Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme – Headshots

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.

Director of Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme

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.

Light Matter, Prism, Spectrum, Floating Dancers

Light Matter, Prism, Spectrum, Floating Dancers

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.

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.

Dancers in stone alcoves

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.

Leaping Dancer

Leaping Dancer

Leaping Dancer

Leaping Dancer, falling from sky
Falling from the sky

Dancer in white, in front of building

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.

Senate House Dance Statues
This one is my absolute favourite

Dance Goddesses
Greek goddesses

Dancer leap outside Senate House

Dancers outside Senate House

Dancers on steps outside Senate House

Dancers floating outside Senate House

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:

Swedish-Girls

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.

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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

Fairy-tale forest, covered in moss, Sweden

Rocks in lake, Sweden

Sweden Forests and Lakes

Sunset in meadow of wild grasses, Sweden

Moss-covered boulders in Swedish forest

Reflection of clouds in lake, Sweden

Sunset over lake, Sweden

Impression lily-pads and reflections, Sweden

Sunlight streaing through trees, in Swedish forest

Bluebells at sunset in a meadow, Sweden

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.

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Girl in Bikini with hunk

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Crashing a headshot photoshoot – great result though!

London Drama Headshot

London Drama Headshot