Nish Kumar

The British have always been good at political comedy and political satire.  I remember being in the UK as a teenager and my granddad always watched Have I Got News For You - (a program that hasn’t changed in over 30 years and is still very good).  There have been many other programs finding the humour in the news and politics especially, and one of the current ones is the Mash Report with Nish Kumar.  Nish is known for Mash Report, but also his stand up comedy and other comedy performances often dealing with politics and news.  

So for this shoot with Nish I started thinking about what I could do to include a bit of humour and visually show that Nish deals with current events, news and politics in his humour.  I started thinking down the lines of using newspapers as props.  We all know the classic newspaper hats - but how about newspaper flowers, newspaper wigs, newspaper chairs and a newspaper cape?!  I spent an evening looking into how to make it all.  Emptied cupboards for tape and glue, found a good arts and crafts shop to get other bits and pieces, and lastly emptied my magazine stand for old newspapers.  

I had planned to have a boys drinks and catchup session with my friends from Norway over zoom.  Instead, I sat there, half chatting on zoom, whilst swearing over the newspaper roses for not doing what I wanted them to do.  I got there in the end, but instead of taking 30 minutes which I had at first thought would be the case, it took 5 hours. (Anyway - now I am an expert in case anyone is looking for someone to create newspaper props.)

Armed with my newspaper props I turned up at the south London studio to prepare the final things.  Nish turned up and we were ready to kick off.  Nice guy!  Just as you see him on TV.  We talked about his A-list friends whom I have worked with (James Acaster and Joel Dommet especially), the cricket club incident - (a live show at the cricket club where he was pelted with bread rolls - and they missed,) and his up and coming comedy show.  All to the backdrop of some slow dance country music.  

Shot for Observer Magazine

Grayson and Philippa Perry

Working with people several times allows for a different approaches and opportunities.  With some people, there may be a case of struggling to come up with new ideas, but in the case of Grayson and Philippa Perry that’s not a problem.  They’re a consistently moving visual subject.  Constantly evolving and always interesting.  I say that having photographed Grayson Perry 8 times, Philippa Perry 4 times - oh, and their cat once.  

In the true spirit of Corona lockdown, this shoot took place outdoors.  Just outside Grayson’s studio in fact.  All brick walls and little to hand that we could use as props. I had however brought my own little stash and was ready to roll.  Grayson and Philippa were hosting the second part of the Lockdown Art program.  A program that sees the couple talking to celebs about art, but also ask the public to enter their lockdown art.  (More series to come).

My boys were given a book called “Boys who dare to be different” from their Auntie Emma for Christmas.  It’s a lovely book that looks at people in history who have dared to stand out from what is considered the norm, and have excelled in what they have done.  One of the people mentioned in this book is Grayson Perry.  On the shoot I mentioned this to Grayson.  On the request of my kids, I asked him if what was written in the book was true.  The first comment from Grayson and Philippa in unison was “but I (Grayson)  am not different.”  It is a comment I should have seen coming from Grayson.  I also agree to a certain degree, whilst completely understanding why he is in the afore mentioned book.  Would Grayson have been mentioned in the book had he just done the art work and not dressed as Claire on occasions?  Probably not.  Does the book then put more emphasis on Grayson’s Claire than Grayson’s many art works?  Maybe.  But the truth is that Claire is in itself an art piece, and Claire, more so than the amazing ceramics and tapestry Grayson does, encourages young and old alike to be who they want to be, despite the norm that group pressure and society puts upon us.  

I do enjoy photographing Grayson as Grayson, or Grayson as Claire just as much.  I love photographing Philippa with her characteristic black and grey hair and unmistakable glasses.  Together - they bounce off each other, like raindrops on a freshly impregnated coat, like a bouncy ball in a school playground, like best friends after a long time apart, like they are each every second word in a sentence that slots perfectly together to make complete sense.  

I may not be considered the kind of friend that would call Philippa and Grayson to hang out and enjoy a glass of wine together, but when I’m on a shoot with them I feel very much like a friend. 

Shot for Observer New Review

Rob Brydon

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

Stephen K Amos

Stephen K Amos is part of British comedy establishment. He has been at the forefront of the British comedy scene for as long as I can remember, and he is still funny!  I collaborated with Stephen on this shoot to get some press and marketing images for him. A tall guy, friendly, and packed with style, turned up at the shoot in east London. A friendly chat to start with, then we hit the streets to get some outdoor images before the rain. We moved up and down an alleyway before heading back into the studio again.  Change of clothes and backdrops before we managed to get Stephen moving like a Salsa God!  

Not many shoots you break up half way to enjoy Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas.  (Certainly a first for our French groomer Celine who was also on the shoot,) only to continue the shoot with ‘belly full’ and sticky fingers.  

Shot for Stephen K Amos

Liz Bonnin

Liz Bonnin is one of the best known faces of the natural world.  For those of you who are not familiar with Liz’s work, she at the forefront in the battle against plastic and reports on issues effecting the natural world. She’s a natural history presenter, biochemist, wild animal biologist, has presented Top of the Pops, and started her career by being a backing vocalist for the band The Pale. Yep - on paper that is the same as saying “living the dream”.  Not only has she done all the jobs I would have loved to do (apart from my current job of being a photographer, which is pretty epic,) but she is genuinely lovely to work with.  

As if she hadn’t done enough epic things already - on the shoot Liz was excited about working on the Planet Earth Live in Concert - a live show at the O2 arena. And what a show that will be when the Corona virus is finally under wraps and we are all allowed out on big events again.  At the moment that looks to be spring 2022.  

Shot for Saga Magazine