Conor McDonnell

It's been a typical quiet start to the year with gigs. 
In January I had my first shoot of the year, ONE DIRECTION at the Echo Arena. It was a pretty good gig to start the year with, pit access, good lighting etc. Only downside was the amount of paps. I hate paparazzi. 

Click here to see the photos - ONE DIRECTION - LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA - 15/1/2012



Mid January I got an email from James Morrisons management asking if they could use my photos for his upcoming (sold out) UK tour guide. The tour guides are being sold at every concert on the tour and online - JM STORE there is also a few of my photos being sold as posters on the tour. I only have a few pysical copies but hopefully I will be getting a version for the web to show you all. It looks awesome! 

Soon after I also began talks with his managment about becoming James' official photographer for the tour which resulted with me getting the job! Had such a great time on the tour. James was awesome, management and crew all awesome too. Made me feel right at home straight away. It was a great experience and full of good times! I had Access All Areas and was there all day from arrival to soundcheck to concert right to the end. Got loads of photos that I can't wait to show, just got to wait a little while so bare with me!

Unfortunately James had to postpone the last few dates of his UK tour on Doctors Orders. Get well soon James! 

Soundcheck - taken with Iphone



I also found out earlier this week that one of my photos from a few weeks ago is going to be used for James' next single 'One Life' off his UK number 1 (Platinum) album 'The Awakening'. Awesome! It's due to be released soon, I don't think I'm allowed to say the date as it hasn't been announced yet officially

Here is the song for those of you who might not know it - JAMES MORRISON - ONE LIFE


 

Oh I also turned 20 at the end of January. Dead old now
 

Seriously can't believe how quick this year has gone and looking back I've done quite a lot!
This year has been just amazing. I've had so much fun, made friends with awesome people along with so many memories that I won't forget.
I'm never good at doing these end of year things but here it goes... 

Starting back in January, first call of the year was from Shirlaine. It's been my 2nd year assisting Shirlaine, it's awesome everytime! I found myself near Manchester at an abandoned pub with two models, make up artists and lots of smoke bombs! It was pretty cold but a great day. My first gig of the year was very dissapointing, no photopit and stuck at the back of the Echo Arena, not good, I hoped that this wasn't a sign for the rest of the year but thankfully that was the only sound desk/back of the venue job of the year! Nice to get it out the way early haha.

Two of my favourite shoots of the year came pretty close together and two of the biggest names I've ever photographed, Usher and Justin Bieber. I had so much fun shooting these, I'm not a fan of pop music but I love to shoot pop acts. I also got another chance to catch the always awesome KT Tunstall again around this time. I bloody love her. 

At the start of March, Shirlaine mentioned to me that her and Danny North were going to Focus on Imaging at the Birmingham N.E.C. I'd never met Danny before but he was (and still very very much is) one of the photographers along with Shirlaine that I looked up to. I used to see their photos and always want to achieve what they capture. I still do this. I couldn't pass on this, even if it was just a day trip to Birmingham to look at all the new camera gear etc, it was day trip to Birmingham with two bloody amazing photographers. Danny also gave me two plectrums that belonged to Dave Grohl which still take pride of place on my photopass wall, awesome. It was one of the best days of 2011 for me. A couple of weeks later Danny asked me to come and assist him for the first time on a video shoot. It was a video for his friend LoneWolf. Once again another awesome day with some of the strangest weather I have ever witnessed in such a cool place. I've wanted to go back ever since. The video hasn't been released yet but it hopefully will be in the future. 

Liverpool Soundcity was next up. 3 days where I run around Liverpool like crazy and replace sleep for editing. I love Soundcity. This year I was commissioned by NME to shoot one of the bands on the bill. It was a tricky shoot but they ran with one of my photos. This was the first of two shoots for NME. It's awesome to see my photos in there. I've wanted that since I started doing this. Hopefully I will see more next year.

