Beat
Breaking news, politics, business.
One Shot
“So much of what we photograph is about expression, emotion, faces and eyes, yet here none of those is needed to identify the main character. The hands leave the audience open to interpretation as to what is happening. It's humorous and the Queen, with her distinctive style of hat, is instantly recognisable.”
Profile
My earliest memory of photography was when, in my early teens, I saw news pictures in print. I was intrigued by how the event was distilled into a single image.
After getting injured at school I had to miss much-loved rugby practice. When I had to miss games lessons while recovering, I got engrossed reading newspapers. That got me hooked.
I learnt photography on my own to start with but then more seriously at journalism school.
Photography appealed to me because I was fascinated by the thought of capturing images from news events. Not doing a nine-to-five job was part of the attraction too.
Many assignments have left their mark on me. The kindness, generosity and dignity of people in areas devastated by war or natural disaster, from Africa to the Middle East, has been extremely humbling.
Nearer to home, the aggression that I have documented between football fans at some European matches has never ceased to amaze and sadden me.
Breaking news excites me, also stories that present real practical challenges in a very testing environment. Overcoming those obstacles and producing great pictures is all the more satisfying. I always aim to combine symmetry with beautiful light in my work.
Capturing moments and delivering those images with integrity, leaving people in no doubt about what happened, is a huge responsibility.
The photographers I respect most are those who can shoot sport one moment, hard news the next, followed by a daily-life story. That kind of versatility is impressive.
I see no end to the essential role photojournalism plays. As people become more discerning about imagery, there’s all the more need for standards in professional photography to remain high. Whether a single image of breaking news or a photo essay, an audience hungry for information will always demand and cherish photos of the highest quality.