Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

As usual at this time of year I'm enjoying a long break in Cheshire with family and
friends before heading back London. Feeling recharged and ready for the New Year...

New Years Day 2017 © Michael Robert Williams

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Orange Nude;

© Michael Robert Williams

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Recent Work; Grouplove

Grouplove © Michael Robert Williams 2016

I know I usually post personal photographs and things like that here, but sometimes I actually think to put work here too - and this is one of those times :)

These are a few of the photographs from a day with U.S. band Grouplove as they were promoting their excellent third album 'Big Mess', and I'm now able to share them here. There are a few portraits shot with them in the day, and some others including the band talking back at their hotel, and photographs from their show that night. 

Interviews discussing 'Big Mess'

In concert that night.

Photographs © Michael Robert Williams 2016

Michael, London 2016.

'Pictures of You'

'I've been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost believe that they're real
I've been living so long with my pictures of you
That I almost believe that the pictures
Are all I can feel.'

(The Cure - Pictures of You)

Archive Image; Cornershop, 2002

While sorting out more of my archived shoots I found this previously unseen portrait of the band Cornershop, photographed in London in 2002.

Cornershop, London, 2002 © Michael Robert Williams

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Tate Modern Extension;

I took so many photos, on my iPhone, while wandering around the new Tate Modern extension in London - so I thought I'd post a little set here - these were just for me, so colour and treatments may not fully represent reality...  :)

Tate Modern, London © Michael Robert Williams, June 2016

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Muhammad Ali;

This really is a year for the loss of icons - Bowie, Prince, and now we lose Muhammad Ali.
RIP Muhammad 'The Greatest' Ali - January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016

'He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.'
- Muhammad Ali.

Old Sketchbook Pages;

While sorting out some old boxes I found a couple of my old sketchbooks, these are actually from when I was a student. I'd been to art college before going on to study photography - it seems I didn't want to leave the paints and things behind yet. I've sometimes used multiple images in my work over the years, but looking at the sketchbooks it seems I did it often then, and used backgrounds often to 'frame' the photographs. I think I should start doing more of this again now, if only for myself...

Sketchbook Pages © Michael Robert Williams

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Prince Rogers Nelson. June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016

The news that Prince has passed away has really hit me. After Bowie that is now two of my all time favourite artists gone. I was lucky enough to see Prince in concert a number of times and I can say he was the greatest solo artist I've ever seen live. Every show was incredible. I've been a fan since I was a teenager, and still love his music now.
The greatest of his generation.

It's strange how the loss of a musician can affect us - some people don't get it, they say ‘but you didn’t know them’. But if you’ve truly loved music and it has mattered in your life you still feel a loss because you felt a connection to that artist through their music, and that music ’spoke to you’, this artist could somehow put into words and music how you were feeling, and of course you connected to that. There are, I think for most people, key periods in your life when music has a big impact; when we love someone, when we lose someone, and for everyone there are the teenage years - music is literally the soundtrack to your teenage life. Prince and Bowie were a part of mine. I saw Bowie for the first time when i was 16 years old, I think if I remember correctly I was 19 when I saw Prince first. Prince albums really did seem to soundtrack my teenage years. ‘1999' at school discos, listening to 'When Doves Cry' on my Sony Walkman, and 'Raspberry Beret' still reminding me of a girl I had a huge crush on one summer and yet never even knew her name - I used to see her in town every now and then; the song connection? She really did wear a raspberry beret every time I saw her :)

Music is one of those things we connect to, becomes part of our memories, and can even help shape us I think. I has me anyway. It would take a much longer piece to really write about what music has meant to me, it even became central to my work, but I’m not writing that piece today.

Sorry, I can't resist posting these lyrics... :)

'In the beginning God made the sea

But on the 7th day he made me

He was tryin' to rest y'all when He heard the sound

Sound like a guitar cold gettin' down

I tried to bust a high note, but I bust a string

My God was worried 'til he heard me sing

My name is Prince and I am funky

My name is Prince the one and only'

Prince - 'My Name Is Prince'

One of Prince's Jackets circa Purple Rain
Photo © Michael Robert Williams, 2013

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Memorabilia;

Tidying / organising my desk draws; I'm a sucker for music memorabilia - even my own work stuff, kinda - I keep photo passes, tickets etc from shows, I just can't throw them out...

