Fast & Furious Changes.

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Fast and Furious, Film, Film Premiere, Leicester Square, london, Paul Walker, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet, the empire, Vin Diesel

I have been rather light on the blog as late as I am in the process of switching website (and blog) providers over so that everything is hosted at Zenfolio.  This means that although the website will keep the overall structure,  it will have a more generic look and feel. The real key for this is to minimise the amount of time I need to spend checking the site is secure and managing content. I will be able to change the displayed slideshows and portfolio far more easily and hence more regularly.

I have also changed my strategy regarding image sharing and social media. In the past I used Flicker as the platform to host my images to share on media such as twitter and Facebook mainly because Flickr has such a high rank in the Google search engine and it meant my images were found easier (and a few sales did result). From now on though, with the sharing and SEO tools of Zenfolio, all of my sharing will be done right from my site, hopefully pulling in more visitors and improving my own ranking. Only time will tell if this works.

In the meantime a gallery of this weeks Fast and Furious Premiere at The Empire.

From the Archive: Kirk and Spock

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Chris Pine, Film, Film Premiere, image, images, kirk, Leicester Square, london, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet, spock, star trek, Zachary Quinto

With the forthcoming release of ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ I thought this weeks Archive could be the two major characters; Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto aka. Captain Kirk and Spock.

This photograph is from the 2009 premiere.

Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto attends UK premiere of Star Trek at Empire Leicester Square, London on 20/04/2009.

UK Premiere of G.I. Joe: Retaliation on 18/03/2013

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celebrity, Film, Film Premiere, G.I. Joe, image, images, Leicester Square, london, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet, the empire

A wet premiere in London’s Leicester Square with a long wait for Tatum Channing (who got delayed in traffic after a days filming).

European Premiere of Oz the Great and Powerful on 28/02/2013

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celebrity, European Premiere, Film, Film Premiere, image, images, Leicester Square, london, Oz the Great and Powerful, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet, the empire

What to expect when you are expecting

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Anna Kendrick, BFI IMAX, Cameron Diaz, Cheryl Cole, Cheryl Tweedy, Film Premiere, gig photography, image, images, Live Music, london, Noah Stewart, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, professional photographer, Red Carpet, singer, singing, UK premiere, Union Chapel, What To Expect When You're Expecting

.. or … it’s not just about turning up and shooting; you need to plan as well.

As you are probably aware, the position of any photographer at a premiere is determined by a random draw; press cards are put in a bag and as they are drawn out, each photographer selects their position from the remaining space. With both Cheryl Cole and Cameron Diaz expected at this event there were bound to be a lot of photographers at the BFI IMAX, a venue where there can be very little space. My gut feeling was “trouble” so I packed a longer lens than normal, a set of steps and headed off.

My fears were totally correct, not only was there a very small amount of space (which was extended slightly into a L shape), I was drawn last. It was only with thanks to a colleague that I could actually see anything at all but being in the “L” it did mean I was shooting against a horrible background.

Photographers Waiting

Whilst I had to try and photograph full length images, I felt the best chance  was to go for tight portraits…

Actress Anna Kendrick

Cameron Diaz

Cheryl Cole

My images of this event my be licensed from PhotoShot. The full set of my What to expect when your expecting may be licensed here.

Leaving this event at 7pm, I then dashed over to Islington to photograph Noah Stewart performing acoustically at the Union Chapel, Islington. The contrast between the two jobs was obviously huge; from a busy, crowded, noisy film premiere to the quiet stillness of the church with just 2 other photographers in attendance.

The church holds a special place for me as my great uncle married here and I clearly remember his best man (twin brother) dropping the ring and it rolling down the isle.

The hall was the perfect location for Noahs powerful un-amplified voice:

Noah Stewart

Noah Stewart

My images of Noah Stewart event my be licensed from PhotoShot. The full set of my Noah Stewart at Union Chapel may be licensed here.

European Premiere of Dark Shadows

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Dark Shadows, European Premiere, Eva Green, Film, Film Premiere, Helena Bonham Carter, image, images, Johnny Depp, Leicester Square, london, Michelle Pfeiffer, photographer, Photographs, Photos, portraits, professional photographer, Red Carpet, the empire

So, at last! Its back to Leicester Square – the newly refurbished square (well its not quite finished). The event seemed to far far more room than before and it felt really good to be back.

It was a case of quality not quantity with this event with a few stars turning up, but those that did were….

Actress Eva Green

As you can see, I was on the carpet, with VIP access.

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer signing

The atmosphere was great, with many fans having arrived before 9AM and waited in the pouring rain.

Actress Helena Bonham Carter

Of course, the film is another collaboration between Tim Burton and Johhny Depp

Actor Johnny Depp

A complete set of my images of European Premiere of Dark Shadows can be licensed from PhotoShot here and here (they are split in 2 sets).

Gala Screening of All In Good Time

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"All In Good Time", Actor, Actress, Amara Karan, BFI Southbank, Film, Film Premiere, london, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Reece Ritchie

A Gala screening for “All In Good Time” was held at the BFI Southbank on  Tuesday 8th May.

