Another commission for Transport for the North, this time highlighting railway infrastructure and electric car charging. Shot in and around a cold, wintry Warrington Bank quay station.
Commercial photography for Transport for the North
A recent series of images for long-standing client Transport for the North. I’m proud to play some small part in their effort to demonstrate to the government the North’s increasingly desperate need for proper transport infrastructure and planning.
Documentary Photography - BP's LiDAR buoy at Liverpool Docks
Another commission from BP as they work on the development of the Mona and Morgan Irish Sea wind farms. This time I was taking photographs to document the maintenance of one of their Fugro Seawatch LiDAR buoys which are surveying the field to find optimal wind turbine locations. The Seawatch buoys run on solar panels and fuel cells using methanol fuel. Although autonomous in the field the buoys need to be towed to shore for refueling and servicing.
As an ex-engineer with a background in Physics, this was a really interesting - if freezing! - few days shooting in Liverpool.
LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, can measure wind speed by using the Doppler effect. The Doppler effect is a phenomenon that occurs when the frequency of a wave changes as the source of the wave moves relative to the observer. This effect is commonly experienced in everyday life, for example, the change in pitch of a siren as an ambulance approaches and then passes by.
In the context of LiDAR, a laser beam is directed towards the atmosphere, and the reflected light is detected by a sensor. As the laser beam passes through the atmosphere, it interacts with particles in the air, such as dust or water droplets. These particles scatter the laser beam in different directions, and some of the scattered light returns to the sensor.
By analyzing the scattered light, LiDAR can detect the movement of air particles and calculate wind speed. The movement of the particles changes the frequency of the scattered light, and this change in frequency is detected by the sensor. The amount of frequency shift is proportional to the wind speed, allowing LiDAR to calculate the wind speed with high accuracy.
LiDAR can also provide information about the direction and turbulence of the wind, helping to identify potential challenges for wind turbine installations. This information is particularly useful in the development of wind farms, where accurate wind measurements are essential for identifying the most suitable locations for wind turbines.
Event Photography - Adidas and Versus at Manchester United
VERSUS is the platform championing the future of football and its rising influence on new music and culture. Adidas is well, Adidas. On commission for the wonderful TO Events, I photographed the launch of a collaboration between the two brands on the occasion of a games between Manchester United and Aston Villa’s women’s teams.
BP Bodelwyddan Village Hall consultation
I worked with BP to photograph a consultation event at Bodelwyddan Village Hall that helped explain to residents of the area the changes that would be brought about by the development of two new wind farms off the North Wales coast. The Mona and Morgan windfarms will be two of the largest offshore windfarms in the Irish Sea.
The wind farms will be located approximately 20km - 30km from the coast and be operational by 2029. Together, they will form one of the largest wind farms in the world, with a combined potential generating capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW). This is enough to power the equivalent of approximately 3.4 million UK households with clean electricity.
The development of the Mona and Morgan windfarms represents a significant achievement in the UK's transition towards renewable energy, and highlights the potential of offshore wind to play a key role in meeting the country's energy needs in a sustainable way.
Photographing for Art Fund at the Bronte Museum
Art Fund is a UK-based charity that aims to help museums and galleries to acquire and display works of art. The charity was established in 1903 and has since supported hundreds of museums and galleries across the country, helping to enhance their collections and make art more accessible to the public.
One of the most notable initiatives of Art Fund is the National Art Pass, which provides free entry or discounted admission to over 240 museums and galleries across the UK, as well as other benefits such as exclusive events and discounts at art-related shops and restaurants.
Meet Me at the Museum is a podcast series published by Art Fund where famous faces take their best mate, their mum, their neighbour (whoever they want) for an afternoon at a favourite museum or gallery. As well as getting a peek behind the scenes, seeing what makes a museum tick, it's also the starting point for some great conversations about life, the universe and everything. As well as a chance to eat lots of cake in the cafe.
During the production of this episode, I photographed writer Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun and The Instant, as she took her friend, poet Zaffar Kunial, to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire. Together they explore the former home of the Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne – and see where some of their most famous novels were written. From the dining table where the sisters shared their work, to early reviews of Wuthering Heights, intimate objects and artefacts prompt conversations about Amy and Zaffar’s own inspirations as writers. And, after exploring the house and museum, they head out into the landscape and discover a poem in the wild.
