Some nominees from the British Independent Film Awards photographed in London
Photographed for Observer New Review
Katherine Waterson - The End We Start From
Nabhaan Rizwan - In Camera
Nathan Stewart Jarrett and George MacKay - Femme
Priya Kansara - Polite Society
Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson - Rye Lane
Mia McKenna-Bruce - How To Have Sex
Tim Minchin in London
Commissioned by Observer Magazine
Joe Lycett is not only a funny comedian, but he has a great ability to turn the aggressors into victims. Many big companies, parking enforcement offices, fraudsters and even the government have been on the receiving end of Joe’s sharp wit and ability to turn the tables. His latest letter was a fake leak of the Sue Grey report - the report that is supposed to shed light on the many parties held by the government offices during Covid lockdown. So - to show how Joe turns the tide around and make the aggressors the victim, I chose to have him photograph me whilst I photograph him. I found that to be a representation of the kind of humour that Joe is known for. I also wanted to create a setup that hinted to the Sue Grey/Partygate incident. I had an idea of writing letters on balloons and having them turn into an anagram of, for example “Downing Street Party”. However, the anagrams for this and many other things I tried weren’t really relevant. In Joe’s fake report leak he referred to ‘Downing Street’ as ‘Down It Street’ - and this became what I tried to show instead. By taking the ‘ing’ off ‘Downing’, popping the ‘g’ and turning the ’N’ into a ’T’ - Joe had successfully turned ‘Downing’ into ‘Down it’. And the street balloons remained.
Lastly, I just wanted to create fun, interesting and colourful images that didn’t have any concepts connected to them.
Joe was brilliant! Fun, down to earth, easy to talk to and followed and contributed to my instructions.
Shot for Observer Magazine
Evanna Lynch became famous through the Harry Potter series where she played Luna Lovegood - the best character name since Honor Blackman played Pussy Galore in a James Bond film. She fit her character in the Harry Potter films so well that even JK Rowling has named her as her favourite, or at least most accurately portrayed out of the film series. Since then she has made noticeable performances on stage and on screen. As well as becoming a prominent activist for animal rights and veganism she has also been a very important figure in promoting healthy self-esteem and body image for young girls, due to her own struggle with Anorexia Nervosia. The latter was also the subject of her memoir published last year, ‘The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting: The Tragedy and Glory of Growing Up’ - for which I was commissioned to take pictures of Evanna to be used on the book sleeve and to promote the book.
Evanna was such a dream to work with. She was modest and softly spoken, kind and fun. Working with Evanna was like working with a good friend. A steady but easy pace, filled with interesting conversations about her experiences, success and struggles. Talking about such issues as eating disorder from the perspective of having experienced it yourself takes enormous courage - and Evanna does this with brutal honesty.
Shot for Headline Publishing
It’s not every day you get a call to ask if I’m interested in photographing the creators behind Ghostbusters: “We’ve got a shoot with the Jason and Ivan Reitman - and they’re bringing the ghostbuster car and a couple of Proton Packs.” I know - it might not mean much to many of you, but if you grew up in the 80’s you’ll know all about the Ghostbusters, the Cadillac and the Proton Packs. Ghostbusters 2, also directed by the original director Ivan Reitman came out not long ago, but this 3rd film was directed by Ivan’s son Jason. So - there I was, in the backstreets of Soho with a couple of Proton Packs, (ghost busting guns for you who are not familiar with the films) in a hotel room and the Ghostbusters car in a small alleyway on the side of the hotel. I picked the alleyway because of its proximity to the hotel but also because it had a city vibe - without giving away what city it was. The first thing we found in the alleyway was a dead rat without a head. Nothing like a headless rat to set the scene for a Ghostbusting experience. (I did decide on cleaning this up before inviting the Reitmans over though - maybe a little too real for a Friday morning?!). I managed to get a local office to open its doors for me to get some electricity to start up the smoke machine, brought out some gels and then prepped the car for the Reitmans to cruise on into the shot.
Ivan and Jason turned up and I was ready. I placed them in the car and shouted “smoke!” No smoke came - and a look of panic spread along the photography team. The woman who had let us use the electricity socket had unplugged the smoke machine without letting us know and left the building. I started shooting whilst the assistants knocked on every door until they found a socket. The images I had hoped for were now finally coming in.
10 minutes later we had to rush up to the hotel room to get the Proton Packs shots. I had prepped the proton Packs with lights and was ready to explore with long shutter speeds to get the laser beams working. Consistency and authenticity was of great importance for Jason but we got there in the end. 10 minutes later, all ghosts were busted and the Reitmans could leave the building. Phewwww. All I now had to do was to pack my equipment down and dispose fo 15 ghosts stuck in my Ghostbuster trap and safely dispose of them in the Echo-Containment System. The problem is I’m not sure where the Echo-Containment System is so I’ll keep them under my bed for now….
