OSCAR WINNER

Congratulations to Oliver James, my old assistant for winning an Oscar. After studying Physics & Maths at Oxford, Ollie worked for me in my Shoreditch Studio for 3 years, a lovely, quiet boy.

He was the creator of the black hole in Interstellar and was really quietly proud of this huge achievement.

He now is the Chief Scientist at DNEG (Double Negative) working on Hollywood blockbusters like Interstellar, several James Bond’s, Openheimer, Batman Begins, Chicken Run etc etc. https://cherwell.org/2024/02/25/visual-effects-oliver-james/

It is so good seeing a pure talent developing into one of the most influential men in Hollywood, a true special effect genius and scientist.

SUPERMARKET ADVERTISING

When I was a young assistant there was some wonderful award winning Supermarket work in the press, AMV’s work for Sainsbury’s in the 80’s, Tesco’s in the 90’s followed by M&S mouth watering commercials during the following decade.

The Sainsbury’s 80’s adv’, beautiful photography would capture a simple plum or fennel bulb, so why is Supermarket work now just about cost, surely the public want to know more about what families are putting on their plate?

I shot some nice food shots for Tesco’s / Red Brick Road between 2000-2010; when i open a newspaper now, the ads look just the same, they could be my old photos but are 15+ years on.

Waitrose were great to work for and had a great team of Art Directors from Banks Hoggins O’Shea & RKCR, especially Richard Dennison who really art directed posters and ads. He was a real craftsman, who also commissioned me on beautiful Landrover campaigns with Andy Clough & Rich, Richard Denney & Dave Henderson. He was one of the best creatives a photographer could work alongside, the type of AD that made me really happy I decided to become a ‘smudger’. Thank you

FORAGED & HOME-GROWN IS BEST

We dont’ need to walk far to create and photograph nature at it’s best or as a professional photographer ‘re-create it so no one could tell it was faked’!

I don’t like to ruin peoples beliefs but that’s the job of a professional.

Pumpkins re-created by myself with pumpkins grown for Cancer Charities with all proceeds given to this very worthy cause. I shot this for the Kew Gardens Cook Book - Ingredients page, shot on out kitchen steps.

Nature never fails to disappoint. I have always loved nature and used it to help create better photographs. You don’t need to be a great photographer to take good photos, you just need the eye to see the potential of objects that can be simply put together to make a picture work. Photographed for the Kew Cook Book

The tomatoes were given to me by an Italian friend, but I bet he didn’t think my camera would immediately come out from the bag to photograph these beauties. A photographer is only as good as the availability of his camera & persuading his/ her wife/ partner to model - not an easy thing to do but after years of persuasion…. I never go anywhere without a camera.

I entered this series in an awards. After my submission titled ‘Fresh girolles from the Garfagnana mountains’, the organiser called to ask me to check the title which predictive text had changed to ‘Fresh girlies from the…’

The purity of these mushrooms was too good to waste, but persuading my wife to dress up and dirty her hands was more difficult, especially in October’s rain. I love this shot or should I say ‘I love nature’.

The kitchen garden, tools and produce

When ugly becomes beautiful. I can’t pass a green grocer without having a double take and admiring this humble fruit, the quince. I also love its role in a casserole, with the quince acting as a sump absorbing all the flavours.

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A TUSCAN TRATTORIA & ITS FARM

I have been passionate about Italy. the Italian people & life style for 30 years, so much so we bought a farm in the foothills of the Garfagnana mountains, north of Lucca.

I met writer Nick Farrell on a project for Waitrose 20 years ago and with his knowledge and literacy skills he was the perfect person to team up with, backed up by my wife Hazel.

From a previous project for Waitrose, working with writer Nick Farrrell on a Tuscan Wedding

Part of the passion was meeting a young Tuscan chef, Aurelio Barattini, his family and their restaurant Antica Locanda di Sesto. Aurelio is a very proud Tuscan and chef & farmers who added a creative spark into writing a book.

Charasmatic chef, farmer and family man, a true Tuscan.

In Italy their are several places to dine, from Restaurants, to Trattorias, Osterias & Pizzerias etc. Traditionally, the Trattoria is where the tractor driver took his family out to eat local seasonal produce, although this has become more gentrified over the years.

Head chef Aurelio and front of house, brother Lamberto.

Main dining room, a former stable for a horse and cart, panelled with local chestnut wood. Antica originally served working men lunch from the rock mines along the river in the 100’s. then men travelling north along the Serchio River basin before being run by Aurelio’s Nonna, Ida.

The farm, Maolina which over looks the Lucca plain

Pappa al pomodoro.

Roasted baccala.

Tagliata sliced with rosemary.

Although the family farm Maolina provides a lot of fruit and vegetables, local fruit and veg suppliers are used.

Aurelio’s meat suppliers stand under a sign that says ‘A little bit of fat does you good’.

NEVER WORK WORK WITH KIDS AND ANIMALS

I actually love working with both, especially as you can never pre-plan too much. You have to be ready for the magical unexpected

Boy with snake skin

Watering is important work

Italian life

Italian food is so child friendly

ROOM WITH A VIEW

I was delighted and honoured to be commissioned to shoot a bit of Italian magic, maybe a table with the most beautiful view, the Ghiselli’s out door dining room.

Listening to the nightingales singing as the sun set behind the rolling hills was really was breath taking as the thousands of fire flies lit up the valley after dark.

Our late friend and poet, the Jamaican James Berry MBE wrote a poem about Gugliano in 1998.

