Georgi Banks Davies – Bafta
“Champagne and haribo!” says Georgi. That’s how she would like to celebrate her Bafta for Best Director. “Sounds amazing,” I say… because, well, why not? So at 6:30am on a misty morning I find myself sipping champagne by the canal, whilst my star tucks into a giant bag of Starmix. The commuters and dogs walkers passing by seem a bit confused, but it’s London so they let us carry on with a cheerful wave. The more observant few spot the Bafta award and do a double take… Georgi mainly laughs, as do I. Massive thanks to the team who made this excellent shoot happen: Production, art direction and generally being awesome – Claire Rees and Jordan Anderson Photographic assistant – Philip Hardman
Malachi Kirby – Bafta
“Maybe more important than winning the BAFTA for me, was being able to have this photoshoot in the area that I grew up” Go behind the scenes on my Bafta photoshoot with Malachi Kirby, who won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe. Talking to Malachi before we met, we decided to do something special to celebrate his award. I wanted to go to a location that meant a lot to him, and he suggested returning to the estate where he grew up. We ended up photographing in the very playground he used to spend time in as a child, and also outside his old front door. Such an honour sharing this moment with him. I’ve seen Malachi’s career rise from when I first met him as a Bafta Breakthrough Brit in 2016, and here he is now winning major awards. He’s remained humble, kind and...
Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne – British GQ
Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne are honoured in this months GQ Heroes for their determined investigative journalism that brought to light Noel Clarke’s many sexual allegations. It was a real privilege getting to photograph these two incredible people who have helped to shine a much needed light on the dark side of the film industry. Read the interview with them on GQ here: LINK Massive thanks to Robin Key for the commission. Hair and make up: Emma Small Photo assistant: Oliver Mayhall Retouching: Melissa Morgan
Louis Theroux – The Sunday Times Magazine
This was a fun shoot! Louis got totally involved from the off. The kick photo was basically our first frame, and it just got better from there. Collaborating with brilliant people is one of the things I love most about my job, and this shoot was exactly that. Thanks so much for the fun Louis! Massive thanks to Russ O’Connell for the awesome commission, Dan Biddulph for the great layout, to Emma Leon for grooming, to Rami Hassen for assisting, and Melissa Morgan for the retouch.
Poppy Appeal 2021 – Royal British Legion
I photographed and filmed this year’s Poppy Appeal campaign to celebrate 100 years of collecting in the community. Travelling across the country from Plymouth to Sunderland we met 10 incredible people who collect for the Royal British Legion. From ten year old Maisie, in Plymouth, who has been fundraising since she was just four, to Vera, who is 82, and has been a committed collector in Durham for more than seven decades. In fact Vera has raised over £1million in her time! I photographed every collector in their community, from seafronts to stores, and supermarkets to stations. Creating both still and moving portraits you can see them holding their buckets, smiling broadly and always happy to see you. As well as meeting them in their home environment we also invited them all to London. The aim – to create a special group image bringing all ten together, one collector...
Richard Dawkins – The Sunday Times Magazine
When I found out the scientist and outspoken atheist had written a book about flight I immediately thought of Icarus, the boy who flew too close to the sun, and then straight after that of Leonado Da Vinci’s incredible designs for human wings.So I got in touch with the illustrator Lindsey Spinks and asked her to create some life-sized wings for our photoshoot. Over the next couple of days Lindsey took over her house tea-staining a giant cloth and then sketching out a pair of giant Da Vinci inspired drawings for Professor Dawkins to stand in front of.Thankfully the professor was totally up for the idea and got rather involved in posing in front of the wings. Surrounded by the epic building of New College Oxford it was a wonderfully surreal experience. Huge thanks also to Russ O’Connell for the commission and for being so up for my idea, and...
Xiaomi Imagery MasterClass – Portrait Photography
“Creating a great portrait is all about those special moments, when everything comes together and you get that honest moment of connection.” Xiaomi asked me to create a masterclass for them on portrait photography. I talk about discovering the power of portraits with my Let’s Talk project, create colourful images of jewellery designer Beverly Quintal, tell you how I prepare for a shoot, take you on a tour of our set, and explain how I work with people to create those moments that make the best portraits. Massive thanks to the team involved: Jewellery Designer and talent – Beverly Quintal Production – Germaine Walker Agency – B.E.N. DOP – Nico Hambleton Editor – Gary Askham at Quality Control Sound – Matthew Boyle Styling – Efe Igbinadolor Make up – Michele Rowbotham Photo Assistants – Robin Bernstein Rebecca Gray Digi tech – OuiDigi Lettering artist from Let’s Talk – Kate Forrester
Spotlight Awards Winner – Portraiture & Celebrity Photography
I’ve been named the best Portrait and Celebrity Photographer at the Spotlight Awards by Production Paradise. Massive thanks to the judges for choosing this image of Glenda Jackson photographed for Bafta, and to Claire Rees for trusting me to take a totally new approach to the Bafta Winners’ Portraits when we deep in covid and couldn’t do it the normal way. Read my winner’s interview here: LINK
200 Best Ad Photographers in the World – Lurzer’s Archive
It’s a great honour to be named one of the top 200 advertising photographers in the world by Lurzer’s Archive. The judges selected a whopping 11 of my images to feature alongside many other awesome photographs from around the world.
Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta – Die Ziet
“We are facing a global crisis. We are totally dependent upon the natural world. It supplies us with every oxygen-laden breath we take and every mouthful of food we eat. But we are currently damaging it so profoundly that many of its natural systems are now on the verge of breakdown.” Sir David Attenborough in the Foreword to Partha Dasgupta’s recent report for the UK Government on the Economics of Biodiversity. Most economist like to concentrate on money, not Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta, he has spent his recent years concentrating on something far more valuable – the biodiversity of our planet. When I was asked to photograph him for Die Zeit I jumped at the chance to meet such an incredible thinker. However, it was sad to hear such a well researched and accomplished figure speaking in such blunt terms about how humans are destroying our planet. “The reasons we...