Bank of Dave – November 19th 2013
I’ve just completed a really interesting photography assignment for the French newspaper Le Monde. The subject is entrepreneur Dave Fishwick who has opened the ‘Bank on Dave’. Dave, a mini-bus supplier from Burnley, Lancashire, got so fed up with the way the banks were operating that he decided to set up one of his own. He managed to beat all the regulatory problems and convince the FSA of his case. Dave offers savers 5% and already has a 2 year waiting list of eager savers. He loans to local businesses who desperately need it and any profits go to charity. Channel Four did a recent documentary on him Bank of Dave – Fighting the Fat Cats. All power to him and a great guy! Two of his clients I photographed were Sarah Mottershead who runs the Burnley Bridal Boutique selling wedding dresses, and Rachel McClure who runs Garland’s a florist shop in Oswaldtwistle.
Bank on Dave
Garland’s florist Rachel and Simon McClure
Dave talking with local shoppers outside his Bank in Burnley
Dave with Sarah Mottershead of Burnley Bridal Boutique
Bank on Dave
Dave meeting with his bank staff – love the clocks.
Four Weddings and a funeral…..July 2012
These are some of my favourite images from the four weddings I have photographed over the last few weeks. Ben & Suzy were married at Jacksons Row Synagogue and had their reception at the Great John Street Hotel in the city centre of Manchester. Another Manchester city centre wedding at the Town Hall and reception at Rain Bar for Nadine and Dave. Kate and Dave were married out in Cheshire at Sandhole Barn in Congleton and Steve and Nathalie had an outdoor wedding in the lovely grounds of the Saddleworth Hotel. Most of the wedding couples who have visited our home over the last 18 months have been welcomed by Lily our lovely springer spaniel. Sadly Lily left us this week and is now chasing rabbits in doggie heaven.
Pre wedding shoot at Sandhole Barn – 2nd May 2012
As the weddings for this year are revving up, I photographed a lovely couple, Kate & Dave, last night for their pre-wedding shoot. We met at Sandhole Barn, Congleton, where they are to be married next month. As a venue it should prove to be great for the photographs. I always arrange to meet wedding a couples 5 or 6 weeks before their big day giving us chance to run through and identify the distinctive features that will make their wedding unique. I’m always looking for these shots as they are a vital part of the celebration and make the special memories in years to come.
Downing College, Cambridge wedding – 10 November 2011
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
Nick & Kate wed in Styal – 24 September 2011
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
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
Two recent commissions – wonderful August weddings – 31 August 2011
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
New Manchester bands – 6 May 2011
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
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.
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