Human interest

December 6, 2015 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

This photograph made me pause for thought. It is my Greek friend Ilias, taken on a city walk around Hoxton. I’d imagined taking a picture of him, and this was it. I happily gave a little direction to make it happen, and it was part of the process of photography.

It made me think of my self-confessed fear of people and portraits. But looking back over my archive, it becomes clear that this problem doesn’t really exist. I’ve captured a fair few people, some in plain sight and others while I simply observed them from afar. Perhaps I feel safer with the solid majesty of buildings or objects in the control of my studio space. But humans are interesting – and sometimes need not be feared.

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2014 moments #5

December 30, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

I would like to share my 10 most memorable photographs of the year over the coming days with you. These are shots that I am particularly proud of, while each evokes a sense of place and meaning from 2014.

JENNIFER SAUNDERS

A visit to the Hay Festival in June brought work and passion colliding head-on. Armed with a photographer’s pass, I spent a number of days taking shots of the great, good and famous, including legendary funny lady Jennifer Saunders. Her character comes through in this photograph, while the whole experience taught me that I can operate out of my comfort zone, capture portraits – and enjoy it.

Gesticulation

June 7, 2014June 7, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

We all do it. Some of us a lot more than others. This is how we express ourselves, usually with sweeping hand gestures and movements of the arms to make our point and give drama to our outpourings.

In another take from my photography sessions at the Hay Festival, I captured some prominent people in full flow, performing on stage in front of many people.

Tony Fadell (in the main image) is one of the inventors of the iPod and struck me with his broad, expressive hand gestures, while children’s writer Michael Rosen made great use of his tall frame and rangy arms while delivering a talk from the lectern.

Ab Fab legend Jennifer Saunders’ gesticulations, I think, were outdone by her hugely expressive face. All of this is easier to see on photographs after the event, showing the camera still holds great power.

Some of these images also appear on the BBC Arts website.

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Jennifer Saunders

Comic and writer Al Murray

Tony Fadell

Children’s author Michael Rosen

National treasures

June 1, 2014June 1, 2014 / mikeosbornphoto / 25 Comments

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