Brett Anderson

I knew from the word “go” that a shoot with Brett Anderson from Suede had great potential. He has always been a man of style. From his glam days as a lead singer in Suede until today, he’s stayed true to his cool image. Although a little toned down now from his younger days, his skinny jeans and sleek look is still a strong look. So, when deciding how to shoot Brett I was determined to move away from stereotypical “male imagery” and brought in pink, pink and more pink. I made an educated guess that he’d be wearing black and if anyone could make pink overload work, then it would be Brett. Brett famously described himself as “a bisexual man who never had a homosexual experience” - so the femininity that is traditionally, (and I emphasise the word ‘traditionally’) associated with pink would surely pass.

I also chose to have a second setup playing with lots of different colour gel, an idea I had, giving a visual nod towards the late 80’s and the glam period that saw Suede at their biggest.

Brett came in to the room and didn’t flinch at the big pink backdrop and pink chair. He introduced himself with confidence and introduced a small selection of outfits. Brett was engaged in the image process and showed great interest in the images. Not in a critical and disapproving way, but agreed with the direction and let me know his own favourites.

Great man to work with, bringing both style and character to the shoot.

Observer New Review

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

“I’m off to shoot the first man to sail singlehandedly around the world without stopping” I told my 6 year old son on the day on this shoot. He looked at me before he replied with one of the best questions I can imagine anyone asking, not least a 6 year old: “How did he get water to drink”. I had no clue and to be honest the thought never entered my head. During the shoot with Sir Robin Knox I was told by the man himself that he collected the condensation from the sail. This is of course just one of the many issues that come with sailing around the world, and he did it back in the days when the thought of doing any thing like what Sir Robin has done was beyond comprehension.

My grandad was a captain on a ship in Norway before, during and after WWII and I have grown up hearing stories of the sea. It was then especially strange when, a few minutes into the shoot, it struck me that he looked a little like my Norwegian grandad, followed by a hit in the stomach as he also reminded me of my dad. In the moments that may not be so evident through the pictures, but the mannerisms, nose, something about the eyes, the curls, and a slight smell of cigarettes - all reminded me of my dad. Admittedly, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was a healthier version of my dad, especially my dad’s latter years, but never the less the resemblance was poignant - as if he was my dad if my dad had chosen to follow my grandads footsteps and become a sailor.

At the end of the shoot, after creating the cover images needed, we headed off down to the harbour where I got to step on that boat that once sailed the world without stopping. And that is really when the scale of his achievement truly struck me; the only thing between Sir Robin and the vast open sea was a floating object made of wooden planks, no bigger that a couple of football goals put together.

Gene Simmons

I checked out a little about the legend Gene Simmons before I went to shoot him in a small hotel room in Soho. It was obvious that this was a man who knew about marketing himself and I was prepared for it. I expected logos, books, action figures and all other merchandise that could point us in his direction, and if needed I would negotiate a golden middle way. However, all that was in the hotel room was a safe/vault, (his new ultimate record collection comes in the form of a vault,) and nothing else. I quite liked the vault, included it in one of my setup ideas and Gene entered the room.

Gene was a taller than I expected. A handshake soon changed into a fist bump and off to the wonderful world of Gene we went. He took the Mick out of the cockney accent, with a not tooooo bad of an impression. (It’s the first time I have heard an American criticise the Brits for not pronouncing their ’t’s’.) His playlist, played off his phone, was unexpected, finishing with a tune that left us all speechless, with goosebumps and a tear in the eye. If you don’t react to Nat King Cole’s rendition of Charlie Chaplin’s song ‘Smile’ then you are cold as ice.

The shoot didn’t feel as a shoot in many ways. I didn’t control the timings as I had Gene’s attention for a couple of minutes before he’d decided he’d had enough of that setup. Don’t get me wrong, Gene was generous with his time, he just didn’t want to hang around for that infamous ‘just one more shot’. It was then for me to move around and try something else, and again he would accommodate and contribute for a couple more minutes, and so it went. 10 min chat and laughs followed by a couple of minutes photography. At the end I had to ask - ‘bathtub??’ - and in he went. No water though, that may have been going too far, and as he was still in his rock outfit, it would leave him wet for the rest of the day. Anyway, I wasn’t really aiming to show Gene in the bath getting clean, but wanted more to create a “rock’n roll” image, giving a hint to the rock star that finds himself in the bathtub at the end of a hard night.

