A Personal Collection: Of Vivienne Westwood Shoes is an exhibition currently on show at the @Gallery at the Barnsley Civic. This show is an absolute must for anyone remotely interested in fashion and of course shoes. Everyone of the eighty plus pairs of shoes on display is a masterpiece in itself! The collection itself, spans several decades of the designer’s illustrious career! From seemingly simple black heels with auspicious spikes potruding from the rear to the infamous, incredibly high platforms that saw Naomi Campbell spilled on a Paris catwalk, there is certainly something on display to catch the interest of everyone.

The exhibition is a testament to all the talent that not only went into the shoes, but into the exhibition. Having seen the gallery many times, it has been completely transformed into an atmospheric temple to the footwear on display. The moody lighting, the photographs, the quotes on display and the video all stand to direct attention and emphasise the shoes themselves and each exquisite pair commands just as much attention as the rest! No small feat considering the sheer amount on display.  This exhibition is clearly a labour of love by the entire team at the Civic and even though I was involved in early stages, I can assure you the exhibit screams triumphantly of the work put into it!

I had the immense pleasure and honour of working to create the photographs for the publicity material for this exhibition and I must say, every pair of shoes I got to photograph is a wonder! Though I was working under the close and astute art direction of David Sinclair, the mastermind behind the exhibit, I was still granted enough creative freedom as to photograph the shoes as they spoke to me! I must say that the several months I put into this material are by far some of the most rewarding and genuinely satisfying that I have had yet! Though I won’t go into details about the work put into it in this post, I must reiterate the honour of being granted such a dream job!

The exhibition has been on display since May and only has a week left on show as it finishes this Saturday, the 17th of July! If it strikes your fancy, I wholly recommend paying a visit to the Civic before it finishes to take in this breathtaking display!

Also, The Civic have created a limited edition run of postcards to accompany the exhibition. The high quality set features ten of the images I created for the exhibit including the four above. If you’d like a set of these postcards but cannot make it to the exhibit, please let me know via the contact forms on the site and I can arrange a set for you. The set is £5 plus P&P.

I’m going to take great pleasure in introducing, to you, the wonderful talent that is Integra Fairbrook (formerly Sir Integra).

I first worked with Lauren over two years ago when she was first starting out. Even then, I could only applaud her charisma, her energy and her huge personality that helped to bring the images to life. Some of these are still favourites in my portfolio!

Since then, we’ve worked together on numerous occasions on all manner of projects. From fashion and beauty, to body paint, to parts modelling for the Vivienne Westwood exhibit at the Barnsley Civic, to my tattoo project, to latex; Lauren is always extremely versatile and always ready to tackle whatever the challenges head on.

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Most recently, Raychel Perks of Raynbow Studio has been working extremely hard to bring together a charity event called the Jean Genie (more information about this on the way!). Lauren, or rather Integra Fairbrook, donated her time to be the face of this charity competition and in the end, yet again proved why both Raychel and myself hold her in such high regard!

Whether you’re a photographer, or a business owner or anyone else that might need a model: book Integra Fairbrook. She never disappoints and if nothing else you’ll just be glad to have met such a lovely, wonderful person at the end of the day. Contact her through Model Mayhem or “like” her on Facebook! She’s not one to be overlooked!

A photographic portrait is a great many things to many different people but most importantly a portrait is an everlasting representation of you the moment it was taken. A sort of time capsule, if you will. Portraits evoke memories and emotions. A portrait can bring back the times of joyous youth or they can remind you of your personality and how you looked and the way you dressed in times past, though I’m sure not all people enjoy that aspect. A portrait is a memento that should be carried with you through the rest of your life to ignite and carry on the legacy that you’re building now. Amongst all this: a portrait is for life!

Our daily lives have been full of photographic portraits since their inception. Just think of how proud parents adorn the walls with their cherished children, grandparents build photographic shrines to their families, loved ones carry portraits of they’re loved ones everywhere they go, hard working breadwinners display they’re family on their desks as they pay the bills and social media ensures the first thing anyone new sees of you is a portrait. Portraits are the now!

Picture this: It’s thirty years from now on a rainy day. An impulse leads you to start dredging through all the old boxes you’ve set aside for such an occasion. You come across a pile of prints. All of which are portraits from different times in your life. Imagine remembering your life now. What do you see? What do you remember? How does it feel? Everyone, is of course, different; however, the catalyst for all of those emotions is a  portrait. An imprint of times past that can revitalise dormant memories at any time.

Now, the only caveat is that not all portraits last forever. There are the images you never want to see again. These portraits are often full of bad haircuts and fashion faux pas’. Think back to your school portraits. Does anyone keep those? Does anyone dare actually ever look at them? Society has tricked us into believing that the reason we hate the school portraits is because of ourselves. In actuality, it’s because they’re bad portraits and bad photography. Just think back to them for a moment and you’ll remember the long queues of hundreds or thousands of students standing in the photographic “assembly line” waiting to sit down for 30 seconds each under the same lighting set up with the same horrible mottled background. It was neither a fun experience nor was any effort put in to make a good portrait of you the subject.

