I’ve been photographing The MoonWalk London for several years now and each year is special. The MoonWalk London this year took part in Battersea Power Station – well just outside of it. It was incredible to be so close to such an iconic building even if it is now becoming a building site. The contrast between the event and the industrial nature of the location could not be greater really.

Here are some of  my images taken on the night, interspersed with those of Lloyd Smith and Ian Jones

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It has been playing on my mind lately.

My little girl is slowly reaching the next stage in her wonderful life. All parents say that everything is a “stage” with the muted hopes that they may quickly move on to the next one!

Still the letter from nursery asking when her last day would be and where was she going was a shock. Sure I knew it was the time. Trouble is I’m not sure who is more institutionalised: her or me.

I’ve been lucky. Luckier than most dad’s. I’ve been able to spend a lot of time with her over the last 5 years.

Daddy Daycare Days.

That’s coming to an end. On the one hand to be honest, I breathe a slight sigh of relief. On the other I’m actually pretty sad. Sure there will always be more.

But it will be different.

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Family Portraits in Swinley Forest

Ellis the Explorer. Fearless. Fast and Fun! Always running off – regardless of the cries from Mum and Dad. And with an entire forest in which to burn off all that 4 year old energy, who could blame him! A fresh April morning beckoned as we headed out for a very relaxed family portrait session. The light slanted through the trees creating a tapestry of light and shadow.

Little Evie. As cute as button with her two front teeth. So so desperate to follow The Explorer. Cries of frustration as she was put back in the buggy turned to laughter like a soft flowing stream, as the adults relented. Out she came! A few tottering steps…but I have a feeling she’ll be running after her big brother very soon.

Mum and Dad. Alix and Tim. I’m privileged to be taking the images at their wedding later in the year. For those that know why, it will be a very special and poignant day. You can see that under the pressures of raising these two loveable rascals, they are very much in love. The little glances. The touches. And it has rubbed off on their two. So happy and balanced…most of the time!

What a wonderful way to spend an hour on a Saturday morning. Thank you Alix and Tim and I will see you later in the year

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Just playing

Finally the weather has started to change.

I love April. A month that is gently edged with winter but beguiling as life starts to return. The quality of light at this time of year is always dramatic. April showers with rolling black clouds move swiftly through, followed by bright blue skies.

Photography is as much about my own mood as the subject I am presented with. The light meter in my head is always pinging away: good light, not so good light – never bad light.

A Daddy / daughter day and the storm came rolling through. I’d like to say I was focused on her…mostly I was…but that ping ping in my head. I couldn’t say no

[iPhone]

It left as quickly as it came and the sky turned blue. Not content with being inside I was rightly pushed back out again.

Ping ping

[iPhone]

Naturally the randomly beautiful carpet of raindrops were soon obliterated as said daughter proceeded to slide down.

Quite right.

“Put the phone away Daddy and come and play” – but that’s just what I was doing!

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Anis’ Birthday at Clandon Park, Surrey

From all over the world they came to celebrate Anis’ birthday. Dressed to impress in their finest funky 1970′s clothing. In stark contrast to the pale surroundings of the Palladian mansion from the 1720′s, the bright colours, hairy chests and platform heels sparkled! Can you dig it?!

Canapés and drinks at 7 were the strict instructions – friends started to arrive at 6.30! The chance to leave family behind, get dressed up and party was just too much! Downstairs we went into Saturday Night Fever land. The venerable basement had been transformed. Glitter balls, psychedelic lights, posters from the era and cascading silver paper down the walls. Abi, Anis’ wife and the brains behind the night (did you see all the details? The 70′s sweets, the cupcakes…!) was ready with surprises for her man.

A book of memories and then a serenade: her voice echoed off the walls and the crowd went wild! “More!” they cried as Anis looked on in amazement. “Happy Birthday!” they sang back to him and for a moment he revelled in the attention.

Hog roast was called for and duly delivered. An attempt to mop up some of the evening’s alcohol consumption. Tables were cleared. The band – Murdochs Crazy Eyes were amazing. Energetic. Loud. And with a set list that got the crowd jumping – not that they needed any encouragement. Flares, wigs and disco balls will do that to anyone!

Meanwhile across the hall, the photo-booth was under way! It’s a simple thing – light, camera, a screen to see yourself and above all willing models. And boy were they! Boys and girls, girls v boy, couples, threesomes and some very strange parings. Nothing quite like it to bring out the inner 70′s man and woman!

The witching hour rolled around. The band played their final number and then the lights went on. You could tell everyone wanted more. Wanted the vibe and funk to continue.

Well Anis, you and your wife sure know how to pull off one hell of a party!

To view all the images click here

And then there was the photobooth!

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I have often been to this place.

In the snow it became otherworldly.

All sound was muted.

The blemishes removed.

Alone and at peace.

Time out of mind.

Print available here

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I’ve launched a new shop!

Photographs are everywhere. On your phone, your watch, your email. Bombarded by a relentless stream of updates! But how many get printed? How many do you see as they were meant to be. On a heavy piece of fine art paper. No gaudy filters, just a subtle rendering of colour tones. Just as they should be. So this is my space on the web you have a chance for a reasonable amount of money to own something tangible.

From greeting cards to huge prints and everything in between, there really is something for everyone. I want to create something for you that you will treasure. That will make that blank wall or desk that little bit prettier, more civilised.

Every image is printed by me and is given exactly the same love and attention I gave to its creation.

Take a look

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“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.”

Lili the daughter of Polla and Roy is quite a treasure. Cheeky.  Pretty. Intelligent. Opinionated (in a little girl way.) Commanding.

