Photographing Kristina Parry for Connected Places Catapult
Editorial, Portraits David Oates Editorial, Portraits David Oates

Photographing Kristina Parry for Connected Places Catapult

I recently photographed Kristina Parry for Connected Places Catapult as part of a feature exploring collaboration between academic researchers, universities and industry organisations across the UK. The photographs were produced for an article focused on the Researchers in Residence programme and the wider Innovation Launchpad Network+, both of which support partnerships between universities, innovation networks and industry specialists.

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Mantra of the Cosmos for the Times
Editorial David Oates Editorial David Oates

Mantra of the Cosmos for the Times

When the news broke that Shaun Ryder, Zak Starkey, Andy Bell, and Bez were joining forces, the music world collectively raised an eyebrow. Would this be a glorious collision of musical titans or a cosmic car crash? Their debut single, "Gorilla Guerrilla," suggests the former. A psychedelic groove with a swagger that only these veterans could deliver, it's a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come.

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Photographing Meer Ali Khan for the Wall Street Journal
Documentary, Editorial David Oates Documentary, Editorial David Oates

Photographing Meer Ali Khan for the Wall Street Journal

It was a privilege to meet Meer Ali Khan while on assignment for the Wall Street Journal.

Meer’s brother was killed only three months after starting work on the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. He hopes that by raising awareness of the fate suffered by his family, he can help prevent similar tragedies caused by harsh and unsafe working conditions.

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Documentary photography for Wild in Art - We Live Here Eccles
Artists, Documentary, Event, Editorial, Portraits David Oates Artists, Documentary, Event, Editorial, Portraits David Oates

Documentary photography for Wild in Art - We Live Here Eccles

In the summer of 2023, visitors to Eccles discovered a vibrant Wild in Art trail celebrating the unique character and heritage of Eccles, which took over windows, walls and spaces in the town centre. The public art installation featured street art, paintings, murals, photography and pop up studios – all created by local artists and Eccles residents.

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Greg Marsden photographed for Connected Places Catapult
Portraits, Editorial David Oates Portraits, Editorial David Oates

Greg Marsden photographed for Connected Places Catapult

It was a privilege to photograph Greg Marsden, a leading academic in transport planning and sustainable mobility, for the latest issue of Connected Places Catapult. Greg Marsden’s research focuses on the future of transport systems, mobility policy, and innovative infrastructure planning, making him a key voice in shaping smarter, more sustainable cities across the UK and beyond.

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Soccer Players Talk Retirement for ESPN
Editorial, Portraits David Oates Editorial, Portraits David Oates

Soccer Players Talk Retirement for ESPN

A wonderful opportunity to meet and photograph former footballers Nedum Onuoha (ex-QPR and Manchester City), David Thompson (ex-Liverpool, Coventry and Blackburn) and Joe Thompson (ex-Rochdale and Tranmere) for a recent ESPN article discussing their varied experiences of retiring from the game.

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Event Photography: Princess Anne Visits The Station, Bristol | UK Youth Commission
Editorial, Documentary David Oates Editorial, Documentary David Oates

Event Photography: Princess Anne Visits The Station, Bristol | UK Youth Commission

I was commissioned by UK Youth to photograph the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Anne to The Station, a youth centre located in Bristol. The visit showcased UK Youth’s ongoing programmes supporting young people across the region, highlighting educational initiatives, community engagement, and opportunities for youth development.

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John Junior for Samaritans
Documentary, Editorial, Portraits David Oates Documentary, Editorial, Portraits David Oates

John 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.

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Lillian and Fidaa for Asthma UK - British Lung Foundation
Documentary, Editorial, Portraits David Oates Documentary, Editorial, Portraits David Oates

Lillian 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.”

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Langfields
Documentary, Commercial, Editorial, Industrial, Website David Oates Documentary, Commercial, Editorial, Industrial, Website David Oates

Langfields

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.

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