Caprice

Just finished a very quick fashion shoot with Caprice for Hot Press.

We only had about an hour of shooting time and we still managed to shoot 6 different outfits in 6 different locations! How did we do it?

Well, we shot it in The Dylan Hotel in Dublin, which has lots of different areas close together that look very different. Caprice was a pro and was right into it, no warming up, she delivered a different pose for every click. Amazingly she didn't blink in a single frame, which I have never seen before!

The last shot was in Caprice's bedroom and at one point everyone else, the stylist, make-up artist and hairdresser all disappeared to get one thing or another and so that left me alone with Caprice who was lying on the bed wearing one of the very fetching bras from her lingerie range and not for the first time I thought, I have a very varied and interesting job!

Hot Press is out on Thursday.

Cathy Davey and the snake

Friday afternoon last week Hot Press rings, "Mark can you do a shoot with Cathy Davey tomorrow afternoon?" "We need the images tomorrow afternoon too, as we're going to press". "Oh, and she wants to do the shoot with a snake, do you know any?"

Well, I didn't but I found one, a beautiful Burmese Albino Python called "Blayney".

Now the thing about Pythons is if they decide you look good enough to eat, it's like the weight of 2 double decker buses crushing your chest. The thing about Blayney is he's lovely and has been hand reared since he was a mere 12 inches long and taught that it's very naughty to wrap himself around someones neck.

Now the thing about photographing a snake with someone is it looks best when it's wrapped around someones neck, especially a neck as beautiful as Cathy Davey's, but try as we might, we couldn't get Blayney to stay put. It's quite an amazing feeling having this 14 foot very heavy pure muscule thing constantly moving at both ends, while the tail is wrapping itself around you upper thigh, the head end is trying to unwind and get off your neck!

Fair play to Cathy, she was very gentle with Blayney and eventually we got enough, but not the shot I had in my head.

We then switched to a Victorian look that Cathy was interested in exploring. It's fantastic when the subject is really into photography themselves and willing to collaborate in the process to make something good. We had a great time and I can't wait to work with her again, as she kindly said she wanted to.

Dog Days of Summer

I'm in shock! I sent out my e-newsletter at 10am and by 12 noon my "Dog Days Of Summer" was completely sold out! 25 shoots and 37 dogs, it's going to be a busy day! It's a great deal for a great charity, Dogs Aid. For €25 and a donation of a bag of dog food they get a 10 minute mini shoot and a 7x5 gift photo. Plus Aussie Pet Mobile is setting up outside the studio and giving all the dogs a makeover before their big moment. All the dogs will get a "doggie bag" with lots of goodies including some tasty dog biscuits from Scallywags Dog Bakery. Yum Yum!

Nude for Thought

The latest fashion shoot for Hot Press. The theme was "nude" clothing. Really great team this time. The stylist Karl Smith did a brilliant job, all the ladies especially loved the shoes! Lorraine Browne did the hair beautifully and Naomh Kirwan did her usual superb job with the make up.

The model Leah Duff really got into character and produced some fab poses!

The National Photographic Awards 2010

The National Photographic Awards were on last night and I am delighted to have won 4 of the top awards. Fashion Photographer of the Year (the second year running), Best Fashion Image, Best Children's Portrait and Best Portrait.

I've always been torn about photography awards, it's fantastic to win, but what does it really mean? So, as much as I love winning, I've decided not to enter any more.

Christy Moore

When Hot Press called and said Christy Moore was coming to my studio for a cover shoot, I nearly fell off my chair! Usually I meet them somewhere else and have little time to check locations etc, it also means I have to bring the studio to them. This was a first with Christy coming to here.

I was a bit nervous and with about half an hour to go, was just getting everything ready when Mick, Christy's friend rang to say they were running early and would be there in a few minutes! So I quickly shoved half a sandwich in my mouth and turned on the studio lights. And there he was, at my door!

I needn't have worried, Christy was wonderful, he walked straight into the studio, took off his coat and sat down and starting playing me a brand new song about a Navajo woman that even Mick had never heard. I had to pinch myself, Christy Moore sitting in my studio singing me a new song, mad or what? I hadn't realised what a funny guy he is and very quick with the retort. We were talking about platform shoes and I said it wasn't fair that women had these great heels and most of us men could do with a extra couple of inches, well, like I say he was very quick with the retort!

The shoot went really well and I got loads of great images that may surface at some stage. He slowly added layers of clothing and his hat, then his guitar over the shoulder and before I realised what he was doing, he was off! Laughing all the way.

If you even make Christy a cup of tea, he likes two teabags in a mug and leave them in!

Shoot Happens #2

The second of my fashion shoots for Hot Press. This time I wanted some flesh, to be more specific, I wanted a breast in at least one shot. As usual, it was all a bit last minute, I contacted some model agencies and told them of my request. The only one that responded positively was 1st Option, who couldn't have been more helpful. The beautiful Irma agreed to do the shoot on one condition, "no nipples". a bit disappointing, but it actually made it more of a challenge.

