Back to studies.Informing Contexts PHO702 Week 1

My practice for the past 30 years sits squarely within a commercial context,in as much as whilst I have shot much work that I would class as personal the ideas would often be formed with my commercial practice in mind.Whilst I have been commissioned to shoot many images to brief I have been lucky to have a very free reign with the majority. By working in an Editorial field I have most often been sent to interpret the shoot as I see.Mostly shooting portraits I would always have to consider the intent ie Illustrate a written story and context ,in most cases for a weekly or monthly magazine aimed at a specific audience and whilst I have been able to produce interesting work within those constraints it is non the less always with the context and intent in mind. If time and sitter allow I would always try to shoot something for “myself” which would not be indexed for use in the magazine but for my own intent that may or may not have already been decided.Sometimes if I have shone the picture editor these they have on occasion been used in preference to the indended shots.

This is a good example of an image that I shot recently whilst shooting for ITV that was shot at the end of the session primarily with my interests and intent in minds it goes ITV have used this image too as whilst it was not part of the brief it was something that satisfied their intent alongside the images I did shoot to brief.

And here is one of the images shot to brief…also used by ITV to advertise the show

A very good example of work that has a context and and intent that also had a very free brief but as since been constrained by its own success is work I do with a record company called Global Underground. Work spanning over 20 years they originally came to me to help shoot and set a look, the brief was as I say very free but there was a context in which it had to be shown and fill, in this case a very elaborate piece of packaging incorporating a photobook as well as the music and an intention this case to inform the music but also create a sense of being there on the journey and adventure as we travelled the world with the Djs and fellow clubbers.This free brief by it’s nature of success mean’s that now that brief whilst remaining the same is no longer free as it now has to fulfil the same repetitive formula.

A result of this means my work does cross over into books and exhibitions and of course social media use. It certainly does affect the way my practice is viewed and that is a result of decisions I have made to steer people this way and create a brand that encourages them to commission me to shoot for them.Recently that as changed with more and more emphasis being placed on my personal work.