lincolnshire
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.
Here I’m making images of the training classrooms for cadets and the servicing area for army vehicles where cadets are taught mechanics and vehicle maintenance. The two classrooms I photographed have great light and could be made into one large open space when the moveable wall separating the two rooms is pushed back.
The maintenance part of the building beneath the classrooms is so large that it felt a bit like being in an aircraft hanger! When I saw the size of the army trucks parked outside I understood why so much space was needed. The shutter doors were also big and solid and everything around me seemed oversized. Hence lots of work with my wide-angle lenses to show off the different perspectives of all that space in the servicing and maintenance area.
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.
Out in the countryside photographing an exquisite property with a large cellar, extensive grounds with fruit trees and a series of outhouses which could provide workshops, studios and a large utility room. It was the the best day to be working in a property like this with sunlight coming through all the large windows to show off the beauty of the very different rooms and spaces around the property. The front of the house is discreetly set back from the narrow lane so walking through the front entrance definitely gives the wow factor and a feel of just how beautiful this property is as you make your way inside. I was keen to capture that sense of wonder and awe for prospective buyers as you step inside the front door and into one of the spacious reception rooms offering tranquil views across the grounds.
I had my work cut out for this shoot given how many buildings I had to get round but also extensive grounds that I could have happily worked in all day. The weather was beautiful and the garden was well organised with distinct areas for growing, playing and sitting in quietly to eat and drink, read, reflect or just listen to the birds. The colours and textures were rich and varied and I realised how much joy it gave the owners to walk around the space and enjoy the different areas of their garden. I wanted to show how the distinct areas all connected so that prospective buyers could get a feel for the layout of the garden and just how much it had to offer. I admit that exploring and photographing this garden did make me want to have my own little green space to cultivate and maybe even photograph. In the meantime here’s some of my favourite shots from photographing this wonderful space.
I admit I got very lucky with the weather on this shoot. Beautiful blue skies and a lovely part of Lincolnshire to be working in. This home is down a quiet country lane and externally is quite understated. The outdoor space is very generous and the view out of the kitchen is wonderful. You could sit peacefully on the patio looking out all afternoon! A great space for entertaining friends or hosting a large family gathering. The interior was a joy to shoot as there was lots of sunlight streaming through the windows and cosy rooms to settle down in for the evening with wood burners and large sofas. The owners were very friendly and accommodating by clearing surfaces and tidying up so that I could move from room to room easily and concentrate on what the best angles were to make images from. This is a small selection from the shoot.
I have long had an interest in photographing architecture and all sorts of buildings both commercial and residential. I like pondering what makes a structure a great place to live or work and thinking about what lessons we have learnt from the past about how we utilise space. The buildings we occupy should be not only functional but also spaces where we want to spend time and simply enjoy being there. The best architecture does, of course, lift our spirits and makes us feel happy to wander around and explore different areas and watch the play of light in and around the structure. We have an emotional connection to the space and look forward to our visit to either work rest or play. Lately I have been lucky to visit some lovely homes to photograph in preparation for selling and had the pleasure of meeting and talking to interesting people. Here's an example of some of the homes I've had the pleasure to work in.
It's always an honour to enter someone's home who is willing to give me total access to take photographs. I don't take the trust for granted so I move from space to space as discreetly as possible and I'm acutely mindful that I'm in someone else's home. Although I work systematically I take the time to think when I'm in a space and consider where the best places are to place my tripod and begin work. As ever, the devil is in the detail when shooting property, so I am constantly assessing the space as I work to make sure everything looks right. Wherever possible I will remove or move things around to make the image work as well as possible to show off the space. Getting back to my desk, shortlisting and editing each photograph is where I finally decide which images will be shown to the estate agent and vendor of course. It's lovely to get positive feedback but I continue to learn all the time because I want to produce the best images I possibly can.