The shoot went very smoothly, I kept the lighting low and the studio warm! There is a fine line between genius and madness (only joking, that's Spinal Tap), there is a fine line between a fashion image and a page 3 or Tennents can (for those who remember) and it all came down to the pose and Irma's expression. I wanted the shoot to be of a powerful, strong, proud woman at ease with her sexuality and hopefully I achieved that?

Hot Press is out tomorrow.

Roddy Doyle and The Catcher in the Rye

Roddy Doyle popped into the STUDIO the other day to give me a signed 1st edition of his latest book, hot off the presses, "The Dead Republic". He is using my portrait of him for the author's photo on the dust jacket (see above). He is such a lovely guy.

We were chatting and I told him I had decided to start re-reading a lot of books I had first read in my teens and early twenties. I started with "The Catcher in the Rye" and finished the last page on the very evening J. D. Salinger died!

I promised Roddy I wouldn't read the last page of his.

Shoot Happens #1

Hot Press have asked me to shoot some fashion spreads for them, which is great fun. I love fashion photography, you can really play with different ideas and processes.

For this first shoot, I thought it would be appropriate to do a fashion shoot of a fashion shoot!

So we have a cool photographer and a hot model. At first she has no interest in him, then slowly she falls for his charms and finally they fall in love, with each other, but mostly with themselves!

Ray D'Arcy's Surprise Hot Press Cover!

Got the call from Hot Press to go into Today FM and shoot Ray D'Arcy for what was supposed to be The Hot Press Interview, not the cover. (Which is less pressure and a shorter shoot).

I had a quick recon of the area, while waiting for Ray, to see where I could shoot. The studio itself was promising, good red walls, but there was someone just about to go on air, so I was told I could only have it for 5 minutes. I set up my light and waited for Ray, who arrived with about 30 seconds left of my 5 minutes. So I grabbed a quick few shots of Ray talking into the mike and we were out of there.

We shot the rest of the shoot in a small office with one light and I shot some without the flash, just using the modelling light, to get a very shallow depth of field.

Ray was lovely, exactly as you'd expect him to be, (unlike some others I could mention!) and we had a good chat about posing nude for Spenser Tunick, him in Cork and me in Dublin. I asked him if he'd like to repeat it for me, but maybe next time!

I was a bit horrified when they told me they were considering using it on the cover, as I hadn't shot it with the cover in mind. I immediately suggested I shoot it again and try some other poses ideas etc, but there was no time and they were happy with this.

It's Out Tomorrow.

Paolo Nutini Hot Press Cover

Just got a sneak preview of the Hot Press cover from my Paolo Nutini shoot. It's on sale tomorrow.

I think it looks really good. Very happy!

Paolo Nutini

Flew to Glasgow yesterday to shoot Paolo Nutini for Hot Press magazine. Originally it was supposed to be Milan, but was changed to Glasgow at the last minute. Got in early and did a bit of sight seeing. Went to The Willow Tea Rooms and had a lovely cup of tea and a toasted tea cake which was absolutely gorgeous. Went to The Kelvingrove Art Galley and Museum, only had a short time but some great paintings and sculptures. Then off to The Hotel du Vin to meet Paolo for the shoot.
They couldn't have been more helpful in the hotel and knew Paolo, he had had his album launch there recently. They showed me various rooms and I picked the best one for the shoot and got set up. I knew I would need my own lights, as we were scheduled to meet at 4.30pm and it's dark by then in winter in Glasgow.
I picked out different areas in the room that I thought might work and thought of what kind of shots I could do there. Then I just paced up and down, waiting and checking the equipment until Paolo arrived.
He's such a lovely guy, very friendly and down to earth. Really handsome and about 6 feet tall. He was extremely camera shy, which is amazing for someone who's number one in the album charts! You'd think he'd have all the poses down pat, but he's just uncomfortable about posing and especially looking into the camera, but we got there in the end and he was very patient while I adjusted the lights etc. The guy with him, Malky, was very helpful too and acted as my light stand, since I could carry one on the plane.
I like these two shots, the one on the bed is how he must spend a lot of time, on his own in hotel rooms, writing songs. The other one has a bit of the old masters paintings about it, the museum earlier must have rubbed off on me. Paolo sang me a bit of "My Bonnie lies over the Ocean" in the style of Ray Charles, very funny. He'd heard Charles cover it on an old album and was amazed as this was a song we were both taught in primary school.
Just got to the airport with minutes to spare to catch the flight home.

Photo of the Week #3

Is this the happiest baby ever?

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everybody!

Photo of the Week #2

From a very quick shoot with Dara O'Briain. I had about 5 minutes and 3 or 4 ideas for this shoot. He said no to them all!!!!

Plan B. Some tight headshots and he performed like the pro he is, every shot good and every one different from the last.

