My time at The Times

Thursday:
Photographer Stalking: Paul Rogers
I was sent an email on Wednesday saying to meet Paul outside the PowerPlate Academy in London to shoot some pictures of journalist Emma Bartley on a PowerPlate bike (PowerPlates being an intensive workout equipment which vibrates forcing the muscles to work harder etc) for her article on it. Another early day as I got in at 7:30 but not meeting Paul til 10:00, so wandered around for while, but didn't take any pictures. Went to the place, and rang Paul to check it was the right place, he said he didn't know I was supposed to meet him, but it was fine. We went in the academy, and waited for Emma to arrive. He also told me that there was a multimedia crew coming to do a video for the website. Turns out the video crew weren't coming because to staff shortages, so Paul said he could do it himself, telling me it would probably be expected of him. From what he told me he seems pretty experienced with filming and he had his own sound recording equipment and all kinds of recording gear (which is probably quite standard with contemporary photojournalists). Paul picked the best setting in the room, which had alot of natural light, but set up some flashes around the bike to make things more dramatic. when Emma arrived, she didn't see Paul straight away who was setting stuff up, and it looked liked she assumed I was the photographer. Once I told her I was doing work experience she said I "look like a photographer, you should do it", not sure if that's a compliment or what, but I took it as one. Paul let me hold the sound recording stuff, and I was meant to control how loud it was so it didn't saturate, I don't know if I had done a very good job, Paul said it was a very echoy room though.
After we left, we drove to the Royal Theater on Southbank, as Paul had another job doing some portraits of American comedian Reginald D Hunter for an article. as we had a few hours til we had to meet him and his PR, and that I had brought my mac, Paul said he'd have a look at some of my pictures. He was probably less vocal about some of the issues which are in my pictures, but he was nice enough. Before we were meant to meet Reginald, Paul wanted to have a look at the area, which was pretty nice, being along the Thames with alot of trees and a good flat natural light. Paul picked a few spots, getting me to act as a tester, and we met up with Reg and PR. He was actuallt quite friendly and pretty funny, and seemed fine with posing and moving around as Paul instructed him. I got to hold the light stand so it didn't blow away. After Paul had got the shots he wanted, he said I could do some, which Reg was fine with. I decided to shoot him with the Thames behind. He played up to it, clibing on the railings and generally being funny. we all joked that the Times could potentionally have a very different set of pictures if he fell off.