Paris France

Last month I went to Paris Photo with my friends and fellow photographers Charlie and Janie. Me and Janie have both assisted Charlie and I also used to assist Janie. I was generally really lucky and assisted nice photographers but these two also became good friends. We're an odd bunch in a way, you can see people in restaurants trying to suss us out but I like that. We haven't got much in common I suppose other than photography, all being bolshy and enjoying buggering about. That's more than enough though surely.

 

 

Paris Photo itself was great. There's a lot to see and it is pretty overwhelming but there are real gems that make the slog worth it. Check out Julian Germain, Stephen Shore and Johanna Diehl. 

Nat

I met Nat ten years ago when I was an assistant in a freezing cold studio under some railway arches in Birmingham and she was the glamorous client. We stayed in touch and she really helped me when I moved to London, introducing me to some of my best clients and taking me to places they'd never have otherwise let me in.

Nat is a DJ and these shots were for her new website. If you need a DJ, hire Nat. She has an unbelievable record collection and knows a lot about music but is not a snob. She plays the the best dancing around, screaming along in your car songs. In a good way.

The Lone Twins

During the Summer, journalist Ros Anderson and I drove around the country interviewing and photographing people who had lost their twin. Whilst their stories were all very different the link seemed to be the pervasive feeling of something missing, of not quite being complete.  One thing that has brought comfort though is the Lone Twin Network, a support network that organises meetings where people can talk and share their experiences with others who understand, lonetwinnetwork.org.uk. 

Thank you to David, Karen, Jill and Tony for sharing their incredibly personal stories. According to our contact at the Lone Twin Network the article led to a big increase in enquiries and that can only be a good thing.

You can read the full article here, http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/20/my-twin-died-i-survived. 

Tabitha Denholm- Stylist Magazine

I photographed Tabitha a few weeks ago for this weeks Work/Life in the Stylist, http://www.stylist.co.uk/stylist-network/work-life/work-life-tabitha-denholm-video-director. 

One of Tabitha's most recent videos is this one for Haim featuring some serious short short wearing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIjVpRAXK18 

Little M, slightly bigger

Back in August, me, Martha's Mum Helen and Martha went camping. She was on fine form, referring to her little chair to eat in as her throne, chasing Shetland ponies around and generally asking everyone what they were doing; "Meg's trying to sleep but you keep asking what she's doing". Martha is such an alert, happy little girl and I loved spending time her. Even if she did try and steal my sunglasses. Nice try little M, nice try.

National Trust- 50 Things

I was really excited to be asked by the agency 18Feet to shoot some of the National Trust 50 Things campaign photos. The agency chose lots of different people; some young, up and coming photographers, some experienced advertising boys and me and another chap who already shoot for the National Trust picture library. I haven't laughed so much on a shoot for years. The tone was set when a very glamorous older lady burst out laughing at the sight of my jazzy harem style trousers when we checked in to our hotel the first night. They're actually very on trend lady.

We shot at Mottisfont in Hampshire and Birling Gap in East Sussex. Both were gorgeous settings and all our models were great but I think the highlight for me was photographing an Indian family playing in the sea. They had moved to the UK about 6 months before for the Dad's job. They were good natured and smiley all day and when we were leaving I thanked them and asked if they'd enjoyed themselves to which the young lad replied that he had, then added, "isn't Mother Nature a beautiful thing". Such a lovely thing for an 11 year old to say.

Stepney Jewish Centre

I first went to Stepney Jewish Centre to photograph a project that Dulwich Picture Gallery were doing there. I've photographed lots of art classes with older people and I always really enjoy these jobs but this was different. It was clear immediately how comfortable they were with each other. Everyone got involved in the project; laughing, arguing, heckling, reminiscing. There was even impromptu singing- something to do with the price of a banana. I guess you had to be there. Anyway, I asked Paul Jarvis the brilliant co-ordinator for the centre if I could come back to photograph them and here are the results.