Griff Rhys Jones

There are some places in London you walk past thinking that ‘nobody actually lives there - it’s just too good to be true’. I ended up in one these houses early one autumn morning.  It was as central as can be in London without actually being in the middle of Oxford Circus.  The house was grand and facing a small park, in a quiet cul-de-sac, not far from Regents Park.  The place was just so perfect looking and perfectly placed that if anyone actually lived there, they would surely have to own a few banks and several of countries with major oil funds at the very least.  

I found myself knocking on the door at, asking not for a hedge fund manager or a British Lord, but for the comedian, writer and actor Griff Rhys Jones.  Griff, (and not the expected penguin outfitted butler,) opened the door.  The entrance hall was bigger than my whole house.  It looked big on the outside, but when you got in you saw that it just got bigger and bigger - like a scene in ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’.  It was like walking into the wardrobe in Narnia, except there was no Lion there to greet me.  Large open hall, high ceilings, great art work plastered on all walls, the list goes on.  It’s the kind of place you wish you could just have free roam of the space and a lot of time to do whatever you wanted.  As often is the case though, we had to restrict ourselves to one environmental setup and one with a backdrop, and there was of course a time limit to stick to.  “We’re selling and moving house” Griff said half way through the shoot. Just for a second, I imagined myself in a parallel world with a few suitcases full of £50 notes, cigar in mouth, wearing a three piece suit and Brogue shoes - ready to talk business.  However, I soon realised why I was there, my bags weren’t filled with money but with camera equipment - and I continued to set up the red backdrop and lights - preparing for the shoot.  

Opening the Restaurants

August 2020 saw the restaurants in the UK open for the first time in 5 months. This is an industry that has been hit particularly badly and many are struggling to open with etc new guidelines for social distancing and other Covid19 regulations. This set of images of Ella McCabe was taken for the OFM to illustrate some of the issues the industry is facing.

Shot for OFM

 
 

Rear View Window

(The complete project can be seen on instagram @rear.view.window and/or under my personal work on my website.)

As lockdown hit the UK I was faced with the choice of becoming furloughed and putting all my efforts into the home schooling of my two boys, or I could try to find a way to continue my work as a portrait photographer. The latter seemed virtually impossible, yet I believed that being in a creative industry meant that I should at least try to come up with creative solutions. I wanted to be part of this historical event and find my own way creating something that helps capture the time we are living in. I decided that I wanted to create remote portraits of people from all over the world who find themselves in isolation.  I have always had grand ideas of international projects where I get to travel from place to place to photograph people from all around the world. Yet, being a father of two young boys, these long term project seem impossible to undertake. 

Instead of Covid19 becoming a hindrance, I embraced the opportunity to virtually travel around the world to photograph what is now over 150 people, isolated in their homes. In the beginning I was struggling with the imperfections of the images.  Being used to high quality images with perfect sharpness, I found it hard to accept the imperfections of photographing people on screen.  Images were a little soft, struggled with details in shadows and digital noise.  It took me a little while to accept these imperfections that I have now learned to embrace and love.  These imperfections have now become what I consider to be essential parts of the story.  They help show the distance between us and the isolation and the digital world we rely on top keep in touch with each other.  Lastly, the imperfections give the images a more painterly feel, that take the portraits into a world of more traditional portraiture.  I have to admit that I have many times been in doubt about this project.  I think that is often the case when I approach a project and new experimental techniques.  Personal work for me is a chance to experiment with the medium of photography, but with that comes great doubt.  Looking back on the work now I feel I have achieved something unique and with an aesthetic I am truly proud of. 

I have in the last 4 months been in Samoa, Hawaii, Easter Island, Zimbabwe, Iraq, Russia and many, many more places.  

I will continue this project if I am still contacted by people whom find themselves isolated due to Covid19, but if I am not, then I feel I have completed a body of work which is a part of a lot of creative work out there, that will document the historical event we are experiencing.  

The work has got its own instagram page @rear.view.window - and I am looking for alternative avenues for this work to be shown.

