Olga – in my home studio
Keep on creating. Even if you’re not sure if you have space give it a go. I’ve been in lockdown for a while now and I wasn’t sure if I’d have room in the little office in our flat to put a backdrop up and make a studio, but I gave it a try. It turns out a backdrop support can just fit across the back wall if I rested one of the stands on top of my desk. So I hung some old cloth over it and it looked great – a nice little studio space. A doorway is the perfect thing to create a strip of light. So I popped a flash just outside the room then nearly closed the door and ‘voila’ a beautiful strip of warm glowing light. The perfect thing to play with. When I squeezed up against the opposite wall I had just about...
Jeremy Clarkson – The Sunday Times Magazine
There’s nothing quite like a deadline to sharpen your senses and force you to make quick decisions. I had been given 5 minutes with Jeremy Clarkson, with about 2 minutes to set up. After darting around Jeremy’s garden I was shown to his office where I found a simple wooden wall – the perfect backdrop. We rushed to gather the vegetables which would be our props, leaving potatoes rolling down the driveway behind us. Seconds later Jeremy strolled up. It was amazing to see him change in front of a lens: from a slightly hung-over man announcing from the start that that he doesn’t like photoshoots, into a professional, seasoned presenter. Who knew one could be so expressive with a carrot? After multiple carrot munching photos I started piling vegetables high in his arms, encouraging more brilliant expressions and keeping the energy high. Then we dropped everything and rushed out...
Nicola Sturgeon – The Sunday Times Magazine
How do you go about preparing to photograph the First Minister of Scotland? As always I dived straight in, throwing many many ideas into my sketchbook, tearing through artbooks, flicking through photobooks, looking for thoughts that would lodge themselves into my head and not go away. I knew I’d be shooting in Bute House, the First Minister’s official residence, it’s not everyday you get to poke your lens around somewhere like that – the house had to feature. But how to frame up in such a place? My mind started flicking though a mental scrapbook – from Leibovitz’s images of the Queen, via Rembrandt’s portraits and Velázquez’s Las Meninas. I wanted to reference centuries of pictures of states-people. But I also wanted to make my photographs of Sturgeon more approachable, more intimate, less staid. When we walked into the Drawing Room of Bute House, light was spilling in through...
Tribute Ink exhibition in London – The National Army Museum
Tribute Ink is open until 17th of April in the National Army Museum in London. Do head on down to see the stories behind the tattoos and to learn about the history of tattoos. Also – if you’re around on the 4th of March we will be holding a special evening event at the NAM – do come on down then to say hello. It’s been such an honour to be involved in this fascinating and moving project, massive thanks to Royal British Legion for asking me to photograph it for them. To see the whole project click here: LINK To find out more about the exhibition head over the the NAM’s website: LINK
Dancers Erina Takahashi and James Streeter – The Sunday Times Magazine
It was fascinating to work with people who were so aware of their own bodies whilst I was photographing them. Both Erina and James were very involved in the process, often asking to see the photographs we were making and adapting their poses and movements to make them better. It was a wonderful collaboration. Plus they were wearing the most amazing costumes from the English National Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker, I couldn’t quite believe how incredible they looked.
Rob Brydon – The Sunday Times Magazine
What a lovely man Rob was to meet. He dived into our collaboration, telling me which ideas he liked and didn’t like, taking my suggestions, bettering them and giving me something extra. We chatted away all the time, and laughed a lot too. And yes, he did do his little man in a box voice – to the great delight of the small child who was on set accompanying Rob’s publicist. Hit up the link to read Charlotte Edwards interview: LINK Big thanks to Russ for choosing me for this fun shoot, and to Olly Mayhall for assisting so beautifully.
Luciana Berger – The Sunday Times Magazine
‘Six people have been convicted of the racially aggravated harassment of Berger; two have gone to prison and there are more cases pending. It’s shocking to hear the stories that the kind and caring Lib Dems hopeful Luciana Berger tells about her experiences as an MP. Read the full interview in The Sunday Times Magazine by Caroline Scott: LINK
Oaxaca – Conde Nast Traveller
“Away from the well-trodden streets of the old town, and far from the warm glow of the lanterns at Pitiona, the Mexican state of Oaxaca reveals its true flavour to the traveller. Especially the hungry one…” I travelled to Oaxaca in Mexico with writer Olga Dziewulska, to eat the incredible food that the region is so famous for and to meet and photograph its amazing people. Head over to the Conde Nast Traveller website to discover more: LINK
John McDonnell – The Sunday Times Magazine
A couple of weeks ago I headed to Hayes to get to know the real John McDonnell. The man behind Labour’s financial plans with huge plans to alter the UK’s economy. Will he become the next Chancellor of the Exchequer? We he really nationalise broadband? Does he carry a copy of the Little Red Book with him? And does he have any Tory friends in Parliament? Check out Decca Aitkenhead’s interview in the Sunday Times Magazine to find out: LINK Big thanks to Russ for the fascinating assignment and to Oliver Mayhall for assisting me so beautifully.
Hideo Kojima and Nicolas Winding Refn – BAFTA Photography Collection
Hideo Kojima is regarded as the first auteur of the gaming world, he is lauded for his Metal Gear series. I photographed him for BAFTA on the release day of his much anticipated new game Death Stranding. Alongside Kojima I also photographed the film director Nicolas Winding Refn, who appears in the new game as one of the characters. I started the shoot by showing each of them the sketches and references I wanted to work from. They both got totally involved, each doing their best to create the shapes and feelings I was after. It was such a pleasure to collaborate with them. Massive thanks for Claire and Jordan at BAFTA for making this to happen, and to Olly Mayhall and Ollie Tomlinson for assisting so beautifully.