A day in the life of a fan – the Premier League
Ever been to a football match? It’s all about emotion. Loud chanting, passionate gestures and the feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. I was asked to capture this feeling for the Premier League. It was Watford’s last match of the season and their fans were feeling good. Ali fell in love with Watford many years ago and introduced his daughter Sana to it as soon as he could. They now travel to most matches together and sit in the singing section at the centre of the Watford supporters. We had the chance to follow them throughout their day. It was a pleasure to work alongside Alex Wallace and co-direct the film with him. You can read the story on the Premier Leagues site here: LINK
AOP Awards 2016
My photograph of Nigel Farage will be exhibited in the Association Of Photographers awards exhibition. It’s a great honour to be featured amongst so much top talent from the UK. You can find out more about my shoot with Mr Farage here: LINK You can see the exhibition of the finalist in the Old Truman Brewery between 14-17 October 2016, more information here: LINK
Portrait of Nigel Farage to hang in the National Portrait Gallery – Taylor Wessing Prize
My portrait of Nigel Farage, the former leader of Ukip and a prominent Brexiteer will be on display at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize from 15 November 2016. I could not be more thrilled to have my work selected and look forward to seeing the other entries. The photo in question was commissioned by The Sunday Times Magazine and you can read about my breakfast with Nigel here. Thanks again to the Sunday Times team for the commission.
Good things comes to those who wait – will.i.am and Carl for The Sunday Times Magazine
It was four days before Christmas, midday and I had just finished my last shoot of the year. Time to go to Devon to see my family for a well earned break. My phone rings. “Charlie, are you still in London?” “Yes” “Can you photograph will.i.am this evening with his brother Carl?” And so it was, no going to Devon for me on that day. And the waiting began. You see we didn’t know anything more at this point. Where would we be photographing them, when would we be meeting them or even if it was going to happen or not. We knew nothing really, but we had hope. So I prepared for the shoot, got my gear together and positioned myself and my assistant in a cafe in central London. We waited hard by drinking coffee and talking about photography. Finally we got some information: we would be photographing...
Brits in Europe Launches in the Sunday Times Magazine
Kathryn plays the fairy in the Venice pantomime that is put on every two years. She spends her winters in Venice and her summers in Yorkshire. She likes the anonymity that living in a different country brings. Age: 64 Time living abroad: 8 years Residence: Venice Occupation: Retired In the run up to the EU referendum on the 23rd of June I have been photographing British people living in Europe. The project launches today in the Sunday Times Magazine. From Morris dancers in Denmark and archers in Estonia, to students in Spain and pantomime fairies in Italy this project captures the lives of British people who have chosen to leave their homeland and create a new life for themselves. Featuring 71 portraits of British people living in 7 different EU countries the project captures the variety of lifestyles that exist across the continent and shows us a new side of the...
Dr Chris and Dr Xand for The Sunday Times Magazine
“We’ll do anything” That’s the best thing anyone I’m going to photograph can say to me. It is exactly what Dr Chris said to me when I was talking to him about our shoot for The Sunday Times Magazine. Suddenly my mind was overflowing with ideas. I was already excited about my shoot with Dr Chris and his twin brother Dr Xand. They are pretty well known for doing crazy stuff on TV in the name of science. They’ve changed diets, challenged their bodies in various ways and blown up a weeks worth of methane-farts. They bring science to the TV viewing audience in the most fun was possible. Oh, and they also consult with the UN on migration, get called up when Ebola breaks out and are generally very intelligent. “What props can you bring?” I asked. “How about dry ice?” replied Chris, ”or maybe butane gas? If you...
Fake moustaches for the BBC
cript> There’s nothing like looking through your lens at the beautiful Hannah Fry: long amber hair blowing back, blue eyes staring dangerously down your lens, a cheeky wink in her eye and a massive moustache blocking her face… I’m a big believer that work should be fun. Particularly photoshoots. There’s no point in putting people in front of a camera – where almost everyone feels awkward – without making an effort to relax them. It’s even better if they can enjoy the experience. So I get the music playing, enjoy myself and do my best to share that feeling with my subjects. If people feel at home and relaxed we make the best images. I photographed Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford for their new BBC Radio 4 programme The Curious Case of Rutherford and Fry. Two exceptionally fun presenters turned up to the studio and we proceeded to laugh almost...
Nigel Farage for The Sunday Times Magazine
There aren’t many people in Britain who’s political views I disagree with more than Nigel Farage. So when The Sunday Times Magazine got in touch asking me to photograph him I was uncertain how best to proceed. A quick google shows many pictures of Mr Farage as a caricature: in a pub, a beer in one hand and a massive laugh on his face. I wanted to do something a bit different and capture the human side of this man. I have never before photographed someone so aware of himself when in front of a camera. Photoshoots are a give and take between photographer and subject, each person pushes the shoot in a different direct. With Mr Farage when I tried to push beyond what he felt was right for his image he politely told me: “I’m not doing that.” But you keep asking, keep trying and eventually you find...
I am off again.
Last summer I packed a tent, a shiny new bike and my camera and headed to California for a cycling adventure. The bike is a bit less shiny today, the tent a bit worn but the camera is the same and I am off again. Oregon and California – here I come. Expect plenty of photos upon my return. And in the meantime catch up with me on instagram where I shall be posting the weird and the wonderful from the trip. https://instagram.com/charlie_clift/ @charlie_clift
Raymond Tooth for The Sunday Times Magazine
If you don’t try it won’t happen. I remind myself of that frequently but never was it so true as when I photographed Raymond Tooth for The Sunday Times Magazine (the issue is out today – do check it out). “Go photograph a top divorce lawyer in London” was my brief. I don’t know that many lawyers, but get the impression they are a completely different breed to photographers. I could only imagine how different a celebrity divorce lawyer would be to me. A little bit of research only increased the doubts – Raymond Tooth is known as “Jaws” in the legal circles and wins case, after case, after case. Daunting? Just a little. In my head I had the grey suits and the polished wood interiors of his office and was wondering how far will I be able to push it with this man. Possibly not too far, but...