I bought some bowens lighting this year, my first propper chance using them was with an awesome band called Battleships who I have ended up working with quite a bit this year. I love those guys. I'm excited to see what the next year holds for them. Another artist that I've worked quite close with and I can also call a good friend is Jen aka Vela, who recently signed to AATW/Universal. Currently writing her debut album. I first met Jen when she was in her old band, now with a solo project which sounds awesome, once again I'm very excited to see what the new year holds for her, it's gonna be awesome. I've had a few shoots and a few video shoots with her, each one has been so fun. It's awesome to have the chance to work with her. 

During the summer Danny asked me to assist him at a festival called Secret Garden Party. He went last year as one of the official photographers and having seen these photos from last year I jumped even more at the chance to go. Danny was leading the official photography team which consisted of himself, Andrew Whitton and Dan Dennison. My job was to assist Danny, he was taking all the backstage portraits and I was lighting them. I think I had a smile on my face for the whole weekend, it was so amazing, and awesome to spend it with those guys. This was my favourite weekend of the whole year and by far the best festival I have ever been to. Literally

I also returned as the official photographer for YNot festival for the second year running. A great little festival with a great lineup. It was awesome to bump into Miguel the drummer from a band called Tribes who I met at SGP. It was cool to meet Andrew Benge at the festvial too. The weekend after I was asked by Danny if I could cover a festival called Shambala, he described it as a mini version of Secret Garden Party which can only mean one thing, another awesome weekend. The official team was Louise Roberts, Derek Bremmner and myself. Two amazing photographers and really nice people. Couldn't have asked to have been a part of a better team. Due to other work commitments I missed the first day of the festival but I was there for the main two days which were awesome, despite one of them being a 26 hour day! Great weekend with great company. 

A shoot with one of my favourite bands Enter Shikari along with a band that I'd been dying to see called LetLive was soon after festival season. I LOVE the Shikiari crew, from the band to the managers to the road crew, everyone of them are ace. Shikari killed it as always, but it was the first time I've ever had my camera fogging up due to the heat! I didn't realise it was possible for cameras to sweat but I think this show proved it was possible. The support band LetLive were a band that I'd been dying to see and to finally get a chance to shoot them was ace. Not to mention, they are also one of the nicest bands I've ever met having chilled with them backstage for a while after the gig. I hope to bump into them again.

The next two events I have to pinch myself to remind myself that they actually happened. Danny asked me to come and assist him on a shoot for Q magazine with one of my all time favourite bands, Biffy Clyro. We drove up to Scotland to a tiny hotel not far Glasgow which is where the shoot was to take place. The room was pretty small and considering that there was going to be me, Danny, the 3 Biffy boys and lighting equipment it was going to be a squeeze. The guys were awesome, down to earth and so nice. The shoot was awesome. Having been a Biffy Clyro fan for years it was an amazing experience. A few weeks later my friend Bobby mentioned he had a spare VIP ticket for the Q Awards, as you do. He offered it to me. Obviously I jumped at the chance, I'd have been stupid not too! Not only that but it was the 25th anniversary of Q Magazine so it was bound to be the best one yet! I owe Bobby a lot for this, it was really a once in a liftime opportunity. U2, Queen, Coldplay, Biffy Clyro, Tinie Tempah, Gary Barlow, Noel Gallagher, Souxsie Sioux, Bon Iver, Jessie J, Kaiser Chiefs, Norman Cook (FatboySlim), Kasabian,  and many many more all in one room. It was amazing, couldn't believe it. Bobby, you legend! Having heard that Danny was also going to be at the Q Awards photographing the Kaiser Chiefs I decided not to tell him and see how he freaked out he would be when he saw me there. It didn't dissapoint, so funny! Q Award tradition is to go to the local pub down the road from the hotel where the event is held, having been speaking to the Biffy boys again they told us to come along with them which was awesome. It was also cool to see Tinie Tempah, I first met him when he was a support act about a year or two ago and this time I was congratulating him on his sold out UK arena tour. The guy is awesome. 

