Monday 28 May 2012

Diary PIcture - 6 June 2010


Backstage at the Bizarre Ball 2010. Picture editor Tom Broadbent had given me a much coveted AAA pass and an open brief..... I had expected it to be debauched, full of hardcore, alternative-lifestyle devotees and bohemians. What I found was a group of very nice people with very sensible jobs like town planners and accountants who just liked dressing-up and having a good time - "freakenders" ..... and why the hell not?

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Diary Picture - 1 July 2011


Nature, red in tooth and claw. Sometimes you've got to be careful when you stop to smell the roses.

Friday 18 May 2012

Diary Picture - 22 Oct 2011


A riot of colour on Washington street. Bright autumn sunlight and that feeling of limitless possibilities that I love about New York. The sky, the high-line, the cars all reflected in a shop selling the most amazing orchids. This is an alternate frame from a previous post from my series, Chasing Smoke.

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Diary Picture - 1 Jan 2011


Britain redux. Remnants of the the new-year celebrations left on a patch of muddy grass in Trafalgar Square; champagne, cava, polish beer, belgian beer, Coca-cola, football, tits, and Sir Elton.

Makes your heart swell with pride!

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Diary Picture - 30 April 2012


An out-take from an evening spent swimming around (with varying degrees of success) on assignment with a team of male synchronised swimmers. This shot was taken shortly before I discovered that my "water-proof" housing is now merely "water-resistant" since lending it to a friend!

Thursday 10 May 2012

Portraits and the importance of good diction.

Recently I had the pleasure of photographing Meera Syal for a profile piece. She was doing a day of interviews and photos as part of the publicity for a new movie. The uber-smart london hotel hosting the event had set aside two rooms, sans beds, in which photographers could set up their equipment in turn. Meera rotated between photos, interviews and filming for TV. 

Many years ago I had worked at the same publication with Meera's brother Rajiv who is a journalist. It was nice to have something more as a conversational ice-breaker than the standard chit-chat about the weather and it seemed that Meera was very relaxed in front of the camera.


While Meera was patiently waiting for me to re-set the lights for the second shot, I noticed her looking at her feet, turning them one way and another.

"Nice boots!" I said, in appreciation of the beautifully stitched high-heeled ankle boots she was wearing.

There was a pause.

"I beg your pardon?" she said, sharply.

"Nice boots," I repeated, "are they new? It's just you looked like you were studying them."

"Ohhhhh, BOOOTS," she laughed. "I thought you were getting a bit personal for a moment there!"

We both laughed, partly out of relief I suspect and then I apologised profusely for mumbling behind the camera. Maybe elocution lessons should be in my immediate future.