Gene’s team was present, hoping he wouldn’t be too vocal on certain issues and in the hope that their presence may prevent Gene from telling a few un-pc jokes. It may have restricted him a little but a Willie Nelson joke was still served on a silver platter in exchange for a promise not to publish it. The manager was urging Gene not to say it as ‘It’s a delicate climate nowadays and we all have to watch what we say.’ I can imagine that the manager has his work cut out trying to keep Gene on the right side of political correctness, but where would Rock rock be if they obeyed by the rules of Political Correctness and health and safety?

Thomasz Schafenaker

This shoot with Tomasz Schafernaker, UK’s handsomest weather reporter, took some time to set up. After a few interruptions, (such as hurricane in the US which he had to report from,) we finally managed to arrange a time and date.

The first idea was ‘Singing in the Rain’ followed by the more cartoon like ‘followed by a dark cloud’. It was obvious that we needed a location with water outlet and so my allotment and neighbourhood was chosen as a backdrop. Tomasz had just returned on a redeye flight from the USA, tired but up for anything. I was at first unsure how he would take to the cold spray of a garden hose, but this is a man who’s used to standing in the eye of the storm and report back to us all who sit in the warm comfort of our houses. He was up for anything!!!!

The shoot took a little imagination to create and the dark street (on a sunny day) took a good dose of flash to make it look right. No day is the same and this was particularly fun challenge.

Shot for the Observer Magazine

Graham Norton

Graham Norton is definitely a national treasure. Or, as he’s Irish, international treasure. He is perhaps currently most known for The Graham Norton show. It’s the show where all the biggest names turn up for a chat with the man himself. Graham is that very likeable guy that everyone confides in and everyone drops their guard and allow themselves to have fun. Graham is able to relate to most people. You know that if you don’t get along with Graham, then that’s not due to him, but rather because there is something wrong with you.

Graham is also the presenter of the Eurovision Song contest. He’s the natural successor to the great Sir Terry Wogan. And much like Sir Terry, Graham is able to find the fun, bizarre and tacky in most of the acts and is able to comment on it freely.

The man I photographed was as warm and welcoming as the man we see on TV. He rocked upon at the studio on a chain-less bike. Maybe he was a little more modest than I had expected, but modesty is a character trait I think we should all have more of. Graham is also perhaps one of the few men who would allow us to go for a full red pallet on a shoot without batting an eye. A brave move some may say, but it is a colour that hides the modesty and suits the man.

Shot for The Observer Magazine

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell wears a Californian chilled-ness like a suit. It’s the chilled, cool attitude that can only be worn by someone who has been born and grown up in the Sunny State. Dude is a name used too much, but is perfectly suited to the brilliant Sam Rockwell. I met him when he was in London promoting his new film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”. The film, also starring Frances McDormand and Woody Harrelson. If there is ever a film you could imagine the fun behind the scenes and imagine hanging out between takes, then this is surely it. With a star cast like the three actors mentioned above, and the fact that it last night just ran away with three Golden Globe awards, (Sam Rockwell receiving best supporting actor) are all indications that this is a must see film.

Shot for The Guardian G2

Bill Bailey

Some comedians should come with a warning sign and some come with a sign saying “does what is says on the tin”. Bill is the latter. Bill is a man that’s just naturally interested and inquisitive. He is smarter than Einstein on an Omega 3 overdose, funnier than a pie in the face, and has more musical talent than a Mozart with 4 hands. Unfair really that all the talents have gone to one man when so many people have nothing at all.

This shoot was at his office, a home converted into a make shift storage/office space. It's hard to miss the larger than life cardboard cutouts of Bill, books, paintings, a couple of birdcages that are big enough to hold an albatross, plenty of plastic flowers and plastic trees, instruments, staff taking bookings for his upcoming tour, bicycle and many more things. Bill is a true hoarder, but a hoarder of the weird and wonderful. The place was a good representation of what it must be like to be in Bill’s mind; busy, filled with plenty of knowledge about everything unusual and fun…. and birds.