The Bronte Museum, located in the picturesque village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, England, is a must-visit destination for literature lovers and fans of the Bronte sisters. The museum is dedicated to the lives and works of the Bronte family, particularly the three sisters - Charlotte, Emily, and Anne - who wrote some of the most celebrated novels of the 19th century, including "Jane Eyre", "Wuthering Heights", and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".
The museum is housed in the former home of the Bronte family, which has been carefully preserved to provide visitors with an authentic glimpse into the lives of the famous siblings. The museum contains an extensive collection of Bronte memorabilia, including original manuscripts, letters, personal belongings, and artworks. Visitors can explore the various rooms of the museum, including the dining room, drawing room, and bedrooms, which have been furnished to recreate the atmosphere of the Bronte family home.
Manchester Met SODA Modal gallery opening
The Modal Gallery at the Manchester School of Digital Arts (SODA) is a unique space that has become a hub of creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Through its immersive exhibitions, cutting-edge technology, and interactive displays, the gallery has had a significant impact on the SODA community, helping to foster a sense of community and connection among students, faculty members, and industry professionals.
One of the key features of the Modal Gallery is its cutting-edge technology. The gallery is equipped with the latest digital tools and equipment, allowing students and faculty members to experiment with new forms of digital art and explore the boundaries of creativity. From virtual reality experiences to interactive installations, the gallery provides a platform for students to push the limits of what is possible in the digital arts.
In addition to its technology, the Modal Gallery is also known for its immersive exhibitions. The gallery's exhibitions are designed to engage visitors and create a sense of connection with the artwork. Through its immersive installations, the gallery invites visitors to explore new worlds and perspectives, challenging them to think differently about the digital arts.
Another key feature of the Modal Gallery is its role in promoting SODA to the wider community. The gallery has become a key component of SODA's marketing and outreach efforts, showcasing the school's state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge curriculum, and commitment to innovation. By attracting visitors from across the region and beyond, the gallery has helped to position SODA as a leader in the digital arts and a key contributor to the creative economy.
The Modal Gallery has also had a significant impact on SODA's students. Through its exhibitions, the gallery provides students with a space to showcase their work and receive feedback and guidance from their peers and faculty members. The gallery has helped to foster a sense of community and collaboration among students, creating a supportive and dynamic environment that encourages experimentation and growth.
Furthermore, the Modal Gallery has helped to connect SODA's students with industry professionals and potential employers. Through partnerships with leading companies such as BBC, Channel 4, and Google, the gallery provides students with valuable networking opportunities that can help them launch their careers in the digital arts. The gallery has become a bridge between academia and industry, providing students with a clear path to success in the digital arts.
It’s been a pleasure to attend the exhibitions and photograph the events here over the past year, I always look forward to opening nights.
IN4
It’s been great to work with IN4 Group over the last year, helping them with the launch of HOST Gametech, graduation ceremonies and along with the National Cyber Security Centre, the delivery of Cyberfirst EmPower helping girls from the Northwest into tech careers.
On board the Fugro Synergy for BP
By far the best thing about working as a professional photographer is the variety of the work. The camera can gain you access to environments that are wildly different each shoot day and if you’re lucky, can sometimes take you to some incredible and unexpected places. One of the most interesting of my shoots in 2022 was an assignment from bp to photograph the crew and workings of the Fugro Synergy while on a recent stop at Liverpool docks.
The Synergy Modular Drilling Unit is a unique geotechnical vessel capable of delivering
high quality geotechnical data. Its design, standards and capacity make it an efficient
platform for geotechnical investigations and scientific drilling in challenging and remote offshore marine environments.
The shoot focussed on the Synergy’s role in sea bed core sampling, determining the sea bed composition to ensure that the sea bed substrate was capable of providing solid foundations for the siting of an array of wind turbines. Sea bed composition is critical, mud, sand or silt that is too soft and uncompacted will not provide a firm enough foundation, while solid rock is impossible to drill to the depths required for the footings.
EnBW with EnBW and bp are leading the development of the Morgan and Mona – two offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea. Roughly located 30km from shore between the north coast of Wales and the Isle of Man the total area of the two farms will be 800 square kilometres – about half the size of Greater London and when complete the farm will generate 3GW of energy – enough to power an astonishing 3.4 million UK homes.
These projects are helping to achieve the UK's ambition of generating 50GW of power from offshore wind by 2030.
SODA Opening
Photographs from the opening of Manchester Metropolitan University’s new School of Digital Arts, SODA. Attended by Peter Mandelson, Andy Burnham, Danny Boyle and the legendary Barry Adamson.
UK Youth Royal visit
A commission from UK Youth to document the visit of Princess Anne to The Station, Bristol.