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Recent Work; Adam French

These are a few of my portraits from a recent shoot with new Virgin Records artist Adam French, shot in London earlier this month. I know I usually post personal photos and other bits on here but these are some of my favourite recent photographs.

You can check out some of his music here;
virginemirecords.com/adam-french/

Adam French, London, 2016 © Michael Robert Williams

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Icon;

I don't know what to say - I've loved Bowie's music since I was a teenager - it feels almost like one of the family has passed away. I first saw him live when I was 16, and I've seen him again since. I've been listening to the new album this week.
I only just posted a Bowie quote & photo on my FB page and here over the weekend. His influence went beyond music, his approach and attitude to being creative applies to all forms of art.

I don't have many heroes - but we just lost one of them.
RIP David Bowie. I'm going to listen to some of your music...

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'...selfish as an artist.'

'I think it all comes back to being very selfish as an artist. I mean, I really do just write and record what interests me.'
 - David Bowie

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I'm enjoying a final few days in Cheshire with family and friends before heading back London. I feel recharged and looking forward to getting back to work...

New Years Day 2016 © Michael Robert Williams

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Personal Photographs;

I've spent a bit of time back in Cheshire with family and friends. Whenever I'm back I like to go for drives out in the countryside, stopping to shoot what's around me, so these are a few photos I shot on the iPhone while out...

© Michael Robert Williams 2015

Music Exhibition;

I would like to thank everyone who visited the exhibition - the reaction has been amazing. I know I spoke to a lot of visitors myself in the times I was there over the last week, it was great to hear your reactions to the work, I'm happy so many enjoyed it. This exhibition concentrated on my music work over the years, showing 30 of my photographs and it was great working with the team at Attitude Gallery to put it all together.

© Michael Robert Williams

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Exhibition;

Only a few days to go now - All of the prints for the exhibition are now framed and at the gallery waiting to be hung...

© Michael Robert Williams

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About a Portrait; Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson, of Suede, London.
This is another portrait which will be in the exhibition. I'd been a fan of Suede and had paid to go and see them in the 90's as a student, so it was really nice to be able to photograph them some years later myself. This was shot in 2003 in London. This portrait wasn't actually used at the time, the session was more about portraits of the whole group, but I'd always liked the photograph of Brett so decided to include it in the exhibition.
He was very easy to work with and didn't mind indulging me for a while to take some portraits of him alone after the group portraits were done.
I loved the light coming through the trees, the shapes it made on the wall caught my eye and I shot Brett in that light. It's a very simple portrait - natural light, moody, maybe pensive is a better word. People don't make portraits like this often anymore, I don't know why - it's hard to put your finger on but things change. I love this portrait, and hope you liked knowing a little more about it.

Brett Anderson © Michael Robert Williams

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Michael Robert Williams - Exhibition Update;

Update;
Only a couple of weeks now until the exhibition of my music work at Attitude Gallery in Congleton at the start of July. All the prints are currently being framed. Among the artists featured in the exhibition are The Killers, Kasabian, Oasis, Portishead, Ian Brown, Ellie Goulding, Johnny Marr, and this portrait of Kaiser Chiefs...

Kaiser Chiefs © Michael Robert Williams

Along with my better known images, I edited my archives to produce to some portraits that have never been published, so some of the images on display will be available for the first time as edition prints. I will be there in person for the invite preview show on the evening of the 2nd July, and there for some of the weekend on the 4th & 5th July.

Michael Robert Williams.
T - 07976 800126

E - info@michaelwilliams.co.uk

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'...just like them.'

'Well, I try my best
To be just like I am
But everybody wants you
To be just like them.'

- Bob Dylan (Maggie's Farm)