Along side all of this I also completed my art foundatation year at Winstanley College with a distinction grade. Such a great time there with great people! Would love to do it all over again! The best teachers I've ever come across in such a good surrounding. Big love to the Winstanley A.F gang

There's been so many gigs that I've shot this year, each one awesome. I love what I do, wouldn't change it for anything. I'm lucky. I'm lucky to be able to do something I love along with amazing people. This year alone I feel that I've progressed so much with my photography. I love trying out and testing new things with my photography and its starting to pay off, having looked back at the photos from the start of the year to now I can see a major improvement. This must be from trying my hardest to get what I want along with being surrounded by people I'm lucky to be around that push me to be a better photographer like Danny, Shirlaine, Andrew, Derek, Louise and more. I also have to thank my family so so so much, without them being behind me I'd be nowhere. My Dad has been awesome being able to give me lifts and helping out. Other people I also have to thank are Jason G, Holly, Andy Willsher, Andrew K, Ian J, Laura and everyone else I've missed out! 

It's been an awesome year, I can't wait for next year!


Fashion Shoot 

Justin Bieber

Battleships

Usher

Secret Garden Party

Secret Garden Party Team Photo - Photo - Danny North

LetLive 

Shambala Festival

Aloe Blacc

Biffy Clyro - Assisting Danny North - Photo:Danny North

Me and Tinie Tempah

Battleships

Biffy Clyro Q Awards

U2 Q Awards

Snoop Dogg

Foxy Shazam

Tinie Tempah

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Feeder - YNot Festival

Jason - LetLive

Enter Shikari

 

Tribes

 

The Saturdays



Kaiser Chiefs

 

Jamie Woon

 

This is my favourite photo I have taken all year. Split second where Jessie J looked right into my camera, awesome

So, 

It's been a while since my last blog post. I reaaaallllyyyy need to get the hang of posting around the same time of the gig, not a month later!

Back at the end of October I photographed Jessie J at the Liverpool Uni - CLICK HERE 

It was awesome to shoot. I love shooting pop acts, the lighting is always awesome. The below photo is one from the gig, I'm really proud of this one!

 

Next up was Tinie Tempah, I did two dates of this tour. I was supposed to be doing backstage portraits of Tinie, but with the first gig at the Liverpool Echo being the opening night of the tour it was pretty hectic backstage and so there wasn't enough time to do it. I arranged to do them a few days later at the Manchester M.E.N. Arena but with it being his birthday it didn't happen again. Just one of those things! But we're working to sort it out so that we can do them in the near future! Keep an eye out! I bloody love Tinie, it was so awesome to see him owning the arena stage, totally awesome! Click here to see the photos from the Liverpool show - TINIE TEMPAH LIVERPOOL

After Tinie was The Darkness, a band I loved as an early teen and awesome to shoot. Their support Foxy Shazam is probably one of the best support acts I've ever seen, they are mental! If you ever get the chance, check them out! Have to say a big thanks to Ian for this! Click here to see the photos - THE DARKNESS LIVERPOOL





Red Hot Chili Peppers where up next. A band I've loved for as long as I can remember. It was amazing to shoot them. Click here to see the photos - RHCP MANCHESTER



Miles Kane's homecoming Liverpool gig was next up



Next up was James Morrison at the Liverpool Uni. I really enjoyed this shoot. Click here to see the photos - JAMES MORRISON LIVERPOOL UNI



The day after James I was back at the Echo Arena in Liverpool for The Saturdays. I'll say it again, I love shooting Pop acts and I loved shooting this. 





And then it was Aloe Blacc at the 02 Academy Liverpool. I saw Aloe live at Glastonbury and he was one of my highlights, totally awesome live. I was also lucky enough to have access all areas and be able to have a very quick portrait shoot with Aloe himself. It was a tricky portrait shoot as my flashgun completely died on me about 30 seconds in, it didn't help with there not being much light available but I made do and came out with a few photos I'm happy with. Go check out the portraits and Live photos here -
ALOE BLACK PORTRAITS              
ALOE BLACK LIVERPOOL ACADEMY  









 

So, past 3 days I've had a gig every night

Each one was pretty awesome.

