The past year was a quiet one with regard to work for me, but personally a very busy year having had a baby! I’ve enjoyed compiling my favourite pictures of 2011; it’s been wonderful to look back over the images, to experience the emotion and memory attached to them. From reading Nikki Sixx’s book ‘This is Gonna Hurt’, I’ve been reminded that photography isn’t about the use of amazing equipment, editing techniques and making a perfect shot (there’s a time and a place for that of course when I’m working). It’s about capturing a feeling and moment in time whether it be on an iPhone, compact camera or professional digital SLR camera – especially as the best moments typically happen when I’m not carrying around my big bulky camera!

These pictures sum up my year, my life and my loves.

22 Weeks, Hello Bump!

Along with the Solsikk feature and album release, came their music video for Viridescere which I filmed. My first music video! Check it out here

30 weeks!

39 weeks!

Fajitas are a family favourite

Spontaneous smiles

I started reaching for the eye cream around the same time Jessica-Leigh started reaching for her toys!

Sisters

Thank you for checking out my last year in pictures, I look forward to you joining me in my adventures this year!

Mx

My previous years blogs are linked below.

Year 2010

Years 2009 and earlier

A little perturbed by the title of my post? Fear not, I will explain.

I shot Godsized at their final show of 2011 and the debut show with their new drummer – Dan.

Arriving at The Borderline, London (after resisting the awesome Crobar next door for a sneaky drink) Eye for an Eye were just wrapping up their set.

The guys were in good spirits in the dressing room

I went to say hey to Dan and introduce myself. He’s a complete dude, and has the coolest story to tell about James Hetfield that I’ve ever heard.

It then got a bit manic backstage and it was time to get ready. They all have their own ways to prepare for a show.

Even guys take care of their hair y’know!

Glen – “Dude, that’s the most amount of drumsticks i’ve ever seen! aaand what’s that you’ve got there?”

Dan – “Sex Wax. I rub it on my drumsticks”

I’m sure there was a reason why, but I can’t remember. So if you know, enlighten me please!

Dan continues to rub his drum sticks with the Sex Wax and Glen drinks a lot of water. Don’t be fooled, these guys can drink a venue dry, but when it comes to Glen looking after his voice and them keeping hydrated, they drink a lot of water. Except Neil maybe. I can’t say I’ve seen him drink much water at all!

Super Nige makes sure they all have water on stage. He’s not called Super Nige for nothing! Nigel is generally helping with shifting gear, helping backstage and is a great laugh and fun to be around.

Almost time for stage. Rich, longtime friend and guitarist from DogState pops in to say a quick hi and have a drink.

A big mass of busyness, then all is quiet for Dan to warm up on his practice pads before stage.

Show time!!

You can check out the show pics here

Mx

Birmingham held their yearly Guitar Show yesterday and I went along with Rotosound for a photo shoot with Duff McKagan. A really great booking for me on a personal level as well – being a Guns ‘n’ Roses fan since my early teens. I think ‘Appetite for Destruction’ was one of the first albums I ever bought with my pocket money on the week of its’ release and to this day is probably my favourite album of all time.

Duff was greeted with a very long queue of eager fans at the Rotosound stand, clutching their most prized and some very rare G’n'R, Velvet Revolver and Loaded items. The signing went on for a good 2 hours but Duff didn’t show any signs of being tired or even jet lagged after flying in from New York less than a day ago. He took his time with each person; calling them by name, chatting, taking pictures and signing.

After the queues had subsided I had a shoot with him for the Rotosound campaign in the press suite.

(Picture with thanks to Dan)

Duff left shortly after to get some sleep before another day at the guitar show.

Amazing guitarist and extremely humble guy Guthrie Govan was also there to do a signing after Duff. We had a good laugh as the posters provided for his signing I had taken the picture. We recounted his and Alex’s fun shoot day last year and Guthrie signed one for me, getting a bit creative with the Sharpie – he wanted evil black eyes! Alex Hutchings was there too demo-ing on the Roland stand.

A really great vibe to the Show, it was a lot smaller than I imagined it would be.

I took a couple of quick snaps of my other pictures that were on the display stands there – was really cool to see my work so big!

Look out for the promos of Duff in coming issues of guitar mags and Rotosound promotional materials. What a day!

Godsized had an opportunity of a lifetime after Zakk and the Black Label Camp heard their demo and took them on tour around the UK and Europe as their only support. I was totally stoked for them having been friends and working with them right from the early days.

I joined them at their 6th date into the 26 date tour at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, UK. Surrounded by press schedules and a real buzz around the guys for the biggest date in their lives (after Download Festival last year) playing to around 5,000 people. This was their moment to shine.

Before Godsized sound checked Zakk came out and played a little on the grand piano and sang. It was a very rare moment his security guard Phil told us. A moment where we all stood there with smiles on our faces while taking pics and filming on our phones. I caught a small clip for you; it’s ‘Darkest Days’ from the new album Order of the Black.

Showtime was immense, Godsized owned the packed venue – I took some pics from the pit then some from side stage. I know the guys had dreamed of playing that venue (a few weeks prior, Glen and I had watched Alter Bridge – one of our favourite bands play on that stage). Their final song Head Heavy everyone went wild, the Black Label Crew loved them too.

Black Label Society’s sound was immense and I was advised by Phil not to take pictures at the front (being over 5 months pregnant) so I just enjoyed the show with the guys on the raised platform by the sound desk. A real mixed set of older songs, and new. Pyros, super loud guitar solos, pounding drums and a finale of confetti rained down on the Hammersmith Apollo. What a great show. I was super-proud.

…with 80′s tinged metal band Jettblack. They recently joined Rotosound’s list of endorsees. I love the variety of Rotosound’s client list – one minute I could be on a shoot with a death metal band, the next a blues guitarist or pop group’s session player. It’s safe to say I was looking forward to shooting with these guys. Having never seen them live or met them before, so I only had their website and a couple of youtube music video’s to go by….and I wasn’t disappointed.

Yesterday I met with half of the guys at the drummer Matt’s house in Henley. The others were holed up in the recording studio for the next album. Matt’s house was huge – to put it in perspective, the bathroom was as big as most people’s bedrooms. It wasn’t just the rooms that were big, he had 2 massive HUGE dogs.

Lovely they were, I should have taken a picture!

Anyway, at the bottom of the garden was a small recording studio where we would do the shoot. Jon and Tom were great to work with and we had a good laugh too.

Here’s a little teaser picture from the shoot. Jon couldn’t help but take his shirt off. I heard a rumour he played an outdoor festival at -4 degrees without a shirt. That’s pretty hardcore.

Oh, and if you don’t know what they sound like, check out this

 

Kirk Windstein came to London with one of his 3 bands – Crowbar. I was booked shooting a Hard of Hearing piece for Terrorizer Magazine and Seventh Circle Artworks – a bespoke handmade jewellery company. SCA had made Kirk his very own custom Fleur de Lys ring with the engraving of ‘NOLA’ around the outside. It’s amazing! Kirk flipped out over this ring and we did a shoot for promotion of its release.

(Kirk with Alex from SCA)

Kirk also did a lot of promotion surrounding Crowbar’s forthcoming album ‘Sever the Wicked Hand’. I got to listen in on an interview and saw the band sound check. A very humble man with one hell of a story to tell.

Look out for my pics which will be published quite soon. Also the Fleur de Lys ring will be available to order via www.seventhcircleartworks.com shortly… keep checking the site – - I WANT ONE!!

Here’s a teaser – one of the promos from the shoot – we had fun with a smoke machine. It reminded me of one the Down songs ‘Bury me in Smoke’ so I just HAD to use it!