Time Out spread

Here's a tearsheet from a Valentines special I shot for Time Out with writer Alexi Duggins a few weeks ago. Quite good fun, if a little hectic. Got thrown out by security guards for shooting outside in a shopping area at one point (the joys of London's numerous private but public shopping spaces). Once we explained who we were and what we were doing it was fine - the lame excuse that it was because of terrorism 'you never can tell these days' wasn't. Total rubbish. It's all about control; control of image and control of brand - nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. Anyone who thinks a terrorist walks raound with a 5D mkII and 70-200 lens has been watching way too many Hollywood films.

The shot below was interesting as we had to find a puddle for the cloak to be laid over. Problem was that there hadn't be enough rain recently. Alexi visited the local Tesco's twice in his tux and bought bulk loads of their cheapest two litre bottles of water, before promptly decanting it onto the pavement, much to the bemusement of passing tourists. Then we just had to wait and persuade passing women to let us take their photo...

Sorry for the delay in posting anything this week on the blog - been totally snowed under with work. This phone snap is of a makeshift lighting anchor I had to set up the other day on a blustery outdoor shoot. It uses my Thinktank photo rolling case (Airport Security) and it's in-built security leash as way of keeping one of my softboxes from blowing over! Worked a treat - bodging at it's best.

Impossible Project - Colour PUSH! (2nd attempt)

So this is my 1st 2nd attempt with the Impossible Projects Colour PUSH film. My first attempt was utterly useless. This one I shot earlier today whilst in the City. I used a light shield with my SX70 (as described on this page of the Impossible Projects website) I was able to take the photo out of the camera without exposing it directly to light before popping it in an envelope with one of those exothermic hand warmers you can get. The heat's meant to help bring out the colour - but I think to be honest that's where the psychedelic pink sky has come from. I'm not sure why there is a scaly/mottled pattern on the image? (most evident in the bottom right) - I'd be interested to know if anyone else has had this problem and what it might be that I'm doing that's wrong.

Recent Tearsheet - Yorkshire, Guardian

Recent tearsheet from a trip I did up to Yorkshire for a Guardian travel piece. I had two days to get everything in the list and so I had to prep it all in terms of driving distances, times that the light was going to be best, and what going to be worth shooting and what wasn't (see my makeshift map below). The snow caused a few issues and made the driving more stressful than it needed to be - but google street view proved to be a great way of gauging a location without having to go there. I'll post some more of the actual images up soon.

Recent corporate tearsheets

Some images I shot of insurance execs for an editorial piece earlier this year.
Had to squeeze a group shot and all the individuals into an hour and I was shooting unassisted so it was quite hectic. Here's the set up shot for the group plus a few alternatives.

Prepping for an assignment

A quick snap of some equipment I'm taking on a two day assignment in the Peak District. I love packing for assignments, especially when they're out of London - I look forward to being away from the desk, not having to deal with emails and office based inquiries and the chance to get creative, try some ideas out and to be honest, get the chance to be away from the big smoke.

For all the equipment geeks (of which I include myself): Above are a Holga, a 5D mkI with a 40mm Voigtlander f/2 EF lens, Mamiya 7 (taking it with the 135 panoramic adapter), 5D mkII, Contax T2 and my beloved SX70 polaroid with some new Impossible Project Colour shade film (my first batch). Along with a bunch of standard lenses and 580EXII plus my newswear and thinktank pouches...

pre-light

Quick pre-light of Tony from a shoot earlier today

HKT in the office of Belfast Exposed Gallery. From trip over to Northern Ireland at the end of last year.

Japanese restaurant near South Ken in London

Thames in the snow

A snowy view of the Thames from London Bridge