From point and shoot to shooting the stars
I was born and raised in central Manchester of Irish parents and my interest in photography has remained a constant in my life since taking my first photographs at age 11 with a simple point and shoot camera. Even on that very first roll I managed to capture a newsworthy image; a demonstrator being 'arrested' at a protest march. A case of being in the right place at the right time with a camera.
My keen eye for an image has never left me and that coupled with an obsession with music inevitably lead to those two interests merging into the role of music photographer. In the very early days that involved taking a camera to small venues and shooting bands.
My first camera
One of my first images age 11
Amy Winehouse
Cover of Rolling Stone
Eventually I began to build up a sizeable portfolio of photographs and started to get images used in the music press. Later on I signed up with a photo agency to do more of what I enjoyed extensively, all over the region.
My keen eye for an image has never left me and that coupled with an obsession with music inevitably lead to those two interests merging
There's a certain buzz in creating something in the heat of the moment at a live event where there is no control of the subject or the light. The ability to see the image needed in the chaos is a skill I share with many photographers. We love our camera gear but it only ever serves our instinct for the shot. We are messengers in the eye of the storm. It’s hardly surprising that our personality traits are complex; calmly assured and unflappable, yet determined with a healthy dose of reality and humour.
Of course it isn't all music I shoot, beyond the stage pit you might find me covering an eclectic range of events. For example Theatre, Art shows, Photo Calls, Events, Conferences, Sports, Travel, Architecture. The regions I cover are the North West and the Midlands but also further afield if needed, I do 100 mile round trips on a regular basis.
My photographs have been published nationally and internationally in a wide range of newspapers like The Guardian, The Times, The Observer and magazines like NME, Mojo and Q and many more. Also in books, magazines, on TV and in record artwork.
Outside of photography, graphic design has been my other specialism and I have a degree in Fine Art and had an interview at the RCA for an MA so that might have been a slightly different direction. All of which add to the mix of getting an image - it's all about the visual I guess and drawing on that depth of experience and influence.
Away from work, relaxation is engaging with something artistic, a walk in nature (camera phone at the ready) or playing guitar, usually to a Neil Young song. Barking dogs are the usual giveaway...
Pete
