Mark Radcliffe for Art Fund

Photography for Art Fund Podcast Recording at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester

I was very pleased to be asked to contribute still photographs for a forthcoming episode of the Meet Me at the Museum podcast produced by the Art Fund. The episode features broadcaster Mark Radcliffe and musician Paul Langley as they explore the galleries of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

My role was to photograph the recording session and create a set of images documenting the presenters’ visit to the museum. These photographs accompany the podcast and provide visual material for promotion, editorial use and online publication.

Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley at the Museum

Mark Radcliffe is widely known for his long career in broadcasting, particularly through programmes on BBC radio devoted to music and culture. I have photographed Mark a couple of times before, once memorably for a Daily Telegraph motoring feature in which he appeared alongside a vintage Volkswagen Beetle at Tatton Park in Cheshire.

On this occasion the setting was rather different. Together with Paul Langley, Radcliffe toured the Science and Industry Museum while recording their discussion for the podcast. The format of the series combines informal conversation with reflections on objects, exhibitions and cultural history within museums across the UK.

Exploring Manchester’s Musical History

During the recording we spent time in the exhibition Use Hearing Protection, which explores the formative years of Factory Records between 1978 and 1982.

Factory Records played a crucial role in shaping Manchester’s musical identity during this period. The label became internationally recognised for its roster of influential artists, including bands associated with the city’s post-punk scene, while also developing a distinctive visual language through collaborations with designers and photographers.

The exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum examines how Factory Records combined music, graphic design, technology and cultural experimentation to create a unique identity for Manchester. Through artefacts, recordings and archival material it tells the story of a label whose influence continues to shape perceptions of the city’s creative history.

Photographing Podcast Production in a Museum Environment

Photographing a podcast recording inside a museum presents its own set of challenges. The aim is to document the interaction between presenters and exhibits without disrupting the recording process or the experience of other visitors.

The images from the session capture Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley in conversation as they explore the exhibition space, reflecting both the atmosphere of the gallery and the informal tone of the podcast itself. These kinds of photographs help audiences visualise the context of the recording and connect the spoken discussion to the objects and stories within the museum.

Listening to the Podcast

The Meet Me at the Museum podcast series invites well-known figures to explore museums around the UK and share their reactions to exhibitions and collections. The conversations offer a relaxed way to discover museum spaces through the perspectives of artists, musicians and broadcasters.

You can listen to this episode and other recordings from the series through the Art Fund website:
https://www.artfund.org/whats-on/meet-me-at-the-museum

Further information about the exhibition Use Hearing Protection can be found here:
https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/use-hearing-protection

Mark Radcliffe for the Daily Telegraph

Portrait of Mark Radcliffe at Dunham Massey | Daily Telegraph Motoring Feature

While going through old hard drives recently I came across another set of photographs from an earlier editorial commission. The images feature broadcaster and writer Mark Radcliffe, photographed at Dunham Massey Country Park in Cheshire for a motoring feature in the Daily Telegraph.

Mark Radcliffe is exactly as you might expect from his radio persona: knowledgeable about music, quick-witted, a lifelong Manchester City supporter and generally an extremely good person to spend time with on a shoot. I have photographed him a couple of times over the years, and this particular session was for a feature pairing him with a beautifully restored vintage Volkswagen Beetle.

Mark Radcliffe: Broadcaster, Author and Music Journalist

Mark Radcliffe is well known in the UK for his long career in broadcasting, particularly on BBC Radio where he has presented a wide range of music programmes across several decades. Many listeners first encountered him through his partnership with Marc Riley on BBC Radio 1 in the 1990s, before Radcliffe went on to present programmes on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

His work has always been characterised by a deep enthusiasm for music, ranging from alternative rock and indie through to folk and country. In addition to broadcasting, Radcliffe is also a writer and musician, contributing regularly to publications and performing with his folk group The Shirehorses.

Because of this long-standing role in British music broadcasting, he remains a familiar and well-liked figure to audiences across the UK. Photographing personalities like Radcliffe is often straightforward because their ease in conversation translates naturally into relaxed portraits.

Editorial Portrait Photography for Newspapers

This portrait session took place at Dunham Massey Country Park in Cheshire, a location that provided an appropriate rural backdrop for the Daily Telegraph’s motoring feature. Editorial portrait photography for newspapers often involves finding a setting that complements the theme of the article while still allowing the subject’s personality to come through.

The vintage Volkswagen Beetle featured in the piece added a strong visual element to the shoot, combining classic automotive design with a relaxed outdoor location. Working with well-known public figures in this kind of editorial context requires balancing documentary observation with informal portraiture, capturing both the person and the environment in which the story is set.

Photographing Personalities for Editorial Features

Portrait photography for editorial publications often moves quickly, with limited time to establish rapport and create images that work both visually and narratively. When the subject is comfortable and engaged, the process becomes much easier, allowing the photographer to focus on composition, light and atmosphere.

In this case, the combination of a distinctive car, an attractive location in Cheshire and an engaging subject made for an enjoyable shoot and a memorable commission for the Daily Telegraph.