Kenneth Branagh

Sir Kenneth Branagh, a face and name known to most.  He’s won awards for his acting as well as his directing.  Now - with a film loosely based on his own upbringing in Belfast, he’s topping this year’s award nominations for his writing and directing.  

This shoot with Kenneth was done at the House of St Barnabas in central London.  Sir Kenneth turned out to be the real gentleman I was hoping he was.  Genuine, interesting, with a quiet and gentle demeanour.  It became evident to me that this film was truly something special to him. The way he was talking about the film and the way he talked about finding someone to play himself it felt like he had put his hart and soul into it.  Now that the awards season in upon us it is great to see that a film with such personal meaning from a director such as Kenneth has made it to the top of the nomination bill.  

Shot for Sunday Times Culture

Monica Galetti and Singleton Whisky

It’s always lovely working with Monica Galletti - even if it is a shoot at the end of a full day of filming, at the back end of a ‘red eye’ flight.  She’s a true pro that always delivers.  This shoot - a commercial shoot for Singleton Whisky - allowed me to step into the film set and shoot her in the surroundings that had already been used for the moving imagery.  More from Monica and her collaboration with Singleton to come.  

Shot for Bridge Studios/Singleton Whisky

Matthew MacFadyen

I photographed Matthew McFadyen a long time ago, together with Michael Gambon.  One of my earliest commissions.  They were playing in the stage adaptation of Henry IV.  This time, I meet Matthew MacFadyen again.  Now a world renowned star for his role in Succession.  (Missing out very noticeable performances in series such as Spooks and Any Human Heart - to mention a few).  This time MacFadyen is starring in the small TV drama series “Quiz”.  Remember the Major who managed to trick “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” but was caught?  Well, MacFadyen plays the Major.  

A tall gentleman - is the best way to describe MacFadyen presence.  Gently spoken and suave.  Wearing a suit, but it doesn’t feel like he’s put one on especially.  On the contrary.  I can easily imagine MacFadyen sporting a suit, open top buttoned shirt and leather shoes on a daily basis.  

Shot for Observer New Review

Jeremy Vine

Jeremy Vine is one of the nation’s most loved broadcasters. He is the voice of BBC Radio 2’s midday phone in, topical issues show.  The show covers all types of subjects as well as a regular feature about allotments - (who knew the latter would take off??)   Jeremy also hosts topical shows on TV such as the  “Jeremy Vine” show, first aired in 2018.  

I was fairly confident that I’d meet a nice man, but little did I know that he’d be so full of energy, give so much for the camera and be genuinely fun to work with.  I should maybe have realised that he could give the camera some unusual moves after reading some of the comments he got  when participating in Strictly Come Dancing: “a stork that had been struck by lightning”..  

Jeremy totally got where we were trying to go with the shoot..  He played ball and he gave his all.  His body shape allows him to throw out shapes that fit somewhere between slap stick, carry on films, cartoons and high fashion.  Jeremy’s talent is wasted on topical shows and radio - he should be a show man.  Enter a stage with big red curtains rolling back.  He should be at a place where he is able to use his physique and give us a visual show.  Maybe he should have a workout video - although I have the feeling it may break a few backs….

Shot for Event Magazine

Thomasz Schafenaker

This shoot with Tomasz Schafernaker, UK’s handsomest weather reporter, took some time to set up. After a few interruptions, (such as hurricane in the US which he had to report from,) we finally managed to arrange a time and date.

The first idea was ‘Singing in the Rain’ followed by the more cartoon like ‘followed by a dark cloud’. It was obvious that we needed a location with water outlet and so my allotment and neighbourhood was chosen as a backdrop. Tomasz had just returned on a redeye flight from the USA, tired but up for anything. I was at first unsure how he would take to the cold spray of a garden hose, but this is a man who’s used to standing in the eye of the storm and report back to us all who sit in the warm comfort of our houses. He was up for anything!!!!

The shoot took a little imagination to create and the dark street (on a sunny day) took a good dose of flash to make it look right. No day is the same and this was particularly fun challenge.

Shot for the Observer Magazine

Graham Norton

Graham Norton is definitely a national treasure. Or, as he’s Irish, international treasure. He is perhaps currently most known for The Graham Norton show. It’s the show where all the biggest names turn up for a chat with the man himself. Graham is that very likeable guy that everyone confides in and everyone drops their guard and allow themselves to have fun. Graham is able to relate to most people. You know that if you don’t get along with Graham, then that’s not due to him, but rather because there is something wrong with you.

Graham is also the presenter of the Eurovision Song contest. He’s the natural successor to the great Sir Terry Wogan. And much like Sir Terry, Graham is able to find the fun, bizarre and tacky in most of the acts and is able to comment on it freely.

The man I photographed was as warm and welcoming as the man we see on TV. He rocked upon at the studio on a chain-less bike. Maybe he was a little more modest than I had expected, but modesty is a character trait I think we should all have more of. Graham is also perhaps one of the few men who would allow us to go for a full red pallet on a shoot without batting an eye. A brave move some may say, but it is a colour that hides the modesty and suits the man.

Shot for The Observer Magazine

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson has released a new book. Her book is about simple but good home cooking and is called At My Table. This shoot for Waitrose Food was aimed at toning it down and keeping it real. So real that we even had the luxury of including a tray of small home grown red apples. (The type of apples I spent many of my younger years scrumping. - Sorry old neighbours…) A linen table cloth and a casually dressed Nigella - all spell out home cooking as far as I am concerned. Nigella is the queen of cook books and this new book will be like having the queen herself in your own home, in a kitchen sharing all her home-cooking secrets, (without the corgis).

Shot for Waitrose Food Magazine

Russel Brand

Russell Brand is hard to summarise in one sentence. He is a comedian for sure, but his opinions, writings, podcasts extend far beyond the comedy. The issues he deals with often have a comedy angle to them but the undertone has a more serious message. He exposes his personal life, problems, addictions and fears along side his political views and social conscious.Never are the issues dealt with in a subtle and diplomatic way, but his opinions are blatantly clear and he gets his messages across using comedy.

I turned up to the shoot expecting a man who’s personality would make be hard to control during a shoot. Russell has a very big presence. Big hair, tall and a highly visible presence. I remember seeing him at an exhibition opening a few years ago and you could easily spot him across the room. Everyone looked around the room, and as they glanced towards where he was standing, everyone raised their head as if their glance was passing some speed bump (his head) towering over everybody else’s), to avoid glancing right at him, trying to pretend not to look in order to allow him his personal space.

The initial introduction was met with a firm handshake and a direct eye contact with a very polite and well mannered introduction, not forced, but a genuine ‘a pleasure to meet you’. The rest of the shoot I experienced a relaxed and fun Russell who seemed genuinely interested in everybody around him. It is not hard to see how this man can get everyone around him to feel relaxed.

Russell has a new book out now dealing with his addictions, ’Recovery, Freedom from our addictions’. I am sure this will be an honest, hard hitting read, using humour with a few words thrown in, that may be hard to digest for the faint hearted.