Personal Project

Refugee Week Ambassadors

Before the Covid-19 UK lockdown I was brought in to collaborate with Counterpoints Arts to create a campaign to celebrate the Ambassadors chosen for this years Refugee Week. The shoots were concept driven and involved big studio setups and fun, creative ideas.  I completed one shoot with the lovely author Onjali Q Rauf before we were all told to isolate. 

There were still 9 more ambassadors to shoot so we needed to do a fast rethink of how we could still create a campaign.  As we were no longer dependent on a printed campaign, and maybe the most important thing was that the campaign had a look and common thread, we decided to drop the concept driven studio shoot ideas, to pursue a simpler aesthetics.  I came up with the idea of directing the ambassadors remotely and then having them take the final image on their mobile phone.  This would solve the issues of the imperfections you get by photographing remotely, yet it gave us sharp images that had a common look and feel.  

Here is the final campaign as well as the first image from the original concept.  

Shot for Counterpoint Arts

Covid19 Dogs

The fight against Covid-19 is taking many different avenues. The ability to diagnose people early is a part of this battle and will help to contain the illness. Training dogs to be able to smell Corona on people before they show any signs or symptoms is one possible avenue to fight this virus. 

A team of dog trainers near Milton Keynes are training dogs for exactly this.  I was sent up to their training centre to photograph some of the dogs that are on the forefront in this battle against Covid-19.

Shot for Observer Magazine

EMMY Magazine - Remote portraits

When the world was in lockdown I was busy working on a personal project photographing people from all over the world who find themselves in isolation.  As a result EMMY magazine commissioned me to take the portraits of people behind films and TV shows we see on TV.  A pleasure working with the magazine on this, but also a pleasure to work with so many talented DOPs, costume designers and writers.  

Shot for EMMY Magazine

Source: http://palhansen.com/emmymagazinecovidportraits

Big Narstie

I wish I could say that I rolled up, into some secluded mansion in deepest Essex, in a pink 1966 “Sonny and Cher Custom” Mustang convertible - with camera in one hand and the steering wheel in the other, beats on the stereo - met by Big Narstie and his giant dog at the golden gate entry to his estate, (with massive BN letters on the gate).  However, I found myself in a sensible Toyota Aurius hybrid, economically making its way up the M11 for 30 minutes, only to arrive at Big Narstie’s man cave; a red brick house in suburban Harlow.  We pulled up and knocked at an anonymous door but no answer.  A few moments later, in a flash black 4 wheel drive, Big Narstie rolls up and into the car park, across the road from a shut down Wetherspoons pub.  His own brand red hoodie, a lunch bag burger and smoke in one hand, and the lead to Utred in the other.  (Ultred is a dog as big as Big Narstie - named after the main character in the TV drama Vikings).  Around Big Narstie’s neck is a sparkly large necklace portraying his dog.  I may not have rolled up in a Mustang convertible and I may not have entered a grand gate leading up to some big mansion, but the MAN had arrived with all the character needed. 

The name Man Cave sounded good on paper, but the fact was that it was more a shell of a house that was used for Big Narstie to work on his music, other projects, and that he could invite people like me and the journalist to avoid exposing his own house and family.  The decor was sparse and curtains closed.  

So we headed to the park around the corner to start the shoot there.  A few teenagers, on bikes talking on mobile phones stopped mid word and yelled out in wonder when they saw Big Narstie.  This is a man who has been true to his roots, still appeals to people from his own background, yet has managed to penetrate and appeal to the white, British upper and middle-class too.  He is an all rounder, and 100% genuine.  Respect!

Shot for Observer Magazine

Jade Thirwall

I have to admit that I have never been a follower of Little Mix. I turn up to this shoot with Jade Thirwall with a little research about Jade but still no great knowledge of her music.  This shoot however, was not so much about her music but about her influences and lookalikes.  Jade is a big fan of Diana Ross, (here-here!) and with a little makeup, a wig and the right outfit, she is a lookalike too, (not here-here!).  The Guardian had a special feature on celebrity lookalikes, and Jade (or Diana Ross lookalike Jade,) was the cover shoot.  

