howardbarlow's Blog

Who was Father McKenzie in the Beatles Eleanor Rigby song ? – 21 December 2011

Howard Barlow — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:09:44 +0000

I photographed the unveiling of the Eleanor Rigby statue seat in Liverpool in 1982 for the Daily Telegraph. Uncle Charlie Lennon sat on the seat next to his ex army friend Tommy McKenzie who told me he was THE Father McKenzie. It was only yesterday when I sold one of my limited edition photographs that I decided to find out more about who Father McKenzie and Eleanor Rigby were. On researching I have found countless explanations. The name of the 1966 song’s character was actually Father McCartney for a while, but Paul didn’t want anyone to confuse this with his dad, so one account has Paul thumbing through a telephone directory until he came up with McKenzie. The one person who claimed to be THE real Father McKenzie was not a priest but Tommy McKenzie a friend and fellow army veteran of Uncle Charlie Lennon. He was also the compere of the Beatles five concerts at Northwich Memorial Hall between 1962-63 and a close friend of the band when he lived in Liverpool.

My photograph of Father McKenzie (left) with Uncle Charlie Lennon at the unveiling of the Eleanor Rigby statue seat in Liverpool 1982

Eleanor Rigby was originally a Miss Daisy Hawkins according to Donovan whom McCartney played the song before it was finished with completely different lyrics. Paul also claims he came up with the name Eleanor from actress Eleanor Bron, who had starred in the Beatles film Help! However, it has been pointed out that the graveyard of St Peters Church in Liverpool, where John Lennon and Paul MCartney first met, contains the gravestone of an individual called Eleanor Rigby. Paul McCartney has admitted he may have been unconsciously influenced by the name on the gravestone. In the 1980s, a grave of an Eleanor Rigby was “discovered” in the graveyard of St. Peter’s Parish Church in Woolton, Liverpool, and a few yards away from that, another tombstone with the last name McKenzie scrawled across it. During their teenage years, McCartney and Lennon spent time sunbathing there, within earshot of where the two had met for the first time during a fete in 1957. Many years later McCartney stated that the strange coincidence between reality and lyric could be a product of his subconscious, rather than being a meaningless fluke. The actual Eleanor Rigby was born in 1895 and lived in Liverpool, possibly in the suburb of Woolton, where she married a man named Thomas Woods. She died on 10 October 1939 at age 44. Whether this Eleanor was the inspiration for the song or not, her tombstone has become a landmark to Beatles fans visiting Liverpool. A digitised version was added to the 1995 music video for The Beatles’ reunion song “Free as a Bird”.

Actor Daniel Evans for The Observer – 27 November 2011

Howard Barlow — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:14:45 +0000

Daniel Evans photographed in Sheffield for today's Observer

It’s not every week one has a full page photograph published in The Observer (although I have had a few), so it was a particular pleasure to open the paper this morning to see my photograph of actor Daniel Evans. I went over to Sheffield on Tuesday evening to photograph Daniel at the Crucible Theatre where he is artistic director. Jay Rayner’s interview is about him taking on the lead acting role in a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. The Observer asked me for a bright picture that would have impact as a full page. The Crucible couldn’t provide the back drop I was looking for so after a quick reccy I did the shoot at the Lyceum next door on the set of Buddy. We only had a few minutes between Daniel finishing his Company rehearsal and the curtain going up for Buddy.

Devonshire Dome wedding – 21 November 2011

Howard Barlow — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:41:02 +0000

What an amazing venue the Devonshire Dome in Buxton is. A couple of weeks ago I photographed Viv & George’s fantastic wedding day there. It was once a magnificent 18th century stable block built by the 5th Duke of Devonshire. The dome was completed in 1882 as the Royal Devonshire Hospital and is over 150 ft in diameter, bigger than St Paul’s Cathedral in London, and was once the largest unsupported dome in the world and still is in Britain. The autumnal colours outside were just beautiful with lots of light coming through the dome, for a photographer at this time of year this was a big bonus.

Viv & George's wedding under the giant dome

Viv and her dad arrive at the Dome

Best man John

Viv & George take a walk around the grounds after the ceremony

Breaking from tradition 'a pork-pie wedding cake'

Downing College, Cambridge wedding – 10 November 2011

Howard Barlow — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:58:21 +0000

I was in Cambridge again a couple of weeks ago to photograph Emily and James’s wedding at Downing College. As with all weddings I like to do a recce of the venue before and the college did not disappoint, the chapel and grounds looked beautiful with the autumn colours against the magnificent columns. At the rehearsal Emily, her dad and bridesmaids play acted how they would arrive for the wedding, in the low setting sun they mimed arriving in the wedding car, a lot of fun and helpful for me to test out the challenging lighting conditions as the wedding party entered the chapel. I was really pleased with the results on the day, the black & white shot of the bride and her bridesmaids coming through the doors worked amazingly well, the recce certainly paid off. The wedding itself was a fantastic day, Emily & James and their families were a pleasure to photograph. The reception was across the road at the University Arms Hotel.