Read MoreJohn Junior for Samaritans
Another great shoot for Samaritans, photographing mental health activist John Junior.
In 2019, John started vlogging about his experiences of mental health issues on Instagram in order "to reach out to others with mental health difficulties". In May 2020 his vlogs on Instagram caught the attention of UNILAD, who approached Junior to test Samaritans self-help app during mental health awareness week and to help raise awareness for world suicide prevention day on 10 September 2020.
Read MoreSuzanne Lacy at Whitworth Art Gallery
Suzanne Lacy
What kind of city?
A manual for social change
The Whitworth presents the first major UK presentation of multiple works of US artist Suzanne Lacy, a pioneer of social practice and community organising for almost five decades. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, What kind of city? has been conceived with the artist as a project that is more than an exhibition, one that takes key works with relevance to our current context and uses them to convene people in order to start new initiatives that will actively help rebuild our city. Working around fundamental themes such as youth agency, borders, social cohesion, and work prospects for older women, the exhibition is designed to operate as an evolving manual for how we create equitable transformation. This underpins a new direction of travel for the Whitworth, as an institution that actively works for and with people across the city, one that begins with the question: after Covid, what kind of city can we make together?
Thanks again to my friends at the Whitworth for asking me to document the event opening and associated artist’s talk.
Read MoreLillian and Fidaa for Asthma UK - British Lung Foundation
It was wonderful to meet and photograph Fidaa and Lily and be a part of Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation’s vital campaign for clean air.
Lily has asthma, which is exacerbated by air pollution.
“She is nine years old now and has had breathing problems since she was a baby. Her old school was in an area with very high pollution levels, despite being near a park and off the main road. School is a place where children should be safe, but too many of them are in high air pollution areas.”
The family didn’t realise how bad the pollution was until Lily’s friend’s mum, Ruth, borrowed an air quality monitor from the British Lung Foundation. The results showed regular spikes of nitrogen dioxide that peak 50 per cent above EU legal limits. Ruth pushed the council to take action, starting a petition to create ‘school streets’ and ban cars on the roads close to schools at drop off and pick up times.
“Politicians simply aren’t taking enough action to clean our air. We need less traffic on the roads and social housing needs to be safer for children with asthma. They need more trees and green spaces to clean the air. Fresh air is so good for their lungs.”
Read MoreLangfields
Langfields are specialist fabricators of process plant for the Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Offshore, Oil & Gas, Marine, Defence, Nuclear and other process industries. Based only one mile from Deansgate they demonstrate that there is still some manufacturing industry in the post-industrial city.
As a former engineer, I love visiting these places and finding out what’s being made and the techniques used.
The fabricators at Langfields receive giant 18mm Aluminium plates and within the space of only 20 metres, cut, bend and weld it into complex, water-jacketed vessels according to the exacting specifications of high tech industries.
Read MoreWhat Media
What Media help brands engage with clients by producing creative video and animation content.
They asked me to photograph their team at their new location in central Manchester. As always when working with this team, the shoot was full of positive energy and went by in a flash.
Read MoreAdidas Superstar Awards
The Superstar Awards are where Adidas Europe recognise the outstanding contributions of their staff over the previous 12 months. I documented the event at their UK headquarters. Many thanks to the superb event managers at TOL Events for bringing me on board.
Read MoreMark Radcliffe for Art Fund
I was very pleased to be asked to contribute stills for a forthcoming episode of Art Fund’s Meet Me at the Museum podcast, in which radio presenter Mark Radcliffe and his bandmate Paul Langley tour Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry.
Read MoreSheila Anderson for Samaritans
Earlier in the year I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing the wonderful Sheila Anderson on behalf of the Samaritans. Sheila had taken part in the Samaritans’ Managing Suicidal Conversations training while working for the railways and has since helped a number of people in very difficult situations.
Sheila was on her way to the weekly shop when she saw someone who needed help – trusting her instincts, she struck up a conversation and managed to get them to safety, potentially saving their life.
“Around the beginning of last year, I was on the way to my weekly shop when I came across a young woman in floods of tears, I stopped the car and slowly approached her. I asked, “has something happened to bring you here today?” and I could tell that instantly broke her thoughts. She told me her name and said she was struggling to cope as she wasn’t able to get the support she needed.
Read MoreJimmy Egan's and the unlikely tale of the Gypsy King
The story of when accidentality met 18-year old Tyson Fury in a primary school boxing gym in Wythenshawe, Manchester
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