Exactly what image of Diana Ross that would be on the cover was still in dispute, so I ended up trying to complete 3 different covers that related to three known images of Diana Ross.  The red dress (chain reaction) was obviously one of the favourites we wanted to try.  But as is often the way with these things, the one we expect to be our favourite is not always in the end.  Diana is known for being a bit of a diva, and I had maybe expected the same of Jade.  However, Jade was sweet and fun.  A genuine woman with sensibilities, a sense of humour and a like of music not unlike my own.  A lot of laughs and a genuinely fun woman to work with. 

Shot for The Guardian Weekend Magazine

 
 

AJ Tracey

The rapper AJ Tracey turned up at the small studio at the Guardian/Observer building wearing a black fleece and blue cap.  With him was a small entourage.  I had put up a pink backdrop ready for the shoot.  Not every man who can be photographed infront of pink, but when it works, it works. And I knew that AJ Tracey would carry it off.  

AJ is always seen with his hair in plaits, but on the day we did this shoot the hair under the cap promised to be more like an afro.  I took a few pictures to start with whilst planning the best way to ask if we could remove the cap.  AJ was a pretty chilled guy in every way, but one boundary would not be crossed.  The cap would remain firmly put on the head.  

Shot for Observer New Review

Nicole Scherzinger

Nicole had just stepped off the plane from Spain where she had presented the MTV Europe music awards the night before.  She walked into the studio wearing a comfy tracksuit, sunglasses and clutching her travel pillow.  Probably exhausted from the night before and more traveling, she was plunged into a small studio where we could only setup a makeshift wall for her privacy.  She hid behind the makeshift wall for over two hours before the ‘walls’ opened up and the more glamorous Nicole appeared. 

I introduced myself and my team, and explained to her that I was interested in capturing a natural Nicole.  It soon became clear that Scherzinger was happy to stand in front of the camera - a seasoned pro.  But it was also obvious to me that her experience of being photographed involved a certain element of performance.  Wanting also to see how she looked on the screen led to many comments from Nicole about this third person Nicole liking or disliking the shots. Maybe that’s the best way to deal with a shoot when you are a celebrity?  Look at yourself as a third person, the ‘you’ which is performing for the camera

Shot for The Guardian G2

Emeli Sandé

Emeli Sande turned up for ‘a Life on a Plate’ shoot at the Observer building.  When asked what food she liked, she reeled off a list of healthy vegetables and finished off with Champagne.  So what better way to illustrate her preferences than a “Cherry Tomato Necklace”, some “bubbly jewellery” and a high pour champagne serving.  

Shot for Observer Food Monthly

Joyce DiDonato

Joyce DiDonato is one of the best mezzo-soprano’s around today. (Or lyric-coloratura mezzo-soprano, if I only knew what that means??). I am one of those guys that like Opera when I am introduced to a song through friends or a scene in a film (La Mamma Morta from Philidelphia for example). But if I was to put on an Operatic radio station for example then I am afraid I would probably get lost quite quickly. I would love to have my eyes opened to more of course.  Not just be on the band wagon of hits due to some box office film - (so please feel free to send me some Operatic gems). 

Now - back to the gracious Joyce DiDonato.  This shoot was done at the Royal Opera as she had a couple of performances there. Having read about Joyce and her rise to the top, it is clear that she has fought her way up there and deserves all the recognition she gets.  She’s changed her singing style half way through her career, (which I assume is almost like an author changing language). She also slipped on stage during a performance in 2009 and broke her right fibula, but continued hopping during the first act and on crutches during the second act.  The remaining five performances she performed from a wheelchair.  Opera is to me all about the grandiose performance and I felt there was an element of performance when I photographed Joyce.  But there was no feeling of her being an operatic diva. In fact, she was genuine, humble and gracious.  

Shot for Observer New Review

Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy is one of those people you know will be good to shoot.  You can easily imagine his tall, lanky body breaking into many different moves, like Elastigirl on a disco dance floor.  His characteristic glasses are not to be mistaken and always looks immaculate in a perfectly tailored suit.  

Bill was fully engaged and involved in each set up with how he composed himself.  He told me that he, (although 70 years old,) would always be the first and last on the dance floor at any party.  That comes as no surprise as the shoot itself was almost like a dance, filled with moves and struts.