First up was the return of Snoop Dogg to Liverpool, last time he played in the 02 Academy (which I shot too,) but this time he was at the Echo Arena.

The only downside was that there was loads of paparazzi grrrr. 

Click here to see my full set of Snoop pics - SNOOP DOGG - LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA

 

Next up after Snoop was my boys BATTLESHIPS supporting the awesome, Young Legionnaire. Awesome night, awesome bands

 

Last night was Enter Shikari. I bloody love these guys, awesome band. They are so nice and so is their whole crew. I had access all areas too which was awesome.
Another band that I've been dying to see called LetLive were supporting them. They were so so so good. I bumped into the lead singer during the other supports set and he was such a dude. I hung out with the band for a while and they were awesome. I love it when bands I love are like that. The actual gig for Enter Shikari was the sweatiest/hottest gig I've ever been too. My camera was actually sweating, it kept fogging up not just the outside of my lens but the inside of my camera did too..uh oh. Besides it being boiling it was an amazing gig. Can't wait for the next time I'm back with them! Massive thanks to Keith and Ian. 

Click here to see my full set of photos - ENTER SHIKARI - LIVERPOOL 02 ACADEMY

LetLive  

So, once again, it's been a while since my last post, i really need to get into the hang of blogging a day or two after my last shoot, not weeks!

Shambala Festival

I was asked to be part of the official photography team for Shambala Festival, I'd never heard of it before but once someone said it's very similar to Secret Garden Party I was there! I was only there for the Saturday and Sunday but it was an awesome weekend and working with Louise Roberts ( www.louiseroberts.co.uk)  and Derek Bremner ( www.derekbremner.com) was awesome, I hope to work with them more in the future.

You can see our photos here - SHAMBALA FESTIVAL OFFICIAL PHOTOS 

A few weeks after I was assisting Shirlaine ( www.shirlainephotos.co.uk) on a fashion shoot in Manchester, it resulted in 3 male models an old school chopper up a tree. It looked awesome!

I also did a shoot for NME Magazine, with the band Blonde RedHead. Manchester Club academy



I had a brilliant weekend in Leeds assisting Danny ( www.dannynorth.co.uk). Danny is the Kaiser Chiefs official photographer, they were playing two gigs at Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds. A really cool venue, there has never been a concert there before. I was lighting all the backstage portraits for danny with the bands and crew such as Kaiser Chiefs, Cribs, Chris Moyles, Gruff Rhys and many more. I was also able to shoot the Kaisers both days, first 3 in the pit then the rest from up at the lighting desk. It was a great weekend. (P.S. Thanks to my big bro for letting me stay at his house!)

You can see my photos here - KAISER CHIEFS LEEDS 

Photo: Danny North
 

Hola!

So, past month has been an awesome one!

First off, Mr. Danny North ( www.dannynorth.co.uk) asked me to come and assist him at a festival down South called Secret Garden Party.
I remember seeing Dannys photos from last year and they were amazing so I was super excited to be going with him this year. 

Danny was leading the official photography team. There was Danny, Andrew Whitton ( www.andrewwhitton.com) and Dan Dennison ( dnnsn.com). 
It was awesome to meet both Andy and Dan and spend the weekend with all three.

Dream Team!

Photo: Copyright Danny North

My main job the whole weekend was to assist Danny. He was taking all the portraits of the artists backstage. I was lighting them for him, carrying around a light which you can see in the photo below. (I really want one of these!)

Photo: Copyright Andrew Whitton 

The portraits that Danny took are amazing! Here is one below of the Guillemots. I think this is my favourite, simply because I remember laughing so much after this was taken, as the girl actually kicked him in the face. It was awesome. 