Emily, her Dad and bridesmaids mime arriving in the wedding car

Emily and party arriving at Downing College chapel

Bridesmaids eagerly await as Emily slips into her wedding dress

James and his bestmen head for the chapel

An ushers notes for the day !

Father and Grandfather of the bride arrive at Downing College

Eagerly awaiting the bride

Page boy

Emily and her dad prepare to walk down the aisle

Wonderful available light for signing the register

After signing the register Emily & James enter back into the chapel

A classic wedding group set against Downing College chapel

Grandfather drives the new Mr Mrs Hutchison to the reception

Emily's parents head back to the reception

My rock music photographs now on t-shirts – 19 October 2011

Howard Barlow — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:48:40 +0000

I have teamed up with a new aspiring company Don’t Talk To Me About Heroes. They have signed up “12 of the greatest music photographers” to produce a series of t-shirts. So if you like my rock band photographs they are now available for you to wear through donttalktomeaboutheroes.com in amazing quality. The website is only a few days old so have a look. Aki, who has set up this photographer’s project called me this morning to say my shot of Tom Verlaine is one of the favourite hits and selling well. Creative Review have just done a very positive write-up and used 2 of my images in their article. Let me know what you think !

Tom VERLAINE frontman of New York rock band TELEVISION, Free Trade Hall, Manchester 1977

BLONDIE - Free Trade Hall, Manchester 1977

Iconic Manchester landmarks commission – 6 October 2011

Howard Barlow — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:51:27 +0000

I have been commissioned by leading Manchester law firm KUITS to provide wall art for their refurbished city centre offices. Over the last couple of months I have photographed buildings Kuits have been associated with, along with other iconic Manchester scenes. I have had the photographs printed as Giclée Fine Art Prints (pronounced “gee-clay”). They are extremely high quality, archival grade, digital prints that use an ultra fine inkjet printing process to produce photographs of intense colour and vibrancy. Giclée printing is widely regarded as one of the very best photographic and fine art printing methods currently available. You can view and purchase these and other photographs on my website. Great gift idea.

Manchester URBIS building

Manchester Salford Calatrava Bridge from Deansgate to the Lowry Hotel

Manchester Spinningfields district reflected in a silver diner - no not New York!

Manchester Sport City, Eastlands

Manchester Civil Justice Centre - law courts

URBIS and the PRINTWORKS

Nick & Kate wed in Styal – 24 September 2011

Howard Barlow — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:28:16 +0000

Nick & Kate got married in Styal, well Styal Lodge to be precise. A lovely purpose built wedding venue just outside Wilmslow in Cheshire. As a photographer there was plenty of available light, especially in the lounge area set aside for the bride to get ready. My favourite shot from the day was when Kate’s dad saw his daughter for the first time in her wedding dress.

Wow! Kate's dad sees his daughter for the first time in her wedding dress

Kate's bridesmaids help her into the wedding dress

Final touches

Kate all ready to go (except for that curler!)

The big moment, Kate & Nick make their vows

Caroline Castigliano dress v Nikon D700 – 10 September 2011

Howard Barlow — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:57:32 +0000

I’ve had my Nikon D700 cameras for nearly 2 years and never used the 3200 iso rating… until yesterday. The results with hardly any light on Katie’s stunning Caroline Castigliano were equally stunning. Katie & Steven were married at Davenport Green Hall, Hale in Cheshire. It was a beautiful wedding and after the poor recent weather, lovely for the wedding party to be able to enjoy the warm September evening.

Katie's Caroline Castigliano wedding dress at 3200 iso on my Nikon D700

Young usher Joshua lit by his i-phone at 3200 iso - reminiscent of the great photographer W. Eugene Smith's comment "Available light is any damn light that is available".

