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Tag Archives: London
BIPP Professional Photography Awards 2012 – Bronze Winner
Cool – I won “bronze” in Fashion, Hair & Beauty at the 2012 Professional Photography Awards – held at BFI Southbank in London last night 
Last year’s awards were held at Blenheim Palace, in Oxford, and while it was a fantastic location – I have to admit I’m not really the formal dinner suit type…
So it was with an element of surprise, as well as relief, when I found out that not only had one of my images been shortlisted for an award this year but also the event would be at the BFI’s Southbank centre and there was no dress code! Having the awards in a screening room was a fantastic idea – old-style cinema chairs, with a dark room and massive screen to project the images on to really made it feel different. After the actual awards were handed out, we had a great drinks reception in the gallery room where all of the winning images for their respective categories were on show.
It’s really interesting watching photographers critique each other’s work, openly – it appears that as a group of people we’re a lot happier handing out advice and suggestions for improvements than we are at receiving the same…!
I won’t lie – there were a few images in the winning selections which I’m sure I will never understand, but I guess that’s part of the fun of it all – and the BIPP did an excellent job at organising the event.
So, certificate protected in an envelope and a couple of copies of the “book of winners” in a coat pocket, we made light work of the wine, cocktails, canapés and champagne on offer before finally being ushered out of the building for closing time. It’s always a great feeling to know you made the most of an evening by being part of the last group to leave 
The winning image? It was this one: “Head Above Water” – taken in a pool in Palm Springs, California.
However, (and without sounding like a absolute miserable git!) it’s a slightly bittersweet “win” for me, for three reasons…
Firstly, of course, there will always be an element of “I wish I’d gotten silver or gold” that will repeat around my head for a while, but a bronze award at a national ceremony isn’t a bad accolade I guess!
The second reason is a tougher one for me; this wasn’t the only image I entered. It’s disappointing that another image I sent in didn’t do as well as I had hoped. I’ll get the feedback on it over the next week or so, but I guess this at least gives me something to keep aiming for next time around, if I enter…
The third issue, however is a little more fundamental. Only after leaving did I discover a small fact about the BIPP awards this year : four of the winners were actually judges! Oh, including the overall “Professional Photographer of the Year 2012″ – so that’s right; the judges voted a judge to win. While I’m sure there was a huge amount of professionalism involved in the judging process to make it as fair as possible, I’ve never before known a competition where the judges are entrants themselves…
Thanks to everyone for your kind comments on Facebook last night – and apologies for the shots above, they were all taken on my iPhone and not without a drop or two of alcohol…!
Update : 19th March
It’s rather surprising to discover how many people in the industry keep an eye on my blog/facebook/etc – but in just over 12 hours I’ve received more than 20 messages from other photographers, all expressing the same concern and many with similar stories of the BIPP voting judges as winners in competitions. Many have mentioned cases of regional and national awards over the years going to those on the judging panel only.
This whole thing worries me, to be honest (even though my exposure to this has been very limited) so I’ve emailed their CEO with a few questions. If it is the case, that’s just not on – not only does it cheapen any genuine “award” which people have worked hard to gain, but it also removes any credibility for the awards and BIPP in general when looked at from elsewhere in the industry.
I just hope they pay attention this time around, as it seems that it’s been highlighted many times before and yet continues to persist as an acceptable practice. 
Update 2 : 19th March
So it seems they’ve had quite a few people challenging the judging process – the British Journal of Photography reports…
The Chocolate Box
Back at the end of March, I decided to shoot some personal projects that I’d been considering for some time. The only problem is, when you shoot a lot in the same studio or same surroundings, you end up with images that can look very similar. To make sure my own projects didn’t end up looking the same, I wanted to try something : shooting in another studio across town.
Enter: The Chocolate Factory Studios – owned by photographer Damien Morley. Followed by a quick call later to Steve Box; within a day I had a new studio to play with and a trusted model who I knew could give me the shots I wanted
Most of the time, when travelling, I shoot location – so while I’ve used studios all around on a one-off basis, it was fun getting to know a new shooting space from scratch, with the intention of using it at lot more in future. For starters, one of the walls had a fantastic “loft apartment” feel to it – so the first quick shot was the boots in bed
However, this still wasn’t too far from my standard model portfolio work – and I wanted something different. I wanted to try some more detailed, arty, body-shots – perhaps to form a storyboard or a “triptych” of sorts, featuring different parts of the human body (without going into too much detail!). Here’s one of those collections:
Thoughts? Well, personally I’m pleased with the results. As a series for my next portfolio, it really works. Working through a series of other positions – we covered the entire body, generating set after set of body shots that worked in threes – but these were my favourites. Steve seemed pretty happy with them as well
Of course, a large part of Steve’s own portfolio focuses on fitness/physique – so we covered a series of those shots too. I remember shooting this guy a few years ago – and he’s always had a great look – over time, his expressions and posing have got better and better, to the point where he’s a fantastic model to use when you really do need to guarantee a key body shape or look. With a model who knows what they’re doing, I can focus on experimenting with lighting and setups, knowing they’re going to deliver the look I need when I click the shutter.