Photo: Copyright Danny North

The whole weekend was bloody amazing. I loved every minute of it. It was the best weekend I've had in a long long time and it was amazing to spend it with Danny, Andy and Dan. I hope the same happens again in the future. I can't wait till the next time we are all together again.

You can see the whole set of official photos that Danny, Andy and Dan took here - photos.secretgardenparty.com  They are bloody amazing, like RIDICULOUSLY GOOD. Literally!

Even though I was assisting all weekend I managed to get a few photos and I have them in in album here - SECRET GARDEN PARTY PHOTOS

It was such a good weekend and probably the best festival I've ever been too, I had so much fun! Good times!


Next up was the return of YNot Festival, my second year being the official photographer.

PHOTOS - YNOT FESTIVAL 2011

It was another great year, great line up and (mostly) great weather!

Despite having only half a song for Feeder due to security issues in the pit I basically had free roam the whole weekend. In the pit, on stage, backstage, sound desk etc. It was cool!

I managed to catch up with a band I met at Secret Garden Party. A band called Tribes. I met them when I was at SGP and Danny was taking their portrait, we made friends with the drummer Miguel. Who is the best dude ever. It was awesome to catch up with him. They played an amazing set and after it was ace to hang. 

Miguel
 

It was another awesome year, met some awesome people and I've got a set of photos I'm happy with. Looking forward to next year!

You can see the set of photos from Ynot HERE -  YNOT FESTIVAL 2011

 

So, I've been putting off doing a blog as it takes a bit of time putting them together but the more and more I put it off the more and more I need to do one as I end up doing more and more things!

So I'm sorry for the lack of blog posts lately but after this one I should be up to date (until next time!)

My last blog post was about Elbow, Willow Smith and Bieber...jeeeze it has been long!

So since then (where do I start?) Here it goes...

Trey Songz, packed out liverpool university, awesome to shoot, nice lighting etc. Never really heard of the guy but there seemed to be a lot of people who do!
TREY SONGS - LIVERPOOL UNI 23/4/11 

After Trey was possibly the biggest show I've shot in the 02 academy Liverpool. Snoop Dogg came to town! 
Despite being nearly 2 hours late on stage with me waiting in front of amps with the bass shaking my insides, it was a great show, when he eventually arrived.
SNOOP DOGG - LIVERPOOL ACADEMY 

I was also asked by my friend and AWESOME photographer Danny North - www.dannynorth.co.uk to assist him on a video shoot for Lone Wolf. 
You can read all about it in Dannys blog as it saves me writing all about it and basically repeating what he said. I thought it was awesome and I had such a good time and a great laugh with everyone. The video has been delayed so it won't be out yet but it's gonna be amazing!

I also assisted Danny on a shoot with a band I know called the Temps, who are also awesome. They were the first band I shot which got published. So big love for these guys. The shoot was really cool and I can't wait to see the shots, besides that, I can't say much about it as the photos haven't been published yet. It was also really cool to meet Tom Martin, Dannys main assistant. Tom is a great photographer and a really nice guy! www.tmoose.co.uk

Then it was time for Liverpool Soundcity Round 3. I love soundcity, it's such a great festival and running around the city centre like a mad man for 3 days is all part of the fun. Saw a load of ace bands, great music, people, just general good times. 
YOU CAN SEE THE SET HERE - LIVERPOOL SOUNDCITY  

During soundcity I got an email from someone who I've been waiting for an email from since I started...NME!
They wanted me to cover a band from Liverpool playing during soundcity called OUTFIT.
Not going to lie, I was very nervous about the whole thing, as I really didn't want to mess up!
It was a tricky shoot, the light was constantly changing in the bombed out church as it was sunset so battling with the light was a bit tricky but I managed to get some that they were happy with and eventually published one.

