Johnny Knoxville

The dude of dudes - Johnny Knoxville!!!  I personally think that a picture of Johnny in the dictionary next to the word ‘dude’ is appropriate.  

You know it’s a great day when you get to meet the man himself, even if we were restricted to a hotel room in Central London.

When I had the chance to photograph Knoxville, I thought I’d get to use some of my more edgy ideas - however, they were turned down ahead of the shoot.  So I livened up to the shoot with a few milder ideas that I hadn’t pitched up ahead.  Lastly, I left my iron, that I had brought to iron out a fabric backdrop, lying visible next to the set.  When I started shooting Johnny I suggested more things.  He said no to some of them, but came back with some crazy Johnny poses.  Then he spotted the iron and picked it up - just as I had hoped - Johnny continued by Ironing his bum and crotch - classic Knoxville style!


Shot for G2 

Joe Lycett

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

Dennis Bovell

One of my favourite films in the last decade is “Lovers Rock” by Steve McQueen.  In that film there is a scene where they are dancing at a party to the song “Silly Games”.  The dance scene is the whole of the song.  It is not only a brave scene to film, but it is so powerful.  And the cornerstone of the scene is the song Silly Games by musician and producer, Lover’s Rock legend, Dennis Bovell.  I met up with Dennis in a park near Tottenham Stadium.  We timed it so we could complete the shoot before the school finishes and hundreds of kids take over the quiet park.  Well - that is almost all kids were at school.  Two kids did come over and insisted on standing between me and Dennis for a while before their mum finally came and got them to move along.  

Dennis - such a chilled guy.  He has been all over the world and played music, he’s helped produce many albums and lastly, he’s been the king of Lover’s Rock!  I bet he’s probably responsible for many hookups as couples find each other on the dance floor dancing to his smooth tunes.  

Such a pleasure to work with Dennis. A man of many tales, but he didn’t brag.  Seemingly just an ordinary guy in Tottenham, however, the success he’s experienced is more than many of us could wish for.

Ledge’!


Shot for Observer Magazine

Evanna Lynch

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

 
 

Katherine Ryan

When Katherine was asked what she does on the panel show ‘Don’t Hate The Playaz’ she said ‘comedian and Hooter waitress’.  That’s certainly not all she is though.  Not many comedians can carry off being photographed for a fashion feature in national magazines, be funny on stage (and off stage) and be considered to be knowledgable about the hip hop scene.  Oh - did I mention that this shoot was just after Katherine had given birth to her second child.  Boom! If anyone can do it, Katherine can.

Both shoots I have done with her have been fashion lead.  This time we had the pleasure of dressing her up in a diamanté dress that weighed a ton as well as other great colourful and vibrant outfits from great designers.  Katherine had the attitude of a model - I just wear what Jennifer Michalski-Bray (the stylist) tells me to.  This was however not a fashion shoot and not a straight shoot of a comedian - but an attempt to find a good middle ground. 


Shot for Observer Magazine



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

Sarah Solemani

This shoot with Sarah Solemani took place just around the corner from where I live.  Although Sarah is now based in LA, she grew up in Hackney, London.  The backdrop for this shoot was Ridley Road Market, now a bustling culturally diverse market - but once the battleground for the 62 Group, a collection of anti-fascists who stood up against the rising Neo-Nazi movement in Britain after WW2.  This conflict was the basis of Sara Solemani’s BBC drama, based on the book Ridley Road by Jo Bloom.  

The film deals with a part of history that I did not know about before Sarah told me about it.  What is now such a culturally diverse community and market is miles away from the Neo-Nazi conflict of post war Britain.  

This shoot was more a matter of walking through the market with Sarah, searching for backdrops that I felt would be suitable as we went along.  Sarah, nice and relaxed in what is an environment she is used to from her younger days, easily chatted to me and the people in the market alike.  One man proposed to her and I got invited to hang out in LA with her! - no doubt in my mind that Sarah is as nice as they come.  


Shot for Observer New Review

Flashback!

