Dec
19
I don’t buy into the premise of Christmas that for a small time in December we should a love and celebrate each other. I believe that throughout the year. Now that I’ve got that out, I do acknowledge this period as a time to reflect, catalog and ponder on the last 12 months. It is also a time when every form of media publishes a list so I thought I would do the same.
So counting down from 10 we start with …
The Distillers Pub. Hammersmith. London
By the end of 2011 I had done almost every type of photography I set out to do except music. In April I was recommended by a friend via Facebook to photograph a charity gig at the Distillers pub in London. Ever since that first evening I have had the privileged of making new friends and discovering new bands.
The gigs are held in upstairs in the Regal room. What it lacks in grandeur it makes up for in atmosphere. The low level ceiling and small stage sets up the audience for an intimate evening. The performers are right on the stage edge of any eager fan. The space is tight for any photographer to move about but magically any space that can be found seems to present a good angle to shoot.
Because of the Distillers I have become great fans of Adam Burridge, Halfway to New York, Raphaella and Jem Cooke. All incredibly talent musicians and jolly nice people.
I haven’t had much time to do music photography, but the time I have been able to shoot at the Distillers have been incredibly rewarding. So because of the music, the setting and the great friends I have made it ranks as number 10 in my top 10 photographic moments of 2012.
Check out the Distillers Facebook page on www.facebook.com/thedistillershammersmith
Outside the Distillers Pub, Hammersmith
The Regal Room.
Adam Burridge preparing to go on stage
A photographer’s 5 seconds on stage!
The owner of the Distillers, Scott Illman
RAPHAELLA
Halfway to New York at the Regal Room
Dec
01
These group of lads are quickly becoming one of my favourite bands. Each with their own very unique personalities and sense of fun. I like it when bands love what they do; I’ve seen some that seem to complain about the industry they’re trying to break in to.
Sam, Martin, Dan and Scott seem like regular everyday likable lads from various parts of London. But their true identity appears when they perform.
Pow Pow Pictures have had the joy of photographing them in the studio and on stage. Each time they’ve been awesome to shoot. They’re not shy at all in front of the camera which makes my job easier and actually fun to play around with.
2012 has been a great year for the lads, 2013 promises to be their biggest year yet.
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
halfway to new york distillers
Check out their video here.
Dec
01
Last night was very special. It was a friend’s fundraiser for The Gabrielle Gray Foundation and The Abram Wilson Foundation. As well as a great vibe in the room and a real feeling of fun the performers were the highlight of the evening.
Here are a few sneak peek photos from last night.
A massive thank you to Vicky Norris for inviting me to photograph the event.
Kit Rice’s band
Kit Rice
Raphaella
Raphaella
Ben Kelly
Carrie Haber
Halfway to New York
Halfway to New York
The very pack Regal Room.
Oct
23
Just wanted to post a few photos from a unique wedding I shot on Saturday.
Pow Pow Pictures is based in Buckinghamshire so it’s not often we go to London to cover weddings. Fortunately the Bride Ruth found us online. It is even rarer to shoot part of a wedding on a river boat down the River Thames!
Anyway, I have a lot of editing to do so I’ll end it here. I hope you like the preview photos.
Sep
04
Pow Pow Pictures were invited to cover a wedding in London. The ceremony itself was held in a beautiful Armenian church in South Kensington (photos of that venue to come soon). I just wanted to quickly write a post about the wedding reception at London’s Natural History Museum; it is world famous for historical and rare artefacts from around the world and for a large dinosaur in the main hall.
Pow Pow Pictures saw the renowned building transformed to host a wedding, it was absolutely spectacular. We will post more as the week progresses but in the meantime take a look at the stunning building ready to host a spectacular wedding we have ever seen.
May
15
Just for fun, myself and my photography partner Kelly Bond headed into London’s Brick Lane to photograph anything that was happening there. It was very busy which is normal for a Sunday.
There is such an abundance of activity that it can be confusing where to point the camera. But experience has taught us to be patient. We know we cannot photograph everything, so it was a fun challenge to make the ordinary, extraordinary! Below are just a few of my shots.
May
15
I was with a good friend in London just to photograph just to have fun and photograph life happening around us. Whilst photographing in Brick Lane, I got chatting to a guy I spotted with a Leica M8. He was an amateur enthusiast and recommended we go to the Columbia Road Flower Market.
The market was simply a sea of bodies going in every direction possible. It was a struggle just to walk forward as bodies pushed, knocked and barged me. There were a thousand busy faces doing their own thing, everyone with a story to tell that would bring you to tears and make you laugh in a mere sentence. But through the crowd, there was one face with a story that took my eye.
This girl just glided though the crowds, people seemingly parted so she would walk though but that could have been my imagination. As I raised my camera to my eye, she spotted me and gave herself a knowing smile that said she was comfortable in her own skin and was comfortable being photographed.
I took three shots, each one of her getting close until this shot where she was aware of me taking her photo and then in a whisper she passed my vision. I didn’t look back. I knew I had got the human story I wanted.
Mar
19
I just wanted to quickly post a few photos from my day spent with Dave and Steve from Rockhopper as they setup for the Atom Live Conventions at Stratford Circus, London. Their photos are still being processed, but I wanted to share a few photos just a few of the bands I met, including a very expressive Rap group called “Get your Rat out” who were having their music recording in the RockHopper trailer. The space was cosy inside RockHopper, but that made for a unique and buzzing energy when the bands were recording.
Keep an eye out for more Rockhopper shots soon!
May
03
I don’t often go into London so when I do it is always for something very special and this was a very special occasion for me. Just over a month ago a client, who had already booked me for a Wedding, asked if I could photographer the early parts of her Hen Party. I didn’t hesitate and said yes immediately. Fast forward to yesterday and I was among 10 amazing, smart and lovely girls who had the spirit of life!
I only just got back a couple of hours ago having just crashed at a friend’s place so I won’t be uploading them yet, but as a special teaser I did have a quick look and picked out one of my favourite ones.
Come back for more photos later in the week.