Sadly, the trend of late in portrait studios across the world has been exactly this. Portraiture nowadays seems relegated to a single lighting set up for all subjects despite the common knowledge that there is no single lighting method that is flattering to everyone. It’s undermined by trends and fads spurred by technology. For example, can you honestly tell me that in 20 years time, you won’t cringe at the black and white photo with your eyes or a bunch of roses in colour that epitomises the late nineties and early noughties? Digital technology has allowed for the “machine gunning” of images and thus, far too many “photographers” make their selling point quantity where there is no quality. Portraiture in a lot of “portrait studios” is no longer about photography. It’s no longer about memories. It’s only manufacturing. these “portrait factories” will churn out thousands of low quality, heartless images a day with no care for the significance a portrait can hold in someone’s life. The defining factor that many people use these “portrait factories” is usually cost. All I can say to that is that old adages are old adages for a reason: you get what you pay for.

When I provide my portrait services, every session is unique. The lighting is styled and tailored to each individual in order to catch you, the subject, at your very best. Each image is carefully and painstakingly retouched to bring out the very best. Each single image is a relic, a memory, an emotion that means as much to me as the creator as it does you the subject. To me, every image is personal and lacklustre portraits do nothing but reflect on me the creator. I believe in quality and I believe in the everlasting.

Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along that’s just irresistable. This opportunity came over a year ago when Raychel Perks of Raynbow Studio expressed to me her interest in trying some bodypaint. The experience was incredible, to say the absolute least, for everyone involved! The whole day was exciting and new and the results were just breathtaking. Of course, on the heels of such success, we absolutely had to do it again and then again and then yet again! This collaborative relationship between Raychel and I has not only made for an incredible collection of imagery but it’s built the foundation for a lot of great things to come.

Here’s a brief outline of some of the bodypaint specific work we’ve done since then.

The very first bodypaint session we did, involved a pair of concepts based around a Native American theme with Alexandra :

As well as a Cleopatra theme:

During our second session Raychel completely improvised an idea I had with ivy and then proceeded to turn Integra Fairbrook into a statue!

Our third bodypaint session with Rudigo saw Raychel take an aboriginal starting point and with a few twists and turns mould it into her own!

More recently, Raychel, again working with Integra Fairbrook, had the urge to convert her into a Na’vi from “Avatar”.

Very shortly after the Avatar incident, Raychel really wanted to try some UV bodypaint. We talked Madison Flint into the task and I must say it was rather spectacular to see in person!

Most recently, Kittiwake showed up for her bodypaint session with Ladybird fingernail polish! Some people might have considered that a mistake, considering the proximity of Raychel’s red paint!

In the end, over the past several months, we have immensely enjoyed making these images and I personally hope for a lot more to come. Though this post has focused on bodypaint, Raychel has done make-up on many occasions as well, but that might be a topic for another day!

What happens when you have 23 people taking a phot0 a day every day for 365? Well, you have the “NiceSmileSir” project!

Nice Smile Sir - Day 1

Personally, I have always been a bit frightened of the prospect of “365″ projects, but the idea of having 22 other people togo through it with convinced me! So here we are, already, on Day 12 and most everything seems to be going strong!

Nice Smile Sir - Day 6 - Violaceous Latex

The worst part of these sorts of projects is one of those tiny, niggling fears that makes you wonder if you can actually go through with it. However, the beauty of them and the ones undertaken by groups in particular is the sheer randomness that results! Don’t know what I’m saying? Just have a look at the Nice Smile Sir site! Like I said, it’s Day 12 and there’s already a huge assortment and variety ranging from completely random to the immaculately concieved. Colourful and dull. Just looking at the site, without clicking through to Flickr for the individual reveals, to me anyway, a wondrous menagerie of images!!

Nice Smile Sir - Day 10

Enough muttering and rambling! I do encourage you to bookmark the site and check back on the project at least every once in a while! I think even by the end of the first month, this project is going to have bloomed into something rather spectacular!

I am pleased and rather excited to announce another collaborative effort between myself and the extremely talented Raychel Perks of Raynbow Studio. On Sunday the 21st of March and on Saturday the 27th we will be offering portfolio building  sessions at a discounted rate.

We are combining Raychel’s immensely talented creative Make-Up Artistry with my photography in order to provide high-quality portfolio images for both budding and experienced models. Whether your starting out or looking to update your existing portfolio, Raychel and I can provide the imagery you need.

The dates of this offer are limited to March 21st and 27th and there are a limited number of sessions available so book yours now!