Old images from the family albums of celebrities replicated today. This month I feature James Bay, Peter Andre, Bez and Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp and Stephen Norman.

John Bercow

It’s not long since I stopped categorising my newsletters.  One of the reasons I stopped was that some shoots just didn’t fit into my most common subject matter, and therefore got left behind.  For example, I sat on a folder with politicians and topical/political journalists without ever sharing these.  John Bercow was one of those shoots - shot a few months before the Covid pandemic came and changed the world forever.


John Bercow, aka “ORDER!!!!!” - made the ‘Speaker of the house’ into something more than just an orchestrator, keeping order in the houses of parliament during debate.  Bercow became the man who shouted “ORDER! ORDER!” as front bench politicians squabbled and argued like children.  He was the one who was able to control the politicians when they were not able to control themselves.  And let’s face it, that was a regular reoccurrence.  John Bercow became the face of sanity in parliament, a man who took the anonymous roll of “speaker” and made it into something else.  This shoot was completed earlier this year and John was modest when I mentioned his achievements, and nice to work with.  He seemed at times to be the only politician who could see the houses of parliament for what it is, and the politicians for how they come across to the average man in the street - as they argue and bicker like school children.  


Shot for Observer New Review

David and Dolly Baddiel

This shoot with David Baddiel and his Daughter Dolly was to support an article in the Guardian Saturday Magazine about social media and its addictive qualities.  David had made a documentary for the BBC talking about the issues.  His daughter gives the view of a young person and also someone whom has suffered from anorexia and other self esteem issues, fuelled by the pressures caused by social media.

Although we played with a shadowy representation of social media in these images, it was the more simple portraits that appealed to me the most.  It was evident that David and Dolly were very close and it was a pleasure to be a witness to the closeness between them.


Shot for The Guardian Saturday Magazine

Munya Chawawa

The world of lockdown has seen the emergeance of comedians whom have actively used social media and online platforms.  Munya Chawawa is one of these comedians.  He’s best known for his portrayal of the posh rapper called “Unknown P” and the chef “Jonny Oliver”.  Now - Munya is not only online but also the star of TV programs such as “Complaints Welcome”.

As soon as Munya came to the shoot it was evident that music is of great importance to him.  He took over the Spotify playlist and started playing one tune after the other.  

A few set poses but also the freedom to move and jump created the images I wanted.  


Shot for Observer Magazine

David Spencer Percival

David Spencer Percival’s office was exactly how I imagined my office to be when I close my eyes.  Nice and tidy, good taste in art and design, and a bar cabinet should a fellow colleague stop by for a little chat. David has been the founder of very successful botanical drinks company and energy company before now running the life science recruitment business Life Science People.  

David was fun, friendly and charming.  Many stories of his art work collections and trips abroad lightened up the conversation whilst we were working.  

Shot for Recruiter Magazine

Flashback

The Flashback series for the Guardian Saturday Magazine continues, and here are four of the latest shoots that have been published. My shoots replicate images of celebrities from their younger days.  

Here we have JLS, Sadie Frost with her mum Mary, AJ and Curtis Pritchard and Vick Hope with her mum Ade


Shot for Guardian Saturday Magazine

Dame Eileen Atkins

Dame Eileen Atkins, winner of a BAFTA, EMMy award and Olivier Award, was appointed the Commander of the Order of the British Empire and Dame Commander of the Order of British Empire.  Now - how’s that for an opening sentence on your Wikipedia page?!  

The thing about Eileen (and yes - I was told to drop the Dame when I spoke to her so I continue on a more casual first name basis here too), is that she is so casual and pleasant to deal with.  Her place, a wonderful and charming house in the West London, is a long way away from where she grew up, as the daughter of a meter reader in Tottenham.  She had that charm that comes with the more senior generation of the British acting world.  There is a relaxed attitude there, a playfulness.  I have seen the same in many of the British traditional actors and actresses.  They started acting because they loved the work, not to become famous, and the joy they feel due to living the life they have always wanted to is worn on their sleeves.  

