Photography Books

I am interested in telling a story in pictures and photographing for books was a natural development in my career. I have always acknowledged the power of the single image and it’s very hard to achieve. I worked on several Time-Life books early on in my career and the editor Pamala Mark left a lasting impression on me by explaining the difference between an illustrated book and a photographic book. Having the right book designer is imperative as so many designers treat pictures as decoration for their design! A photographic book must be picture lead.

The arrival of digital was wonderful for photo reproduction as the pictures can be processed and prepared for print by the photographer before the designer and printer receive them. It opens up the world of paper choices, bookbinding and all the other skills involved in book production. I try to produce a treasure!

King’s College Hospital

In 1977 I was commissioned by the Governors of King’s College Hospital to document the activity of the hospital. I was given a white coat and had access to all departments (I doubt if that would be possible today) I was there on and off for eight weeks including over Christmas. Heart surgery was still in its infancy. It was a very formative experience for me as a photographer.

Ward nurse giving the patient a Guinness!

Ward Sister and nurse in the drugs' station.

Surgeon checking patient's body temperature

After an eight hour operation for open heart surgery.

Treasures of the Order of
St John

I photographed the Treasures in 2019 at the Museum of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell. The structure of the book is based on the three virtues of the Order: faith, care and valour. The photography is a mix of still life, interior and details, Photographed at St Johns and my studio.

These papier mâché figures were manufactured in Malta in the 19th century. They represent some of the different ranks and roles held by members of the Order.

L'inconnue de la Seine. The Plaster of Paris death mask of a young girl who died in the river. The face became a fashionable icon

A detail of the Rhodes Missal 1504 decorated with hand drawn illustrations charting stories from the bible
Opposite some of the many books in the library — A detail of the Rhodes Missal 1504 decorated with hand drawn illustrations charting stories from the bible Opposite some of the many books in the library

The Queen’s Birthday Parade
Trooping the Colour

This book was published in 2015. I photographed the ceremony over 30 years but the material for this book took four years to complete. the ceremony itself lasts for two hours on the second Saturday in June but there are many weeks of preparations and rehearsals beforehand. There is so much military history and many details that make the ceremony a good subject for a book and I loved doing it. Going behind the scenes of any event is enlightening, presenting you with exciting, creative challenges. As a photographic project this allowed me to employ the full arsenal of equipment, lenses from 15mm to 800mm - taken pictures and made pictures. On the day of the Birthday Parade there are 1200 people doing their best to make it perfect and I wanted photograph the people not just the spectacle.

Major Cross, the Commanding Officer, inspects the tack of the King's Troop horses

The Major General inspects Grenadier Guardsmen at their barracks

Kit inspection for a Blues and Royal Trooper

4.30 am inspection before the cavalry ride around the London streets

Grenadier Guards slow march around the square

Scots Guards Drill Sergeants giving commands

The Ensign flourishing the Colour, rehearsing the march pasting slow-time

The Scots Guards drummer beats time at 116 beats a minute

In full dress uniform for 5.00 am ride in Hyde Park

The Kings Troop undergo their galloping routine for the Major General's inspection

The Major General reviews the Household Cavalry in Hyde Park, a few weeks prior to the Birthday Parade

First rehearsal on Horseguards. The Life Guards rank past the dias.

Shining boots, cleaning and pressing kit prior to going on parade

The Royal Standard is prepared for Her Majesty's arrival on the dias on Horseguards. It is unfurled at 11.00

The Colonel's Review. The Head Coachman salutes the dias. Timings have been written on his gloves

The coachman and grooms salute as they pass the Colour

The Ensign receives the Queen's Colour from the Regimental Sergeant Major

Presenting Arms to the Queen's Colour. The Guardsmen on the flanks hold their rifles at the high point to protect the Colour

'Eyes right' F Company of the Scots Guards salute Her Majesty

The Guardsmen on parade come to the halt having marched round the square in slow and quick time

The six companies on parade march past Her Majesty the Queen and senior officers and then have to turn left. Known as 'Chaos Corner', ranks of guardsmen proceed to march around the square. One of the many precise drill movements of the day

The Ensign comes to the halt having trooped the Colour through the ranks

The Ensign lowers the Colour as the National Anthem is played

1986: the last Parade H.M the Queen rode Burmese. The 1st Battalion Scots Guards trooped their Colour. The Queen wears the Thistle sash

H.M. The Queen reviews the troops from her landau

The Grenadier Officer gives the order 'Eyes right'

During the rank past at the walk, the Life Guards officer gives a full 'round arm' salute to her Majesty as he leads his squadron past her

Major Erica Bridge, Commanding Officer of the King's Troop, gives the command 'Eyes Right!' as the troop file past Her Majesty

Troopers give 'Eyes Right!' salute to Her Majesty

Blues & Royals prepare to salute the King in trot order.

