2011
30 December 11
Posted at 6:18
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