Of course – there’s one photo that always gets the “that’s the one” – and every now and then, it’s enough of a shot to make it to the front page of my site. Here it is – well done Steve
Next up, three more shoots to get photoshopped, a heck of a lot of images from Thailand AND two shoots to do in New York in a couple of weeks’ time (in a VERY cool studio which looks out over Manhattan )
Posted in Creative, Photo Shoots, Website
Also tagged Body, Chocolate Factory Studios, Fitness, Model, Nude, Portfolio, Triptych
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Andy Neate – Goodwood BTCC Shoot
This is Andy Neate.
For 2011, he’s joined Tom Chilton at Aon/Ford in the British Touring Car Championship, having overcome an absolutely horrendous injury in 2008. Back then, he nearly ended up paralysed from the neck down, having sustained pretty much what Christopher Reeve had to deal with only this was at 150mph. When Andy contacted me for a shoot, I honestly had no idea about the background to this incredible guy – but there you go, every now and then someone pops up who really does have that something special.
Just over 2 years since nearly being paralysed – surgery scars still evident, Andy met us on a chilly morning at Goodwood with the rest of his team and the car for some promo shots. Being someone who concentrates more on photography than motor racing, I have to say, I was shocked. My “assistance” is sometimes provided by a helper with a reflector when shooting in natural light; Andy’s “team” was 6-strong, with a huge truck which houses not only the car on a hydraulic platform, but also every single spare part imaginable, sleeping facilities and all of the “gear” these guys need to run a race weekend.
Goodwood were kind enough to give us an hour “clear” where the track was shut down from those already using it for our exclusive access – including the famous “Super Shell” chicane. I have to admit, it’s quite an experience shooting on a closed off race-track, with a driver and car who you know are both going to go through hell in a weeks’ time around a similar circuit. (Evidently, we’ll never see that same car in one piece again!)
Andy wanted a range of shots – from race/promo style, through to more relaxed images of “just him”. Out of the 3-4 hours of shooting, we still have quite a few to sort through together, but here’s the quick preview of a few of them
PS – He’s racing this weekend at Brands Hatch – 2nd and 3rd April. If ever you had to support a driver, rather than a team, I can guarantee this guy is worth keeping an eye on. The incident a few years back aside, I can honestly say Andy really deserves to do well – the guy’s a superstar
More info at TeamAon.com and AndyNeate.co.uk
Posted in Advertising, Magazines, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Andy Neate, Aon, Brands Hatch, British Touring Car Championship, BTCC, Commercial, Ford, Goodwood, Photography, Professional, Racing, Team Aon Ford, Tom Chilton
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What Gemma did…
As part of a shoot for Lick (and also to make use of some samples sent across from BaskIt), I shot London-based model Gemma Elizabeth June a short while back – in both solo images as well as those for Lick as a “couple”.
While the couples shoot went really well (some great chemistry between her and both male models we were using), some of the solo shots we captured after the main shoot were simply stunning:
Most of her images can be found in the “girls” portfolio, but here’s a quick slideshow of the key shots, just in case any were missed out
Next up, time to edit some of those male shots, and get to work uploading those from India!
Posted in Advertising, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Baskit, Gemma Elizabeth June, Gemma June, Glamour, Levi, Lick, Model, Professional, Studio
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Latest Attitude Advert for Lick Underwear – February
Here it is – the third and final of the current series of Steve Box adverts for Lick Underwear – appearing in Attitude magazine next month.
Previous ads had been studio shots with calculated lighting. This one, however, used nothing more than a skylight from above and some pretty “down to earth” surroundings provided by a very helpful local bar… It’s certainly a lot grittier than the images used in the two before – let’s see how it goes down with the readers of Attitude
Oh, and as a special treat – Lick are now offering 40% off their entire range for every customer using the code “ATTITUDE” at checkout. For the rest of the world, that will be made public next month; for you guys (and girls), you can use it right now
Want to check their range? Simply click here to browse the online store!