To be fair to him, he had a bunch of back to back interviews lined up that day, had flown in early from London and was due on The Late Late Show that night. It didn't help that I teased him about his weight (I know, I don't know what I was thinking, in my madness I thought he would find it funny).

He did wish me Happy Birthday, well sort of.. I think what he actually said was "I don't give a F... if it's your birthday" Ooops!

Photo of the Week #1

PJ Gallagher riding his Penny Farthing bike on the Clontarf Promenade Wall. When I asked him to do this, I expected him to say no, like a sane person would have. When he said yes, I realised I may be responsible for seriously injuring him or killing him, so the pressure was on to make sure I got the shot! Especially if it was mid-fall!

Two things to note,

#1; Penny Farthings are extremely difficult to ride as there is no "free wheeling" and the pedals are on the front wheel (the same wheel you steer with)

#2; The wall he is riding on is about 12 inches wide and there is a 20 foot drop on the other side!

Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet's first gig in 20 years and the first night of the tour. Nerves were on edge and there were a few glitches during the sound check, but the gig went really well and it was like they never went away.

Universal asked me to shoot the gig for the cover and back of the live DVD they were recording that night too.

Live music shoots are very difficult for a few reasons; you have no control over the most important element, light, there isn't enough of it to freeze the action, it's rarely in the right place when you want it, it changes constantly, both in intensity and colour, and the band keep moving!

Having said that, it's great fun and I love a challenge.

This is my favorite shot of the night. Someone had thrown an Arsenal flag onstage and Tony Hadley had just held it up. The crowd booed and Martin Kemp turned and laughed, while walking to the back of the stage. Just at that moment the lights lit up the audience and I got this.

The Master Dies

Irving Penn, the grand master of American portrait and fashion photography has died aged 92. He is the reason I am a photographer, the inspiration, the search for perfection and the mark at which all other photography is measured. His influence can be seen in many other photographers work, from Annie Leibovitz to Albert Watson and my own of course.

I nearly met him once, I came within a few feet, but it was not to be. On a trip to New York, I managed to find out where his studio was and set off to meet him. I found the tall building on 5th Ave, his name was nowhere on the buildings registry, but there was a name that gave me a clue, Conde Nast Publications, so up I went. Stepping out into a dark landing with a door in each corner, there I found him, on the name plate under the spy hole, the name smugged with fingers rubbing, Irving Penn.

I knew I was about to make a fool out of myself and with my heart beating like mad, I rang the bell. A nice looking young girl answered and after listening to my blubbering nonsense about being a photographer from Ireland and Mr Penn being the reason I was, she asked me to wait a moment. Was she going to get him? Is that him coming now??? No! A very stern mature lady appeared with a clipped,"Yes"? I babbled it all again and how I would love to just shake his hand, to which I was told "Mr Penn hasn't even got time to see his friends". "Can I just have a quick look around the studio"?. "I'm sorry, we are working here" and with that the door closed.

I took this photograph of the spyhole with his name underneath and made the best print I could on my last few sheet of "Record Rapid" fiber based photographic paper (it was discontinued due to nasty chemicals) and I sent him a copy, hoping for a nice letter back or maybe one of his prints? I never heard back, I bet Dragon Lady never even showed it to him.

Rest in Peace Mr Penn.

Beep,Beep, Yeah!

BP Fallon, or Beep as he is affectionately known, is to me, a living legend. He has known and worked with the most amazing bunch of musicans from the last 40 years. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, T Rex, U2, you name it! Check out his website http://www.bpfallon.com/ and try to keep your claw from dropping open!

Beep very kindly allowed me to photograph him yesterday while back in Dublin for the weedend on a flying visit from New York. I had only contacted him last week, hoping to photograph him sometime in the future and here we were less than a week later! "No time like the Present" says Beep. He made me a lovely cup of herbal tea and was a gentle and gracious host.

Delorentos

Latest shoot for next issue of Hot Press. Delorentos in their home town of Portrane. We visited a few of their favorite locations and got some good stuff. We had just finished taking some shots at The Round Tower when I looked over in the next field and saw this amazing landscape. The lads quickly jumped over the fence, the sun came out and click, this is the result, no digital trickery, no dropped-in skies, just as it was. It's nice when things go right!

Mark Beats Up The Coronas!

When Hot Press asked me to shoot The Coronas for the current cover, they mentioned that their new album was called "Tony Was An Ex-Con". This got me thinking!

I love Police Mug Shots. They are amazing photographs, capturing people usually, though not always, at the worst time of their lives. You can see their worlds collapsing in their eyes, the fear, the shame. Sometimes they are defiant and even funny. Do a search and see what I mean.

Anyway back to The Coronas. I thought what if I shot them as Police Mug Shots and they had resisted arrest! So I made up some signs with their names and got Sinead Hannon to do the make-up. She did a fantastic job, those cuts and bruises looked so real!

The band were great and really got into the spirit of it, there's a couple of good actors in there!

Check out the before and after cover shot!