Here And Now: London Portraits by Niall McDiarmid

I first met photographer Niall McDiarmid in the very early days of the blog when he kindly photographed me in Richmond upon Thames. Niall's unique style of street portraiture captures personality and colour with great skill. For the past few years he has been photographing people on the streets of London (and many other cities and towns in the UK) and a selection of his London work is shown in a striking outdoor display outside The Museum of London from 18th May to 15th October 2017. 

The exhibition is free of charge. The launch night (open to all with no charge) is Friday 19th May 2017 from 7 - 10pm. 

I am privileged and delighted to have a portrait of me in the exhibition. Niall took it on Milford Lane, Aldwych, London in September 2015 (below).

See Museum of London. To further appreciate Niall's work please visit his website or see if you can track down one of his excellent but now (I believe) out-of-print books. I've mentioned his work in the past on the blog here.

Hawkesmill Small Regent Camera Bag: Horween Leather

I first wrote about Hawkesmill's superb camera bags here last year, but have since been trying out one of their smaller camera bags, the Regent, which is made of Horween Chromexcel leather, a beautiful soft but durable leather that ages as only the best leather can: a true luxury item.

Beautifully made, it features a removable padded area for smaller cameras (ideal for my Fuji X100S or a borrowed Leica Q) and pockets for spare batteries, phone, sandwiches (small) and memory cards. A wide shoulder strap sits comfortably on the shoulder.

Once or twice I've felt the need for a small carry-handle on the top of the bag, but this doesn't affect my enthusiasm for this lovely British-made camera bag. It measures 10” x 8” x 5” (25.4cm x 20.32cm x 12.7cm) and, while it's designed for smaller cameras, it will fit a pro-DSLR body and lens. It's water and dust-proof and comes with a lifetime warranty. See Hawkesmill. 

I wasn't paid for this post. The bag was sent to me for use and review. All views expressed are mine alone.

Access All Areas: Photographs of Rock Legends by Paul Harries at Proud Galleries

I've been lucky enough to have had some photographs taken of me by Paul Harries, best known for his work with rock icons including Nirvana, Slash, Metallica, Slipknot, and Muse. Paul is showing some of his photographs in an exhibition, Access All Areas: Photographs by Paul Harries at Proud Galleries from 9th March to 23rd April (link below).

From a young age Paul Harries was fascinated by the live music and he merged this with his increasing passion for photography, shooting live gigs at the legendary Marquee Club. He was introduced by a friend to Kerrang! Magazine to which he has contributed as a leading lensmen of rock photography since 1989.

Granted unparalleled access to the biggest names in rock history on set, backstage and in studios across the globe, Harries’ work includes images of Nirvana during sell-out performances, candid shots of Slash and Ozzy Osbourne and a series of photo-manipulated images including an iconic photograph of Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson in a replica WW1 plane. See Proud Galleries for more information.

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The Balvenie and James Stroud: whisky & photography combine

I love it when a successful business collaborates with an artist. The artist receives patronage and publicity, the business shows that life isn't entirely a search for profit and reinforces the creativity and skills that have gone into making its products.

The Balvenie bar and James Stroud's art

The Balvenie Commission brings together a distillery, The Balvenie, which has been making whisky since 1893, with a variety of talented crafts people from around he world. For this particular project, they worked with photographer, James Stroud, to record the manufacturing processes and the people who make the whisky in their distillery in Banffshire through a project called 'Succession'.

James Stroud (bearded) tells us about his work

Succession started when James Stroud approached The Balvenie in 2014 with the idea of photographing the distillery using a innovative emulsion technique to develop the images. Working on the project in his spare time, James took over a year to finish the collection of eleven images, each in a bespoke frame from wood recycled from an old church.

The barrels in which the whisky is aged are repaired and maintained by the ancient skills of coopers

The theme centres on Time; how things improve with age [which will resonate with Grey Fox readers]. The whisky process is started by one person and finished a generation later by someone else. The skills are passed on through generations, many within the same family, with the tools of their trade often outliving the user; hence the name Succession.

Stephen works as a maltman on mashing and fermentation

James used many cameras and unique angles to capture, from birds' eye to ground level, views of the distillery and the objects and people in it including casks, tools, the river that provides the water, the barley and structure of the distillery itself. The unique way in which he has manipulated the emulsion on the prints gives them an earthy, three dimensional quality that spoke to me of timelessness, reflecting the beautiful patina of age he saw around him at The Balvenie.

With a variety of other bloggers, crafts people and creative types, I was invited to an event in London last week at which Succession was introduced by The Balvenie and James Stroud over a lunch combining the best food and whisky.

Enjoying the art, the whisky, the food and the company

We tried the wonderful whiskies produced in The Balvenie distillery, enjoying the product of generations of expertise alongside the remarkable photographic work of James Stroud. He has so skilfully captured the essence of this great Scottish drink, its origins and the people and materials responsible for its creation.

Entering the spirit of the event

A cooper's hammer

I'm an occasional great fan of whisky, but had never tried The Balvenie before. From the rum/oak flavours of the Caribbean Cask to the complexity of the Doublewood, they are whiskies I look forward to revisiting soon. Thanks to The Balvenie for setting the context for such photographic creativity, for producing such wonderful spirits and for a very enjoyable event. 

