The Olympic gold medalist and two-time world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman came to the Oxford Union and I did some photography at the event. As the event started at 5pm the sun was starting to dip just enough to light up the interior of the library where the event took place so I didn’t have to push the film too much and I really like how these turned out.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, Kodak TMAX 400 @ ISO1600, developed in Kodak HC110 1+31 for 11 mins. Pakon scans.
The Common People music festival took place here in Oxford last weekend and I was fortunate enough to be invited to do some photography. I’m still working my way through developing and scanning the many rolls of film that I shot there but I wanted to share two shots that I’m particularly pleased with of Primal Scream on stage during their performance that closed the festival on Sunday night.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 70-200/2.8, Ilford HP5 @ ISO3200 developed in DDX 1+4 for 20mins. Pakon scans.
The Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity Boxing 2016 event was held at the town hall in Oxford and I was invited along to do some photography to document the occasion. I had previously photographed this event in 2014 and it was nice to be back. It was also nice to see some familiar faces from previous alumni who had come along for support. The overall score was 52 – 52 so tension was high and I’m pleased to say that Oxford won to bring the trophy back home for another year. More pictures to come.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 17-35/2.8, Ilford Delta 400 @ ISO3200, developed in Ilford DD-X 1+4, pakon scans.
One of my favourite things to photograph at the beginning of summer is when Oxford University students celebrate the end of their exams which is also known as trashing. I love the riot of colour and carnival atmosphere of pure celebration and relief all mixed together. I’ve got quite a backlog of pictures to post going back to last year. Here are some pictures from this year with lots more to come.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 85/1.8D, Fuji Press 400 film (expired), Rollei Digibase C41 kit, Pakon scans.
Behind the scenes during filming of Lewis IX on Catte Street in Oxford earlier this summer. This is a very busy location to be filming in and quite difficult for the crew to lock down during each take so it was quite time consuming to film a relatively short scene. Usually I don’t tend to focus my attention on the main cast when doing my behind the scenes photography like most people do because it’s the crew that I feel are the ones that don’t get seen and they’re the ones that are usually doing the most interesting things. Unfortunately some of the Lewis crew were not happy about anyone with a camera being near the set which made it difficult to document things. What a shame and a missed opportunity. Things got even more difficult on subsequent episodes because someone had filmed a key scene of Lewis and Hathaway making an arrest and then uploaded it to YouTube. I’m very careful about photographing anything that might be a spoiler and often only post my pictures here after an episode has been broadcast on tv, as is the case with these pictures.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 85/1.8D, Fuji Superia 400 film developed in a Rollei Digibase C41 kit. Pakon scans.
I photographed my first trashing in Oxford around 25 years ago and this set of pictures from a trashing last year (summer 2014) is one of the most memorable ones for me so far. Not only was the light perfect but the amount and variety of different substances that got layered on was very impressive. Just when it looked like it was all over out came a roll of cling film! I’ve been looking forward to posting this set and after a year of waiting I’m very pleased to show these now.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, Fuji Press 400 film (expired), processed in a Rollei Digibase C41 kit, Pakon scans.
The great Oxford tradition of trashing is here again so it’s time for me to continue posting some of my shots from last year (summer 2014). Recently I’ve been enjoying the idea of not rushing to post images as soon as I can but instead to hold them back for a while and let them mature in my archive. I have no idea where the students in this set of images are now but I’d like to hope that seeing these a year after the event would bring back some happy memories for them of celebration and relief.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, Kodak Hawkeye film, processed in a Rollei Digibase C41 kit. Pakon scans.
Now that winter is here and the weather is getting colder and wetter I think it’s the perfect time to start posting my coverage of the trashing that happened here in Oxford during the summer when it was a lot warmer and sunnier. This was such a lot of fun to photograph but also quite difficult, not only because I had to avoid getting in the firing line of the various liquids that were flying around but also because I kept getting accused of being from the Daily Mail after they published an article about binge drinking and used pictures of Oxford students getting trashed to illustrate it – the two things couldn’t be further apart. It’s hardly surprising really because if the Daily Mail are good at one thing it’s publishing lies – just ask George Clooney.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, Agfa Vista 200 (Poundland) film, processed and scanned by ASDA Swindon.
It’s the time of the year when some Oxford University students are sitting their final exam and immediately after they’ve exited the exam schools they celebrate with their friends in various different ways that can involve lots of colourful confetti, silly string, shaving foam and various liquid refreshments and sometimes food as well. The celebrations are known as trashing and looking through my archive I first photographed it in 1989 (last two pictures). Back then I don’t remember as many students doing it as they do now but no matter how crazy it looks I’ve always enjoyed photographing it because I haven’t come across any other occasion where you can see such a visual expression of pure joy and elation. Friends greeting friends to show their support and help celebrate freedom. Still images can’t really canvey the atmosphere because you really need to hear the laughing, cheering, screaming and shouting that goes along with all of the colour.
This is my first set of pictures from this years’ trashing and there will be lots more to come. Unfortunately I keep being accused of working for the Daily Mail because of a ridiculous article they put out recently about binge drinking that used pictures of Oxford University students celebrating the end of their exams. Tabloid junk at its best. It’s no wonder the Daily Mail have removed the ability to leave a comment under the article. My passion is photography and documenting life, particularly in Oxford which is a place I am proud to call my home town. I don’t judge and I certainly don’t supply my pictures to the tabloid gutter press.
[Tech info:] Nikon FM2, 100/2.8 Series E lens, Kodak Hawkeye film. Processed by ASDA, Swindon.
Oxford, 1989
Some more of my shots from the filming of Testament of Youth in Oxford last month. I still have lots more to post but I’m trying to mix them up a bit with other shots for variety. This shots are from the last set up of the day in front of the Sheldonian Theatre where the camera was mounted on an impressive articulated arm.
[Tech info:] Nikon FM2, 85/1.8, loaded with Fuji Press 400 film. Developed & scanned at ASDA, Swindon.
This set of shots is from the beginning of the Town vs Gown boxing competition where you can see the boxers weighing in and looking a lot more relaxed than they did later on. With these shots I wanted to try out using on camera flash and with some of the shots I was going for that harsh old skool newspaper photography look, similar to the photographer Weegee. The light levels were very low but I like how these turned out.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 50/1.4D, loaded with Ilford XP2 (expired), rated at ISO 400, dev & scan at ASDA, Swindon.
I have never photographed boxing so when I heard about the OUABC’s Town vs Gown competition that was being held at the Oxford Union Society I thought it would be a great opportunity to do some behind the scenes photography. The were already two official photographers covering the fights from ringside but that’s not what interests me. I’m more drawn to to what you don’t usually get to see before and after the fights and I have to say it was a fascinating evening. This is the first set of pictures, more to come. My thanks go to Jack, the boxing club president, for granting me permission and access and also to the rest of the club for being so accommodating.
[Tech info:] Nikon F100, 50/1.4D lens, loaded with Ilford XP2 film, rated at iso 1600, processed for 5mins in a home C41 kit.
