Ben & Elvis.. Porteno..

Ben & Elvis from Porteno look the business, very cool cats.. But they're both approachable and down to earth.. My mate Miles who'd tattooed the pair of them, set the session up for me..

I belled Elvis last week and we teed up a time...

The chaps are a real duo, they give each other balance, they work well together..  They both arrived at Porteno at 11am sharp, both looking sharp, Kenny and I set the kit  up, next to the bar upstairs and minutes later in walked Elvis. He's a tall and angular guy, every detail is immaculate, his hair, tattoo's, clothes and jewelry..

He sits down and we start, he easy to photograph and 10 minutes later we're done.. He and Ben have just received these rather sweet denim jackets from The Black Keys, they suit them to a tee, so for my first image from their series, this was what I sent them, for approval..

Obvious they seem pleased with the first shot, as they've uploaded it and I got it sent me by mutual friend, JimBob Country-Estate..

Anyway onto Ben, who just looks like he's stepped out of 1949, as I'm grading his shots, as I type, they really look like we could've been taking these shots, all those years back..

Ben also seems comfortable as we shoot, he's easy going and takes direction well..

I shoot them separately, which they've never been done before.. As I say, they are a strong duo, but also individuals and that's what I want to capture..


The rest of the series will follow in the next day or so...



http://www.porteno.com.au/



As always click on the image to enlarge...

Handy piece of work... Riff Raff Rob..

So I finish photographing Rob and I'm just about to start breaking down the set and he pipes up...

"Thought you wanted to shoot me hands?"

"Yes I did.."

So I go and get the step ladder from out back for him to stand on and dangle his arms over, because I don't want to swop the lights round.. It would have probably been easier to string him up from the ceiling, but we got there..

I'll be shooting Rob again, down the line when he gets more work done, in the meantime, I'll just drop into the shop from time to time, just to nick his chips at lunchtime..

Next up for my tattoo portrait series to send Morrissey, are Porteno duo Ben & Elvis..


As always click on the image to enlarge....

Rob, or is it Rolf..?

I met Rob through Miles, he's a tattooist, which I know is hard to believe...

Rob looks the part and when I met him, I thought that he fits in well for my series, that I'm hopefully sending to the man Morrissey..

Rob's a massive fan also and jumped at the chance...

Anyway he dropped into Elbankville Studio's yesterday and we took these of him, for a man never in front of the camera before, I thought he did a good job..


As always click to enlarge the image...

Miles.. My long lost best man and muse....

Miles and I have been buddies for nearly 20 years, I met him when he did my first tattoo and we've been friends ever since (15 tattoos later)...

I've not seen him for 2 and a half years and when we came back from our trip, we found a scribbled note, saying he's back in town... Miles has always had an interesting look, whatever it may be..?

I've shot Miles for various editorials over the years and he's gone on to shoot some beautiful menswear editorial whilst back in Europe, along with runway shows for the likes of McQueen and Paul Smith.

I went to see him at work yesterday and we decided to shoot him and his work college Rob's portrait this morning, in the great hope these shots can help me get a 20 minute gig, with the man that is Morrissey...


Rob's to follow..


As always click to enlarge...

White Rabbit's Man on the Door.. Pete.

Here is the third and final part of my portraits of people (and dogs) from the Gallery White Rabbit..

http://www.whiterabbitcollection.org/

Pete is the man who quietly minds the place, from the front doors..

I thought Pete had a interesting look about him and he reminded me of my mate from back home, Gary George...

Anyway Pete sat for 10 minutes to the amusement of the rest of the staff and a class of teenage students, who arrived in reception, just before we finished...




As always click to enlarge the image...

White Rabbit's man on the front line.. David.

A few months back, I went to White Rabbit to shoot some footage with Paul Mac.. That's where I met David, who runs the front of shop, so to speak at the gallery.. He reminded me a little of Talking Head's front man David Byrne..

Anyway a couple of weeks back I was in there again, with my girls and approached David, to see if I could shoot a quick portrait of him.. He said he didn't like have a his photograph taken, but I promised it would be a painless and swift experience, so he agreed..

David has a sharp way about him, in the way he dresses and he's a pleasant chap too..

Here are the results..


As always click on the image to enlarge..

Daisy.. White Rabbit's beautiful British Bulldog...

I arrived at Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery this morning, at 8.50am to photograph David and Pete, the men on front desk and security, at the gallery..

http://www.whiterabbitcollection.org/

Both chaps have interesting looks and had kindly agreed to let shoot a quick portrait of them..

Then halfway through shooting David, in walked Daisy..

Last week, whilst me and the girls were at the gallery, we had met Daisy in the lift, she's a stunner and has a bottom row of teeth, many would envy..

After I'd finished shooting David, she kindly allowed me the great honour of capturing the true beauty she possesses..

I just hope my images have done her a true justice..?

Luckily David and Co were on hand to speak in their best dog voices and ply her with the finest biscuits to get her to sit still, for 2 minutes..

Here are my pick of the bunch..

Monty, my English Staffy said she was well fit and would love to take her for a walk round the block sometime...

David & Pete's shots to follow.



As always click on the image to enlarge...