Later that month Shirlaine asked me to assist her on a really big shoot and it really was BIG!
She was the featured photographer/industry professional on a episode of an upcoming show on BBC3 called Hot Like Us.
The production was MASSIVE, camera/lighting/production/directors/makeup artists etc were everywhere!! So many people, it was amazing to see how much production is put into those kind of shows. Shirlaine killed it. So good. She was awesome. I really enjoyed myself assisting her as always and I finally got to use a smoke machine on a shoot (something I've been dying to do for aaaaages!)

Not long after, I got an email about one of my photos, it ended up being MTV wanting to use it online, amazing...

 A couple of days later, I was off to Glastonbury, not with a photopass but just as a punter. Best year I've been by far, it was so good, saw all sorts, Radiohead, Coldplay, U2, Beyonce, QOTSA, Big Boii etc etc too many to go into but yeah it was awesome, and also awesome to bump into so many people including Shirlaine and Danny! Good times.

I recently had my first promo shoot for an AWESOME band called Battleships - www.facebook.com/battleshipsnoise definitely go check them out, I've been doing lots of work with them lately and theres some really exciting things coming soon! It was awesome to try out my new bowens lights. They are sweeet and I'm made up with the photos of the band...

Along side all of this, I've been busy completing my Art Foundation year at Winstanley College. Been hard work keeping work and college work up but I have managed to do it and achieved a Highly Commended Distinction for my result. So made up about it! 

Last week I bought myself a New Canon 5dmk2. It.Is.Amazingggggg. Can't wait to properly try it out.

So now, I think I am up to date! I'm off to Secret Garden Party with Danny North this weekend assisting him again, it's gonna be amazing. I'm going to a festival for the first time and not camping...but staying in a hotel. Ahhh yeahhh. But serious good times are ahead. 

Peace out. 

Exclusive photos of Willow Smith performing in Liverpool. I was the only photographer given permission 

See the set HERE - WILLOW SMITH - LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA

Next up was Justin Bieber. The kid is living the dream, respect to him. Sold out every seat in the Echo Arena. Never heard anything like the screaming, ever. 
Left me with a case of Bieber Fever. 

See the full set HERE - JUSTIN BIEBER - LIVERPOOL

Next up was Elbow

You can see the full set HERE - ELBOW - LIVERPOOL

Happy New Year Y'all

It's been a while!

I've had a few gigs so far this year.

First off was the fashion shoot. I was assisting my good friend Shirlaine Forrest again on this shoot. She let me take a few photos too. It was awesome! 

Fashion Shoot Credits - Models- Jourdana and Nadia at Boss. Hair and Make up - Jennifer Perry and Gemma Milligan. Airbrush Artist - Alice Birchmore

Massive thanks to Shirlaine Forrest!!

You can see the set HERE - DEMOLITION FASHION SHOOT

You can also see Shirlaines amazing photos HERE - SHIRLAINE FORREST DEMOLITION FASHION SHOOT

Next up was my first shoot of the year, JLS at the Echo Arena Liverpool.

It was so dissapointing, they stuck us photographers right at the back of the Arena despite being told we could shoot from the pit. Ah well. 

After that was Feeder. I like Feeder and I like them even more as I know they look after the photographers. They let me shoot for the whole gig and use flash (Normally the general rule is first 3 with no flash). So yeah, more bands like that please!! I didn't stay for it all, just a few songs, but it was nice of them to do so.

You can see the full set here-  FEEDER - LIVERPOOL 02 ACADEMY

After Feeder was Usher at the Echo Arena with Support from Tinchy Stryder

You can see the set of photos of Tinchy Stryder here - TINCHY STRYDER - LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA

Usher, was so much fun to shoot. Lots of dancing, dancers, fireworks, amazing lighting, the lot. Excellent to shoot! 

You can see the full set here - USHER - LIVERPOOL ECHO ARENA

The day after Usher I had another shoot with the always awesome KT Tunstall. KT is amazing! I love photographing her! She is ace!

You can see the full set here - KT TUNSTALL - MANCHESTER