Shot for The Observer Magazine

Noel Gallagher

It seems a life time ago since I photographed Noel for the first time, and as far as my photography career is concerned, then it probably was. Last time I was restricted to a small boardroom, so it was a pleasure to have a whole studio space to play with. Noel rocked up that late Monday afternoon, (I don’t know if Noel can actually just ‘arrive’ at a destination - he is most certainly a ‘rocked up’ kinda guy). Guitar in hand and looking sharp, even though he himself said he was knackered having just had a whole weekend of events. One of them being the Manchester memorial concert “We Are Manchester”, where he was amongst a group of musicians invited to play at the reopening of Manchester Arena after the terror attack in May. And what better act to reopen a space like Manchester Arena after a tragedy than Noel and “Don’t Look Back in Anger”. The tune is not only personal to Gallagher but also rings true in so many situations.

The shoot itself was casual. We talked about love for South America, particularly Buenos Aires, his new album and life in general. It was the kind of chilled shoot that should allow for a sit down and an ice cold Mojito. However, 45 minutes and a few setups to work through meant no time for play. And I am sure that after a busy weekend Noel would rather go home, fill the bathtub with some bubbles and gobble up the caviar, than sit and chat to some photographer at a random studio. Maybe I’ll suggest bathtub and caviar for the next shoot?!

Shot for Sunday Times Culture

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson has released a new book. Her book is about simple but good home cooking and is called At My Table. This shoot for Waitrose Food was aimed at toning it down and keeping it real. So real that we even had the luxury of including a tray of small home grown red apples. (The type of apples I spent many of my younger years scrumping. - Sorry old neighbours…) A linen table cloth and a casually dressed Nigella - all spell out home cooking as far as I am concerned. Nigella is the queen of cook books and this new book will be like having the queen herself in your own home, in a kitchen sharing all her home-cooking secrets, (without the corgis).

Shot for Waitrose Food Magazine

AUDI Ownership

This series of images is from a recent campaign shot for AUDI aimed at getting AUDI owners to make use of the expertise provided by AUDI garages. The shoot was to be done as if looking out from inside the engine of an AUDI.

This was a collaboration with the advertising agency BBH.

Russel Brand

Russell Brand is hard to summarise in one sentence. He is a comedian for sure, but his opinions, writings, podcasts extend far beyond the comedy. The issues he deals with often have a comedy angle to them but the undertone has a more serious message. He exposes his personal life, problems, addictions and fears along side his political views and social conscious.Never are the issues dealt with in a subtle and diplomatic way, but his opinions are blatantly clear and he gets his messages across using comedy.

I turned up to the shoot expecting a man who’s personality would make be hard to control during a shoot. Russell has a very big presence. Big hair, tall and a highly visible presence. I remember seeing him at an exhibition opening a few years ago and you could easily spot him across the room. Everyone looked around the room, and as they glanced towards where he was standing, everyone raised their head as if their glance was passing some speed bump (his head) towering over everybody else’s), to avoid glancing right at him, trying to pretend not to look in order to allow him his personal space.

The initial introduction was met with a firm handshake and a direct eye contact with a very polite and well mannered introduction, not forced, but a genuine ‘a pleasure to meet you’. The rest of the shoot I experienced a relaxed and fun Russell who seemed genuinely interested in everybody around him. It is not hard to see how this man can get everyone around him to feel relaxed.

Russell has a new book out now dealing with his addictions, ’Recovery, Freedom from our addictions’. I am sure this will be an honest, hard hitting read, using humour with a few words thrown in, that may be hard to digest for the faint hearted.

Wayne McGregor

The man on the scene at the moment, as far as music choreography is concerned, is Wayne McGregor. I was invited to his studio in the old media centre for the London Olympic Games, and the space was mind blowing! His studio door was at the end of a large empty hallway, where only a cleaning robot existed. It was a bit like the film “2001 Odyssey” meets “28 Days Later”. At the end of this desolate corridor we entered a black metal door and inside we saw a big white box with natural daylight coming in from the ceiling, some industrial staircase and in the centre of this space was a two story wooden box taking up the centre space of the studio. The wooden box was the home of two dance studios and an other empty space. The walls were bare apart from a few digital displays with numbers hanging off the walls. These displays and numbers show Wayne McGregors own personal chromogenic code. As well as this there was a glass table, vertical strip lights and some chairs on a section of the floor that had dancers floor markings all over it. By entering this space I had skipped a few decades and entered an alternative future.

When I was introduced to Wayne it was obvious he was a man who worked with visual ideas. He showed great interest in what I wanted to achieve visually. The chromogenic art pieces were hard to make interesting in still images so I chose to go more with the architecture and the vertical strip lights. Wayne, himself a dancer, brought new poses and postures to the shoot, movements I have never seen before. Great guy to meet and work with. A true inspiration who is able to give a lot to a shoot. I have never seen one of Wayne;s performances or choreographed dance shows, but if he’s anything to go by, it’s bound to be a visual firework.

