Just the other day I was writing about taking photos for Dave Diamond’s previous escapology show, Submersion. The reason, of course, for the reminiscence, was that I had been asked to take photos for his new act: Thames 1745. Thames 1745 is the show for entertaining an audience of adults and children alike, we return you to Kingston-upon-Thames, in the year 1745. Watch as the Landlady of the Queen’s Head is sentenced to the ducking stool for selling short measures and abusive language. Can she escape her fate?This self contained show features contortion, pole and Cyr Wheel and finishes with
It’s been two years since I first met escapologist Dave Diamond. He was working on a new act, an escape from a water tank in full view of the audience. There are no curtains, the escapologist is in sight throughout the performance. The tank had only just been completed, so I was asked to take promotional photos during his first submersions, his first forays into that forbidding tank of too-cold water! I can’t wait to see what his next act will be!
When it comes to plugins for photo-editing, especially software independent ones, Snapseed’s Nik Collection was always the gold standard. In 2016 it was bought by Google and made available for free, only to abandon it the year later. The French photography company DxO then swooped in that same year and acquired the software while promising to resume development, which it did in 2018 while making it a paid product again. This was never a great deal, what with the great many free versions floating around and the fact that in some areas the Nik Collection had fallen by the wayside a little. Now
I saw the other day that Deborah and Christian’s daughter was two years old now, nearly the same age as my own. And it made me recall the fun day we had in three years ago in West London. This couple’s shoot was before their wedding, when we were graced with glorious weather as we scoured Holland Park for shooting locations.
I wanted to take an opportunity to share the work of a photographer who has inspired me, starting with Brooke Shaden. In her own words: This series is called “Sac” and it won me my first award back in 2010. Dealing with the theme of entrapment while using what limited resources I had, I created largely in nature in dark, damp spaces to create a swampy, monster-esque feel to the characters. I took her work as inspiration, but went a slightly different way with it. It was a shoot that I’ve always wanted to repeat as working with the wet
I’d say a good proportion of the weddings I’ve been to, I’ve been taking photos. But sometimes it’s nice not to have that pressure, to be in a beautiful location and take photos mod moments, of joy, of the glorious environs, without the pressure of delivering for a client. This wedding in Malaga was one such event, and it was glorious. Amazing light, food and history, all centred around a lovely relaxed wedding.
This was a lovely shoot for Bloomin Wild florists, in association with Suzanne Harrington bespoke wedding dresses. It was especially a delight to work together with the delightful Bernadette Lemon!
One of my most enjoyable BTS shoots, primarily due to the people involved, was Shipwrecks. Written by and starring Hayley Wareham, 2017 BBC Writersroom alumni, theatre actor and playwright, this little short sadly still hasn’t seen the light of day. Directed by Will De Ritter, with Sharad Patel as DOP.
While I love reportage and street photography, sometimes it’s nice to do a stylised shoot, and take the time to set up your lights and craft a narrative. This couple wanted quite stylised images to send to their friends and family ahead of their nuptials. While the wedding photos would be traditional, they wanted these photos to really show who they were and how they saw themselves.
Twice a year, London Fashion Week returns to make a splash, with articles and reactions ranging from disinterest through curiosity all the way to fevered excitement. But there’s more to LFW than the catwalks, there are also some fantastic opportunities for street portraits. Outside the venues, focussed this year around 180 The Strand, there are endless fashionable people, bloggers and celebrities keen to have their picture taken, dressed to impress. Taking advantage of this are a scrum of journalists, bloggers and amateur photographers, all hoping to get the perfect shot, for fun and profit. This year I joined them and
For several years now, Dale Foshe of Dogwood Photography has run an annual photography challenge, with an allocated task per week to stretch the skills of photographers across all skill levels. The tasks range from the technical to the wildly creative, with a lot of variety to give inspiration and an impetus to keep taking photos. The 2019 Dogwood Challenge List is now ready! This is a self-challenge, so it can be done solo, but it’s good being part of a community to do this, either for advice and feedback, or just to see how other people approach the prompts.
Film on Film Entertainment’s Doctor Who fan film Reverence of the Daleks started shooting last year, due to culminate with it’s final shooting day this month. Taking photos behind the scenes with a Dalek and the team was great fun! Hoping to catch an interview with the team behind it once shooting concludes. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfHpDZg9HO/?taken-by=stephanburn https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfIXW_AC5K/?taken-by=stephanburn https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfGOangJuV/?taken-by=stephanburna
For the last 18 months, it’s been a real privilege taking photos at London’s Luscious Cabaret, a little event in The Albany pub in Great Portland Street. Around 20 different events, with an array of talented and creative performers, over multiple acts, generally in appalling lighting conditions. As I said in my interview with producer Little Lady Luscious: I love to work with creatives; people trying to create something from nothing, driven to perform or create, to bring joy, beauty, poignancy, or pathos. I particularly love the feeling of community that can blossom; at its best it can feel like
As Stephan Burn Photography, it was great to combine the worlds of photography and filmmaking, on the set of Film on Film Entertainment’s short film, Reverence of the Daleks. This Doctor Who fan film is being shot over four days, and these photos are from day three. It’s great to see it all come together, but greater still to be behind the scenes, and see Film on Film’s approach to filmmaking. There’s some photos from Instagram below, followed by the prior, Dalek-less, interim trailer. Day four of shooting will add the TARDIS and complete filming. https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfHpDZg9HO/?taken-by=stephanburn https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfIXW_AC5K/?taken-by=stephanburn https://www.instagram.com/p/BbfGOangJuV/?taken-by=stephanburn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfHoWLDn1F4
Twice a year, London Fashion Week returns to make a splash, with articles and reactions ranging from disinterest through curiosity all the way to fevered excitement. But there’s more to LFW than the catwalks, there are also some fantastic opportunities for street portraits. Outside the venues, focussed this year around 180 The Strand, there are endless fashionable people, bloggers and celebrities keen to have their picture taken, dressed to impress. Taking advantage of this are a scrum of journalists, bloggers and amateur photographers, all hoping to get the perfect shot, for fun and profit. This year I joined them and