ASHLEY BIRD - PHOTOGRAPHER

Headshot Session: Ava Scott Ava’s a Derby-based actress and part...

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:40:00 +0100

Headshot Session: Ava Scott

Ava’s a Derby-based actress and part of the 1623 Theatre Company. This was a dream of a headshot session - she had planned the looks she wanted, even made clothing, hair and make-up notes. She was great to direct too. The hardest part of this was editing the full set down.

This session was carried out at The Photo Parlour - Dan Wheeler’s ace new traditional photo studio and darkroom in Derby. I feel slightly guilty about shooting these with a digital SLR. Sorry Dan.

Rudimental @ NCS concert, Gorilla, Manchester My favourite shot...

Sat, 04 May 2013 21:40:00 +0100

Rudimental @ NCS concert, Gorilla, Manchester

My favourite shot of current drum and bass chart-hoggers Rudimental from today’s NCS (National Citizen Service) gig in Manchester. The other acts were The 1975, Clean Bandit and Goldierocks.

NCS provides a unique opportunity for teenagers around England. Visit NCSYes.co.uk for more info.

Hayden Tucker - store manager of Topshop in Nottingham These...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:27:13 +0100

Hayden Tucker - store manager of Topshop in Nottingham

These were shot to accompany an interview in the Arcadia Group’s magazine - The A Mag. Hayden is a rising star within the company. He’s a great guy too - our shoot was a lot of fun, despite all being carried out first thing in the morning before the store opened.

The final shot was taken at Hartley’s Coffee Bar in the Hockley area of Nottingham. The owners Kevin and Dawn were really helpful, so I have to say a big thank you to them. It’s a great coffee bar too, check them out here: www.hartleyscoffeeandsandwichbar.co.uk

Haiku Salut, album launch show at Déda Here’s Haiku Salut...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:15:00 +0100

Haiku Salut, album launch show at Déda

Here’s Haiku Salut lighting up the Holy Smokes night at Déda in Derby last night with sparkly music from their debut album Tricolore and cleverly controlled household lamps (lamp syncing courtesy of the man in the background - Robin Newman).

For more info about the range of events at Déda, go here: www.deda.uk.com

Go find out more about Haiku Salut here: haikusalut.com

Darren Daly - actor and theatre director Darren can do suave and...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:47:00 +0100

Darren Daly - actor and theatre director

Darren can do suave and approachable, but he can also do ‘total badass’. While doing his new headshots the other day I couldn’t resist taking a little detour and doing a shot with some edgier light. He totally has the cheekbones and stare for it. I don’t think this is one for his actors’ CV, but when he lands a role in Con Air 2…

Ollie Smith - Performer Of ‘Ollie Smith Is 27’ A photo session...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:30:00 +0000

Ollie Smith - Performer Of ‘Ollie Smith Is 27’

A photo session for the new issue of LeftLion. Ollie is an actor and performer, currently touring a dark but funny solo show called ‘Ollie Smith Is 27’. It’s all about the notorious 27 Club - made up of scores of legendary musicians who all died aged 27 (Hendrix, Cobain, Joplin, Morrison…). Ollie has just turned 27, and his time to become a proper rock legend is running out. He promised me he isn’t going to take this performance concept too far.

You can catch his show on Friday April 5 at Nottingham Playhouse - click here for details.

The Script @ Capital FM Arena, Nottingham The Voice UK is back...

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:46:00 +0000

The Script @ Capital FM Arena, Nottingham

The Voice UK is back on telly tonight. Here’s a shot of judge/mentor Danny O’Donaghue doing his day job at the Capital FM Arena a couple of weeks back. Shortly after this he came down to sing to the front rows and at one point put his glittering, stardust-flecked hand on my humble, tired shoulder. I will never wash that jacket again. I’ve never washed it before, to be fair.

Headshot Session: Actor/Presenter Ed Nudd My three-hour...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:10:17 +0000

Headshot Session: Actor/Presenter Ed Nudd

My three-hour actors’ headshots session is all based around working with the actor to capture a subtle range of different looks to help them pitch for varied roles. Ed is probably as varied as they come though - his CV includes everything from presenting corporate and commercial videos to playing the lead in a new zombie film. These are three of his eight final shot selections from the shoot we carried out at his house. Ed was truly great to work with.

Olly Murs @ Capital FM Arena, Nottingham Haven’t shot...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:17:01 +0000

Olly Murs @ Capital FM Arena, Nottingham

Haven’t shot enough live music recently, so it was nice to get back into it with something glitzy like this tour show at the Capital FM Arena.

I’ve Seen The Butcher. My good friend Andy at home in...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:49:42 +0000

I’ve Seen The Butcher.

My good friend Andy at home in London. With a cleaver. Turns out he makes amazing Chinese food.

Canary Wharf from Surrey Quays A smart view in Docklands last...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:44:00 +0000

Canary Wharf from Surrey Quays

A smart view in Docklands last night.

Bangs In A Bow… In A Bar. Amy pondering a stitched chicken...

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:16:31 +0000

Bangs In A Bow… In A Bar.

Amy pondering a stitched chicken in a pub in Crystal Palace. Stitched chicken just out of shot.

Kagoule - shot for LeftLion magazine in Nottingham I’ve...