Shot for Sunday Times Culture

James Acaster

It still surprises me that some people have not yet heard about James Acaster.  I have, in the last couple of months introduced this comedy genius to at least 10 people, and that is without going from door to door selling him like a Jehovah.  He is in my eyes one of the funniest guys around, with his non offensive, quirky, off the wall stand up shows, his nonsensical presence at panel shows, creative humour at it’s best, and dare I say - literary comedy genius.  (I am of course only saying this as I have shot his two book covers and hope to have the book go down in history as literary milestone).  

Reading James’ Wikipedia, especially the section under Music Career, reads like a part of James’ comedy, and probably is.  James has turned his real life happenings into comedy gold and first came to my consciousness as a guest on the Josh Widdicombe show, where he told stories of incidents in his life.  This later also became his first book, ‘Classic Scrapes’.  For that first book cover, James brought in a lettuce head, something he used to get sent to him by fans relating to something he had mentioned on his podcast.  This latter book cover went all out and created a window space for James.  This was to give a nod to Leonard Cohen’s last album cover.  And in this book - ‘Perfect Sound Whatever’ - James talks of unfortunate incidents in his life and the power of musical a tool of comfort. 

Lastly, James is just a brilliant guy to work with.  Chilled, funny, genuine and quirky - a perfect mix.  You just can’t imagine him not being everyone’s best friend.  

Shot for Headline Publishing

Aisling Bea

I remember photographing Aisling Bea as a part of a bigger group of people just under a decade ago.  It was for a feature about people to look out for in different creative industries.  Aisling was the comedian to look out for.  Many years later, with a few comedy shows under her belt and having been an LOL creator on a few of Britain’s best panel shows, Aisling is now the supporting act in the new Netflix comedy drama “Living with Yourself”.  We met up at the Corinthia hotel where she was promoting her new show.  Admittedly, we didn’t have the most comfortable shoot planned for her.  The first section was to look casual in an empty bath.  Whilst the second involved her putting her head and arms through some pre-existing holes in my backdrop, all at slightly misjudged heights.  Aisling has either not got accustomed to the high life of celebrity to know she can complain about any discomfort she may experience, or she enjoyed the exercise that came with contorting herself into awkward positions.  In any case, she kept the mood up with good old Irish banter and an “anything goes” attitude.  One thing’s sure - Aisling totally rocks!   

Shot for Grazia Magazine

Nick Frost

Working with Nick Frost is like meeting up with a friend.  I’m not claiming that we know each other that well or that he’s my best friend, but the way he greets me, my assistant, and anyone else that’s passing by. He is so amicable that you feel like just hanging out. I’ve worked with Nick a few times and he is still the same person he was a decade ago.  The little change I noticed was a sizeable beard and some knock out sovereign rings.  Oh - and the glasses - enough to make any 70’s male sex icon jealous.

Shot for Observer Magazine

 
 

Russell Kane

If there’s a new energy drink company out there looking for a name for their product then I’d recommend ‘Russell Kane’.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with Russell on a couple of occasions and he never holds back.  It is evident in his stand up comedy as well, but the energy doesn’t stop on stage.  For this shoot we were going to create a cover for his book “Russell Kane, Son of a Silverback”.  Russell Kane’s book looks at what it is to be alpha male, gamma male (self-proclaimed), and the relationship between the two.  It’s a moving book filled with irony and plenty of laughs.  Serious and entertaining at the same time - as only Russell can do.  

(Note to London Zoo: Thanks for the loan of the Silverback.  We returned him to Sub-Saharan Africa.)

Shot for Transworld Publishers

 
 

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  

 
 

John Robins and Elis James

After having hosted the Elis James and John Robins show on Radio X, Elis and John got offered a show on Radio 5 Live, carrying over many of the same features from their show on Radio X.  The two presenters turned up, adamant not get styled by the magazine and they had set ideas of what they did not want to do in front of the camera.  Both issues that are not so relevant on a radio show, but makes all the difference in a magazine.  We talked, negotiated and achieved.  Everyone is happy!

Shot for Observer Magazine