Set Stills Photography with lovable Aussie boys, Hamish and Andy

Some of you might know, that during the summer, Aussie TV and Radio sensations - 'Hamish and Andy' were over here in London filming their new TV show 'Hamish and Andy's Euro Gap Year'. I was pulled in to do some Set Stills Photography, Promotion shots and some behind the scenes photography too. I have to admit, before I got the call about working on the show - I had never heard of them. After a quick Google and Facebook search, I soon realized that these cheeky smilers have a big following on the south side! 1.6million facebook likers and half a million followers on twitter! Zoiks... i hoped they were cool!?

Our first shoot was set for some calamity capers around the London Eye, Westminster and then onto St Johns Wood for some Beatles Abbey Road fun! within 2 mins of meeting the guys i was pleasantly surprised at how absolutely lovely they were! Grounded, polite and great fun! from there on in .... it was all easy!

I hope you like the images and will check out these chaps... Hamish and Andy's Euro Gap Year is showing on ITV4 at the moment, and i guarantee you'll be smiling if you tune in! Enjoy!

Sneak Peek - Music Promo Photography with Tankus The Henge

Today I met up with my crazy friends - Tankus The Henge! I've known and been photographing these lovable lads for the last 4 years now and there has never been a dull moment. With the arrival of their new Drummer, their manager thought it about time we got some new promo shots done... so we headed to the wonderful floating Dutch Barge that is 'Tamesis Dock' on the London Southbank of the Thames... Apart from being a great location, Neema the lovely lady who runs this ship (literally) provides some lovely food and drinks....! get down there and check it out! its magical! :)

The Tankus boys were in fine form, even if it was an early start... and we soon got going with some cheeky antics....

These are just a couple of tasters from the shoot. Hope you like them, and if you fancy coming along to listen to these chaps.... have a look at their facebook page here and come along!! I challenge you to not be able to love them!! ;)

[caption id="attachment_2699" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Music Photography by Simon Harvey on the Southbank with Tankus The Henge[/caption]

London Landscape Photography

This is why I LOVE my job! My brief -  'Shoot some Iconic London Landmarks and Cityscapes along the London Soutbank'. NICE DAY AHEAD! Although i had to rise at 5am to get down to Tower Bridge to catch the sunrise, it was worth it! Every time I have to do a job which involves getting up and out in the dark, I am reminded that there is nothing better than being in London as the sun rises. it really is the best time of day to be in London! Still, calm and truly beautiful ... until the hoards arrive and the buzz takes over again. So, as I was going to be walking around all day long, I didn't want a trailer load of backbreaking gear with me, so opted for my evermore popular choice of kit - my Fuji X-Pro 1 ... in a tiny bag with 3 lenses and a spare battery, a very small Manfrotto tripod and I'm done! LOVE IT! discreet and light allowing me to crack on without feeling depressed each time I know I have to pack up and move on! I started by shooting east towards Butlers Wharf from St Katherine's Dock at sunrise and then spent the day strolling and exploring the Soutbank from Rotherhithe to Westmisnster Bridge...

I'd never been up the OXO Tower and had this in mind for the end of my day. It was thoroughly worth it. I was a bit worried about rocking up there in my jeans and North face photographer kit! ... but the staff were very lovely and guided me to their free public viewing balcony outside - where I was able to wait for the light to drop and the magic of the city lights to come to life!  I wasn't sure how the Fuji X-Pro 1 would cope with long exposures on its small sensor ... but i am very impressed with its clarity and low light noise levels. Not to mention again its sooooooo small! Chuffed!

I hope you enjoy the images as much as i enjoyed my day taking them! :-)

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Picture of the day - 'Feeding Time'

I was working for my fave restaurant yesterday in central London doing their seasonal website update shoot... I love this job for a few reasons, but mainly - great people and great food! whist running about like a mad man between the kitchen and the set, i saw this cutlery thrown into a basket and couldn't help seeing how beautiful it all looked in its chaotic criss crossing entangled mess. Hope you like :-) Enjoy!

Photographing the Southbank with Energy

My lovely clients at  'energy design' gave me a great job recently down along London's Southbank. My shots were to be used in a local area guide, marketing the swanky new 'Grange Garden' housing development down near Bermondsey. These are the sort of jobs i just love!! Me, my camera, lots of walking and hunting out interesting places, features, and funky people. The weather was glorious, so i jumped on my motorbike and headed down there early. My brief was to show the local area, its atmosphere, the characters, the bars and restaurants etc. If there is one aspect to documentary/reportage photography i love it is capturing the things that are there, happening under your nose... I love people watching and seeing people going about their busy lives.

Have to say the cover shot was my fave also, so glad it made it there!! :-)[slideshow]

If you are down that way, why not pop into Grange Garden and see some of my images displayed in the reception area... here are a few shots from my iphone of me having a peek myself last week :-)[gallery columns="4" orderby="ID"]

Flower Power!

My new girl Lis, is somewhat of the 'green fingered' type, and whenever i popped round throughout the summer, was often pottering about in her garden planting , watering or shaping something ... i grabbed ye old Nikon Macro 105mm f2.8VR and started snapping ...and loved it! I've not really done much close up stuff, but i do enjoy the abstract shapes and textures plants and flowers give when seen under close quarters! I think you will agree, some of the colours are stunning! a lot of these images are from Capel Manor Gardens near me in Enfield.... Stunning!

My first 'Civil Partnership' wedding

Not many of you will know that i have a weddings business that i run separately to blitzimages... I don't normally rave about the wedding work, but this was something a bit different! When one of my clients and good friends - Matt, asked me if i would be his photographer for his civil partnership, i was rather nervous in all honesty.... but only as i wasn't sure how i was going to style the shots!!? No big wedding dresses or detail shots here!? I was chuffed he asked me and accepted happily... but knew i would have to get my thinking cap on!

I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised at how good the day went! It was a glorious sunny day, Matt and Jeff were getting hitched at Stoke Newington Town Hall, and the day went like a dream .... Great guests, fabulous venue and some beautiful natural light all went to make my job a dream ...

Please check out the book preview and do leave me a comment if you like the work...

All the best, Simon.

http://www.blurb.com/books/1456152

Latest Project 'BBC Documentary ~ My Life: KARATE KIDS Saturday 13th March BBC2 11.30am'

Karate Kids follows the friendships of two children with cerebral palsy. Tim cannot speak, so best friend Francis is his voice. However, when Tim embarks upon marital arts training his life changes forever. Karate Kids is a unique glimpse into a world that is ignored by mainstream society and often misunderstood by many children. This film challenges the perceptions around childhood disability. From award-winning and BAFTA nominated film-makers Walsh Bros. I worked during the making of the film, producing all the stills for use to promote and document the show.

The whole experience of working amongst these kids was very humbling.I'm very grateful to John Walsh and his production team for giving me the opportunity to work with them on this, and hope now to be doing more of this work and eventually some movie set stills...

Watch this space! ... [gallery]