Due to the trains running late (a “Bridge Strike”, Broken rail AND Broken down train), I arrived just as the first guests (Actor Reece Ritchie – Prince of Persia: Sands of Time) and Actress Amara Karan (St. Trinians) were being photographed.

Actor Reece Ritchie and Actress Amara Karan

The blurb about the film says:

When their hard saved for honeymoon is cancelled the day after the wedding, the newlyweds have no choice but to return to the Dutt household and set up home there.

As prying family members and gossipy neighbours conspire to keep the couple from consummating their marriage, Atul and Vina start to panic. But if they can just keep their situation private, and if they can just get a bit of time alone, all could be saved for this pair.

So with meddling parents, nosey neighbours and a community that thrives on gossip, can their marriage last?

Well, they look quite good together here, so who knows…..

Photos from the Gala screening of “All in Good Time” can be viewed and licensed from PhotoShot: here.

Some recent work

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Anthony Daniels, C3PO, celebrity, concert photography, Daniel Radcliffe, Ed Moses, Film, Film Premiere, gig photography, image, images, Kaiser Chiefs, Kate Winslet, Live Music, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet, TITANIC 3D, World Premiere

Anthony Daniels who played C3PO in all 6 Star Wars Movies with a Lego model of his character at Star Wars Episode 1 3D at The Empire, Leicester Square on 8th February 2011

 

Daniel Radcliffe signs posters before introducing a screening of The Woman in Black at The Empire, Leicester Square, London on 11th Feb 2011

 

Kaiser Chiefs play the HMV Apollo Hammersmith on 23rd Feburary 2012.

 

Athlete Ed Moses attends the Sport Relief Mile 2012 at the Royal Parks

 

Actress Kate Winslet attends the World Premiere of TITANIC 3D on Tuesday 27th March 2012

Real Steel, with Hugh Jackman

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Film, Film Premiere, Hugh Jackman, image, images, london, photographer, Photographs, Photography, Photos, portraits, premiere, professional photographer, Real Steel, Red Carpet, Robots, the empire

You may have noticed that this blog has been devoid of any Film Premiere entries for quite a while (if you ignore last months FrightFest). 

The reason? Westminster Council have been refurbishing Leicester Square ready for next years Olympics. Most people would assume that this would be done in stages, maybe a section at a time, minimising the impact on the use of the square and the business within it. When you think of the amount of trade the cinemas bring into the square and its surrounds you would have thought the council would have worked with them, ensuring that the square was able to continue hosting premieres. No. For the past approximately 9 months the square has been in such a state of upheaval that hosting a premiere has been almost impossible. There has not been enough room. In fact for much of the time it has been a struggle even for pedestrians a tourists to navigate the area without having to avoid diggers, dumpers and other plant.

Boxer Amir Khan

During this time the film industry had no choice but to seek alternative venues with the prime benefactor being The Vue inside Westfield Shopping Centre.  I'm sorry but a shopping centre just does not cut it. Even Tom Hanks seemed somewhat bemused at the location.

Titan the robot meets the fans

We I'm glad to say that is changing again. Today the barriers were moved back away from the front of The Empire and the square was once again able to host a major premiere - "Real Steel", a Disney film featuring boxing robots and Hugh Jackman.

Hugh Jackman meets fans

It felt good to be back in the square, there was a great atmosphere and Hugh was obviously enjoying himself at what he referred to on stage as his "family screening" with over 30 members of the Jackman clan in the cinema.

Hugh Jackman with robot Titan

Hugh was joined on the carpet not only by the director, Shawn Levy but also a robot called Titan.

Director Shawn Levy

Lets hope the contractors get their fingers out and complete the works so the square can return to its rightful place as the premiere location.

Brighton Rock (from a distance)

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brighton rock, celebrity, Film Premiere, helen mirren, london, photographer, Photography, premiere, professional photographer, Red Carpet

There are big problems for premieres in Leicester Square at the moment. Westminster council are re-developing the square ready for the 2012 olympics to provide a more modern public space. The problem is the hoardings they have placed to hide the works leaves only a small public walkway around the edge.

On Tuesday, this left a large number of photographers (it was a large turnout for Dame Helen Mirren) squashed in to an enclosure about 18ft wide. Usually we expect their to be about 3 rows of photographers, this allows the front to be standing, the second on a small step and the rear on a 3 step ladder. For Brighton Rock we were at 5 rows! Not only that, I was in row 5!!

A few did leave but I thought I would wait and see what I could get. Magazines and papers really want a mixture of images but particularly full length shots, especially of the women. From my 5th row, shooting between others (and leaning heavily on a good friend who was stuck next to me), full lengths were not really an option, this is the closest I got..

Dame Helen Mirren attends the European premiere of Brighton Rock

I concentrated on getting some nice portraits…

Dame Helen Mirren attends the European premiere of Brighton Rock