I was commissioned to take new headshots for the team at the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme. The director was keen to get some photos at the front of the Divinity School, as the entrance doors are decorated with writings in various faiths’ scripts.
Light Matter – Final Composite Image
At the end of the second CCD photoshoot, I took turns with each dancer to get shots of them leaping in different poses and places, with the idea of putting together a specific image that I had in mind. I was hoping to play on two meanings of the word “Light”, in the dance show’s title.
Firstly, the dancers are depicted as light things, as they float in mid-air.
Secondly, I thought of a prism splitting white light into its constituent spectrum colours.
As always, I’m indebted to my dancer muses for providing me with the opportunity (and their talents) to create more works of art that I can be proud of.
Photoshoot with Jenny
After the second Cambridge Contemporary Dance photoshoot at the Senate House, I went with one if the dancers into Trinity College for a photoshoot. I’d photographed a CCD dance show, Impressions, in the first location (the columns under the Wren Library), so knew that it would be a great location for some photos.
I love photographing dancers as models, as they have such graceful control and understanding of their bodies.
Light Matter Publicity
From the two photoshoots with the Cambridge Contemporary Dance company dancers, this image was chosen for their poster and flyer, promoting their December show to celebrate Cambridge University’s 800th anniversary. The alcoves are on the west side of the Senate House, and made for ideal frames for the dancers.
Senate House Dance Photoshoot #2
A few days after the first Cambridge Contemporary Dance photoshoot, a second shoot had been scheduled at the Senate House. We’d learned from the earlier shoot that “light”, leaping photos looked good, and the main door of the Senate House made for a striking and identifiable background.
I took several more leaping shots on the grass, with the idea of compositing them into something specific…more about that in the next post.
Falling from the sky
Senate House Dance Photoshoot #1
The Cambridge Contemporary Dance company are putting on a show in December as part of Cambridge University’s 800th anniversary celebration year. The show has the rare privilege of taking place in the Senate House, the university’s main ceremonial building. The show is called “Light Matter”, so a couple of the ideas played with the weightless connotation of the word. I’ve photographed many of CCD’s dance shows in Cambridge, and have produced publicity photos for them in the past.
This one is my absolute favourite
Greek goddesses
The last image was a composite of 4 stacked photos, as it’s too hard to get all dancers to strike their mid-air pose at exactly the same time. It also allowed them to wear the same costume (of which there was only one), giving them a uniform appearance.
Portraits of Stockholm
After my travels through the forests and lakes in Sweden, I found myself in Stockholm with no cash and a few hours to kill. Having already visited Stockholm the previous year, I didn’t feel I need to do any rushed sight-seeing, and knew my way around a bit. After an hour of walking around, it struck me how strongly so many people have similar facial features – the “Scandinavian Look” that Sweden is famed for. So I set myself a challenge, to take street portraits of several young people that, combined, would exhibit the Swedish look. Here are 6 of my favourites:
One girl in particular caught my eye, not only because of her skateboard, but also her piercing blue eyes and striking red hair. In a nation full of blondes, that definitely stands out.
Sweden – Forests & Lakes
For the third summer in a row, I travelled to Sweden for an intensive dance workshop. Unfortunately, I sustained an injury in the fortnight before flying out that rendered me unable to take part. Not one to waste an opportunity (or a non-refundable flight), I hired a car and drove around the myriad forests and lakes in South-Eastern Sweden for 4 days.
In addition to a dozen or so huge national parks, Sweden has hundreds of small nature reserves, all (relatively)-well documented, mapped, and sign-posted. So it was rather easy to hop from one to another, walk freely through the forests, feel at one and alone in nature, and admire the breathtaking scenery. Two main images remain firmly implanted in my memory – forests where every boulder, rock and patch of ground is covered in multi-coloured mosses; and expanses of blue lakes bordered by forests on all sides.
Many more forest and lake photos from Sweden can be viewed at CantabPhotos
Swimming Pool Photos
After the outdoor photos with friends, we had some fun taking photos diving into the swimming pool.
Dancer
Supermen
Superman
Superheroes
Dancer 2
Back Arch
Fun with Friends
I enjoyed the recent sunshine at a friend’s house, with a few other friends. Needless to say, some of them were actors, so wanted to try to get a few headshots in case any were usable for Spotlight. And of course one of my favourite muses, Sarah, was there, and I’m always happy to photograph her.
Crashing a headshot photoshoot – great result though!