James Acaster

Hilarious comedian James Acaster is someone to watch out for. He maybe well known to many of you already, but if you haven’t heard of him then please check out Josh Widdicombe’s podcast where he has made several appearances telling many of his own embarrassing stories. Or, you could pick up his book “James Acaster’s Classic Scrapes”, (from which this cover shoot was for,) where he will reveal many of his most embarrassing moments and go into detail about his experience with a cabbage. Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this slightly brown chord’esque photoshoot, aimed at capturing the more misfortunate James Acaster. (I have to admit that his colour palette as far as his clothes are concerned much resembles what I am myself wearing today. A firm favourite for many of us children of the 70’s, although I suspect that James is a little younger than that.)

Hans Zimmer

I wasn't sure who Hans Zimmer was when I got the call from the lovely Ronnie Weil to see if I could do the job. I looked it up and found out that he is probably one of the most prolific film music composers around. He has written the sound track to Lion King, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, Crimson Tide, Inception, Interstellar, Inception, 12 Years a Slave and many many more. He is the sound behind so many cinematic experiences I have had, and therefore one of the most influential people in terms of evoking emotions during your cinematic experience. Yet, he is not known to many of us who are not patient enough to read all the credits after a film.

He has now been touring with a full orchestra and performing his work live. I met him back stage at the Wembley arena. A modest and seemingly ordinary man, a man who knows the name of everyone in his orchestra and crew and seems deeply involved in how they are as he shakes hands and asks personal questions to everyone who passes by. A hugely successful man but without an ounce of ignorance or arrogance. Is this a result of success when maintaining a great deal of anonymity, or is it just Hans Zimmer and the man he is?

Sir Ben Kingsley

This shoot with Sir Ben Kingsley was to take place on his home territory; a big manor house hotel in the outskirt of Oxford. As we followed the sat nav to get to this destination we ended up on a dead end road, leading into a farm. We drove 200 meters into the farm where we met the farmer and asked for further directions. He asked us to drive back out the drive way, a few lefts and a few rights, a little straight on, up and down some hills and then we should be there. We turned around and as we headed out we could see behind the high fencing on the farm that this was no ordinary farm. Monkeys and Penguins were spotted and I felt that I was in some Roald Dahl story or David Lynch film, rather than on my way to a shoot with Sir Ben Kingsley. I rubbed my eyes, got my assistant to pinch my arm, and checked my water bottle for any traces of LSD. Nope - it was real.

After 5 minutes we arrived at the destination, a manor house hotel with a 1/2 mile driveway through a golf course. The green fields and trees were only interrupted by trousers that would put any raver to shame. Everything from neon colour trousers, often a whole group with matching ones, to a man proudly prancing around with his Union Jack slacks. I have never been a golfer and I have to admit, that what I saw on that golf course made me scared of ever finding myself on a golf course again. You never know, it may be contagious.

Finally, we arrive at the destination. We’re showed to the big room overlooking the great fields of green, with neon coloured legs wandering around dragging their buggies. The hotel was traditional and did not reflect the trousers in the field or the monkeys on the farm. Sir Ben’s team were there and were as nice as can be. Sir Ben turned up and I introduced myself reminding him of our previous shoot which was to shoot him as an Oscar winner, with his Oscar statue at a classy London hotel. Sir Ben looked the part with his maroon jacket and eloquent posture. Easy to compose and was willing to take direction. A short affair, but we got on. He did of course insinuate that I would be best off heading back to the monkey farm after the shoot. Farming monkeys has since been a thought I have considered a good career option. Although I do assume that Sir Ben was perhaps not referring to me as responsible enough to look after a shrewdness of Apes, but more as a life style option. (My banana eating skills are after all second to none.)

Sofia Coppola

One of my favourite films this Millennia was “Lost in Translation”. Not only is it a film that can quietly build up ones anticipation, but it can feel painstakingly true. In fact, I felt very much like I was a part of a very similar photoshoot as the one that was portrayed in the film the other day: “Celebrity, from a different country, possibly jet lagged, didn't want to be there and was promoting a brand of spirits”. (Those of you who want to know more will have to supply me with a few drinks one night.)