Details include:

• Each 1 hour session include a 1/2 hour make-up and a 1/2 hour studio session.
• Make-up can be any style you choose. Go for something natural or pick something completely off the wall!
• Define what style of imagery you need for your portfolio. High Fashion? Beauty? Commercial? Glamour? Your portfolio, your needs, your choice!
• You will recieve 3 high quality images for your book.
• Each image will be fully retouched to a professional level.
• You will recieve full resolution files of each image, printable to 8″x12″ for print portfolio purposes.
• Images will also be provided at optimal web resolution for professional networkings sites and social media.
• Need more for your portfolio? Book consecutive sessions for multiple looks and images!

We are providing this offer at a discounted price of £40 (normally £75).

Remember, spaces are limited, so book your session now!

Back at the end of September, I posted my open casting for people with tattoos to get involved with a project idea I had had spinning around my head for the longest of time. To be honest, I expected little interest, except maybe from some people I had worked with before. I really couldn’t have underestimated it more. The response from everyone has been utterly fabulous and in these short few months I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and photographing some of the most extraordinary and interesting people.

The project itself is far from over. I have a fair few shoots still lined up and I’m quite a way off from being finished with the concept myself, so hopefully, there will be a good many to come!

In the meantime, I figured it’s well beyond time I shared with everyone, who has expressed interest, a selection of the images so far produced in this endeavour!

I just want to, once again, express my complete and absolute appreciation to ever one of the wonderful people who have so far come to help me out with this project. You guys are brilliant!! Thank you!

Of course, if you’re tattooed and you like what you see here, well, you know where to find me!

*This post was updated on 08/06/2010*

After a long time delaying, I have decided to start working on a body of personal work. The project I have decided to start with will revolve solely around tattoos and body modifications.

The aim is to build up a stylised and comprehensive body of work which displays the intricacies and the profound statements often made by tattoos and their ilk and the relation with whom they adorn.

I have now decided that the output of the project will be a self-published book and a limited run of fine-art prints. Anyone who takes part should be happy with these uses!

The Concept

As simply is possible, the underlying point of the entire project is to illustrate how tattoos are a integral facet of each individual. Their interests, their personalities and their lives. Most tattoos are an incredibly personal statement that usually transcend fashions and other fleeting aspects of culture.

Basically, what I’m looking for is anyone with tattoos. No matter how large or small, how intricate or simple, any tattoos will do. Also, I’m looking for people of all shapes and sizes, both male and female, all races and all ages. You don’t need to be or think you are model material, this project is about you and your bodyart, it is a study, if you will, into tattoos and the people whom they adorn and this project was concieved with “real” people specifically in mind.

To anyone who wishes to participate: basically, what I need, is for you to kindly donate an hour or so of your time to allow to me to create a portrait of you and your bodyart.

IMPORTANT: The nature of this concept calls for at least “implied nudity”. To keep it simple, this means that you will be nude (depending on where your tattoo is located*); however, nothing that you wish not to be visible will be displayed. I will never seek to push anyone beyond their limits and my primary concern will always be the comfort of you as the subject, the image itself is the second priority. If you are not comfortable with this, I will not push; however, it is required to ensure uniformity throughout the final body of work. (All images in this revised post are “implied nude”)

To see more samples of the project in progress, just ask!

*If your tattoo(s), for example are above your neckline, a headshot will suffice. If they are well above your waistline, then only “implied topless” is needed.

If you’re interested, please get in touch and we’ll get something sorted! (Alternatively, feel free to use Facebook to contact me if that’s easier for you.)

Here, I present you with a shoot that had been a long, long time in the making! About a year and a half to be fairly precise!

Tamara-Marie and I had been discussing the prospect of a shoot since the early days of both our portfolios. Unfortunately, distance and other committments and the ilk frequently through a plethora of spanners, screwdrivers, hammers and anything else you can name into the works.

Eventually, we said enough was enough. We picked a few concepts, set a date and just went for it.

They say good things come to those who wait. This is certainly one instance where old adages prove theirselves with merit!

With but a handful of wigs and a few strong concepts, Tamara-Marie’s versatility and natural abilities really shone through throughout the shoot! In just three sets, we managed to get a wealth of variety and, in my opinion, some wonderfully graphic images. This, I gleefully admit, is all to the credit of such a wonderfully gifted and all over lovely model!

But of course, there is no proof in words, only in photos! Enjoy!

As always, thank you very kindly for your time! I do hope you enjoyed this set even half as much as I enjoyed making it!

A few months back, I found myself testing with a relatively new young model named Kirsten. When she initially approached me, I knew straight away that her unique look was one that was needed in my portfolio. We discussed a broad range of ideas and came up with a few concepts and a general idea of style and left the rest to spontenaeity and fate. The results? Have a look!

In the end it was a productive shoot as I expected it to be and Kirsten is a wonderful model and a lovely person to boot! Here, I would normally say that I hope to work with Kirsten again, but as it happens we had our second shoot just the other week so you can expect a follow-up post to come soon!