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
David Mitchell photographed in London
Photographed for The Observer New review
Pianist and Composer Joanna MacGregor photographed in Brighton
Photographed for Joanna MacGregor
Comedian Dawn French photographed in Plymouth
Photographed for Saga Magazine
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 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
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
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 matters, and therefore got left behind. For example, I sat on a folder with politicians and topical/political journalists without ever sharing these. James O’Brien was one of those shoots - shot in September 2020, when the Covid lockdowns had given us a little breather to work normally again.
This was a cover shoot with James O’Brien, the politically focused news radio presenter from LBC. I first became aware of him around the time of the Brexit vote in 2016, and ever since he has become a cornerstone of reason in the conversation about Brexit as well as other politically news orientated causes.
James turned up at the studio, forthcoming, friendly and modest. That’s it with James - he’s a hard one to disagree with, but he’s always inclusive, open to listening and friendly. People have called into his show only to be cut down by his masterful ability to argue his point. However, he only cuts people off if their arguments are badly thought through or if they have been misled. In fact, he always seems to enjoy a good discussion as long as the opposing argument is well founded.
A second part of the shoot took place at LBC radio station in Leicester Square, central London. Not the easiest place to rock up with 11 bags - especially as Covid restrictions still ruled and I was asked to come without assistant. But nice to get him in his element.
Shot for the Observer Magazine
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 therefor got left behind. For example, I sat on a folder with politicians and topical/political journalists without ever sharing these. Fiona Bruce was one of those shoots - shot a few months before the Covid pandemic came and changed the world forever.
Fiona came in at the agreed time, full of energy, and settled down in the basement studio under a trendy Haggerston cafe in East London. I asked if we could get her anything and she had already clocked the pastry in the cafe on the ground floor, wanting it accompanied by a weak tea. I left her to enjoy a little grooming before the shoot. When she stepped in I started talking to her about her early life, getting a little money from modelling for picture stories in the teenage magazine ‘Jackie’. I was actually genuinely intrigued as I used to see those picture stories around when I was a kid, and it’s such a thing of the past. Fiona confided in me that she used to love doing them as she could always get people she fancied in to play the male role.
Shot for Observer New Review
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
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
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
This was my last shoot of 2020 and, as this ‘Christmas thing’ is quite an obvious seasonal, I haven’t had the chance to share it before now.
Samuel brought his chilli jam, something all his friends and family fondly receives every year. (He also gave me a jar and it was TASTY!)
Shot for Observer Food Monthly
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
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
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
I knew Isy best for her part as Dobby in the brilliant sit com show Peep Show. So before this shoot I thought I’d arm myself with some additional Isy Suttie knowledge. She’s brilliant at combining music and comedy - one of the hardest things to do well in the world of comedy. Some of her best live performances is exactly this - Isy with a guitar, armed with comedy gold lyrics.
Isy was very sweet on the day. The ideas I had came organically, using what I had to hand at the studio and Isy’s willingness to play ball. We also lucked out as her Paul Smith top made her totally merge into a screen that was at the studio. Nothing wrong with a bit of luck!
Shot for Observer New Review
I have now worked with Philippa on 5 separate occasions. I’ve photographed her with her husband Grayson, with her cat Kevin, with tears in her eyes leaving the screening of Toy Story 3 (and who did not shed a tear in that one???) and a couple of times on her own. I hope Philippa doesn’t mind me saying that working with her is more and more like working with a friend. Not only has she got her look down to a T with her colourful outfits, grey streak in the hair and colourful, thick framed glasses - but she genuinely just wants a shoot to be fun. She treats it like a playground, which is a refreshing and welcoming attitude to a shoot that is supposed to be uplifting fun.
Philippa is the new Agony Aunt for the Observer Magazine. Taking over after 20 years of advice to the British public from Mariella Frostrup. I have already sneakily asked Philippa for advice on a few issues when photographing her, and I have to admit, that if I was to write to someone to get advice on personal matters, then Philippa would be one of the first on my list. Her replies just make sense. I know that her role as an Agony Aunt for the Observer will be one filled with not only great advice, but also humour where and when appropriate. In fact - if we all write in and get some advice then I firmly believe that this world will be a little more colourful and brighter, as we all emerge from our homes a little more confident in our own decisions and insecurities.
So - take pen to hand, dig deep and get writing. Lets get Philippa working hard for her money!
Shot for Observer Magazine
