New Work - Lisa Tse by MRW

Lisa Tse by Michael Robert Williams, 2008

I recently photographed the new press/PR portraits for my good friend Lisa Tse, the designer and creative director of Lisa Tse Ltd.
I've produced many portraits of Lisa over the last few years and she's always great to work with - very creative herself and open to ideas. These are a few of the recent portraits made just a few weeks ago. I especially love the first portrait (above) with Lisa on the stairs bathed in a pool of light.

Lisa Tse, 2008

Lisa Tse, 2008

Went To See; Vanity Fair Portraits, NPG London

I went to catch the Vanity Fair Portraits Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery recently before it finished. It was showing work from the entire history of the magazine. As the press release said;

'This is a unique opportunity to see 95 years of iconic imagery by some of the most renowned photographers of the twentieth century, including Baron De Meyer, Edward Steichen, Man Ray and Cecil Beaton, as well as portraits by celebrated contemporary photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino, Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts.'

As much as its interresting to see the set-ups and techinical skills in the work of the modern era photographers like Leibovitz, I personally loved seeing the early portraits by Steichen & Man Ray. I admit I do often enjoy Leibovitz's portraits, but her music work mainly (and her older work really, especially a lot of her 1970's work). I find the Hollywood gatefold covers that she shoots for VF interesting to look at, well set-up, and technically well executed, but also a little empty. Everyone looks perfect. But thats all.
I like the sugestion of something more in portraits, that's one reason why I admire Anton Corbijn's work. There often seems to be something more going on in Cobijn's images, and that's a difficult trick to do. You get so little time on some of these shoots, and there are other people around on the shoot too. Its one thing to even have an idea what you want from the shoot, but another thing altogether to get it.

But getting back to the VF exhibition. I did enjoy seeing the work and I picked out two portraits, one from the first period of VF, and one from the period since VF's re-launch in 1983. These are two of my personal favourites from the exhibition. First Gloria Swanson by the great Edward Steichen photographed in 1924. Then Hilary Swank by Norman Jean Roy from 2004.

Above; Gloria Swanson by Edward Steichen, 1924

Above; Hilary Swank by Norman Jean Roy, 2004

Portishead Images in US Press

Quick post showing a few of the Portishead images used in recent US press.
First is the opening spread from XLR8R Magazine (XLR8R used this group portrait and then an individual portrait of each of the three members over the next pages). Next is the cover and opening spread from the Filter music festival supplement 'Good Music Guide'. Three Portishead portraits of mine also ran in the main Filter Magazine this month in the US but I don't have the spreads to put here as yet.
I went to see Portishead play in London recently too and they were fantastic live, playing a lot of their older songs and of course music from the new album too. Beth's voice is amazing.

Opening spead of the XLR8R Magazine feature.

Filter cover.

Opening spread of the Filter feature.

Working, editing...

I've spent much of the day sorting out recent work, editing etc, and looking over a few personal images shot over the last few months too.
Just thought I'd post this personal image shot while away on assignment in Boston U.S. before Christmas. I think it's my favourite recent personal image.

Portishead, Paris.

Quick update for March...
I'm still not writing here as often as I'd like (or intended).
Must try harder.
I envy those who write everyday, how do they find the time? It would be nice to have a record of what I'd done, seen, etc, for me to read back over. Sadly my bad memory means I forget so much.
Anyway, just a quick update. I'll have more to post soon, including new photos. I've been busy during March with shoots and other things, but I think the most interesting for me was photographing Portishead. I've always loved their music and now they have their new album coming out soon. I went to Paris to photograph them last week and they didn't disappoint, they were really nice to work with and the new music sounds great.
The photographs were for a number of uses. Some of the portraits will be posted here when I can, but the first place some will appear is in Filter magazine in the U.S.

Also out soon is a Kasabian book which I shot the cover to (below).
More news and photographs very soon.

More on me, work, etc...

I think a useful thing about me writing here is that it gives me an opportunity to show some work that isn't on my portfolio website. I shoot all of the time so only a fraction of my photos get put into my portfolios of course.
These are a few portraits I shot last year of James Tyler (American musician, performs & records on lute, viol, and mandolin). They were shot in Los Angeles and were only just published, so I can put them up now. This is one of the first shoots I did completely digital, and the magazine wanted the feature in B&W, which helped my shoot (and transition) a little as its colour I'm finding most difficult with digital, I still want the colour to look like it was shot on film.


These first two portraits were shot in his home, the first just sitting in his living room, the second in his study. Both were lit using just the natural light. I like his glasses being on the table in the second.


I think four or five portraits ran with the interview. This one below didn't however so this is the only place you'll see it, for now at least, and this is one of my favourites from the shoot. Shot near his home in LA, I can't explain why I like this so much but it just works for me.


Anyway, thats a few portraits from that shoot. I'll post some other stuff soon. Its just that images have to run where they are commissioned first. Also some work gets added to the site so theres no point me putting it here too but I will from time to time post a few images here that don't go on the website.
M.

Happy New Year (belated, I know)

Happy New Year (belated)
I know its been awhile since I posted but I took a long Christmas break, catching up with friends & family etc. Also my brother came back from NZ for Christmas, he moved there in January last year. So I was able to spend some time with him too.
But I’m finally back to work now after my break. Hope you had a great Christmas & New Year.