Like a mate, a place draws you to it.

We touched these undulating valleys:

they embraced and entranced us. Unlike

Shelley – who drowned in the waters of

Cinque Terre – we sank into the arms of these

PINK LADY SHORTLIST 2023

Delighted to have 4 photos shortlisted in this years awards.

Food at the table category

On the phone category

M&S food portraiture

Cream of the crop category

REST IN PEACE - BARRY HUMPHRIES, A COMIC GENIUS.

Barry really was a wonderful, charming man, so clever and witty and always referred to me as ‘Hughey, the genial lensman’.

The world has lost a great man.

We worked together on a multi-award winning BT ad campaign with AD Mike Lee,

EASTER

Carluccio’s and Italians really celebrate Easter with Colomba Cake, Easter Eggs and local towns make special pastries. It’s a time of year when families get together, eating fish on Maunday Thursday and lamb is becoming increasingly popular on Easter Sunday.

Chocolate eggs and Easter pastries being arranged at the breakfast table.

Colomba cakes hand made in Piedmont by Giuseppe and his team.

Chocolate Easter Eggs

BRIGHT COLOURS DURING A DULL WINTER

We have shot some bright coloured images to lift clients spirits during these winter months.

KFC on drugs

Who let the daugs out?

Pappa al pomodoro on red.

Raw steak on yellow.

Enamel pans.

IT'S COLD UP NORF

It’s not long now until Christmas and any excuses to visit the Glenmorangie Distillery and photograph their whiskies. With seals alongside over looking the Moray Firth, wonderful mountains and pine forests which surround the distillery, it really is Scotland at its very picturesque best.

One of the shots was shooting a trickle flowing from a rock. This water (along with grain) is the basis of their whisky. The water is so soft because it fell from the skies thousands of years ago onto the rock above the distillery and has seeped through the rock creating this wonderful soft mineral water.

PORTFOLIOS??

We all snap away taking lovely shots but however ‘nice’ they are, we have to listen to what other people think.

When I flew to Vejle, Denmark, all expenses paid for 5 days as one one of the two British exhibitors I felt I knew my market pretty well and generally liked what I saw on my website. Let’s face it, it’s not everyday I’m collected in a top of the range Porche by a 26 year Danish girl!!

However, during the exhibition & demonstrations, chatting away to photographers & art buyers from around the world, not only did i see and enjoy different styles of food photography but one Dutch art buyer’s comment really stayed with me. She liked one food photographers folio but was also highly critical of his work. She said it was ‘beautiful but isn’t food all about sharing and he didn’t have any human element in any photo?’ I can still remember her bewildered face as we waited for our planes to take us all home.


During my flight home, inspired by brash photos from NY and other wonderful images from around the globe, I thought, ‘I have a beautiful folio with high res post production BUT I need to add the interaction with people’.

Food is about sharing, it can be beautiful but shared with friends and family. My wife isn’t a foodie, although she appreciates a good meal out, she prefers talking to friends.


I have now introduced people in the folio and really enjoyed shooting them, both in sharing the food and also in the preparation.

ARTISAN BAKERS

On the banks of the Serchio river, in the Garfagnana mountains is a small artisan bakery, that has been feeding the local Tuscans since the end of WW11.

Brothers Emmanuelle & Giovanni, great grand children of the original bakers only use chestnut , spelt or potato flour to bake their loaves.

The oven, like many in Tuscan bakeries and trattorias is fired using local chestnut or olive wood. The bread, pastries and Friday night pizzas wouldn’t taste the same without it.

Using crystal clear water from the river, which is full of trout, the bread is totally organic and bought daily by the locals

Simple margherita pizzas with capers are cooked every Friday evening

The proof is in the pudding.

From Hugh’s current Trattoria book project - any publishers who would like to be involved I would love to discuss this with you.

MIRASOLE, BOLOGNA - WORLD'S BEST OSTERIA

I have done several shoots in the wonderful city of Bologna, the ‘Belly of Italy’, but none better than at the Mirasole, a short train journey from the city centre.

Bologna is famous for Mortadella, Lasagne, Bolognaise and also for snails, plus many other dishes. Parma,is the home of Parmesan & Procuitto is also very close

I love all the plates dishes and wacky ice bucket.

The Osteria del Mirasole, San Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna

Tortellini with Mirasole cream

Classic lasagne with nettle lasagne sheets, chicken liver Bolognaise cooked for 8 hours

The grill

Veal chop with Parma ham with Parmesan cream

Florentine bistecca

The Bar, Mirasole

Rose, Lambrusco

CHRISTMAS AT 35C

Why do our Christmas shoots happen when the temperatures are in the 35C - 37C?

Today we are shooting a selection of Christmas still lives as we swelter under the burning sun, decorating a 20ft tree.

I remember when I was an assistant we shot a Christmas campaign for a Bank and hired a manor house for the shoot during a hot July. We had a huge log fire for the wintery effect. Presumably the chimney hadn’t been swept because as we were packing up the car after the shoot we could see smoke billowing from the outside of the chimney. We mentioned it to our boss who said ‘ Jump in the car and leave’. He left in his Aston, the other assistant and me drove off in the hired van. Ten minutes away, we met the fire brigade coming the other way!! We felt guilty but our boss didn’t!!

NEW AWARDS

PINK LADY Cream of the Crop winners & Wine - people

(also a winner in the US Colour Awards & AOP )

Leafy shadows and sun ripened vegetables

Chefs, pre diner drinks at Chateau Bagnol, Lyon