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Kagoule - shot for LeftLion magazine in Nottingham

I’ve passed this derelict clothing place every time I’ve gone into Nottingham on the bus and always wanted to shoot a band in front of it. When LeftLion gave me a band whose name is an item of clothing and who didn’t want to be posed (just wanted to hang out somewhere kind of grimy), I realised this was my chance. Only problem was - it’s a busy road and people were just leaving town after the Christmas lights switch-on. I had to shoot from the other side of the road, with intrepid assistant Dave Parry keeping an eye on the cars/buses and jumping out with lighting gear every time we got a break in traffic. It was also very, very cold - but that’s par for the course.

Big thanks to Dave for the help with this one. Go see his own photography at www.davidparryimaging.com

Kagoule are @Kagoule on Twitter and they’re also on Facebook here.

Swollen River Trent - personal shot Little bit worried, given...

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Swollen River Trent - personal shot

Little bit worried, given this is the River Trent near where I live about half an hour ago. That red thing isn’t normally IN the river. We have new flood defences round this way though - I guess this will be their first test. I’m not sure the sandbags I have for my lighting gear would be enough to hold this back…

Akarusa Yami - promo shot A shot from a recent promo shoot for...

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:41:00 +0000

Akarusa Yami - promo shot

A shot from a recent promo shoot for Nottingham-based industrial metal band Akarusa Yami. The band were after something simple and clean - and had a pretty clear idea of how they wanted to set this up. It’s rare I shoot in studios - I tend to shoot bands on location - so the controlled environment made a nice change.

You can hear the band on their Soundcloud page.

London skyline from Crystal Palace - personal shot Would love to...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:13:00 +0000

London skyline from Crystal Palace - personal shot

Would love to say I spent weeks planning the perfect location and time for this shot. Was actually on the way to Sainsbury’s to buy sausages for mine and Amy’s tea. Heading out for any reason around sunset? Take your camera…

Notts Roller Derby Players: shot for Leftlion This was a shoot...

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Notts Roller Derby Players: shot for Leftlion

This was a shoot for Nottingham’s LeftLion newspaper. They profiled three local roller derby teams: Nottingham Roller Girls, the Hellfire Harlots and Mansfield Misfits and this photo features members of each team.

The shoot was arranged to take place at a leisure centre - so I had visions of having lots of space to work in. On arrival I discovered that there was another roller derby team (a male team) practising in the sports hall. It meant we had to do our shoot in the corner, with guys hurtling past us on skates the whole time. Health and safety, anyone? It certainly added a level of ‘danger’ to the shoot which tied in nicely with the vibe of the sport itself (which is super good fun to go and watch, by the way).

One more note on this shoot - big thanks to Carla Mundy, whose assistance was vital in getting these shots, and to Penny Reeve for commissioning me. Also thanks to the girls from NRG, Hellfire Harlots and Mansfield Misfits for being such fun.

Hardwick Park, Derbyshire - personal shot Morning light on the...

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:22:17 +0100

Hardwick Park, Derbyshire - personal shot

Morning light on the Great Pond of Hardwick Hall’s Lower Park. I was wearing tweed and smoking a pipe when I took this. Okay, that’s a lie. I’m leading a photography composition course at this location on Sunday - go to www.goingdigital.co.uk if you’re interested in a last minute place.

Mastodon @ Leeds Festival 2012 I will do a full post about Leeds...

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:27:00 +0100

Mastodon @ Leeds Festival 2012

I will do a full post about Leeds Festival at some point, but for now here’s a ‘Tumblr exclusive’ shot of Troy Sanders from Mastodon (aka The Greatest Heavy Metal Band On The Planet) tearing up the NME/Radio 1 stage on Sunday.

How many ways can you shoot a DJ?

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 09:52:00 +0100

Snowbombing 2012, Mayrhofen, Austria - shot for Burst Event Photography

I know, I know, this was a couple of months ago now, but I’ve only just gotten round to blogging it. I was the extra shooter for the Burst team at Snowbombing this year. Below is a selection of my favourite photos. For lots more from me and the Burst team, go here.

Took it right up the Ahorn.

Artwork repping the local meat emporium.

The local meat emporium.

DJ Yoda - take his picture I did.

Ski clown. Obvs.

Arctic Disco. Self-immolation on the right hand side?

Tensnake. Don’t ask me, I’ve no idea. Seemed friendly though.

Labrinth. ‘Cricketing Countryfile Presenter’ is THE look in the urban pop scene right now.

Dizzee Rascal’s fireworks. I like the ‘spider-hand’ at the bottom.

Two ski clowns.

Lady Waks. I liked them. Hope He-Man did too.

Fake Blood. That girl bottom right should probably put that drink down.

One of these girls missed the ‘all black outfits’ memo.

He proposed onstage in the rain. She said yes, thank goodness. Could have been awkward.

Not a real Monkey. Or a Monkee. Or a monk. Eee.

Nu Tone (Sir Isaac?) neglecting to use the full range of decks at his disposal.

Reindeer/berks pile-on.

I believe she might be ‘avin’ it’. Nice scarf.

London Elektricity prays that the photographer will get out of his face.

Photographer prays that Dynamite MC will get out of his face. Or stay there for a sec while he takes a photo.

Bet they work in a high street bank branch somewhere.

Ski clowns, wizards and promotional bunting.