Shot for G2
Last time I photographed Stephen Mangan, there was a birthday theme, and this time - the shoot is also a birthday; ‘Christmas’. Mangan already looked the part as he plays Scrooge in the West End this Christmas. My job was to bring the tree, snow and some decor. We made the tree fly, put on as many fairy lights as I could get my hands on and wrapped up some Christmas pressies for him to kick about.
Happy Christmas and a very Happy 2022 to you too (when it eventually gets here).
Shot for Observer New Review
The Guardian Weekend Magazine has just had a redesign and relaunched under the new name Guardian Saturday Magazine. With the new redesign they have introduced the weekly feature ‘Flashback’. This weekly feature is about celebrities contributing a picture from the old days and they tell a story about that picture and that time in their lives. I have been been commissioned to do most of these shoots and so far it’s been very challenging but also really fun. Here are the first 4 shoots in the series that I have been involved in, with the help of Andie Redman who is responsible for the props and set:
Sophie Elis Bextor and mum Janet Ellis
Pepsi and Shirley
Sindhu Vee and her dad
Jamie Lang
Shot for The Guardian Saturday Magazine
A while back I did a shoot with the brilliant actor Timothy Spall on the roof of a car park. A very different setting from this shoot with his son, Rafe Spall, in the slightly more slick Big Sky studios. The rumour was that Rafe didn’t like having his photograph taken much, something I am used to, and is often the case amongst actors. I had prepared for someone who wasn’t too keen on being there, posing in front of the camera. I prepared by relying on colours to brighten up the shoot and creating settings that didn’t demand the talent to be hugely active. However, who I met was a jovial, fun and relaxed Rafe - Jokey and stylish. Fun guy with the most perfect South East London accent. (The kind of accent, that as a foreigner, I find cool and quintessential London. The kind of accent you only have if you’ve got a pearly king suit to match.)
Rafe is acting in the series ‘Trying” - a light, fun series dealing with the difficult subject of trying for a child, but not succeeding. In fact - it looks like the filming of a third series is in the pipeline, which is always a sign of a good series with great appeal.
Shot for Observer Magazine
My first shoot with Rob Brydon was way back when he played the taxi driver Keith Barrett. Since then I have been commissioned by several different publications to photograph him, I’ve shot a live DVD cover with Rob and the poster to his live standup tour. This shoot was promoting a youtube podcast series where he interviews other comedians and celebrities. The show is a result of Covid, and is an entertaining and fun podcast with Rob having a banter with close celebrity friends, comedians and actors he has worked with and knows well. The beauty with Rob is that his comedy is not loud and in your face. Working with him is like having a relaxed banter amongst friends with his sharp whit injected into the conversations. He is a normal family dad, talking of his love for Bruce Springsteen and comedy films such as Daddy’s Home. He doesn’t keep this part of his life separate from his comedy but incorporates it, and makes it flow as natural as it can be. No point in taking yourself too serious, as that would only allow for you to be ridiculed by subtle comments perfectly placed. Always a pleasure working with Rob and I can only hope I will do so many more times in the future.
Shot for Observer Magazine
Bill Nighy is one of those people you know will be good to shoot. You can easily imagine his tall, lanky body breaking into many different moves, like Elastigirl on a disco dance floor. His characteristic glasses are not to be mistaken and always looks immaculate in a perfectly tailored suit.
Bill was fully engaged and involved in each set up with how he composed himself. He told me that he, (although 70 years old,) would always be the first and last on the dance floor at any party. That comes as no surprise as the shoot itself was almost like a dance, filled with moves and struts.
Shot for Sunday Times Culture
Charitable, good actor and a specialist at being Tony Blair! Did I say he was Welsh too? Michael Sheen was in town and I got to shoot him. This time he had a solid beard, a good head of curls and he was out to promote his new Amazon Prime drama “Good Omens”, where he’s playing the one and only GOD!
Shot for Observer Magazine
Working with Nick Frost is like meeting up with a friend. I’m not claiming that we know each other that well or that he’s my best friend, but the way he greets me, my assistant, and anyone else that’s passing by. He is so amicable that you feel like just hanging out. I’ve worked with Nick a few times and he is still the same person he was a decade ago. The little change I noticed was a sizeable beard and some knock out sovereign rings. Oh - and the glasses - enough to make any 70’s male sex icon jealous.
Shot for Observer Magazine
Just before the final season of Game of Thrones I got to shoot Kit Harington in south London. I had sourced a location house with lots of options, and the excellent team from Emmy Magazine had come from LA to help out.
Kit was right in the middle of playing Austin in the West End show True West, so he rocked up sporting his character's moustache. A very different look from the rugged Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, but a look that suited him just as much. A modern day Tom Selleck of sorts. That’s what I thought at least until he said, “I look like Borat” and pulled a little face to show the resemblance. The room cracked up laughing. No doubt he’ll get the job if anyone is looking for an actor to play Borat in a film…. Ehr….
