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.
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.
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.
Conference Photography for The Invisible Orthodontist
It was a real pleasure to photograph The Invisible Orthodontist’s conference in Murcia, Spain earlier in the year. Fantastic weather and accommodation, even time for a quick dip in the pool between sessions and great to see everyone letting their hair down at the conference dinner.
I’m looking forward to the next one!
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 MoreCloud Studies by Forensic Architecture
Photographs from the excellent new exhibition Cloud Studies by Forensic Architecture currently showing at Whitworth Art Gallery as part of Manchester International Festival.
https://forensic-architecture.org/investigation/cloudstudies
‘Cloud Studies’ was made for the exhibition Critical Zones: Observatories for earthly politics at ZKM Centre for Art and Media in Karlsruhe. Alongside the physical exhibition, our work is also presented on the virtual exhibition platform.
Read More50 Windows of Creativity. An assignment for Wild in Art
This autumn, Manchester is hosting 50 Windows of Creativity, a showcase of the work of artists and makers displayed in a series of windows, venues, businesses and spaces across the city centre.
The displays feature multiple art forms from fine art and photography to ceramics, crafts, mosaics and murals curated by well-known and emerging artists and collectives – all with a connection to Greater Manchester.
Read MorePhotography of High Street Task Force
The High Streets Task Force was established to England's high streets and town centres to thrive - providing expert training, guidance data to the people who make them. Local leaders and partnerships are be able to access the latest data and evidence to inform their investment and regeneration decisions.
I was pleased to photograph the latest meeting of experts and representatives from the chosen towns at Manchester Metropolitan University business school. I was also able to photograph some portraits of the university staff at the conclusion of the meeting.
Read MoreDocumentary photography of Helen Knowles 'Trickle Down', Arebyte Gallery, London
Trickle Down, A New Vertical Sovereignty is a tokenised four-screen video installation and generative soundscape, which explores value systems and wealth disparity. The artwork is composed of auction scenes, performances and choral interludes by different communities such as prisoners, blockchain technology employees, market sellers, and Sotheby’s auction bidders.
Read MoreBritish Ecological Society Summer School
The British Ecological Society’s summer school is a week long residential field experience for students studying sciences at A-level, Scottish Higher and other similar qualifications. This year 31 students from 7 different schools across the UK gathered at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales. I was there as documentary photographer giving an overview of the day’s activities and providing marketing and social media material.
As ever, working for BES was extremely interesting, a personal highlight being the nature walk led by Dr. Daniel Forman, lecturer in Biosciences at Swansea University. I’d walked the same route as part of the Pennine Way last year but his fascinating insights into the ecology around us was illuminating.
Read MoreWhat Makes a House a Home? for Hawkins/Brown
Hawkins\Brown have been debating this question for over 30 years and on Thursday 18 July 2019, hosted a conference party at Glass House One, Festival Square, to celebrate another successful year for Hawkins\Brown Studio North and their continued support of and involvement in Manchester International Festival.
The house: “a machine for living in” (Le Corbusier), or a place “to dream” (Gaston Bachelard)?
The panel delved into this rich and varied topic covering everything from co-living and the concept of community, to shifts in social demographics and changing lifestyles, to DfMA, buildability and volumetric housing, to what “home” means personally to each of the panellists. Some suggestions included: “my record collection”, “acoustic insulation (three children under the age of three!),” and “the freedom to DIY”.
It was a pleasure to photograph the conference while enjoying the atmosphere of MIF and the last of the sunshine.
Read MoreBritish Ecological Society Conferences
It’s always fascinating to carry out the conference photography for the British Ecological Society and often easy to forget to take pictures while listening to the presentations. Here are a selection of photographs from their and the Society for Tropical Ecology’s joint annual conference in the magnificent McEwan Hall, Edinburgh.
Read MoreNew facility opening for DB Cargo
DB recently opened their new facility in Wolverhampton close to the heartland of the West Midlands motor industry. I photographed the launch, giant hangars dwarfing giant trains delivering giant rolls of steel.
I visited the West Midlands twice last year to photograph stories related to Britain’s motor industry. The new facility pictured below to deliver and house steel by Deutsche Bahn Cargo and before that on a commission for German business magazine WirtshaftsWoche to document German manufacturer Brose’s factory making seats and equipment for Jaguar Land Rover.
Read MoreNight at the Museum
A commission from Manchester Museum to document a recent evening event as part of the Adult Programme. The highlight for me was a cyanotype workshop by Angela Tait and Ian Clegg of ATIC. These days the UV tubes they use to expose the images are considered a Health & Safety concern, yet it wasn't long ago they were used in sunbeds!
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