freelance photographer

Dame Esther Rantzen, The Guardian

Posted on in Editorial photography, News, Portrait photography

Dame Esther Rantzen for The Guardian

A real honour to spend Mothering Sunday photographing Dame Esther Rantzen at home for the Guardian.  Best known for presenting That’s Life, and starting Childline (and recently Silverline), she is another of the UK’s national treasures.

I eyed up the swing on arrival, but figured that might be a stretch too far for an 80 year old.   So I explored her garden and decided on three other compositions.   The first was on on a bench in honour of her husband Desmond Wilcox who sadly died in 2000.    It was a short climb up a little hill, in a little copse, surrounded by daffodils.  Bingo!  Lovely set up and lovely light.  Sadly a not so lovely gale force wind too so we didnt’ stay up their for long!  The other challenge was to avoid stepping on the daffodils.  I get so wrapped up in what I’m taking I forget what’s around my feet.  But we to captured some beautiful portraits here,  one of which is in my portrait gallery.

The second two were in her garden and I was again very happy with the results.   As I was leaving,  she said she’d be up for a photo on the swing.   Thankfully we nailed it first time.   I think this photo befits her the best.  Indeed the Guardian chose it to accompany the feature, along with her quote “I’ve become one of the funny old ladies I used to talk to in the street”.   Fun, quick witted, energetic, charming, warm and photogenic.   I hope I can be like that when I’m 80.  God willing I should reach it!

As a Dorset based freelance portrait photographer, I travel regularly throughout the South West.   In particular Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire.   Please visit my publications page on my website for more examples of my work, or please contact me should you wish to discuss a potential commision in more detail.

Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury

Posted on in Editorial photography, Portrait photography

Portrait of the Earl and Countess of Shaftesbury

This portrait commission for Country Life Magazine, accompanied an article in the issue on 22nd November 2017 about the Country House Foundation which offers grants to help the preservation of buildings of historical or architectural significance.   Indeed, this charitable foundation has helped the Nick Ashley Cooper, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, restore the St Giles House Estate, Wimborne St Giles, back to its former glory.  The earl explained:  “During the restoration, we wanted to showcase one room in its unrestored state.  The Great Dining room seemed the perfect space to do that, with its bare brick walls and layers of history.”

My aim was create an informal portrait from an angle which best displayed these ‘layers of history’, with particular focus on the juxtaposition between the bare brick and remaining plaster.    What you can’t see are the two new layers of history on the carpet where Hettie (taking pride of place on the chair) was sick when she came in!