.Adam King

Quo Vadis

2012-02-06T23:25:00.001Z

Send in the Clown

2012-02-05T21:17:00.001Z

Isabella

2012-02-04T22:08:00.000Z

Against the Grain

2012-01-27T22:51:00.002Z

Whitstable Skate Park

2011-11-23T23:17:00.001Z

Johnson

2011-11-23T22:41:00.001Z

Outside the Shadow of The Tree

2011-10-29T09:54:00.002+01:00

Martin

2011-10-03T21:38:00.001+01:00

J.Harte

2011-09-30T00:43:00.001+01:00

Whitstable Skatepark: Mario

2011-07-10T22:15:00.001+01:00

‘I stood up straight like I wanted my subjectto for his portrait.’

I had stopped listening by the time that thefather of my chosen subject told me that his son, Mario, has learningdifficulties. I’d made my decision and gone into an automatic ‘patter’ ofpoliteness. I don’t mean that flippantly. I mean no disrespect to either Marioor his father.

I had just stopped listening and hadconcentrated my efforts into seeing the finer details of the individual. I hadpicked him, objectively, as an addition to my typology of a sub-cultural groupat the skate park.

As with the other subjects in this series ofphotographs, Mario’s identity is shaped by signs. Some of the signs have beenbestowed upon him, such as age, gender and race, and fall into an everydaysystem used by us all, influencing how we choose to accept and understand eachother. However, our interpretation of others’ identities is also swayed by amore complex construction. There are choices that they have made in how theypresent themselves: brands, clothes and hairstyles, for example. These signalsinform our analysis of them.

A breakdown of these signs denotes that Mariocomes under the umbrella of skater, along with the other subjects in thisgroup. However, although they may all be sending similar skater ‘sub-culture’signals, they are all distinct personalities. In Mario, I was conscious ofsomething else, a stillness that drew me to him, without knowing anythingpersonal about him.

Strangers On Paths: George

2011-07-10T22:05:00.007+01:00

Francesca.

2011-04-25T20:36:00.003+01:00

Topman Replica Campaign

2011-04-01T21:11:00.003+01:00

Make up / Grooming: www.sophiehigginson.co.uk

Assistant: Sam Wiles seventeen-mm.blogspot.com

Billy

2011-04-01T20:57:00.003+01:00

Possible series 'Kite Surfers'. Working Title 'We don't like football'

2011-03-02T00:13:00.005Z

Subjective. Objective. Anthropomorphic.

2011-02-26T00:02:00.001Z

Everything for sale, nothing sold

2011-02-25T23:51:00.000Z

A Bench, Whitstable

2011-02-25T23:43:00.004Z

Sam

2011-02-24T17:46:00.003Z

Sophie

2010-11-22T23:13:00.003Z

Canterbury Arts Festival @ The Old Neptune Whitstable 16th -30th October

2010-10-12T22:07:00.001+01:00

''It was readily apparent and inexorable''

2010-09-11T02:59:00.001+01:00

Dino

2010-08-26T18:50:00.003+01:00

2010-08-26T17:58:00.001+01:00

Billy

2010-08-03T21:08:00.002+01:00

Duncan Roy... A Birthday Portrait

2010-07-09T22:21:00.000+01:00

Portrait Of Posterity

2010-07-05T14:19:00.002+01:00

Portrait Of Illustration

2010-06-25T11:10:00.002+01:00

Portrait of A Diver

2010-05-18T21:33:00.000+01:00

Christmas Portraits

2010-04-29T15:15:00.000+01:00

Elle attend son retour..... Villecroze France.

2010-04-14T18:43:00.000+01:00

The Escapist

2010-04-14T18:38:00.000+01:00

Another contribution to my Whitstable series.

Midge

2010-02-21T23:56:00.000Z

Had a really Special day taking this.. I was with both my sisters. Samantha on Make Up & Holly on the Colour and Cut. Good luck with the competition Holly. Well done to Midge who was brave enough to have half her hair cut off.

Man Made

2010-02-17T20:26:00.000Z

Sophie Higginson....Working Prints

2010-01-16T22:31:00.000Z

''Lucky Heather Darlin' ''

2010-01-16T22:27:00.000Z

Richard Avedon Inspired...Mick Hill

2010-01-16T22:22:00.000Z

''Put 'Em Up'' ''Knocked Out''

2010-01-13T17:17:00.000Z

''Bruce''

Whitstable Sunday Late December 2009

Finally... I get Bruce to stand still.. Bruce had informed me of being awake for possibly two days.. I picked him up from his flat and took him to a wall I had spotted earlier that day. With the help of Barry (see earlier posts) covered the wall with white paper. Still being on the trail for a Richard Avedon inspired portrait. Using the natural sunlight that was just behind me to my left, causing a lovely even light on Bruce, also showing resulting in a Hasselblad shadow (bottom right). I like that its there, its not such a polished image that way..

Working Lunch

2010-01-12T20:53:00.000Z

Hamburg, Germany, November 2009.

