About Me
I'm a photographer and I've been in the business for 25 years.
I started taking pictures at a night club called The Joint in Milton Keynes, and back then it was the only place outside of London playing good music and to not have Jacket & Tie dress code.
After bombarding the music press with my images I started getting noticed and photographing larger events at the Milton Keynes Bowl and in London. I went to college, got my qualifications and moved over into major advertising and editorial of all genres, including shooting cars and beer ads, and got my name known working out of London and LA.
Five years ago I moved to my wife's hometown of Pontypridd in South Wales, to settle down and enjoy a family life – and being in such close proximity to the Pop Factory in Porth rediscovered my love of music and shooting bands.
Through this my work has evolved to my being involved with two exciting photography projects working with students.
The first is PLUGGED IN magazine, a music project based in Rhondda Cynon Taff through SONIG, in which both myself and my wife Gail Griffiths, a highly experienced journalist, supporting and mentoring students learn the craft of producing a professional music magazine.
We teach the students how to take photographs of live events, write reviews, interview both local and mainstream bands, and then layout a professionally designed magazine. The first issue, due out in September, will feature an interview with Darran Smith of Funeral For A Friend, and an in-depth review of the Full Ponty festival and Fringe events.
Future issues will include interviews with the LostProphets, Pennie from The Automatic, and Kim from Miss Conduct, as well as featuring lots of talented local bands which are about to break through.
The second project I'm working on is a Performance Photography Project in which I tutor selected students in the art of taking live shots of bands on stage during a limited time scale, culminating in an exhibition of their work in October at The Muni Arts Centre in Pontypridd.
The reason I'm involved in these exciting projects is to give talented young people in Rhondda Cynon Taff a chance of producing work to a professional standard that they can then show prospective employers or universities/colleges where they may go to further advance themselves.
So what I want from you dear reader, is to know about all the music events and gigs in the South Wales area – where I can take my students in order for them to photograph and review these events. For this valuable information I will give anyone associated with the event (Bands, Promoters, Venues, etc) usage of all the photographs I take at the event for free for you to use in whatever way you see fit.
All I ask for in return is a credit when you use my pictures, that will lead back to this myspace site. Bands I have already photographed – and whose images may already appear on this site – can also have a Free CD of images for your own usage (this can be anything from 6 to 60 images). Look forward to having a message from you.
