Maria Ortega on Eastbourne beach last week. Outwardly healthy, positive and jolly, 46 year-old Maria has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Her symptoms took years to diagnose, she sometimes has trouble walking and problems with other simple tasks.
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The Soprano
Hayley Westenra, 24 year-old New Zealand opera singer, who I shot for The Times. Her first album reeased in 2003 was the fastest selling debut classical album ever. After recently breaking down in tears while speaking at an earthquake memorial service, she is currently organising a benefit concert to raise funds for her hometown of Christchurch.
From Mud To Matisse
A few shots of a recent From Mud To Matisse art history workshop for children. The course is run by my wife, Nicola and art historian Henrietta Gibb. It's proving to be a great success, really engaging children of all ages in the work of old masters and modern artists, as well as enabling them to create their own still-life masterpiece on canvas.
Executive Away-Day
Dig out the flip charts and name badges, It's team building away-day time for the good people of Peter Charles Ltd.
Stranger On A Train
I was quite pleased with this reflective portrait. I used the hipstamatic app on my iphone, and it's not a stranger, it's my wife.
Up Against The Wall
My grumpy old editor from The Melody Maker told me never to accept photos of people shot against brick walls. It's not the most imaginative background I know, but to add some continuity and a light touch of urban grittiness to these profile pictures of the staff from groovy design agency Fjord, a bit of interior brickwork seems to work quite well.
Kid Rock
It's a wet half-term holiday morning so why not get rockin' in dad's office! Here's Billy (6) on lead guitar with his little sister Daisy Mae (5) on drums, seconds later she had a hissy fit and smashed up her kit in true Keith Moon style.
Brigit & Vicky Van Dijk-Van de Rejit
This is Brigit with her baby daughter Vicky. They wanted a few relaxed reportage-style family pics. A lovely family with a very long sir name, they also turned out to be quite photogenic.
Freema Agyeman
This was shot for The Times in Soho. Freema is currently appearing on US tv in the London-based series Law & Order: UK and to help americans understand the show's britishisms, (eg. what bloke means and that we drink a lot of tea), the tv network commissioned a short tutorial to help Americans learn the difference between their “bollocks” and their “bloodys”. It's hilarious, watch it here:
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/01/12/law-and-order-uk-deciphering-the-britishisms/
Wanderlust Portraits
Three pictures shot in London streets of people who have recently taken part in volunteer overseas work. Sarah Elliot with ruck-sack and lap-top worked on comunity and environmental projects for young people in Costa Rica for Raleigh International. www.raleighinternational.org. Cicely Brown in african costume helped out at a non-profit making computer training business in Nigeria for the VSO. www.vso.org.uk. Ed Stocker in yellow t-shirt taught children in Equador aboard the Book Bus. www.thebookbus.org
They all appear with their full stories in the current February edition of Wanderlust magazine. www.wanderlust.co.uk
Black and White Christmas Wedding
A few pics from Sian Clarke and James Bird's wedding last weekend at The ICA in The Mall. It was a properly snowy day which really added to the excitement. The major worry was if anyone would turn up but although there were travel problems getting home afterwards, it was a fantastic day with a glamourous couple and a great wedding venue.
Laura & Lee's Big Day
Here's a few pictures from Laura Hill and Lee Robert's wedding at The Avenue, St. James' London SW1. It was an honour and a privilege to capture Laura and Lee's wedding day. Good poeple, fantastic food and hilarious speeches, a truly memorable day.