I am fortunate enough to work with a marine engineering company, on occasion anyway. I’ve been taken to Marseille and Germany so far. To see industry at this level of both expense and size is nothing short of amazing. The clients of the company I work for are owners of ‘’Super Yachts’’, toys for the ‘’super Rich’’. Their lavish designs and demands will employ contractors from all over the world. Pulling them to a dockyard in a city, possibly in a diffrirent country from their own. Where they will spend wages in hotels, restaurants and local business. So I don’t fully support views and opinions of some that are concerned how one wishes to spend a disposable income, even if it is Three Hundred Million. It was the first time I’ve seen a yacht in dry dock. The monster M/Y completely
covered with sheeted scaffolding protecting the workers and her now naked shell from the outside elements and eyes. Sometimes the noise can be unreal with so much activity going on. A gas-axe cutting a hole so the engine can be removed and craned out. Men grinding on steal; a corner of the dark hull lights up with cracking flashes and sparks from welding. Then an occasional shout would echo around. Probably highlighting a mistake or warning of one about to happen. However, especially in Germany with a regimented schedule for breaks, a silence would fall over the boat. A calm feeling would wash over from stern to bow. I would often sit and collect my thoughts before going to join the rest. Just sit and take in my surroundings.

It was a time like this that I captured a man returning his tools his box and leaving the Yacht. Maybe he had been doing the same as me on an other part of the yacht, sitting, holding back from the others. As he walks away the low winter sun silhouettes him. I can relax and enjoy the silence as it felt like the panic was over and the work can stop… for a short while….

An Arnold Newman inspired portrait of Mick Hill…

2010-01-07T19:07:00.000Z

My plan was to get a shot of Mick Hill, just like Richard Avedon might have done with his portraits of The American West. That’s what first attracted me to photograph Mick, his look. I suppose that was the same ‘’look’’ that attracted the casting team of the film Venus staring Peter O’Toole when they saw him in the Neptune, resulting in him being an extra. It’s a look that provokes thought and interest. I had attempted an Avedon style a couple of weeks earlier. Plain white back ground, leaving the subjects to speak for themselves. Looking back at my contact sheets I was disappointed. I didn’t feel I was doing Mick, Avedon or myself justice. Mick was about to shave his beard off that week. I knew I had to give one more go. I came fully loaded as I could for a bank Holiday; I only had one roll of film for the Hasselblad, so back up was required. I brought along a Canon 400D. Also armed with two backdrops, one-second-hand black curtain and a white paper roll.

The approach…
Pushing Mick’s gate open I could see a stripped wooden door at a jar, with the sun over my shoulder causing a shadow as I peeked in, only to jump back as the pigeons that had nested in his porch flew out. Mick was now at the door. He invited me into his front room, an aroma of fresh coffee and lived in musk hit me. He had Allen Toussaint a New Orleanian Jazz/blues record playing. The room was filled with artistic clutter. Books, photographs, paintings, CD’s, records, magazines and papers covered each available surface. I can imagine all ready for use as reference. We had our coffee (with rum) and took a walk around Whitstable. I would stop Mick in various places, white walls or my roll stretched between two boats. Even using the groins at beach to frame. However I really didn’t feel I had managed to get the image I wanted.

Whilst walking Mick home, I was starting to remember a book lent to me a few months back. It was suggested that I looked at the book for inspiration, as I was due to take a photograph of a ninety-year-old retired solicitor. ''The Great British'' by Arnold Newman is the title. His portraits, if you’re not familiar, were of the most prominent British people at the time, playwrights, actors, artists, photographer’s musicians, old Prime Ministers, Archbishop’s are all featured in his book. He was a master of lighting and simply photographed his subjects in their environments. So with a bottle of Pastis open this was the result…

''Ringmasters''

2009-12-04T18:59:00.000Z

Sophie Moore-Chadwick

2009-12-04T18:53:00.000Z

I was asked to take a photo for my sister. She needed an image of a hair cut and colour she had recently completed. On my way to meet them in Canterbury I went through a sub way. This stream of light was cutting it in half. I had her fixed against the wall and this was the first shot of the day, and my favourite.

The Trouser Trumpets ...Steve Graham

2009-12-04T18:51:00.000Z

Mr. Ronnie Rumball

2009-12-04T18:47:00.001Z

Introducing Ronnie. If your from Whitstable you will know and love this man. He has such an interesting story. A polite gentleman, who loves to buy and sell anything, from furniture to wine.

Procession

2009-12-03T21:54:00.000Z

Walking my dog near the Sportsman in Seasalter. We were followed all the way back to the gate. I think it was such a windy day, really pushing the clouds through, shading and illuminating us often. This adds to the feeling I get of movement and distance with this image., not to metion the straight lines and angles.

Hanging

2009-12-03T21:52:00.000Z

I just really enjoy this image. Whats underneath? People dancing, dining or just a boring best mans speech.

Love Light

2009-12-03T21:49:00.000Z

A toilet light, It was on Valentines day too.

Kings Or Keys

2009-12-03T21:24:00.000Z

Whilst working this summer in the Old Neptune Whitstable. I watched the cigarette machine as it was filled. This image was only meant for the bunch of keys, however when the door opened towards the window it illuminated the chess pieces. For some reason I think of Alice in Wonderland. Or an Anti smoking ad.

What floor?

2009-12-03T21:12:00.000Z

Marseille

2009-12-03T21:08:00.000Z

I was lucky enough to labour for a marine engineering company this summer in Marseilles, France. Every opportunity or time off I was out with my 35mm.
The med light was brilliant, even though two of these are with flash!

Windows

2009-12-03T21:03:00.000Z

Mr Barry John Robinson

2009-11-09T10:20:00.000Z

Childs Play

2009-11-08T11:32:00.001Z

Mr Ron Chadwick

2009-11-08T10:25:00.000Z