New Work For Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust

I’m proud to be able to share some recent work commissioned for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT) by Simplify.

I received a call from Simplify’s MD, Neil Quidington, to ask if I’d be interested in working with his agency to elevate the EHAAT photography, in particular the portraits required for their upcoming 2022 annual review.

We spent two days at the EHAAT North Weald airbase, making a mixture of portrait and reportage photographs of the amazing ground staff, pilots, paramedics and doctors, who are based there.

It was truly humbling to witness first hand what these amazing people do and to hear the stories of what they face on a daily basis. On more than one occasion, we would be set up to make a picture and then a pager would suddenly sound and the crew would be up and gone.

You can find out much more about EHAAT, including ways of supporting this vital charity, here.

Below is just a small selection of the portrait work that we made, with more examples to be found here.

Client : EHAAT. Agency : Simplify. AD : Neil Quidington.

Newfoundland and Labrador

While shooting in Alberta for Land Rover, I received a call from the Creative Group Head of Target, NL. He’d been following me on Instagram for some time and spotted that I was shooting in Canada.

Would I like to extend my trip and spend some time exploring Newfoundland? was the question… The answer was of course, yes!

Salmon Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador.

To cut a long story short, we spent 10 days driving across the Avalon and Central regions of Newfoundland, our winding route taking in a mix of historical and truly beautiful locations.

Fort Amhurst, St John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.

During our time on the road we had some early call times and often experienced wonderful displays of light and typically mixed bags of weather. We took full advantage of the drama that would often unfold in front of us. It certainly wasn’t all blue skies, very much like my work in Scotland.

Everywhere we went the people were hospitable and helpful, and everyone had a story or two to tell. There really is a unique and genuine warmth to this fascinating place.

Salvage, Newfoundland and Labrador.

We came across places with historical and romantic names such as Fort Amhurst, Cape Spear, Queen’s Battery, Signal Hill and Salmon Cove. And curious names such as Quidi Vidi, Salvage and Dildo (Yes, Dildo!)

Cape Spear, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Having spent time in some of the more remote parts of Scotland, Newfoundland felt strangely familiar. In short, I felt very much at home.

It‘s a place I would love to return to…

Dildo, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Client : Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism.    Agency : Target NL.    AD : Kevan Kalyan.

Greenspond, Gander Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Below are three of the finished press ads…

Iceland 2010 - The Eruption of Eyjafjallajökull

Back in 2010 I was commissioned to shoot a series of ads for a pharmaceutical campaign in various locations around the world, including Iceland, Bavaria and Morocco.

While we were in Iceland we witnessed the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. It was an incredible event to witness, with the ash blocking out the sun and falling down on us like hot sand.

Many will remember that the resulting ash cloud brought European airspace to a standstill during the April of 2010, and cost billions of euros in disruption and delays. During the eruption, a no-fly zone was imposed across much of Europe, which meant we were lucky to get home, let alone get home on schedule.

It’s funny too what memories are made while travelling in foreign lands… For me, apart from the stunning and surreal landscapes, I’ll always associate Iceland with hot dogs and chocolate raisins!

Below is a selection of the personal work I was able to make during our down time. Larger versions along with other work made, can be found here.

The work was made on a Contax 645 with 35mm Carl Zeiss T* lens and Sinar eMotion 75 MFDB.

With regards to the ads themselves, for logistical reasons, we shot the locations first, and then shot the models in the studio in London, carefully matching camera heights, angles and lighting.

The blood platelets were created in CGI and then all the various elements were composited in post.

Below is a selection of the finished ads..

Client : Amgen. Agency : CDM. Art Director : Shauna Kealy. Post Production / CGI : Kai Bastard. Producer & Location Scout : Leonora Sheppard. Local Producer & Guide : Bui Baldvinsson.

Highways England Portraits

Back in January I received a call from a client who had moved to Highways England. She asked if I’d be interested in helping them create a collection of location portraits that represented the various arms of Highways England, and that would illustrate the diverse nature of the company and its people.

We spent six days on the road and covered hundreds of miles, shooting in a variety of fascinating locations across the UK. The resulting images have already been used across a large range of publications, including the annual report and accounts.

Client : Highways England.

Below is a small selection of the portraits that we made, with larger versions to be found here.

New Work For Delta Air Lines

I was recently commissioned by the good folk at Zero Collective to help create a series of ads for Delta Air Lines.

