SONS & LOVERS - PRESS SHOOT

I recently did a shoot with new Polydor Records signing ‘Sons & Lovers’. We shot in the boy’s native North London and kept things really simple with available light and natural surroundings. They’re lovely guys, with a fresh sound and a great team working behind them, so I hope 2012 is deservedly big for them.

BEN SMITHARD - 1883 MAGAZINE

Here is my double-page spread portrait of British cinematographer Ben Smithard for the latest issue of 1883 magazine. This is the film issue so there’s a whole load of really interesting interviews and shoots with various rising stars in British cinema. It made a nice change to work with someone who, like me, spends most of their time behind the camera rather than in the lime light.

A portrait of my friend Aiva. Shot in Hampstead, North London when we went for a walk in the park.

SOUND OF GUNS - PRESS SHOOT

At the end of 2011 I did a shoot with Liverpool rockers Sound of Guns for Distiller Records. It was all shot in Shoreditch Studios with copious rolls of red gels used over the lighting so it all tied in with the guys’ new campaign. Top quality lads with some serious scouse banter.  

MAKING HISTORY - PHOTO PRO COVER SHOOT

Photo Professional Magazine is the largest and most widely distributed publication for professional photographers in the UK. It’s brand new December issue came out today, and I made a small mark in its history by becoming the youngest ever cover photographer the magazine has ever commissioned. The shoot was part of an expert review of a brand new Broncolor lighting range I was asked to do for them. To read the article I wrote and see some behind the scenes photos from inside the studio, check out the magazine. Some images from the shoot are in the gallery above.

Pip x

GENERAL FIASCO - ‘WAVES’ VIDEO

After I shot the video for General Fiasco’s last single ‘The Age You Start Losing Friends’ (Nominated for Best Video in the NI Music Awards) I got asked to make one for their next release ‘Waves’. They are a great live band and we wanted to capture a bit of that spontaneous energy, so I joined the guys for a couple of days of their recent UK tour. The majority of the video was shot over three days in Glasgow, Birmingham and London. Here’s a behind the scenes photo of me filming with the guys in North London. (Photo by my assistant Toby).

Pip x

AOP OPEN AWARDS - SHORTLISTED IMAGE

Back in February I did a shoot for Distiller Records with Scottish folk trio ‘Sparrow & The Workshop’. Recently I was delighted to be informed that one of my images had been short-listed in the AOP (Association of Photographers) Open Awards this year. The shot is of the band precariously balanced on a makeshift raft on the waters of Loch Lomond. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no photoshop trickery in its construction; we really were stood in the (freezing) water, and the raft was genuinely sinking, allowing us only a few moments to capture the shot we had carefully planned.

A print of the image is currently on display in the Truman Brewery Gallery on Brick Lane, and it has also been published in the official annual AOP Open Awards book. It’s always nice to receive recognition for my work, and I’m especially honoured to see it in the gallery and in the book alongside some truly remarkable work produced by the other short-listers from around the globe.

Pip x   

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH - ‘SHINE’ VIDEO

I was recently commissioned to shoot the video for Benjamin Francis Leftwich’s new single ‘Shine’. Myself and Ben are old friends, and it’s always a pleasure to work with him, especially given the creative freedom his team allows us to exercise on projects. Following up from some more conceptual videos Ben has had in the past, we decided to go for a much more organic approach. Simply centred around ‘morning light’ (which is referenced in the lyrics of the song) we shot a collection of imagery of Ben and his surroundings over a couple of days. The vast majority of the video was shot at sunrise in a little fishing town called Whitby in our native North Yorkshire.

Pip x

HOLLYOAKS CAST - C4

Channel 4 commissioned me to do a big promo shoot with the new sixthform cast of their TV show Hollyoaks. We shot it on location in Merseyside in a section of one of the largest warehouses in Europe. As a consequence of it being so vast, an equally monstrous lighting rig was required to give the dingy space some life. Even with a large truck-mounted generator, a range of HMI/flash lighting and a team of sparks, gaffers and assistants at my disposal, it was still quite a challenge. It was certainly one of the most complex lighting setups I’ve ever been in charge of. That twinned with the amount of people there working on the day, the location looked more like a film set than a photo shoot! Thanks to the entire team. Check out a little behind the scenes snap of me below.

Pip x

GENERAL FIASCO - ‘THE AGE YOU START LOSING FRIENDS’ VIDEO

A couple of weeks ago I went over to North Ireland to direct and shoot a music video with Belfast-based band ‘General Fiasco’ for their label, Dirty Hit Records. It’s a new track from their upcoming EP that will lead up to the release of the second album. Cracking effort from the boys on the day and massive thanks to my assistant Toby for manning the casual 12 hour drive it took to get there.

See below for a behind the scenes snap taken on set.

Pip x