Four…

A wonderful if sometimes difficult (for Mum and Dad) age.

Full of enquiry, yet happy to sit and colour in (briefly.) Full of energy, eager to get wet in the rain (much to her parents nervous horror (they soon got into the swing of things.)) Bright as button, reading in English (and being corrected in Hungarian and German.) I’ll admit there were times when I didn’t fully understand what was happening.

Photographing under a piano was a first! Whilst being jumped on is a hazard of the job, having my temperature taken was a new one. Being asked to turn off all the lights and “go to sleep” left me wondering what I should do next!

As far as I am concerned rain never stops play – it makes it better.  Softer. Enveloping. Contrasty. I’m glad they saw it my way as the light is simply perfect for an adventure outside.

I like my portrait sessions free flowing, natural, fun. The 3 were happy to oblige: ghosts, magical sticky fences, the backwards hopping race (really!) muddy puddles, a park, and just generally being who they are. Then in true style, home for hot chocolate, painting and biscuits!

A loving family. Into each other. Into the moment.

A wonderful pleasure to spend a few hours with and capture them as they really are.

All the images from the shoot are available here…but you will have to ask Lili, Polla and Roy for the password.

If you would like me to come and photograph your family then just get in touch

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Aly and Sage are a special pair.

Like all good owners of well behaved animals and animals who have well behaved owners, they share an unassailable bond. I’m not sure if it is mother and daughter (you choose which way round) or maybe two sisters. Whatever the connection they are joined at the hip, in a wonderful way. It’s special, unique and well simply lovely to watch.

The morning at Fleet Pond was perfect – a typical grey, wet, English day. My favourite conditions! As Aly says “you are the only photographer I know who likes it when it rains.” Really? Look what you’d miss

Sage came bounding out of Aly’s car and greeted me with much doggy snuffling and rubbing. My attempts to impress her by showing her my camera bag failed. No biscuits. Gentle bribery is often the way to the heart of a good picture of a child or even and adult (!) That also seemed to be the case here. Mind you I can’t blame her. I’m partial to a biscuit of the human kind.

I have done many things to get my subject to look in my general direction. Dog biscuits on my head was a new one on me.

As we strolled around Fleet Pond, chatting about this and that Sage went rambling. Snuffling. Searching. Always a brave bark when approached by other canine friends but quickly turning into a great big softy. And that I guess is why she means so much to Aly. And why Aly means so much to Sage. It’s been a relationship a decade in the making. Hearing about how good they have been to each other once again impresses upon me how important our animals are.

We give them importance. We give them names. We place them slap bang in the centre of what we hold and love. Maybe that’s why it hurts so so much when they move on? And why we do it again and again.

I wanted to do something different and focus on them both – just like any relationship it’s the owner and the animal. Too often the images are without the human, but its the bond that is the true subject. It was a pleasure and honour to spend an hour together. I just hope I’ve been able to capture a little bit of their magic.

Interested?

If you would like me to come and work with you and your four legged friend then  email me here and I’ll be in touch

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Savernake Forest: autumn colours, ancient woodland and a deeply overcast day.

Heaven. Savernake Forest is a surprising place – the only privately owned forest in the UK covering 4,500 acres. It’s not really sign posted and the entrance to the wood is about as Sleepy Hollow as it gets. There is just a dark opening off the road. Spending time deep under its canopy can be both calming and unsettling. One of the places that you really have to keep a close guard on your imagination… the noise of falling branches or rustling leaves had me casting the odd glance over my shoulder.

Chestnut and Fallen Leaves

Savnernake had been on my “list” for a while and my single day of autumnal photography meant that it was my destination of choice. Joe Wright, a chap I must by a keg of beer for when I actually meet him (the wonders of Twitter!), has been very helpful in distilling this enormous place into bite size chunks. So it was that I found myself trundling down the Central Avenue very early on a Sunday morning. The forest is part of the Earl of Cardigan’s (he of Charge of The Light Brigade relations) estate and much like the rest of estate is suffering a bit from lack of money. That’s no bad thing as it gives the place and added dimension: somewhere stuck in time.

Fallen Branch and Soft Light

However the landscape photographer suffers from this terrible affliction when driving – looking every where but the road. Bump, bang and into potholes I went all the while “oooohing” and “ahhhhing” at the dazzling colours of autumn. Now it’s not quite like the kaleidoscope you see when say looking at New England in autumn but it’s very British. Muted. Soft. Subtle. But generally pretty tough. Tough because I have always found forests hard to photograph.

Autumn Grove

I have previously had a hard time in dissecting, unravelling and “un-treeing” the close knitted canopy of intersecting branches. Trying to distil it I suppose. But armed with a new found appreciation of the skills of Elliot Porter, I had a go. Mind you I didn’t really get very far. After about 4 hours or so I had made 2 images and could still see my car. Damn! But this place is big. Still it rained, the sky was overcast and gloomy….it was wonderful!

I was using film and whilst the images on this page are my digital sketches I hope you get the idea. The digital is a little “hard.” I had in my mind softness, mellowness, dampness and dare I say it, not pin sharp. I suppose I was trying to use the palette that film will give to help render the images in a slightly less “in your face” way. I’m waiting for the 4 sheets to come back. Fingers and branches are crossed

Fern and Branch, served on a bed of leaves!

The light, whatever there was had started to fail. I was beginning to spook myself so I admitted I was a chicken and left. And at the end of session under the trees I suppose I began to feel rather more “Entish.” I now have a smidgen of an understanding and appreciate all the more those who photograph deep in the woods.

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