The agency, stylist and hair and makeup artist for the first round of ads were from the UK, with the models and client being flown in from Paris and the US. We then flew one of the models to the US to shoot a second round of ads with a CGI team from Atlanta, in their bespoke green screen studio. We were then home from the second leg of the shoot on a red eye flight, within 48 hours of leaving Heathrow!

The aircraft interiors were created and ‘lit’ completely in CGI and built out to match the exact lighting, camera heights, distances, focal lengths and apertures that we used to shoot the model. The separate elements were then brought together in post production.

Client : Delta Air Lines. Agency: Zero Collective. Art Directors : Paul Geudon & Greg Davies. CGI : Trick 3D. Post Production : Tom Wheatley.

Below is the rather surreal green screen studio set in Atlanta, where we shot the photographic composite elements that later became the ads that you see above.

ENO Orphee

It was lovely to get a call from the good folk at Rose and to be asked if I’d be interested in shooting one of a series of English National Opera posters that they were working on.

Working in one of ENO’s rehearsal studios in London, we first shot a black and white portrait, lit in a style that paid homage to Jean Cocteau original 1950’s film ‘Orpheus’ and then projected it back on to the model and the simple fabric set which we built.

Client : English National Opera. Agency : Rose. ADs : Abbie Edis & Simon Elliott.

Group Shot For Diverse Marine

It can be quite a challenge shooting a group portrait, particularly in a busy working environment and when time isn’t on your side.

This picture came together in no time at all and marked the end of a fascinating and fruitful day, shooting a library of reportage photographs for Diverse Marine on the Isle of White, commissioned by the good folk from Brand Design.

Alan Moore Portrait

I was asked recently to make a portrait of my good friend Alan Moore, designer and author of Do Design - Why Beauty Is Key To Everything and creator of Beautiful Business.

I was also asked to shoot a series of location portraits for him, which we shot in London, Snowdonia and Norfolk, and which you can find here.

Alan created my very first corporate identity, back in 1988 when we were both based in the beautiful Spirella Building. I have fond memories of that studio. It was spacious and had a huge arched window at one end providing gorgeous soft daylight, and had its own darkroom. 

Canaan Vineyard workers

I was recently commissioned to shoot a bank of imagery for the Canaan Winery, in China. Over the week we shot a mix of landscapes, working portraits and industrial architecture, which I'll be able to share later this year.

On our last day we had a few hours spare, and so I suggested to Neil the art director, that we shoot some portraits of the vineyard workers, whose infectious smiles and laughter had captivated us all week.

A makeshift daylight studio was set up close to the vineyard canteen and we made around twenty portraits. You can find a selection of them here.

Client : Canaan Winery.    Art Director : Neil Southwell.

Take-Two Model Agency - Tests From The Late Eighties

Back in the late eighties and early nineties I shot a lot of tests for a model agency called Take-Two, who were based in London’s Covent Garden.

I’d just taken on my first studio and was eager to shoot personal portrait and beauty work, and so it was a fantastic opportunity to work with such high calibre models.

All of the work was made with natural daylight and occasional tungsten fill, and shot on a Mamiya RB67 and RZ67 ProS with 180mm ƒ4.5 lens using Fuji NeoPan 400.

The work I then Lith printed and Gold toned.

Below is a small selection of the work that I recently scanned from the archive, with more examples to be found here.

Ash Soan Portrait For Zildjian

I recently had the good fortune to work with drumming legend and all round lovely human being Ash Soan, recent winner of Modern Drummer’s 2017 Readers Poll ‘Studio Drummer’ award, making him the first U.K. artist to win this category since Simon Phillips did so in 1987. 

We shot his portrait for world renowned cymbal makers Zildjian, who look after all of Ash’s cymbal needs.

The cymbals you see in this shot are from the new ‘Zildjian K Custom Special Dry’ range.

Location was Ash’s recording studio ‘Windmill Studios‘

New Work For GE Oslo

New work for GE is now live.

The GE Oslo shoot was a perfect example of a team effort. We were working under reasonably tight time and location constraints, shooting real people in their busy working environments, and so we had to remain as flexible as possible. Working with an experienced and flexible art director meant we could quickly explore visual ideas as they presented themselves, and working with a seasoned production crew meant we could work unhindered, knowing everything was at hand.. and all I had to do was think about making the pictures. It was a memorable shoot, and for all the right reasons.

Some kind words from Seven Stones’ creative director, Justin Earl.. “Working in Oslo with Julian and his team on this four-day shoot was an absolute pleasure. He knew exactly what we wanted to achieve with each shot, shooting in some very challenging industrial spaces. The brief for this shoot was about capturing the characters and stories of real employees and we did exactly that, thanks to the way Julian made everyone feel very much at home in front of his camera.”

