If there’s one guy who has really taken regeneration of urban areas (especially Manchester) by the scruff of the neck and shaken it until it squeaks it’s Tom Bloxham. Tom’s property development company Urban Splash invests in regenerating inner city areas by taking old warehouses and office blocks and creating cool living spaces out of them.
I was commissioned to shoot Tom on location at his offices in Manchester to accompany an interview feature. As befits any visit to Manchester it was a grey day threatening to rain. I had a look around at the offices and decided to shoot outside on the rear terrace area which was framed by some huge flats either side.
Tom was great and went along with my ideas and had a few himself too. He gave me way more time than he should have (thanks Tom!) for such a busy person (he’s on a trillion committees and has just been made Chancellor of Manchester University). We set about lighting and creating a variety of images before the heavens opened.
Thankfully the rain held off for the duration allowing me to try a few different things. I always have a ‘pre-plan’ of ideas which normally changes once I’ve done a recce of the location and can change again mid-shoot depending on how it’s going.
Fluidity is the key for successful location shooting!
…..and it also helps if it doesn’t rain too..!
Here’s my favourite image from the session which you can see a larger version of in the “people” gallery on my website portfolio
Until later…
J
