Just Popping to the Blog.

Occasionally I will enter photo competitions. Now I'm not very good at them-in that, I'm not very good at knowing what they are looking for. However, when the BJP announced the 'Portrait of Britain' themed competition, I knew exactly what might slot in. And so, you can see these three winning images of mine in amongst many more across the country shortly. The images will rotate on digital screens within main railway stations and transport hubs across the country during September 2016.

First and foremost, I'm a portrait photographer. I like to control situations and light them accordingly. This commission was though, the very opposite. Shooting a gig is nuts-how do you know what will happen or what the light will be or where in the room to be? I have shot concerts before, but the snapper normally only gets the first three songs and is in 'The Pit' with a few others, hugging the sweet spot. So a chance to shoot the whole event with an Access All Areas pass is a rarity and a gem. Underworld are a great band and the Roundhouse a great venue, but with no proper instrumentation and not much movement, trying to find the best angle and moment is a challenge. Great night it was, which would have been perfect if I hadn't had a lens lost and never to reappear in the crush and dancing.. Here is a small edit including some shots that the band used as part of their US promotion.

Causing a bit of stink recently has been the demise of BHS and the acquired wealth of Sir Philip Green's family. I was asked a couple of years back to capture Lady Tina Green at an event opening in the West End. My ten mins with her was strange-she gave little away and did not want to be drawn on any friendly chat about Monaco. Mind you, I remember being told not to take my "professional looking camera outside" in Monaco, "the Police will stop you as the LOCALS don't like it.." Still, checkout the BEAST of a diamond on her finger. Tax free of course.

Stars and their dogs. Well, it's not easy with pooches. Mr Andy Murray handed me one or two fun shots in between all the barking.

It's not often that I get to see one of my shoots from the other side-the sitter, that is. The poor bugger who has to put up with my quirks and working methods. Well, the lovely writer Clare Dunkle, has just directed her time spent with me in a studio in Frankfurt last week: http://www.claredunkle.com/claresblog/

Seems I am Photographer of the Month in the Lucid Towers (Agent) office currently.

Back in the summer of 2014, I was asked to join a BBC drama filming in the desert in Morocco, with the task of producing all the 'Specials' over the course of a couple of days. Sounds great - yup, I'm up for that. Great cast, great location-now all I had to do was ge the panning sorted. Arriving in the middle of the night, I dragged my bags down to my room with a porter, which was set way back from the main hotel. Keys in, I slumped into the darkened space, throwing my bag onto the floor. Now, when the local porter yelps, you can be reassured that it is ok to join in: My room was covered in ants. Covered. So, being British, I said 'thank you' to my helper and turned to make the best of it. Cut to 5 mins later and I m at the desk asking for help as ants overrun my bags, and I switch rooms. The following day, and I am out in the searing heat. This was a great shoot all round, despite the lack of location power and the occasional 'mistral' windst...