However, the director of that film, Sofia Coppola, has now come out with another film, and everybody is nodding their heads again. A departure from the silent flow of Lost in Translation but still, contains the same cinematic beauty. ‘The Beguiled’, looks to be a film that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Sofia entered the room at Claridge’s with a gentle, soft flow. Well composed and obviously used to the relentless tempo of a press junket. Her gentle and well composed nature made it hard to imagine her directing a large team needed for making a film. However, maybe it is exactly this calm and gentle approach that is the secret behind the well composed films that she makes. Whatever it is, it works on the big screen and it works on a photo shoot.

One Day in Brooklyn

In February 2017 I went to New York to see Art Buyers, Producers, Picture Editors and Art Directors. I ‘popped my New York cherry’ with four fully packed days with very productive meetings. I also had one day with no meetings, and New York was my playground. Instead of seeing the sites, doing selfies in front of the Empire State Building and climbing the Statue of Liberty, I chose to take a walk through Brooklyn to see if I could find the real New Yorkers. A 14 mile walk and 12 hours later, I finished my ‘Tour de Brooklyn’. Here are some of the faces I met that wintry day.

Thank you to all of you who agreed to be photographed by me, a stranger who approached you on that cold Thursday in February. Thank you to all of you who took the time to see me and my portfolio whilst in New York, thank you to all of you who helped me by introducing me to your friends and colleagues, and a big thank you to Brooklyn for being everything I had hoped you would be. (All images taken on Thursday 02 February 2017 between 7am and 7pm.)

Cat Deeley

I have worked with Cat Deeley before and I remember back then, that her presence in the room was like a sunshine-whirlwind, if any such thing exists. Her presence in the room is so noticeable, a total uplifting and fun contribution to any professional environment. She invites everyone in the room to join in, treats everyone with respect and is contagious and generous with her positivity. Saying that, she is also 100% professional and photographs like a dream. The last shoot I did with Cat was in a studio but this time we had the great backdrop of a traditional London Caff’! A long way from LA, where Cat has resided for about 10 years now, Cat is now back on British screens! And we wanted to make sure there was no doubt, so apart from the Caff we included a good portion of Sausage, bacon and chips in the pics.

Michael Simpson

We arrive at Michael Simpson’s gallery in Somerset and outside is an old classic Citroen. The type that looks a little futuristic for its age and also the first of its kind to have hydraulics that lift the car as it starts. Michael’s studio is in an Old Gas Works, a fitting place for his large paintings. Michael met us at the door, dressed in his casual paint clothes and a pair of modest round glasses. As we enter the old Gas Works halls we are struck by the size of Michael’s paintings, mostly depicting different ladders or steps which lead to a Leper’s Squint, a hole that was often put in the sides of buildings such as churches, for people with Leprosy to be able to watch a sermon without infecting others. As Leprosy is also called Hansen’s disease I personally think we should call it a Hansen’s Squint or a Hansen’s Hole - but then again that may be confused with something completely different!!!

The office also had a platform above with a bed, a more contemporary office space with lots of books, a Mac and a sit down fireplace areas with a coffee table. 'The perfect studio for any artist’ I thought, and that was before he opened up the back door which lead to a walled garden with lots of green plants. The sun was bright and warm and with its tropical plants it left me with the feeling of being in Cuba again. How could a space provide you with so much?

I also love Michael’s work. Something that is seemingly simple, yet carries a lot of meaning, precision, and is visually stunning. This was a great artist to be introduced to and a great pleasure to work with.

Griff Rhys Jones

Last time I photographed Griff I tried to depict him on top of a mountain… in London. He had just completed a documentary series Mountain which saw him climb 15 of Britains highest mountains. The shoot ended up being Griff, jumping high in the air, trampling down a mound of earth made by me using a few bags of compost. This time the brief was a little more relaxed and we were able to just focus on Griff being Griff. He is one of the comedy pillars of the British society having dominated the 80’s with Not the Nine O’clock News as well as Smith and Jones. Griff and Mel were also the brains behind the production company that introduced us to the brilliance of Da Ali G Show and I’m Alan Partridge. Griff has since also been associated with more serious travel and history programs but always has a foot in the world of comedy.

He is currently starring in the theatre production of The Miser which has received rave reviews. So, in order to show that Griff still has the stamina to climb to high vantage points, the end of this shoot, in a rehearsal room in the centre of London, we saw Griff putting all health and safety considerations aside and climb a 2.5 meter wardrobe to chill. He’s still got it!