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. 

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. 

Mexico

I spent February travelling around Mexico on heavily air conditioned buses listening to terrible pop music with Adam (pictured hanging out a a Taco stand). 

It's a brilliant country to potter about in. For one thing all food comes slathered in chilli, salt and lime. Even fruit. The people are welcoming and funny. It has deserts and mountains and brilliant cities where you can guarantee there'll be live music in the local square, teenagers dry humping and old people slow dancing. Ole! 

Excalbur

These photographs accompany an article by Ros Anderson in todays Guardian Weekend. It was such a interesting job.  The Excalibur Estate in Catford is due to be demolished and the first phase of house clearances has already begun. Sadly for lots of residents a vote went very marginally in favour of moving.

Below is Eddie O'Mahoney, the estates oldest resident who moved in in 1946. Everyone we spoke to was great but it was especially hard to tear ourselves away from Eddie's immaculate lounge. A WW11 veteran who described being in a Japanese Prisoner of war camp as, "not as bad as it sounds". Eddie doesn't want to go anywhere and who can blame him at 92 and after more than 60 years.

Uptown Ranking

Here's Ranking Roger from The Beat doing his thing a few weeks ago. After the gig he teased me for only photographing him after he took his top off. That's nearly true (see photo 1 as evidence in my favour) but he only wore a top for about 10 seconds so I didn't have much choice. Still doing it though. The ladies went wild and I am not joking. Wild.

House & Garden

This is Kyle Scorgie, a student at RCA. She weaves rugs from horses tails. Doesn't everyone I hear you say? Well no, they don't. They're woven and dyed very traditionally by hand. Quite incredible. 

Floating Boaters

These portraits were published in the Independent magazine a few Saturdays ago. The article was about the community of canal boat owners living in Hackney and the areas surrounding the Olympic Park who were being moved on to "tidy up" the area for the duration of the games. Why canal boats are considered untidy is anyone's guess. At the time of publication the situation remained unresolved.

Din Dins

 

 

 

  

 

These were taken for the brilliantly named pet nutrition company Din Dins. Check them out at  www.dindins.co.uk.