Eileen was 100% lovely!  Fun, charming, natural and playful - all at once.  She has just released her autobiography (up to the age of 30) and I bet it will be a great read.  Just seeing the pictures from her young days which are in the book is great fun.

Shot for Observer New Review

Elif Shafak

I had the pleasure of working with Elif in her house.  A place with an amazing living room where her office desk is too.  Elif is from Turkey and has written books like The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, Three Daughters of Eve and 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World.  Her literature touches on political issues, women’s rights, minority rights and freedom of speech.  Her political voice addresses issues around Turkish and European politics, democracy and pluralism.  Dealing with topics such as child abuse and Armenian genocide means she has made dangerous enemies.  A brave writer, yet not someone who comes across as being paranoid or threatened. 

Shot for Observer New Review

Ravneet Gill - Diwali

First time I worked with Rav was for a mothers-day shoot.  I was commissioned to photograph her, her mum and her grandma in one shot.  When they turned up I did not only meet very nice, fun and friendly Rav, but her mum and grandma were great characters too.  Such a great trio!  I have to admit that there was a slight language barrier between Rav’s grandma and me - but somehow the humour and a sense of understanding each other was definitely there. 

So - it was with great pleasure that I received a commission to photograph the trio again.  This time to coincide with Rav’s new book release - as well as the celebration of light day, Diwali.  Rav had also brought some friends over to help enhance the feeling of festivity. 

In order to give an impression of us celebrating Diwali - I wanted to create a dark and atmospheric room with candles and food decoration.  I was sent props to use and the shoot was to take place in Rav’s place. I was given 2 hours to setup and shoot, but Rav was happy to extend the time a little when I got there.  2 hours was tight, but especially as I got there to see a 3 meter diameter glass dome above the room we were shooting in, and it was a bright sunny day.  One thing is to expose the daylight away with flash, but I also needed to bring some atmosphere out with the candles.  I took what blankets I had, ripped off the paper backdrop and got ready to cover as much of the glass dome as I could.  However - the glass dome was 6 meters above me so the only way to get to it was to climb through a tiny window, in the top end of Rav’s bedroom window, to get to the roof.  I am already not a very flexible with my almost 2 meter height, seeing me climb through that window was a sight to behold.  (I never knew I could get my knee behind my ears - a move I had to perfect to get out.). I covered what I could of the window and got on with setting up the grand Diwali celebration table with the props I had.  We managed to create a setting that had some of the intended atmosphere.  Rav’s friends and family were not only lovely to work with, but managed to look and act relaxed and festive.

Rav comes across as a nice and friendly person when on TV. Having met Rav on several occasions now, I can truly vouch for her being the friendly, fun, and a sparkly, kind person.  Having met her friends and especially her family, also gives a depth to understanding who Rav is, and she is exactly as you would hope from seeing her on TV.  

I hope to work with Rav again, and if her mum and grandma is there too then that’s a-ok with me.  Maybe next time we’ll get them all posing as Charlie’s Angels.  I can especially see Rav’s grandma Biji getting into that…

Shot for Waitrose Food Magazine

Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo

I have too admit that the introduction to this trip to Padua didn’t bode well for an amazing meal.   We rocked up to a roadside hotel on the side of a semi industrial district of Padua, Sarmeola di Rubano, at about 11pm.  The hotel, only a few hundred meters from our final goal and objective of the trip, the acclaimed restaurant Le Calandre.  The hotel had closed and we had to call and wake up the staff to come and let us in.  There we were met with a hotel that felt like Miami Vice on a budget.  I eventually got to my room quietly hoping that the Le Calandre, a couple of hundred meters down the road, would be considerably better.