Client : GE.    Agency : Seven Stones.    AD : Justin earl.

Below is a small selection of the work we made, with more examples available here.

Land Rover Reborn

I was recently commissioned to shoot a story for Land Rover’s Onelife magazine, on the Reborn project.

Spending two days in Land Rover’s Solihull manufacturing site, surrounded by history and witnessing first hand the amazing restoration work that the Reborn team are undertaking, was a real honour. 

For anyone who has a passion for Land Rovers, seeing these beautiful Series 1 vehicles up close, and understanding exactly where the Land Rover story started, is highly recommended, and you can do just that on a Land Rover Reborn Tour. You can also find more information on the Land Rover Reborn project here.

Client : Land Rover.    Agency : Spark44.    AD : Dan Delaney.

AOP Awards 2016

Delighted to have had my portrait of biologist and seaweed expert, Agnes Mols-Mortensen, selected for the AOP Awards finals, 2016.

This was shot as part of a commission for Land Rover, on the beautiful black sand beach at Tjørnuvík, the northernmost village on the Faroese island of Streymoy. It was raining for much of our seven day trip, which added to the soft light and general mood of the imagery. 

The AOP Awards event will be held at The Old Truman Brewery, in Brick Lane, London, on the 13th October 2016. The exhibition will be open to the public from 14-17 October 2016.

Client : Land Rover.   Agency : Redwood.   AD : Dan Delaney.

Detail.. Note the drops of rain on her face..

Lotus For Seven Tenths

I was commissioned by Seven Tenths Dive Wear to shoot this image of the iconic lotus position for in their marketing campaigns and clothing line. 

It was shot early one evening while hovering in the deep blue off the coast of Little Cayman. 

Thanks go to dive buddy Kim Linford for her patience, as holding this pose underwater is a lot harder to achieve than you might imagine!

I used a Subal housed Nikon F90x and Nikkor 16mm ƒ2.8 lens, and Fuji NeoPan 400 with the final image coloured on system.

Ad Campaign For Amgen

This Ad campaign for Amgen took us to Iceland, Bavaria and Morocco.

For logistical reasons we shot the various locations first, and then shot the models in the studio in London, carefully matching camera heights, angles and lighting. The blood platelets were created in CGI and added in post.

Agency : CDM London.    Client : Amgen.    AD : Shauna Kealy.   Location scout : Leonora Sheppard.   Post and CGI artist : Kai Bastard.

Below is a selection of the finished ads..

Helen Jenkins And Sir Chris Hoy SiS Ads

The first of a series of ads shot for SiS (Science In Sport) are now live, featuring brand partners and ambassadors Helen Jenkins and Sir Chris Hoy.

Agency : Lionhouse.   AD : Les Welch.   Make-up and effects : Ami Szerensces & Martin McClean.   Shoot production : Lauren Jarmey.

3 month Production for Virgin Media Business

Last year we were comissioned to shoot a library of images for Virgin Media Business. Now the product is launched we can finally talk about it.

The production spanned 3 months in total (60 working days) - from sign-off to final delivery of images.

Casting - we cast approximately 400 models over 3 days, in order to find a total of 68 people (47 adult models, 5 child models, 6 teens, 2 policemen, 5 firemen & 3 extras)

Locations - we scouted and permitted 14 locations over 23 days.. A hospital reception, an x-ray room, a school, 5 x offices with server rooms, a modern house, a civic centre, a recycling plant, an empty industrial space to park our fire engine, a roundabout on an A-road to park the police car, car parks and loading bays to park engineers vans etc.

Styling - the stylist, Natasha Freeman, had to work solidly for 25 days gathering all of the relevant wardrobe & prop items for this shoot. To name but a few...90 different outfits & accessories, server cabinets, computers, telephones, head-sets, plants, garden furniture, desks, tables and much more...

Travel - We hired mini buses, winnebagos, a cherry picker, dust carts, JCB’s, a police car, a fire engine.. oh, and a Land Rover.. you name it, we had it! 

Catering - over 200 mouths were fed over the period of the shoot, that’s a lot of food!

Agency : Design UK.    Art Director : Pieter Van Loon.    Stylist : Natasha Freeman @ LPA/Style.   Hair & make-up : Hannah Marshall @ LPA /Style.    Shoot production : Holly Brooks @ LPA/Production. 

Below is selection of imagery from the shoot, with larger versions here.