrey Quays, him up to his Nikes in sludge and us wrestling with mini-Octas in gale force dunno but who gives a shit, they look spot on - to my taste at least. So thanks for reading my nonsense (my web stats say it's not just you mum) and here's to another bumber year ahead, for you too I hope. Off on hols and back soon. Nicely.
Vidic for PUMA in The Times
Man Utd captain at Trafford FC for PUMA. Cool guy and unlike most of the other footballers I've met. Great shoot too, with 2 changes of strip and 3 locations in one hour. Boom.
Laurence Galpin has the voice of an angel
Like you wouldn't believe. Final Autumn event at the House of St Barnabas curated by Rob Da Bank. I'll really miss the magic of hearing some incredible singers in this chapel in Soho. It really has something special to offer.
Peter Capaldi for House of St Barnabas
I mean, how could you go wrong? He was incredibly obliging in the 90 seconds I had him for and, like all actors, can offer it up repeatedly without issue or effort, sidestepping any awkwardness. Peter was speaking at Richard Strange's night A Mighty Big If at The House of St Barnabas, somewhere I fall in love with a little more with every visit. By the way, sorry for the clanging scanning of these words, I suck at this.
Hooky for MOJO
What a life he's had so far and still with loads of fire in his tumtum. We squeezed into his funny little hotel bedroom and shot this for MOJO and it looks great on the page, really clean and really just how any snapper would love to see his work used. Full bleed and no words!
Jessie Ware for AGENDA Magazine
Looking good Jessie, always.
Chairlift for The Fly
I could have picked any of a dozen frames of Chairlift - they know how to be shot. They're American. They try to look good in shoots. OK - they were an hour late - but I'm not one to bare a grudge. Nope. Not me, uh uh.