The five Drum Majors lead the massed bands to the centre of the square

The Senior Drum Major awaits a signal from the Garrison Sergeant Major for the bandit stop playing

One of the State Trumpeters salutes Her Majesty as the mounted band leave the square

The kettle drummers give the crossed sticks salute as they leave the parade

The traditional group photograph of Officers of the Household Cavalry with their Colonels.

The Household Cavalry escort Her Majesty down the Mall back to Buckingham Palace

Coldstream Guards officers' dinner on the Thursday evening before the Troop

Lord Mayor of London

I spent a year documenting Sir David Wootton’s year as Lord Mayor of London and then some time with his successors Dame Fiona Woolf and Sir Charles Bowman.

Sir Charles Bowman having the final fitting for his uniform

The first official duty of the Lord Mayor is to lay a wreath on the War Memorial in the City on Remembrance Sunday

The Silent Ceremony in Guildhall. The outgoing Lord Mayor hands over to the next year's Lord Mayor

Dame Fiona Woolf is presented to the Lord Chancellor in the Robing Room in the House of Lords

Early on the morning the Lord Mayor's Shoe Gloriana rows past the Palace of Westminster

Tower Bridge is raised in salute to the new Lord Mayor on the barge Gloriania accompanied by barges of the livery companies

The Lord Mayor acknowledges the crowds on his way to the Inns of Court

The Lord Mayor returns to the Mansion House

Lord Mayor Sir David Wootton visits the Scout troop

Lord Mayor Fiona Woolfe visits Burma Woods in the care of the City of London.

The State Trumpeters and the Pearl Sword and Mace lead the Lord Mayor and the guest of honour into dinner

The Loving Cup is passed around at a Mansion House dinner of which there are many during the course of the year

The Lord Mayor accepts a bowl of mulberries in the Charterhouse Gardens. One of the many ancient events that happen in the City. Now the Chatterhouse makes mulberry gin.

Throughout the year the Lord Mayor hosts many dinners for many different organisations. Some are annual dinners, others are for specific organisations that the Lord Mayor has a particular interest in

The Lord Mayor Sir David Wootton inspects the Chelsea Pensioners in the Royal Hospital on Founder's Day

The conclusion of the Boar's Head ceremony. One of many ancient events that take place in the City of London

Breakfast is served in Butchers' Hall after the Lord Mayor has toured Smithfield Market

Newly installed Lord Mayor, Sir Charles Bowman, with the Mansion House staff

Sir David Wootton sits for his portrait in Jane Bond's Studio

The Belnord
One Building - 213 homes

The opportunity to produce a cohesive body of work as a book is always a fantastic challenge. I was commissioned by the owner of the the Belnord - an iconic apartment block in New York - to photograph the building and its residents to celebrate the building’s centenary It’s wonderful building- a village within a city full of the most interesting, kind, engaging and diverse people. I went there for a week at a time over the course of a year.

The Belnord on 86th and Broadway on the Upper West Side New York City.

The Courtyard - a haven of peace away from the New York City traffic and bustle

Another view of the courtyard, always cool on a hot summer's day

Judith Davidoff Rosen I asked her if she had any red shoes she could wear. It's the details that add to the picture.

Roberto from the Apple Window Cleaning Company.

The boiler room in the basement. Nazim Dzaferovic, Jeff Shabani and Hajro Aslamovic

Doorman James Fitzgerald hails a cab for a resident

Queen’s in their name

When Prince George was born, becoming the third in line to the throne, it occurred to me that we would not hear Queen’s in a title for at least a hundred years. Her Majesty granted permission for me to photograph members of her staff.