Photographing Jimmy White

I've been a fan of snooker for over 25 years.  My first memory of snooker was watching the Steve Davis vs Dennis Taylor 1985.  I was one of the 18 million that stayed up to gone midnight to see the conclusion of the match.  I was only 15 at the time, it was a school night, my parents didn't "get" snooker, so I was forced to watch it on a tiny 4" black and white telly hidden at the side of my bed.

My first memory of Jimmy White is watching the Mercantile Credit Classic where Jimmy won his first ranking tournament beating Cliff Thorburn 13-12.  I remember it so well for two reasons, firstly because at the height of tension in the final frames Jimmy called a foul on himself that the referee didn't spot.  I'll never forget that act of extreme sportsmanship.  The other reason I remember is so well is because I'd started watching the final session at my Nan's house, but just a few frames from the end we had to drive home, longest 15 minutes ever!

The shoot was for a Jimmy White iPad / iPhone app called iWhirlwind, and we were shooting at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester.  The shoot came about because of contact made via Twitter, with Jim's business partner Jamie Trump during the 2011 World Snooker Championships.  A few short weeks later, and here we all were.

I've photographed quite a few famous people on stage, and quite a few fitness celebrities, this was my first proper shoot with someone as well known as Jimmy.  I didn't want to come across as a fan, but I did have to ask Jimmy and Michaela Tabb to pose for one quick picture with me.

My job for the most part was to keep out of the way of the video cameras, and just to photograph Jim in action.  My first time photographing snooker, and I was quite pleased with the results.  My Gran (who died 4 years ago) would have been proud of me, she was a big Jimmy and snooker fan.

It was the most surreal shoot I've ever done.  For a time I was re-spotting the colours for Jim as he was warming up while the video cameras were being set up.  When I arrived home that evening it almost seemed as if the day was a dream.  Being a self employed photographer is not the easiest way to make a living, but on days like this, oh so worth it.

Thank you Jim for a great shoot, looking forward to seeing the app, although I will have to borrow someone's iPad!

Thanks to Neil Sheppard for coming along to help, although he didn't really do anything!

Holly Matthews with tea and cake

As promised here are a couple of photos from my recent photo shoot with actress Holly Matthews where she isn't pretending to be a nasty chav.

I think it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, we did eat the cake after.

Photographing a pregnant chav with an attitude

So I recently found myself in one of the rougher parts of Coventry, with a pregnant alcoholic junkie chav with an attitude.  From her hand gestures I'm assuming she didn't really want to be photographed, but I continued just the same.

Okay so some up the above might not be entirely true.  I was indeed in a rough area of Coventry, but my subject for the shoot was actress Holly Matthews.  Holly appeared in Byker Grove for some 7 years and has more recently appeared in Waterloo Road, Criminal Justice 2 and Casualty.

Normally if a model looks at the pictures during the shoot and says "oh that's minging!", or "that's horrible!" I'd be in big trouble, but this time, it was exactly the reaction we both wanted.

Holly is one of the first actresses I've worked with, and it has to be said she was a pleasure to shoot.  Asides from having a thing about making tea exactly as the person likes, giving me cake, and also cooking dinner after the shoot, she was a great model with lots of her own ideas for the shoot.

Thanks for a great shoot Holly.  Great to finally meet you!

Update: I'll be posting some very different (to these) pictures of Holly this evening.  Stay tuned folks!

Update 2: It's been bought to my attention that those living in other parts of the world may indeed not know what a "chav" is.  While chavs live the world over, they are known by different names.  For example in the USA you'll probably find them shopping at Walmart and living in trailer parks.   For a better explanation of a chav, read this...

Update 3: Holly with tea and cake photos are now here.

Kool & The Gang

Playing a longer set than the other bands after a 20 minute interval Kool & The Gang were the only complete band of the evening.  While their songs weren't my favourites, without question they put on the best show of the evening.  Brilliant performances from everyone.  The climax of which was having everyone back up on stage for the grande finale "Celebration".

Sister Sledge

Not really my cup of tea, but damn can these girls sing and dance.  Brilliant performance by the girls of Sister Sledge.

Howard Jones

Some days later and I've still got some of Howard Jones songs stuck in my head.  Damn you Howard!

ABC

Singing the hit songs, All of my Heart, Poison Arrow and The Look of Love, Martin Fry from 1980's group ABC was one of my favourites of the night.  Top singing, top 80's classics.

I was told on the night by one of the promoters that Martin wanted a new headshot from my photos on the night.  Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but it was certainly good motivation for me to try and get some good headshots for him on the night.

Go West

The third of seven 80's bands on the night was Go West.  I didn't notice it at the time, but singer Peter Cox puts so much effort into his singing, really makes for great images.

Four more bands to come over the next couple of days, ABC, Howard Jones, Sister Sledge and the finale Kool & The Gang.

The Christians

A couple of photos of Garry Christian from The Christians set at the 80's Rewind concert at the Bournemouth BIC.

T'Pau

On Thursday I had the privilege of photographing lots of 1980's pop legends, all under the same roof at the same time at the Bournemouth BIC.

