Anoushka Shankar

Anoushka Shankar is not only the daughter of the world’s best known Sitar player but she is also an incredibly talented Sitar player herself. There was an incredibly calm aura about Anoushka as well as being friendly, fun and kind.  Am I right in saying that the feeling of calm goes hand in hand with the image of Sitar?!  Although I think that’s the case, the complexity of playing an instrument like the Sitar should surely make one wired, and not calm.  The sitar, is hugely personal, often custom made, and has an almost religious aura about it.  I had a blanket for this shoot and had to stand above Anoushka to photograph her.  To be able to be on the blanket where Anoushka was playing the sitar, I had to take shoes off.  Not to preserve the state of my blanket, but because I was on the blanket with the Sitar.  A respectful way to treat such a complex instrument.

This shoot was for the Observer Food Monthly so an element of food needed to be included.   As well as turning lettuce leafs into a pattern that would correspond with the pattern of my blanket, I also made a Sitar out of a Squash and had the lettuce leaves on Anoushka’s shoulders, almost like the base of some angel wings. 

Shot for OFM

Romesh Ranganathan

Every December there are always a few features that come my way addressing wellbeing and health, ready to be published in January the following year.  2019 was no different.  But instead of the normal feature that makes you feel bad about all the self improvement memberships you haven’t signed up for in the New Year, or for those who fell at the ‘will-strength hurdle’ as soon as your friends asked you out for a drink, burger and chips - Romesh Ranganathan tells the story of all the self improvement he has tried but failed at.  And maybe it isn’t so bad.  So - I took Romesh on a workout in a photography studio. He posed as personal trainer, exerciser, dietician and dieter.  A few handfuls of poses in around 4 hours.  It might not do much to prevent a heart attack, for talent or photographer, but a shoot like this is bound to release a few beads of sweat.

Shot for The Guardian Weekend Magazine