National treasures
This was when the world of work and photography finally collided.
I spent a six-day stint at the Hay Festival in Wales for my day job. The annual event attracts literary types from far and wide, among them many famous names bringing their wisdom and celebrity to this little tented city in the Powys countryside.
My job doesn’t usually involve taking photographs, but I had that task thrust upon me and quickly became the owner of a photographer’s pass. This gave me licence to crouch by the stage for the first few minutes of any session and grab those pictures.
Photographers have to shuffle around on their knees to cause minimum disruption to the audience, and of course no flash is permitted.
My whole approach to taking pictures had to instantly adapt – there was no time to studiously set up each frame, while my famous subjects were in full flow and not posing for the camera. It was a case of click, click, click with the hope of catching that flattering, engaging shot. My usually low shot rate went through the roof.
And then they had to be swiftly turned around – at a laptop in a portacabin on the site’s muddy fringes – so there was no time to ruminate over whether there was quite enough saturation or some hairs looked out of place.
I was lucky enough to take pictures of people who need no introduction to UK audiences. They’re instantly recognisable and have been known for decades. They were in the midst of performing but not concerned about being photographed.
As for me, the experience has opened up a new side to what I enjoy doing. I was taken out of my comfort zone but felt oddly at ease.
Some of these images appeared on the BBC Arts website.
Click first image to launch the gallery
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- Jennifer Saunders is best known for creating and starring in Absolutely Fabulous and for her long-standing comedy partnership with Dawn French
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- Writer, actor, performer, TV host and wit – just a few of Stephen Fry’s numerous talents
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- Broadcaster Jeremy Paxman presented the BBC’s Newsnight until recently. He has also written many historical books
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- Mary Berry has been a TV cook and writer for many years and is a judge on the hugely popular BBC show the Great British Bake-Off
mikeosbornphoto 
Great opportunity Mike and fab photos, a lot of my favourite writers there :-) Did you get much chance to explore Hay-on-Wye? I’m flying over in September to take my parents on holiday (neither can drive, so I’m chauffeur for the week) and they chose Hay-on-Wye, going to be interesting ;-)
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Thank you Claire! I spent much of the time in a portacabin but it’s a lovely town with beautiful scenery – certainly a good choice on your folks’ part.
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Ah it’s a shame you were mostly in a portacabin, but the experience I’m sure made it all worthwhile :-) We shall see in September whether I get the chance to capture some of that beauty or not ;-)
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Certainly worth taking a camera! I look forward to seeing the results.
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I’m so jealous that you get to spend all that time at Hay for work!
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Thank you for coming by! Well I spent most of my time in a chilly portacabin so it wasn’t too glamorous :) I hope you enjoyed your time there.
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Oh, to have a day job like yours! I know no employment’s all glam and glitz, but to have Jennifer, Stephen, Jeremy and Mary thrust upon you must have been amazing! :D Great images, MIke! :)
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Thanks Richard! No, it wasn’t all glamour but it was a good chance to take some portraits. That lowly click rate of mine was transformed!
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Saw the Festival on BBC 4 last night – how lucky to capture well known people without being asked to move on!
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Thank you Diana, yes, I was allowed by the stage for five minutes and made the most of that slot. Even the accredited photographers are told to shift it eventually :)
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What a great opportunity to photograph those famous British people. What great job you have!
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Thanks Koos. Hmmm, I was very much out of my comfort zone but got used to it. And these are in a sense candids which I prefer with portraits. Do you recognise them? I suspect this may be lost on many non-British friends…
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I don’t watch Newsnight, so I don’t know Mr. Paxman, but Mrs. Saunders, Mrs. Berry and Mr. Fry I do know from television. Of course!
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Well yes, I’d expect this of our friends across the North Sea :) Jeremy caused a storm when he grew a beard and interviewed Russell Brand!
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I grew a beard as well, but didn’t cause a storm in the Netherlands. We’re soooo tolerant ;-)
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Hahahahaha! Did I see your beard? I could have turned it into something controversial :)
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It’s there for many weeks now. I’m so disappointed you didn’t notice it ;-)
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Really? I must seek out evidence…
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I found it, of course. Now it’s not a full face of beard so I could be forgiven for thinking you’d just forgotten to shave ;-)
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Well, my beard is mostly gray, so that’s why you didn’t notice I guess :-D
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It doesn’t cover your face entirely, right? More of an extended goatee.
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N, I’m not a Neanderthaler :-P It’s what they call a ‘hipster beard’ ;-)
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Get you! That’ll make myself and Richard cavemen :-)))
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Charming cavemen ;-)
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Very good!
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