Shot for Emmy Magazine
I photographed Joanne Froggatt at the National Theatre as a part of a series of Love Letters to the world, to celebrate 100 years of British Airways aviation. The shoot was done in collaboration with the excellent team at Bridge Studio and was a part of a series of portraits of professionals and celebrities in the UK. The shoot was a little rushed as I had to squeeze in between filming schedule, but Joanne came across as fun and easy going. Admittedly, I have never watched an episode of “Downtown Alley” but she seems a mile away from how I imagine her to be featured there.
Shot for Bridge Studios and BA
This shoot with Simon Amstell was to promote his directorial debut film Benjamin. The film that hit the screens in 2019 and was met with critical acclaim.
Simon will always be my favourite presenter of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, but that is now a long time ago and something for the history books. Since then Simon has directed, done more stand up comedy, co-written Grandma’s House and a mockumentary set in a vegan future. The latter is a subject Simon cares a lot about, being a vegan himself.
I remember the first time I shot Simon, I expected him to be unforgiving in his comments and replies. I was prepared for a bombardment of smart ironic comments and humorous observations for which I would be dumbstruck. However, I met a kind and modest man. This time was no different. Simon complemented me on the previous shoot we did together, not just a comment he says to everyone I think, as he clearly remembered it and the images that resulted from that shoot.
We discussed the ideas I had come up with in collaboration with the Observer Magazine. A couple of the ideas didn’t quite seem to appeal to Simon, so I used the first half of the shoot to photograph what we had agreed on whilst think of new ideas. As the shoot was to be the cover for the Observer Magazine’s fashion issue, it was important that the clothes were a main feature and helped create the mood. At the same time we wanted a little humour with his stylish look. It then struck me that photographing Simon as if he was naked, and the clothes were folded up, would give the image an element of comedy whilst focusing on the clothes too. It would be a different look from any fashion shoot I can recall. The venue had the perfect place to execute this without exposing Simon fully, Simon loved it and a fashion cover unlike any other was made.
I have great respect for Simon and what he has achieved. His comedy is excellent and he only uses his sharp wit against people whom put themselves out for receiving it and can take it. Simon has also a good sensitivity and moral compass that we could all learn from.
Shot for The Observer Magazine
Bill Pullman! Where do I start? What a legend!!! This shoot, an early Saturday morning, was at the rehearsal rooms of the Old Vic where Bill was to perform the lead in the play All My Sons.
We had set up lights and backdrop and soon after, Bill turned up casually, with a plastic bag in hand filled with alternative shirts. He’s a tall guy, and the beard I had got used to after watching The Sinner was long gone. We shook hands and started to talk. The problem with Bill is that he’s not only very interesting but he is also very knowledgable and interested in listening to whomever he’s talking to. This means that we ended up talking for quite a while. The dedicated hour for the shoot had slipped my mind. Maybe I was thinking that we were both enjoying the meet, so we’ll always be able to get some more time on the end. However, after a long chat I asked the publicist who was there if we could have more time after the shoot, and I was reminded that there was an interview to take place straight afterwards. (Whoops!)
Down to business! I was well prepared and ran Bill through the different setups and finished more or less on time. We shook hands and off he went with the journalist. After I had packed down I left my business card in his plastic bag with a note saying ‘Thank you!’. A little later that day I got an email from Bill suggesting to meet again, inviting me to his mango orchard in California, of which I replied that he’s welcome to come to Hackney and see my purple sprouting broccoli.
A few weeks later, Bill comes strolling off the train in Hackney. He stops by the house and we enjoy a croissant and coffee. The conversations were genuine and honest. Bill is a true legend and a people’s man. Celebrity status with Bill is just a byline - if not an obstacle - Bill is just that interesting and honest ordinary guy who you can imagine being a good friend for life.
I hope I will get a chance to visit Bill in California one day, or he comes knocking on my door when next in town. Until then I know I will be seeing him again, on a screen somewhere, doing an excellent job!
Shot for Sunday Times Culture
The tall, slightly disheveled Chris O’Dowd has now moved from The British IT Crowd to the big screen in Hollywood. He still has one foot firmly anchored in the UK, but he permanently resides in LA. Maybe to get closer to Silicon Valley, but I personally think it’s more to hit the big time and big screens.
I shot Chris before, when he starred in the TV comedy Family Tree. That time I remembered a quiet O’Dowd and I expected the same this time. Chris came in to the studio casually carrying a man-bag. A little early he slouched down on one of the chairs and waited for my ‘Go’. I took the time to sit down and talk to Chris about the shoot we did and what’s been going on. He was a lot more chatty than I remembered. That Chris twinkle in the eye and a few snappy comments to let me know that he was ready to rumble.
