English National Ballet’s Christmas Party 2012

Signalling the end of the year, English National Ballet’s annual Christmas party was held at St Martin’s Lane Hotel right next door to the London Coliseum, where the company commence their Christmas season with The Nutcracker on December the 14th.

2012 saw a lot of change at the company, including a new artistic director Tamara Rojo, who arrived at the party with 3 other dancers, all dressed in Vivienne Westwood gowns.

Here are just a few pictures from the night including celebrity attendees Arlene Philips and Kristina Rihanoff from Strictly Come Dancing fame, and actors Nathaniel Parker, David Harewood (Homeland) and Andy Serkis (The Hobbit) and Colin Morgan (Merlin)

The young star of Les Miserables, Isabelle Allen who plays Cosette, was also invited.

Other celebrity guests included Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth Salander, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) arriving with Tom Hardy, and Ernie Hudson who played Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters.

Guests were then escorted across the red carpet into the Coliseum to watch English National Ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker. During the interval, there was still time to get a few more photos including Perdita Weeks, Myana Buring, Ophelia Lovibond, and Holliday Grainger.

TABOO @ Brixton Clubhouse

After 10 years away, Taboo: The Boy George Musical, is back on the stage with a brand new cast at the Brixton Clubhouse, London. The show revolves around Billy, an aspiring photographer, who launches himself onto London’s vibrant club scene during the ‘decadent’ 80s. He encounters the ‘New Romantics’ and many of the era’s most notorious personalities – including Steve Strange, Leigh Bowery, Philip Sallon and Boy George himself.

This time around actor Mathew Roland plays Boy George, Sam Buttery has taken over from Matt Lucas, as Leigh Bowery, and Paul Bale plays the infamous Philip Salon.

These images were taken at the press call to help promote the show. The Writers, producers and even Boy George, posed for the camera.

DECOREX 2012

Art in progress on Fromental's Decorex stand, September 2012.

Now in it’s 10th year, the London Design Festival has built a reputation for being the most innovative design festival in the world. Lasting for 10 days, it includes events, installations, talks and a number of large scale exhibitions, including 100% Design, Designjunction, Super Brands, Tent and Decorex.

Installation designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood.

Celebrating it’s 35th Anniversary, Decorex includes over 250 exhibitors showing contemporary, traditional, bespoke furntiure, lighting, fabrics and wall coverings. This year fashion legend Dame Vivienne Westwood created dresses out of wallpaper after she was asked to decorate the entrance hall to the exhibition.

Entrance doors from the film Prometheus at Decorex 2012

Andrew Martin, furnishing and fabrics, created what was probably the most talked about stand at the show, built around the set of Ridley Scott’s film Prometheus. The company had helped design the set of the film during pre-production, and wanted to bring something different to the show.

Part of the set from the film Prometheus

Part of the Prometheus film set at Decorex 2012

This year, Fromental, manufacturers of handmade wallpapers and fabrics, not only had a main stand, but also created a workshop, and provided wallpapers for the cafe, entrance hall, and dining areas. There was a lot to photograph, including workshops, wallpaper, furniture, artwork, and demonstrations by Master Wang, their head artist, who’d been flown over from China especially for the exhibition.

Artwork on Fromental's stand at Decorex 2012

Fromental's Stand at Decorex 2012.

Fromental stand at Decorex 2012

The dining area at Decorex 2012 featuring wallpaper designed by Fromental

Coffee Bar at Decorex 2012

Julian Chichester, also had a stand at Decorex 2012, which meant a request for a few shots of their latest range of contemporary English furniture.

Julian Chichester stand at Decorex 2012

Furniture on the Julilan Chichester stand at Decorex 2012

Peonies painted by Master Wang

All in all it was a busy couple of days, especially as I’d just flown in from France on another assignment. Just wish I’d had time to go to Super Brands and Tent, maybe next year…

Bestival, Isle of Wight, September 2012

With a last blast of summer sun, celebrating it’s ninth anniversary, this years wildlife themed fancy dress Bestival, was one of the best.

Along with UK Festival exclusive sets from the XX and Sigur Ross, headlining were Florence and the Machine on Friday, New Order on Saturday, and Stevie Wonder closing the mainstage on Sunday evening.

Delilah kicked off Saturday on the main stage in a hot cat suit.

Ben Howard woke up the campsite, and drew in a massive crowd on Saturday Lunchtime, packing out the Big top stage.

Saturday was fancy dress day, and this year’s ‘Wildlife’ theme drew in some fantastic original and unusual costume ideas.

Pink Flamingo Fancy Dress at Bestival 2012

Wildlife fancy Dress at Bestival 2012

Wildlife Themed Fancy Dress at Bestival 2012

Headline act New Order finished Saturday night on the mainstage, and concluded with a homage to their early Joy Division years by playing Transmission and Love will tear us apart.

