WellSpring Church in Wirksworth Derbyshire

A corker of a job in the lovely market town of Wirksworth in the Derbyshire Dales. I was lucky to find myself there on a beautiful summer’s day and had help moving bits of furniture from the different rooms I was shooting from three very helpful members of the congregation who had volunteered to help me.

 This build is a wonderful example of how to add a contemporary new extension (and modifications to an existing structure) to what was originally a Methodist church built in 1886. The extension houses a new community kitchen and dining area along with new stairs connecting the kitchen to the rest of the church.

 The structure is filled with natural light thanks to the installation of the large windows on one side and the high ceiling over the kitchen area gives a sense of grandeur to the space. Likewise, the dining area is light and open with plenty of space for people to mingle and chat over some food and drink.  

The modifications are in the large community room where children’s and other activities take place during the week and the spacious prayer room in the old church which is so well linked by the main staircase to the new community kitchen beneath it.   

Interior design - Woolaton in Nottingham

A wonderful morning collaborating with interior designer, Hilary Marconetti, who has completed the first room in this newly purchased (and soon to be completely renovated!) house. This is my preferred way of working where we discuss and try ideas on the shoot to ensure I deliver the shots Hilary wants for her portfolio. The contribution of designers like Hilary bring a fresh perspective to a room and it’s clear that Hilary has the vision to elevate what could be ordinary to something really beautiful, tranquil and extraordinary. I love the soft pastel colour palette and the very cool furniture Hilary sourced from her known suppliers. The room is a calming space with great light streaming in from that gorgeous bay window. I know the family who commissioned her to do the work were delighted with the result and I look froward to seeing what Hilary does with the other rooms in the house. 

Sobraon Barracks Lincoln - exterior

The exterior shots of the building which is matt black in colour and looking amazing against all the greenery in the daylight.  Again, I showed as many different perspectives as I could, to give a sense of the scale of the build and how the structure presents in its immediate surroundings.     

Sobraon Barracks in Lincoln

My first visit to an army barracks! I really didn’t know what to expect but was very quickly put at ease by a very friendly, soon to retire gentleman, with a classic handlebar moustache and cheeky grin with sparkly blue eyes. He’s such a character and had so many stories to tell about the long list of tours he had undertaken, I could have listened to him all day!

 However, there was work to do, so after my cup of coffee and chat I got to work on this new build which the architects responsible for this new structure had commissioned me to photograph. There were three parts to this shoot and I’m starting with the gym.

 These images are of a large, light filled, spacious and well-equipped gym where cadets, reserves and staff members would be using the excellent facilities. The architects requested I photograph the gym with people in it for some shots but sadly that wasn’t possible as the new facility was still waiting for the fire safety certificates to be issued so the gym wasn’t yet officially in use.

 It’s always a challenge to work in mixed lighting situations and tricky to not accidentally photograph myself in the long mirrored walls but I’ve enough experience and practice now to make sure my reflection is clear of all shots.

Sports Facilities at Middlesex University Mauritius

Part of the shoot brief for the university was that I worked with students in the sports complex where they could use the gym and olympic size swimming pool. The Medine Sparc Uniciti is a modern complex and the university wanted to show students using and enjoying the facilities available to them. The marketing team at the university briefed me to provide images which would be used on publicity materials such as the annual student guide which is sent out all over the african continent in the form of a handy sized brochure. The images are also for use on the university website and social media. These are a small selection of the images I was asked to provide. All the students were great fun to work with.