When I first saw the restaurant from the outside it didn’t look like we were up for much of an improvement.  The restaurant entrance and windows looked good, but the building looked more like a mix between a South of France building estate and an industrial warehouse.  However, as soon as we walked into the bistro that is in front of the restaurant itself, we realised we were somewhere special.  Le Calandre restaurant is run by the two brothers Massimiliano and Raffaele Alajmo.  Max (Massimiliano) is the chef and took the restaurant in 1992 and took it from one to two Michelin stars in 1996, making Max the youngest ever chef to get two Michelin stars at the age of 22.  At the age of 28 Max gained the restaurant its third Michelin star, making him the youngest ever chef to get that accolade.  The restaurant has maintained its three Michelin stars ever since and Chef Alajmo has been given the nickname “Il Mozart dei fornelli” (The Mozart of the stoves).

The restaurant is a family business run by the two brothers Max and Raf.  The adjoining bistro is run by their sister Laura.  The restaurants were previously run by their parents Erminio Alajmo and Rita Chimetto.  The family now run several of Italian and international restaurants as well as having a bakery section that supplies food to external shops, bistros, restaurants and cafes.  

So - when a chef like Max, receives me with open arms and insists that it is a true pleasure to be photographed by me, then it is a true sign of his humility and generosity.  We did not only get to eat the taster menu at Le Calandre, which was exceptional! - but we were also invited to dine in the Bistro and their new restaurant on St Mark’s Square.  For the latter we were transported on a wooden speedboat, not unlike what you see in a James Bond Movie.  

The restaurants run by the Alajmo family do not only provide excellent food, but also an experience that makes you smile and laugh, makes you excited and stimulate all your senses.  So - to call Max the Mozart of the stoves may be an understatement.  

Shot for Cook Magazine

 
 

Gareth Thomas

Having grown up in Norway, I have to admit that Rugby has never been on my radar.  However, having married a Welsh woman, the game came as part of the parcel.  I still have a hard time getting my head around all the rules, but I have started enjoying watching the game.  I also admire the physicality of the game.  The men and women who play the game sure aren’t afraid of a few bumps and bruises.

Gareth Thomas is welsh by name, and welsh by game!  Yes - one of the most well known and respected Welsh rugby players.  Not only has he shown guts and courage on the pitch, but he has also been open about his sexuality and having been diagnosed as HIV positive.  Gareth has had guts to come forward writing books about his experience, his sexuality and his diagnosis.  This shoot was for Gareth’s last book, a frank tale of his own life and experiences.  

This shoot took place at a golf club in Wales.  We had the changing room to our disposal.  Gareth, was as fun and kind as you’d hope he would be.  It’s a characteristic I find many of the rugby players have photographed are not brash or arrogant, but friendly and forthcoming.  

Shot for Penguin / Ebury Press

 
 

Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer

There are few actors I am more excited about at the moment than Stephen Graham and Jodie Comer.  Every role Stephen touches turns to gold.  He mostly plays serious roles, and the intensity and emotions he brings to the parts he plays, hit straight home.  The question with Stephen is; is it him that makes the roles he plays great? - or is he just great at sniffing out the great parts and can take them on with excellence?  Either one is a great talent, and either way still makes Stephen a great actor.  

And then Jodie - mostly known for playing Oksana Astankova in Killing Eve.  She’s still very young so there is no doubt that next time I photograph her, (and I do hope there will be a next time,) I will be able to reel off iconic films and series that she has played in like I am able to do with Stephen if I’m put on the spot.  One thing is for sure already, and that is that Jodi has a great ability to bring herself and character to her roles. 

They are now playing together in the Channel 4 drama ‘Help’, a series that deals with some of the issues that arose due to Covid.  Some may think that it’s too early to watch serious dramas about the social impact of Covid, but this is a gripping and touching drama that will appeal to many.  

At the end of this shoot I also managed to get a frame of 10X8 analogue portrait taken of Stephen and Jodie.  Unfortunately, (being the first time I have tried to do a shot of 10X8 with the time pressures that comes with editorial shoots, and only having two sheets ready to use,) the shot with Jodie had two misfires of the flash and didn’t come out.  However, the shot of Stephen was everything I had hoped for.  

Shot for Observer New Review