Finding time to edit

Finding time to edit and shoot whilst at the festival is always tricky and obviously the priority is to get the appointments you require and take photographs, so much of the post production is done when I get back home.  Here are two photographs that I managed to edit whilst still away.  They represent both ends of the talent spectrum found at festivals.  Lotte Verbeek was one of this year's Shooting Stars a European Film Promotion initiative that promotes young acting talent not only in Berlin but also at other major film festivals.  Michael Winterbottom is an established British film director who was in Berlin this year to promote his movie The Killer Inside Me.

Lotte Verbeek

Michael Winterbottom

Location Limitations...

Choice of location to shoot at any festival is limited and in my experience Berlin sets some pretty big limitations. First it's unlikely that you'd be able shoot outside. In four years I've only managed it once and my battery pack failed due to the cold temperature and the actor kept his coat on!  Outdoors this year was an absolute no no.  We're talking minus ˚7 and counting. So what are the options?  Well first it depends what space the PR agents can get. A lot of the time they are based in the Palast which is the main theatre for the festival. Unfortunately for us photographers it's all orange, orange and orange with a touch of navy blue thrown in here and there. If you're fortunate enough to have an assistant then you've got an extra pair of hands to carry a background.  But since I don't, most of the time it's orange or blue or if I'm lucky someone leaves their backdrop up for me which was the case with this photograph of director Rafi Pitts.  

Otherwise it's this which admittedly worked well with the outfit of director Jasmila Zbanic

Needless to say I'm looking forward to Cannes which at least (most of the time) has the weather on it's side.

Berrrlin

I arrived yesterday for the Berlinale.  Germany is seriously cold. Temperatures at minus ˚7 and counting.  I don't think I've been anywhere this cold in a long time.  In fact I tend to avoid these kinds of temperatures but... here I am.  My apartment Mitte is about a twenty minute walk (no doubt less without the treacherous ice) from the hub of the festival in Potsdamer Platz and that's about as long as it takes with double insulated gloves to start feeling the biting cold.  That said there are some amazing sites like seeing large chunks of frozen ice floating in the river or

bicycles that will have to be dug out with an icepick 

I try not to have my hands out of the gloves for more than 45 seconds although the temptation is strong as there is much to see here and Berlin being so full of history.  So whilst walking to and fro to make appointments and catch up with people I haven't seen since Cannes I whip out my beloved iPhone with it's selection of apps and take some pictures.  I start shooting tomorrow so for now I'll leave you with this last picture of some beautiful signage shot in front of the Brandenburg Gate

Last opportunity...

to view my exhibition of actors and directors at Negs in Soho (45-47 Broadwick Street W1F 9QP).

Thanks to Jag and his lovely staff for printing and hosting my pictures.  They're a great bunch who share their tea, biscuits and the occasional beer with me.  So if you're looking for somewhere friendly to get your prints done or film processed (yes there are still labs out there) amongst their many services, then this is the place to go.

Daniel Craig                                 Tan Zhou

Shooting Stars

I'm gearing up for my fourth Berlin International Film Festival.  I can't say I'm looking forward to the weather (it's usually minus something) but I am looking forward to the array of talent that will attend the 60th Berlinale.   Last year I photographed the Shooting Stars 2009 for the European Film Promotion. Amongst this group of ten actors was our own Carey Mulligan who has recently received a Bafta nomination for her performance in An Education.  Her star is in the assent and the Evening Standard has listed her as one to watch in 2010!

Sorted!

Well I thought this image was apt as a first post for this blog as it's been on the back burner for a while as I sweated and learnt enough HTML (thank you Paul) to get the look I wanted. Thank goodness that's over! The shot was taken and edited on my iPhone in a client's kitchen whilst chef was preparing one of many Christmas meals for staff. Shame it's not scratch and sniff, eh?