Lou & Michael

These blogs are starting to get too preditable, but what a pleasure to photograph Michael Grade at ITV for Marketing, especially since I enjoyed photographing his uncle back in 1994 for the Radio Times.

Alistair Campbell re-visited

It's been a decade and a half since I photographed Alistair Campbell for then the Sunday Telegraph and a more accommodating subject you couldn't find.

Back then he met me leaning on the gate to the House of Lords and breezed me into gardens to get a shot with Parliament in the background.

Well, a lot has happened in Alistair's life since 1993, and I was intrigued to see if the power had changed the man.
Not at all. Still charming and easy. I wonder if the Editors would agree.

By the way, that is Maradona's signature on both boots and sleeve of his beloved Burnley shirt.

Arsene

First every visit to the state of the art training ground and a second chance to photograph the easy going and attentive Arsene Wenger.
It was just a shame that although he was wearing the maroon and gold home kit, he had to hide it under the Nike Five kit supplied.
Loved his willingness to oblidge me with a great series of novel expressions appropriate for the article.

Chef's galore

I'm in heaven.
Or rather Gavroche, Maze, Benares, Pied a Terre & Petrus.
What a treat and what gents.
Meeting their protege's and talking food. What a great job!

Young Talent

What a strange world the Wimbledon Tennis Championship is.
Highlighted this middle saturday when it rains all day and the corperates have no tennis to offer.
Stuck in a hospilatily tent in a rented house a few yards from the courts, while the heavens open up, I got to rub shoulders with sports stars and their agents.
But how different the Wimbledon Village is during the Championships. Un-welcoming, suspicious and profiteering.
Still it was a pleasure to meet these two rising stars in athletics, Emily Pigeon and Wade Bennett Jackson.

Silverjet is the future of business travel if I had my way

Edinburgh - 1st Class

What a lot of great food in Edingburgh.
Can't wait to go back.
But it would have to be 1st class again.

JD Power

It's that time of the year again. I've been off round the South East trying to make cars look interesting.
I always find the owners are the stars and this year we had a bunch of real characters.

I was also blessed with great weather. What a difference the sun can make.
Also, what a difference shooting on the CFV, it's great to be back on the Hasselblad.

At Home with the Eto'o's

Barcelona, March 12th, 3pm. Its warm, sleepy, and the pace is easy going.
Barca's centre forward wants coverage. FourFourTwo want Samuel Eto'o for a cover.
Puma put us together, but the lad is not in the mood. He wants to go back to sleep.
For a few precious minutes I'm on my own, shaded on a narrow balcony by his security blinds, with one of football's biggest names and I'm not letting him go until he tries one of the AD's ideas.
It's half hearted, I'm feeling guilty and let him go.

Essien v Fabregas

Two delightful & charming midfield generals. Fabregas the Matador - a play maker, Essien - a reputation for sticking the tackle in.
Always with these shoots, when you meet the person in the flesh, you get a completely different perspective.
This FourFourTwo shoot was piggybacking a Nike one in the same studios. Unfortunatley, it meant the Fabregas was over running into his French Lesson booking (Is this so he can understand the boss?) and was not really in the room with me in the 4 minutes he breezed through.
Essien had all the time in the world. It's always a pleasure to spend un-pressured time in such cheerful company. Makes portraiture the best job in the world.

Walcott's WAG

Some WAG's have been giving one of the tabloids favourite subjects a bad reputation, Melanie Slade is a breath of fresh air for their future.
Last Thursday was a privledge to hang out with all the Walcott's at their new home.
Melanie maybe very young, but her feet are firmley on the ground.
It wasn't Footballers Wives, no precious pretentions or diva tantrums. Still early days? more a product of a balanced and well judged upbringing.

Harlequins Gentle Giant

Tuesday's photography was at the Harlequins Stoop ground for Marketing mag of Tony Copsey.
Not a security guard in site. No one at reception even.
And Mr Copsey arrived by himself, early, and helped carry my equipment to the location of my choice.
A Gent and a giant at near 7 ft. Why can't football be as easy to work with.

Gareth Bale - The lads done well

The difference between football & other sport's stars is only growing wider as last week proved (see Harlequins Gentle Giant).
Visiting Southampton's training ground last monday to photograph Gareth Bale for FourFourTwo mag, I was kept at arms length and always supervised by security and minders.
Gareth is treated like a god. Something refected in his goal celebration pose that proved the winner from the shoot.

Build me a Rocket Boy's

Some men are born for great things.
Some are born to touch the stars.
Well, maybe not the stars but maybe fifty feet of atmosphere with Tristans small rocket.
Here are some pictures from the beach on sunday at Portmeirion.