Concrete Ribbons

Men in tights and other surreal and funny moments make for some great photographic opportunities in this also dark and claustrophobic play. Concrete Ribbons was only on for a couple of nights at Manchester's Library Theatre but enjoyable for its in-the-know references to theatre, TV and the many troubled highways of the region

The Children's Hour

Maxine Peake and Charlotte Emmerson contemplate their fate as the, soon to be, troubled teachers in The Royal Exchange Theatre production of The Children's Hour. This was a slightly complicated image to bring together. Firstly there is the 'problem' of getting the idea out of the head of the art director then pulling the various elements into one place. The bell jar was the wrong size, the 'school' was virtual in every respect but still more real than the surreal light emanating from the jar.
My bit was straight forward; set up lighting and get in some snacks for actors just off the train from London. Charlotte's four month old baby showed impeccable timing, having been the picture of relaxed ease, bursting into tears the second I started shooting. A team of photographer, assistants, actors and directors had to wait until feeding time was over. And rightly so.
The rest of the next day was spent briefing the retoucher. Re-briefing and generally going round in circles until we got to this image, which is actually pretty close to what I had in my head and I'm sure Maxine (marketing dept) also had in mind. A delight to work on.

Watch out for fixed bayonet charges!

The production shoot for the Royal Exchange Theatre production of Henry V went splendidly and I managed to avoid the pointy end of a fixed bayonet charge...just.

Shooting in the round has its own set of problems and one of them is the number of directions actors may enter or exit by. I'm usually very good at not only checking an entrance before passing but also keeping away from them when shooting. In fact I've found I have got very good at anticipating movement as I pick up on the tempo of the play, but this time I got it wrong. I was lining up a shot as Henry V was mustering the troops at Harfleur and I had, I can only guess, decided all were on stage when a crash and scream from behind announced the beginning of the charge... and I'm stood where and unfortunate French aristocrat would have been.

I'd like to claim I responded with a calm body swerve without interruption to shooting, in the fine tradition of war photographers over the ages, but I think I was saved more by the swift change of direction by the actor and a cowardly jump into the stalls by me. Regaining my composure resulted in a cracking shot of Henry V venturing 'once more unto the breach'.

Great play which has been getting some very good reviews.

15 minutes in the garden.

This week we shot a poster image for the Royal Exchange theatre; it's the blood and guts of William Shakespeare's Henry V

Actor Elliot Cowan turned it on brilliantly for these dramatic shots of Henry V helped by some nicely timed death metal appearing on the studio iPod and copious quantities of stage blood and sweat. Extra thanks to my assistant Gan who had to spend an extra hour getting the 'blood' out the studio office carpet.

A thoroughly enjoyable shoot.

Trying out the Pano Head and a Shelter between the sea and mountains of Wales

Rundown shelter with sea views and a good supply of empty wine bottles cowers under ominous rain cloud.

A brief pause in a journey home found a little gem on the Welsh coast. A simple relaxing cafe and a walk along the seafront with views across to the eastern end of Anglesey.