About
I have been working as a professional photographer since 1987, having completed the NCTJ photo-journalism course in Sheffield, UK, and passed exams with credits and distinctions.
I have always pitched myself as an all-rounder, happy to take on any assignment under any pressure in any location. I have maintained that stance even today, when it is far more common to be a 'specialist' and concentrate on shooting one thing.
To that end you will find me equally at home shooting in a conflict zone as you would having five minutes with an 'A-list' celebrity or working a major sporting event.
Throughout the years I have indeed covered many major events, some of which include:
Hard News. 2 months in Afghanistan in 2001 covering the conflict. 2 trips to Iraq covering the conflict. Numerous jobs in 'hostile environments' in Africa and the Middle East. I broke the horrific story of the huge heroin problem in Sydney.
Sport. I have covered three Olympic Games. Sydney 2000. Beijing 2008. London 2012. Numerous FA Cup Finals. A Champions League Final. England football Internationals. International rugby. Rugby League Grand Finals (Australia) and Bledislow Cup Matches.
Portraits. I have photographed Prime Ministers. Politicians. Stars of the stage and screen. Sports stars. Pop stars. Just about any kind of celebrity you could imagine and usually in and insanely short space of time. Perhaps most interestingly are the people who no-one knows.
Reportage. I have spent months with The Royal Marines and Household Divisions of The British Army. I have spent 6 weeks with a police gang-crime unit in London. I have been to a maternity hospital in Palestine. I have illustrated FGM in Ethiopia. All of these assignments have been highly sensitive on one way or another, and I have been trusted to execute my job within these circumstances.
Throughout my career I have been privileged to undertake all of these assignments and lucky to be acknowledged for some of my work over the years. Awards/nominations include:
2013. Jury Selected by The British Press Photographers Association for The Press Photographers Year. Olympic Singles.
2012. UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards. Best Olympic Photo Essay. Finalist.
2012. Decorated with The Order of Malta’s Merito Melitense medal for the book produced for them.
2004. UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards. Best Black and White picture of the Year. Iraq. Nomination.
1999. Australian Press Photographer of the Year Awards. ‘Best Series’. Winner.
1999. Australian Press Photographer of the Year Awards. ‘Best Picture Story’. Nomination.
1995 The John Van Loendersloot memorial awards. Australia. Best Sports Picture. Winner.
1994. Walkley Awards Australia. Best team coverage of a news story. The Backpacker Murders. Nomination.
1994 Australian Suburban Newspaper Awards. (ASNA’s) Australia. Best Portrait. Nomination.
I take all of my editorial experience into my corporate, PR and events work and incorporate the same degree of creativity and flair in order to make images which stand out. Having worked as The Picture Editor on The Sun Herald (Sydney) I know what makes an image jump out from the crowd, and this insight is invaluable in helping me to get clients to reach their media targets.
I have further extended my toolkit by obtaining a drone pilot's licence which enables me to capture dynamic images from overhead.