Links:

The Balvenie

James Stroud Photographer

I was provided with lunch by The Balvenie

Images by Clare Walsh Photography

Belstaff x Rankin photoshoot features Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Photographer Rankin has collaborated with Belstaff to feature the celebrated explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes in a photoshoot featuring Belstaff's jackets and boots. Sir Ranulph met stuntman Riley Harper and the two were photographed to embody the spirit of adventure each represents.

The shoot is tagged "Worship The Ground" and some of the images were shot from below a glass floor across which the two models ran and rode Harper's custom 1965 Triumph TR6 Trophy bike. See the video below:

I attended a lecture last year at which Sir Ranulph talked about his life and his recent adventure running the Marathon des Sables on behalf of the charity, Marie Curie - described in his book 'Heat' (available below). Sir Ranulph is a man of supreme courage and humour and it's good to see a brand using an older man of his calibre to advertise its products. More information and links below.

  

• To see and buy from the Belstaff 'Worship the Ground' collection, click here. 
• Buy Heat: Extreme Adventures at the Highest Temperatures on Earth from AmazonUK and support Grey Fox Blog.
• Marie Curie and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, click here.
• All images above by Rankin, click here.

This feature is unsponsored.

Oliver Spencer x Rankin: 'A celebration of friends, favourite chairs and menswear'

I've featured Oliver Spencer many times here and elsewhere in my writing as a designer who successfully produces menswear for all men, irrespective of age. So successfully does he do this that I wonder why so few others follow suit. 

For AW15 he collaborated with photographer Rankin to photograph some of his favourite fans of the brand (and naturally they span the age groups) from rising actor Calum Turner to John Bradbury of The Specials and Alex James of Blur, some of whose images are shown below. The portraits capture both personality and the relaxed style that Spencer's clothes engender. See Oliver Spencer.

The Sapeurs - style in Congo by Héctor Mediavilla, photographer

Héctor Mediavilla is a Spanish photographer interested in the human condition and Man's relationship with the environment. His stories of The Sapeurs of Brazzaville in Congo have their origins in the colonialisation of the country by the French at the beginning of the last century. The images show a real flair for colour and style. I suspect the sapeurs are not well-off, but they still achieve outstanding elegance and dignity.

Sapeurs relax after an independence day parade - image by Héctor Mediavilla

The background of The Sapeurs is explained on Héctor Mediavilla's website, as follows -

...In 1922, Grenard André Matsoua was the first Congolese ever to come back from Paris dressed as a genuine French. His arrival caused indescribable commotion and admiration among his fellow countrymen; he became known as the first Grand Sapeur.

Having the respect and admiration of his community, today’s Sapeurs consider themselves artists. They add a touch of glamour to their humble environment through their refined manners and impeccable dressing styles. Each of them is unique showing a particular repertoire of gestures. They all share the same dream: To go to Paris and return to Brazzaville as an aristocrat of supreme elegance.

I'm very grateful to Héctor Mediavilla for giving permission for me to reproduce these images.

Severin Mouyengo is one of the few sapeurs who is dressed elegantly everyday. 

Basseka Kandza, a sapeur active during his youth in the seventies, died of diabeties in 2007

SAPE: Society of Ambianceurs and Elegant People.

A Coming of Age - Simon Frederick, photographer

At Best of Britannia I met Simon Frederick, photographer. I noticed that he'd shot a series called A Coming of Age, a comment on a man's view of age, shown here. Simon described the series to me -

A man arrives to the age of 50 and looks back at his own reflection. He reflects upon the people he has admired, the ones he would have liked to have been and on his own growth and mortality.

All images (C) Simon Frederick, photographer

He also kindly photographed me and I show that portrait below.

My Sister's Wedding - stylish guests and venue

My sister, Carole, was married this last week. A photographer, she loves vintage and dancing and there were so many stylishly-dressed guests that I thought it merited a post. Some of the men were wearing suits from the fifties and earlier.

The marriage was celebrated in an unrestored chapel at The Licensed Victuallers Asylum opened in 1833 in Southwark, London (now Caroline Gardens) - a superb venue for a wedding with a difference. I didn't take my camera, but Instagram allows a fascinating range of affects which flatter my photography skills.

I featured some of Carole's  Retro Girls photos here and see her website and blog.

An outstanding example of middle age style by David Eustace photographer

I was very grateful to David Eustace for giving me permission to reproduce his image of Scottish playwright, theatre designer and artist John Byrne in a Harris Tweed suit designed by Deryck Walker. 

David's e-mailed comment to me was that, 'the most stylish folk these days are often middle aged or older men (or women)....Often the difference between style and fashions.' What more can one say and what better inspiration for the older man in search of style?

Image © David Eustace

David mentioned that this portrait now sits in the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. A visit to David Eustace's website is much recommended. I can find little information about Deryck Walker; there seems to be no obvious website.

Rose Callahan - photographer of men's style - Dandy Portraits

Regulars here will know the admiration I have for good photography. My sister, Carole Evans and Niall McDiarmid are artists whose portraits have influenced my search for style.

Another photographer whose work I keep returning to is Rose Callahan, who is based in New York. Her exquisite portraits for her Dandy Portraits blog show men who dress with unusual style and taste. See also her website and blog which showcase other aspects of her work.

The men she photographs for Dandy Portraits dress in a variety of styles, from the traditional to the extremely foppish. As such their styles are extrovert; they obviously don't mind standing out in a crowd. Even if you don't want to dress so extremely, there are themes and ideas in the wardrobes of these unusual men which will provide you with inspiration. Look at the colours, shapes and mixtures of influences and you will find much to help you in your search for style.

All photos Rose Callahan.