Olly Murs at O2

Highlight: Shooting form the pit instead of from back by sound desk!

 
Lowlight: It is an apron stage, so the space right at the front is a bit crowded. End up having to shoot from the side.

Fill in: Was supposed to be at Shepherd's Bush Empire but the snow fell, passes didn't materialise and photographers cancelled. The upshot was I ended up at the O2 for Olly.
Tech Spec: The whole of the first song was Olly right at the back of the stage, with us peering over the edge of it and spotlights waving madly in front of us. It was like one of those fairground shooting ranges as Olly moved from side to side and the spot lights waved in front of him. The second song he walked out a bit and the third song he was right on top of us for lots of up the nose shots.

For more info: www.redferns.com

Adam Lambert

Highlight: first time shooting at The Arts Club, Dover street, Mayfair. Love new venues. Also got to do soundcheck.

 
Lowlight: Salted popcorn on tap. And I'm trying to cut out superfluous savoury snacks. The waiter put a huge bowl right beside me and it was gone in sixty seconds. Just an empty bowl and me sitting amongst a smattering of unpopped kernals and fluffy chips licking my fingers.

Fill in: It was a showcase for Sony who needed pictures for the Daily Star. The brief was to get the performance, which was easy since I got the soundcheck whilst they were filming, so half the shots were iin the bag before it had even started. The rest of the shots were of Adam meet and greets.

Tech Spec: The gig was well lit and Adam looked smoulderingly sexy which his black quiff and black suit. However when he went to the meet and greets it was the proverbial black cat in a coal mine. The lights were low and the darn camera just wouldn't focus and it took two reshoots to get a simple snapshot. Lesson - be forceful and make sure even the simple snaps are in a well lit area to avoid embarrassment. Or shoot it on an iphone with the preflash on...

For more info: http://preorder.adamofficial.com/index2

She-Bop-a-Lula Exhibition

Highlight: Got my picture in an exhibition - (look out for Tori Amos by yours truly).

Lowlight: So has Jill Furmanovsky and whole load of other talented, prominent female photographers. Am sure my picture will be the worst one there!

Fill in:

PHOTO EXHIBITION CELEBRATING SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND CREATIVE FEMALE SINGERS. 7 MARCH 2012 AT THE STRAND GALLERY, LONDON WC2

Opening at the Strand Gallery, London WC2, 7 March 2012 is an innovative Photo Exhibition, She Bop A Lula. The Exhibition will feature 60 fabulous pictures celebrating some of the most successful and creative female singers over the last six decades, from Lady Day (Billie Holiday) to Lady Gaga.

 The photographs, all taken by women photographers, will be a mix of candid and intimate backstage scenes, sensitive and stylised portraits through to the excitement and raw power of live performance. Singers featured include Dusty Springfield, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Nina Simone, Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Diana Ross, PJ Harvey, Sinead O'Connor, Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Beyonce, Adele and many more!

 The Exhibition is supporting Breakthrough, the UK's leading Breast Cancer Charity, which undertakes vital research into a disease that affects 1 in 8 women. All the women photographers in the Exhibition have generously donated their work for free and 100% of sales will go to Breakthrough. All prints will be available to purchase at £200 with signed prints by some of the singers including the late Amy Winehouse, donated by Jill Furmanovsky, on offer at auction.

 The organiser of the Exhibition, Dede Millar, comments that the idea behind the exhibition is that in the history of popular music women are often sidelined.  She Bop A Lula will highlight the talent of women performers, as well as being a showcase for women photographers.

 Come and enjoy the She Bop A Lula experience at the Strand Gallery during March. Admission is free.
 She Bop A Lula opens at the Strand Gallery, 32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP. (0207 839 4942) 7 March through til 1 April 2012, everyday 11am – 7pm (6pm Sunday). Admission is free. Nearest tubes Charing Cross/Embankment.

info@shebopalula.co.uk
http://www.shebopalula.co.uk

Tree

Highlight: January is a quiet month of me so it's nose to the grindstone with accounts, redesigning website, sorting portfolio, archiving pictures, etc. OR…HAVE A GREAT TIME WORKING ON SOMETHING CREATIVE!!!!
Lowlight: Not enough time to work on some more - BUT I'LL BE BACK!
Fill in: I shot Tree in November as part of a band shoot and loved her style - A tribal Fusion Belly Dancer. She had bones in her hair, could juggle swords, glittered with rubies, wore skulls for a bra - what's not to love! What's more she looked like a model from Vogue knew how to pose. I took quite a few of her in the narrow changing room against a white backdrop worth a view to styling it up.


Tech Spec: The shot was taken against a white Hi-lite lit by a brolly. I also took lots of details shots of Tree's hair, jewellery and costume. The trees were images from stock I had shot myself and the birds were from
cgtextures.com. I ended up with over 50 layers but I think it works okay. Still trying to face the accounts...

For more about Tree visit:

http://www.spiraltribedancecompany.co.uk/

For free image samples: http://cgtextures.com/

Chinese New Year

Highlight: Seeing the leaping lions - never fails to impress



Lowlight: Trying to photograph the fire crackers.Fill in: This annual event in Trafalgar Square always has plenty to photograph and I'm always glad every year when I get the call to do this one. Brief is to get the performances on stage, any press calls, documentary of the square and the lion dances and record o the sponsors banners so it is pretty full on.
Tech Spec: I rely on zooms - wide, standard and long, all with F2.8 so backgrounds can be thrown out of focus as it is very busy event. Viewpoints are pretty limited as press pits are set up for the fireworks, firecrackers and performances, and passes are getting more restrictive each year. The lion dances are particularly difficult as there are no press areas and it is a case of rucking it with the crowds. I normally smile nicely at the restaurant owners and they let me sit in their doorways to get the lions as they spit out the lettuce.


For more info visit:
http://www.london.gov.uk