New Order Headline The Main Stage at Bestival

Yukimi Nagano of Little Dragon Enjoying The Last of The Summer

Stooshe Perform live on Stage at Bestival 2012.

Michael Kiwanuka In The Big Top at Bestival 2012

Lucy Rose's Intimate gig at Bestival 2012

To bring the festival to a close, American Funk Legend Stevie Wonder, banged out the hits in a career spanning 2 hour set.

Legend Stevie Wonder playing Bestival, Isle of Wight, 2012

Stevie Wonder Performs live on Stage at Bestival 2012

London Olympics – August 2012

For 8 weeks over the summer, London was transformed to welcome the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. It wasn’t just sport that needed to be photographed. As my agency diary editor said, ‘London will never look the same again’.

There was so much to photograph from, fans, signs, flags, cakes, Olympic rings, and athletes attending events and film premieres. Some of these images are from commissions, some are from assignments with images being sent to the Press Association.

Each country entering into the Olympics occupied a house/building during the 4 weeks. This gave the fans a place to meet other fans from their own countries, watch the games, and even meet the athletes. I photographed quite a few of them, including Italia House, the French House, and Canada House, but the best atmosphere of all was at Jamaica House at the O2 Arena.

I love this shot I captured of Dame Kelly Holmes arriving at the Chariots of Fire Premiere in Leicester Square. It sums up the washed out month before the beginning of the games.

I did shoot some sport at the Paralympic games, and got hooked on goalball.

Believe it or not, this bag is a cake which was especially made to go on display in the Olympic village. It contains 136 eggs, 6 bottles of brandy, and weighs 11 stone.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream – July 2012

In May, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre opened their £3.3m redevelopment which included a brand new box office, changing facilities and rehearsal rooms, all ready for the 2012 season.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

One of the highlights of the season was A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with artistic director Timothy Sheader giving the Shakespearean comedy a Big Fat Gypsy makeover. Along with shots of the new buildings and dining areas, I was asked to shoot the auditorium during an evening performance.

I was lucky enough to have this picture (above) featured in the Evening Standard’s ‘Big Picture’, a weekly double page spread in the centre of the paper.

WOODHOUSE – May 2012

On Wednesday, designer Menswear retailer Woodhouse opened their brand new 1,800 sq ft, 2 storey shop in Nottinghill, West London. The company, which was established in 1975, carries many leading brands including, Armani Jeans, CP Company, Hackett, Hugo Boss Black, Lacoste and Levi’s.

Woodlhouse’s manager got in contact as they required images of the interior of the shop and the opening party, for local press and promotional purposes. It was a perfect job, as these are the 2 main areas of my photography.

On a job like this the client always wants the exterior window display shot. This always causes problems in London, especially if the property is north facing and opposite a white Georgian building. It involves quiet a bit of work, but the careful use of a circular polariser, black drape, and a few frames mixed together eliminates reflections in the glass.

My First Sleeping Beauty – April 2012

A second photo shoot for English National Ballet in the space of a week. this one for My First Sleeping Beauty, an adaptation of the classic fairytale for young audiences.

Images were immediately sent to press and have been picked up nationally as the production went touring around the country.

Beyond Ballet Russes

A photo call at The London Coliseum to photograph English National Ballet’s ‘Beyond Ballet Russes’. Commencing the afternoon, dancers Zdenek Konvalina (Apollo), Daria Klimentova (Terpsichore) Begona Cao (Calliope) Anais Chalendard (Polyhymnia) performed Balachine’s 1928 masterpiece Apollo.

Dancers went onto perform ‘Jeux’ recreated by English National Ballet’s artistic director, Wayne Eagling, and rounded off the show with Serge Lifar’s ‘Suite En Blanc’.

All images were sent to the Press Association and have been used internationally in the Press.

Dance GB at Greenwich Naval College

What a great way to spend a Monday morning, photographing Ballet dancers in lycra, posing in the grounds of Greenwich Naval College.

English National Ballet Dancers perform at Greenwich Naval College, London.

The photocall was to promote ‘Dance GB’, a special performance by English National Ballet, which will be taking place next year in the grounds of the Naval College to coincide with the Olympics.

English National Ballet Dancers at Greenwich Naval College, 24th October 2011.

English National Ballet Dancers launch 'Dance GB' at Greenwich Naval College.

The light, location, and the dancers all made it easy to get a fantastic set of photos, which I sent out for syndication through the Press Association.  I was also fortunate enough to have the top photo diplayed on the Canon Stand at the British Journal of Photography’s ‘Vision 2012′ show at Earls Court.