First dance at 3200 iso

window light at 400 iso

Katie and her dad Michael

Harrogate wedding commission – 4 September 2011

Howard Barlow — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:49:22 +0000

I photographed Mark & Deborah’s lovely wedding on Sunday. It was a very happy day, the venue was the Old Swan Hotel in picturesque Harrogate. These are some of my favourite moments…

Mark gets some advice from the Rabbi at the tish before the chuppah ceremony

Deborah in the bedeken room at the Old Swan as Mark arrives

Deborah circles Mark 7 times under the chuppah at the start of the marriage

Deborah

Mark and Deborah are raised up on chairs during the Horah (Israeli dancing) and hold the ends of a handkerchief symbolising a Jewish legal requirement known as kinyan sudar

Two recent commissions – wonderful August weddings – 31 August 2011

Howard Barlow — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:58:11 +0000

Having a wedding in August you would expect a good chance of sunshine. Sharmini & Kevin planned a beautiful outdoor wedding at Thornton Manor on the Wirral and that is exactly what they got, but it was touch and go right up to the last minute. With 15 minutes to ceremony time, all the guests were assembled in the marquee, then the rain passed and they made the decision to go ahead with their dream wedding outside. The setting was magnificent. Straight after the ceremony the couple slipped away and re-appeared sailing across the lake arriving in front of the marquee to the applause of their friends and family. For their amazing ‘first dance’ they used a giant keyboard to step out the music of Kraftwork.

Sharmoni & Kevin hit the 'piano dance floor' for their amazing first dance.

Sharmini & Kevin arrive by boat to their wedding reception at Thornton Manor

Sharmini & Kevin...just married

Signing the register

David & Clare were married at Menorah Synagogue, South Manchester where they first met as children in the cheder. These are some of my favourite pictures from a truly lovely wedding.

Proud Dad Alex walks Clare through to the chupah

David & Clare in a quiet moment after the ceremony

the littlest bridesmaid

Pre-wedding shoots last week – 8 August 2011

Howard Barlow — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:27:02 +0000

For every wedding I photograph, I offer a ‘pre-wedding’ shoot as part of the commission. I feel it is important to get to know the couple before their big day, it helps them feel more relaxed and confident about being photographed. It also gives Kerry and I a chance to sit down discuss the finer details of the wedding day. During August and September I am photographing five weddings; David & Clare at Menorah Synagogue, Sharmini & Kevin at Thornton Manor on the Wirral, Mark & Deborah at the Old Swan in Harrogate, Steven & Katie at Davenport Green Hall in Hale, Kate & Nick at Styal Lodge. They are all beautiful venues and promise to be very photogenic weddings. Below are photographs from their pre-wedding shoots.

Nick & Kate - wedding at Styal Lodge, Wilmslow

David & Clare - chuppah at Menorah Synagogue

Steven & Katie - wedding at Davenport Green Hall, Hale

Kevin & Sharmini - wedding at Thornton Manor on the Wirral

Mark & Deborah - chuppah at The Old Swan in Harrogate

Welsh country wedding – 20 July 2011

Howard Barlow — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:20:33 +0000

I have just posted out the photographs of Johnny & Emily’s beautiful Welsh wedding. Emily’s mum Liz had the honour of marrying her daughter in the tiny picturesque chapel on Anglesey with the reception at the luxury Tre-Ysgawen Hall spa hotel, Llangefni. Here are some of my favourites from the day.

Cambridge wedding and our great British summer !! – 30 June 2011

Howard Barlow — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:24:15 +0000

We covered a lovely wedding at the weekend at South Farm near Cambridge. With the forecast set for sunshine and showers, Robert and Lisa hedged their bets for the ceremony. They set up two possible venues, outside in the beautiful gardens but if it rained, in the lovely beamed barn. Thirty minutes before the wedding the sun was shining and guests were beginning to assemble in the gardens, then, you guessed it, the heavens opened and it was a quick dash to the barn. As a photographer I had chosen my positions carefully for the outdoor service and was excited by the photo opportunities, the beautiful bride being escorted by her father into the little summer house beside the pond…etc… But it was not to be and I headed for the barn. But South Farm is a fabulous wedding venue and it worked out really well, the barn was charming and much more intimate. Lisa and Robert’s family were much closer to the ceremony than they would have been outside. As the rain pounded on the barn roof and at times drowned out the vows, I was able to take lots of natural pictures. I particularly liked this shot, as Lisa and Robert officially became husband and wife.

Robert & Lisa at their South Farm wedding

Politicians exhibition and talk – 25 June 2011

Howard Barlow — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:52:04 +0000

This week I have given two lectures and had an exhibition ‘Politicians’ at south Manchester’s first Jewish Arts Festival. During the 80′s and 90′s I was commissioned to cover many of the party political conferences for The Independent and Daily Telegraph. I have hundreds of negatives from Blackpool and Brighton as well as other shots of politicians from interviews and election campaigns. I am slowly going through these ‘contact sheets’ and the hope is that I will have a book and bigger exhibition next year. Here are four of the images. Others in the exhibition click here.