Chris was fun to shoot. Ok - so he turned down a few of my suggestions saying he didn’t want to come across like another comedian, mentioning no names. But instead of leaving me hanging, desperately trying to come up with other ideas, he took it upon himself. A perfect combination of subtle humour, nice shapes and oddity. The thing about Chris is that his humour works best when he’s not doing much. Something that became clear during this shoot but also when you see him on screen. It must be a nice feeling to know that if you’re not doing well, then do less.
Shot for Sunday Times Culture
Ben Mendelsohn is just a cool cat. Not because of trying, but because he doesn’t have to try - and that’s what makes him into a true cool cat! Ben always plays a baddie in films or TV series, and does it so well. He is able to play the stereotypical baddie but also the likeable baddie or the back sheep baddie that you don’t know if you like or not. Which ever baddie is needed for the big screen, Ben will do it with a BAD ASS attitude. SO, was it a surprise when he rocked up to a possible cover shoot for Sunday Times Culture in grey tracksuit bottoms and a tired grey t-shirt? Not at all! If he’d made more of an effort I might have believe that he cared and that it was all an act and no truth to this BAD-ASS character we see on screen. And that’s where the difference lies in Ben’s acting and his actual persona. When you see Ben on screen you often end up disliking him, but in real life he’s that cool guy with a glint in his eye. The guy that has a definite edge, but is fun to be around. Not loud or rude, but calm and on point! Ben is the new Sheriff in town. He’s nonchalant and his demeanour commands respect, but he also plays the Sheriff of Nottingham in the new filmatisation of Robin Hood, and I bet he had the New Forest in Nottingham loosing its pines of fear.
Shot for The Sunday Times Culture
As I walk into this North London studio where the shoot with Stephen Mangan was to take place I was struck by studio envy. The studio in question had been an old stable, right on the doorstep of Camden and Regents Park. We were met with was a sizeable reception. This led into two large studio spaces which we walked through to get to the last room, a snooker room on level 1, with an adjacent kitchen. Park Village Studios is the studio of Peter Webb. Evidence of his work with among others, The Rolling Stones, was exhibited on the walls. The studio was cool, had a roughness to it, character, but what made me jealous was the knowledge that this studio had been Peter Webb’s, and his alone for many years. Only in the last few years had he opened the doors for others to rent the space. It’s a photographer’s dream. Without devaluing the quality of Peter’s work I have to say that a space like this would only be available exclusively to one photographer today if he was born into money, won the lottery or is amongst a very few elite advertisement photographers. It was a different time and I am sure Peter Webb can point the finger at many advantageous things of being a photographer today, but space is something that we don’t own anymore.
After I had shrugged off the feeling of jealousy I focused on the shoot. I wanted to use the space but also create a cleaner space that would led itself better to a cover. I set up a nice green colorama and looked around the space for other options. Stephen is one of those actors/comedians in the UK that has a perfect balance on exposure. He selects his involvement perfectly and his humour is understated and poignant. If I ever met him at a party I imagine him in the kitchen with Armando Ianucci, Tamsin Greg, Steve Coogan and maybe Simon Amstell, half hanging out the kitchen window, sharing a bottle of red wine whilst unraveling world politics and conflicts with funny one liners.
Stephen has written and starred in the television sitcom Hang Ups, so having him ‘hung up’ by some helium filled balloons seemed appropriate. It would also give a little nod to his recent performance in the Harold Pinter play The Birthday Party. The balloons would also work as a good prop and a great way to inject colour into the set. The rest of the shoot I chose to use the room we were in, snooker table and all. Stephen was good to work with; understated but fun in real life, much like how you see him in his films. He contributed with the sets and ideas and helped make the shoot a collaborative one, just the way I like it. I’m now peaking into every kitchen when I go to parties, just in case Stephen and friends are hanging out sharing stories.
Shot for Sunday Times Culture
In terms of brothers, then I would say that Joseph Fiennes and Ralph Fiennes seem as different as can be. I have had the pleasure of photographing them both and the shoots could not be more different. This may of course only be on the surface, a projection issue towards hairy Norwegian photographers. When they share a quiet moment with a glass of cognac in front of the fireplace, then it may be a different story. The one thing they both had in common was that they are both gentlemen.
Both the shoot with Ralph and Joe were fun in their own way. With Joe I collaborated on a set of images that he could use for his own press and publicity. I sourced a venue but also had the luxury of going outside with Joe to explore Camden’s hidden arches and parks. Joe was full of life and energy, a good laugh and generous with his time and compliments. I often assess the character of my subjects by how they treat my assistant and Joe was all inclusive. A real ‘diamond geeza’ as they say in ‘ackney’!
Shot for Joseph Fiennes