Posted in Advertising, Magazines, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Attitude, Lick, Magazine, Photographer, Professional, Underwear
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Attitude Magazine Ad Preview – January for Lick Underwear
Yup, that’s right – it’s the second in the “Lick Underwear” series, featuring Steve Box as the underwear model. Following the success of December’s campaign, Lick are there again in the next issue with a very different style of photograph from the last. This time, shot with an intentional blow-out using a backlight behind the frame Steve is stood within, the focus is purely on the “Union Hipster” that he’s wearing.
So, that’s January sorted – and don’t forget, you can use the code in the advert above right now
On to the spring series, and… well… let’s just say look out for Lick’s “search for a model” which MAY just include an all-expenses paid shoot somewhere very warm…!
Posted in Advertising, Magazines, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Attitude, Guys, Lick, Magazine, Model, Professional, Underwear
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The Wanted – Before they were famous…
That’s right, “The Wanted” were seen through my lens some time ago, just before they hit the charts and certainly before they were known to the extent they are now.
Now, I’m not going to lie – to say I’m not exactly The Wanted’s biggest fan would be fair. But hey, in June this year, the band members were singing and dancing in front of my lens to their first single “All Time Low”, and I snapped away. Now, from a timing perspective, this was interesting; It wasn’t at a gig, nor a music venue, it was at the Clothes Show in London where they were the warm-up act prior to the fashion theatre’s main show.
Having shot at the Clothes Show previously, it’s the normal routine – an unknown band are placed on stage by their management in order to gain publicity. Granted, what better launch platform than in front of a (predominantly) young female audience if it’s a boy-band you’re managing? But this time was no different to the last – it wasn’t quite the polished performance they’re now capable of delivering, and as a result I stopped clicking and took no more photos…
How little it turns out I know – apparently these guys are “amazing” (according to their teenage following, that is). Indeed, in fairness, bands such as Boyzone, Take That, East 17, etc – all started out with “questionable” routines for their launch to fame, and wow – did these guys surprise me. Fast forward to October this year, and The Wanted’s launch single makes it to number 1 in the UK charts with a follow-up hitting number 2. Ironically, those pictures I’d originally dismissed as of no interest to the world turned out to have captured a group of (now famous) singers right at the point they were about to launch into the UK music industry in a big way.
Lesson learned : Just keep snapping, you never know how things might turn out…!
(PS – I’m still unsure as to why it’s essential to hold onto your crotch in order to sing in tune, but maybe that’s just my age showing – it seemed to work for the females in the audience… )
Adam Court – the art nude series
Some time ago, I shot Adam Court (“AJ”) nude at the studio in London. With a range of images (some of which are found in my portfolio), I had to work out how they could be presented. Initially, as single-shots, they worked on their own and images such as this were really distinctive…
However, this still left me with a *lot* of images we’d shot on the floor, trying to capture nude movement, but in an artistic way. So…
- Step 1 : swap the warmth of the wooden floor for the relative cold of a black and white conversion.
- Step 2 : select a few as a “series” that work together and finally…
- Step 3 : somehow try to stitch them together in a way that works.
Now, with all that said – what do you think?
Oh, and before scrolling down – warning, nudity (ish) – but yes, it’s been blurred out from the shot in this post otherwise I’d get in trouble with those nasty “corporate content filters”!
Of course, don’t forget to check out many more images in my portfolio – where Adam now features!
Posted in Creative, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Adam Court, Guys, Model, Nude, Photography, Professional, Studio
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New Shooting Style – models needed…
So, late on a Sunday evening (having just finished retouching a load of images for two different ad campaigns), I’ve been thinking…
My “style” of model photography has become quite consistent. That leads me to thinking only one thing – it must be time to mix it up a little! Looking around the community sites I’m a member of, I’m often finding lots of different “feels” to images, but none of them have really captured my attention… Until now.
This photograph was taken by Eddie (EYM Cheng), a creative designer/photographer, and it immediately grabbed me. This cross-processed, shallow depth of field, “soft” style of image is very different from what I produce at the moment, and so something I think I’d like to try. Now, all I need is a couple of models to try it out with in the next month or so.
Any takers…?
Posted in Creative, Photo Shoots
Also tagged Girls, Model, Photography, Portfolio, Professional, TFP
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