I'll be sharing a few pictures a day of each of the acts, starting with the first group of the night, T'Pau.

I felt a connection with T'Pau because it was partly because of Carol Decker that I was there that evening.  I've been following her on Twitter for a little while now, and had seen her tweets about the 80's concerts she was involved with.  I sent her an @message asking who I should contact for a photo pass, she replied, and the rest is history.

Come back over the next 6 days for photos from The Christians, Go West, Howard Jones, ABC, Sister Sledge & Kool and the Gang.

Update:  T'Pau played, "Sex Talk", "Heart and Soul" and of course "China In Your Hand".

Laughing at people again

I appear to have become the resident photographer at Jan Jacks Laughter House.  This is a good thing.  I get to see some of the top comedians in the country, and I don't have to pay.

On the bill last night were Juliet Meyers, Andrew Watts and Steve Day.  They all put on great shows, but my favourite had to be Mr Watts.  The lady with her head in her hand was being picked / hit on by Mr Watts.  Superbly funny.

Laughing at people

It was a rainy night in Salisbury and it was the second time this year I'd left home with the sole purpose of laughing at people for the evening.  The event was Laughter House in Salisbury which was taking place at the Milford Hall Hotel.

On stage were compare Phil Dinsdale, with comedians Jan Jack, Andi Osho and Mr Bob Mills.

The audience was partly filled by local business networking people.  A fiver from each of their tickets was being donated to the Pash4Cash fund.   Pash aka Sarah Howells is a local business woman and friend to many of us, founder of "The Passionate PA".  The fund has been set up by a couple of her close friends so she never needs to worry about money again.  For those who don't know Sarah's story you can find her blog here.

Okay, back with the fun stuff.  Another fine evenings entertainment was had.  Although I'm still not quite sure I liked it when the compare picked on the photographer!  It's funny really.  A few years ago I used to hide at the back of the room in comedy clubs, the thought of being picked upon almost scared me enough not to go into the room in the first place, now I've got so much more self confidence I'm up there towards the front shooting away.

Enough with my words, and on with a few photos from the night...

A comedy night out

The comedy night was already planned, but it was my idea to suggest turning it into a little charity bash for my good friend Pash.  As I couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery I've asked someone who has taken on the challenge of organising me to help make the event a success and raise a a few quid for Pash.   Step into the spotlight, the one and only Nagging Sue Pell!

"It's time for another night out, so.....

The date is THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY, and the occasion is JAN JACK'S LAUGHTER-HOUSE COMEDY CLUB, the Milford Hall Hotel, Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3TE.....where the very famous BOB MILLS is appearing!

(Don't ask "Who's he?" - just look at the photo - you've seen him on telly!)

Also appearing is Andi Osho (She's a girl, and winner of the Nivea Funny Women Award, and ...yes, she's been on telly too)....

.......and 4Ns own Jan Jack will be doing a brief turn too.......(no different from the usual 4N meeting then!)

BUT this is a special night, cos as well as giving us  all another chance to socialise and have fun we will be raising funds for Pash.

The normal ticket price is £15 and Jan will donate £5 from every 4Networking member ticket sold to the Pash Fund.

We need to arrange bookings and payments to secure seats so please if you would like the chance to have a fantastic night out AND help someone that really deserves it please let us know your ticket requirements.  If that's too complicated you can book online through www.laughter-house.co.uk but there's a ticket agency who will charge a fee...

I will contact everyone individually that would like to book to arrange payment and advise ticket collection procedures.

Lets make this a South Coast 4Networking night to remember.   I WILL see you all there!"

Sue Pell
sue.pell@live.co.uk
07927 139047

My security blanket

Last night I was asked to do some photos at a comedy club in Basingstoke.  Now there was a time when comedy clubs scared me a little.  I was scared I was going to be the poor sap some mean comedian picked on for the evening.

Now though, I don't care.  At least I don't care when I have my camera in my hands.  I feel I have a proper reason to be there, to walk around, and stuff.  Also I feel part of the crew, I'm there doing a job, and the comedians seem to respect that and hence I'm not a target.

My visit to Jan Jack's Laughter House (www.laughter-house.co.uk) last night was my first visit to a comedy club in about 8 years.  Then I was sat in the back row, scared shitless I'd be one of the audience the comic picked on.

The show was great, with host Danny Dawes introducing Matt Reed, Spam Ayres, Joel Dommett and the main act Bob Mills.

It was one of the hardest things I've had to photograph.  Normally at concerts and live shows the hit rate of acceptable shots goes down, but the lighting was just awful for me (great for the audience and performers) but for me, urghh, bad bad bad!

I had my Canon 5D Mark II up at 5000 ISO, I was shooting at f2.8 and I was still only getting shutter speeds of around 1/20th.  Flash, not that I had one with me isn't an option at live shows like this.   My hit rate took a tumble, I must have deleted about 85% of the shots either on the night or in post editing.

Given the lighting, and it was the first time I've photographed comedy, I'm really pleased with the results.