William Hague wins the Richmond by-election in 1989, flanked by Lord Sutch and members of the Monster Raving Loony Party

Margaret Thatcher - Tory Conference Brighton 1988

Eric Heffer leaves the Imperial Hotel Blackpool after being kicked off the Labour executive 1988

Barbara Castle nods off at the 1988 Labour conference in Blackpool

I had the privilege yesterday (26 June) of showing MP Paul Goggins my "Politicians" exhibition

Pied Wagtail in our garden – 13 June 2011

Howard Barlow — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:53:49 +0000

It was lovely to see a Pied Wagtail feeding her young this morning on our lawn. There has been a dramatic fall in the Wagtail population over the last few years, related to insect supplies and use of chemicals. Certainly no chemicals used on our lawn it is mainly moss! which does provide good nest material. We have young Bull Finches, tree and house sparrows at the moment. The more birds in the garden the less slugs eating our plants!

Pied wagtail feeding her young in our garden

Barry Manilow’s photographer – 11 May 2011

Howard Barlow — Wed, 11 May 2011 07:31:06 +0000

Back home after having spent last week in London as Barry Manilow’s personal photographer for four nights. My commission, from his Los Angeles management, was to take backstage photographs after each performance of Barry with friends and family. The first night party guests included one of my favourite comedians Miranda Hart and television presenter Cat Deely. The four sell-out shows were at London’s O2 arena and also featured Lorna Luft (Judy Garlands daughter) and the amazing Straight No Chaser, as support band. It was great to be part of a very professional and slick team, they move onto Las Vegas now for a full season of concerts. Barry was very complimentary about my photography and hoped we could work more together…here’s hoping.

Miranda Hart & Cat Deely with Barry Manilow at his after show party

New Manchester bands – 6 May 2011

Howard Barlow — Fri, 06 May 2011 10:28:05 +0000

Had a wonderful time photographing these upcoming Manchester bands for The Guardian. The shoot was at Islington Mill in Salford and the bands were my old friends Egyptian Hip Hop, along with Young British Artists, Golden Glow and Plank! The Guardian wanted all the bands on one shot and we chose the top floor of the mill, a big empty space which I dressed with props I found around the building. An old easel, a settee, chairs, muslin fabric, iron artwork and a piece of wooden frame with 3 windows, I felt like Tracey Emin creating this tapestry for my photograph. I was pleased with the result, and more importantly The Guardian were (they are running the pic as a double page on May 28 in a pull out guide to the Manchester International Festival) . We only had about 20 minutes as a number of the guys in the bands had to get back to their day jobs. Egyptian Hip Hop went home on their bikes…now that’s rock & roll!

Egyptian Hip Hop leave the shoot on their bikes !

Royal Wedding Day celebrations – 29 April 2011

Howard Barlow — Sun, 01 May 2011 20:30:22 +0000

As a member of the British Press Photographers Association, I was involved on this Royal Wedding Day with a number of other professional photographers, in documenting life around the world on 29 April 2011. Each of us transmitted images as they happened to a huge plasma screen set up in London where the World Photography Organisation were holding their annual festival. My submission was life in the little Cheshire village of Rostherne, where villagers, after watching Prince William & Kate Middleton get maried on television, held a sports day and celebrations on the cricket field. There will be a book published later.

Pre wedding shoot on Anglesey – 2 April 2011

Howard Barlow — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:56:29 +0000

We spent a lovely few hours on Anglesey at the weekend photographing Johnny & Emily on Benllech beach. They are getting married in July and as part of our wedding packages, Kerry and I like to do a pre-wedding shoot to help couples feel comfortable being photographed on their big day. Like a lot of brides to be, Emily was a little nervous about the shoot. She needn’t have been, she looks like a super model and we had alot of fun taking the pictures. I particularly love this b & w photograph taken into the sun. After visiting the pretty Welsh chapel we went on to have a look at the reception venue, Tre-Ysgawen Hall at Capel Coch, Llangefni with it’s beautiful garden. It’s going to be a very photogenic wedding.

Santa Cruz – Independent assignment 31 March 2011

Howard Barlow — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:26:55 +0000

When The Independent phoned me last night and asked me to photograph Santa Cruz, I thought they were sending me on a travel assignment! Roque Santa Cruz is a Paraguay international footballer signed by Manchester City for £17.5m in 2009 from Blackburn. Todays photoshoot was back at Blackburn Rovers where he is on loan from City. What a great guy he is. Ten years ago he started supporting underprivileged children in his home country of Paraguay, with money he has earn’t from football. To date he has personally financed around 10 new schools and supported many other education projects. The Roque Santa Cruz Foundation has saved hundreds of street children and given Roque more satisfaction than any of his World football medals. See my picture and read Sam Wallace’s story in Saturday’s Independent.