Shop Verboten - ecommerce shoot 2

I shot more images for Shop Verboten, as they are expanding the range of available products. NSFW.

12358 Dance Like It's Political 2021 Collection - lookbook and video shoot

I managed to shoot lookbook images and video for 12358’s first collection in Dalston Superstore’s basement just before the venue’s door closed again following the Tier 4 restrictions.

Many thanks to the talented Timothy Wang, 12358 creator and designer who got me on board, to Mattéo for modelling and to Matt at Dalston Superstore for allowing us to use the space.

Christmas Allsorts - production trailer

I made a production trailer for the Queen’s Theatre’s ‘Christmas Allsorts’ variety show. For the first time ever the theatre wasn’t able to produce a pantomime however they managed to create this glamorous and funny 4 actors/musicians show. Unfortunately the production had a very short run due to the pandemic and Tier 4 restrictions introduced in London only two days after the opening night.

Misfits at Queen's Theatre, production photography

I took some production shots of the latest Queen’s Theatre’s production. Due to the lockdown Misfits is available to watch online only. It’s live-streamed until Sunday 22 November https://www.queens-theatre.co.uk/whats-on/show/misfits/

Strajk Kobiet/ Polish Women on Strike - demonstration outside the Polish Embassy in London

In response to Poland’s ban on abortion, people rallied in front of the Polish Embassy in London, lighting candles and chanting in a show of mass solidarity with everyone, who have been out in the Polish streets taking part in ongoing daily protests. On Friday night while we were showing our support in London, Warsaw saw the biggest demonstration since the Solidarity movement of the 1980s. Poland already has the strictest abortion law in Europe, which the ruling party wants now to take even further. An extra outrage is caused by the government’s efforts to introduce the new restrictions undemocratically, fast tracking them via Constitutional Tribunal, which recently appointed members are all the Government’s cronies. Those people not only aren’t impartial but also aren’t qualified judges and make decisions based on their personal and religious believes.

Women and their supporters are demanding reverting the oppressive and dangerous changes in law. People are also calling for the right wing government to step down and are demanding a secular state.

The London protest was intense and inspiring. Despite the fact that there were many creative and playful chants and placards, the message sent to the Polish government was clear and serious - don’t mess with us and respect women’s rights.

London Trans Pride 2020

*Solidarity is Our Weapon* Rainbow for Poland

I Am Human - Solidarity Action Rainbow for Poland

Today’s seen another action of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ people in Poland outside the Polish Embassy in London. The event was attended by a beautiful, diverse crowd not only expressing their messages of support for our Polish siblings but also demanding equality and respect from the Polish authorities. It was wonderful to see everyone including the organisers from Polish Rainbow in UK and FARSA and also the All Out activists. The process of consistent dehumanising of our community in the state owned and right wing Polish media caused a rapid polarisation of the Polish society and gave the religious (catholic) and conservative people a license to publicly express their hatred towards the LGBTQ+ folks. There are more and more of violent incidents and the state and church propaganda are making the situation worse. Today it was the first time when our peaceful demonstration in London was confronted by a small group of Polish nationalists who were shouting abuses towards us. The tensions and emotions run high at some point as for many of us it definitely was a trigger. Nevertheless the demo remained peaceful and retained a positive vibe. One of the aggressors, apparently representing a formal Polish right wing political party, has been eventually detained by the police and charged with hate crime.

Standing in solidarity with the arrested LGBTQ+ activists in Poland, a demo outside the Polish Embassy in London. Solidarne z Margot. Nigdy nie będziesz szła sama!

Stop bzdurom (stop the bullshit) is an anarcho-queer collective actively fighting against queer phobia in Poland. Yesterday one of the activists, Margot, has been arrested in Warsaw. 48 protesters who tried to stop the arrest have been dragged away and detained by the police. The intimidation and dehumanisation of the LGBTQ+ people in Poland continues and we are not having it! There were demonstrations organised in solidarity with the activists across Poland as well as in front of the Polish Embassy in London. Here is my photo report. Nie ma wolnosci bez solidarnosci! There is no freedom without solidarity! The London demo was organised by Razem Londyn.

A portrait shoot for Aleksandra Kornatowska, a Total Biology/Recall Healing® therapist

I took some portraits shots for Aleksandra’s website and social media. We used my studio set up and also explored the natural settings of the Hackney Marshes.

Solidarity with Polish LGBTQ+ rainbow flash mob

Today I joined the protest outside the Polish Embassy and documented the rainbow flash mob. Just two days before the presidential elections in Poland it felt very urgent and much needed to be vocal and show solidarity with our LGBTQ+ siblings living there.

‘In the light of disturbing news about the situation of Polish LGBT+ community we want to send some love and solidarity their way.

Current homophobic president Andrzej Duda spreads hate towards the LGBT+ community by saying publicly on national television "LGBT is an ideology, they're not people". This dehumanising rhetoric allows for the increase of homophobia in Poland (according to ILGA Poland is the most homophobic EU country)

To get a grasp of what's the situation of Polish LGBT+ community watch this documentary by BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-53342667/poland-election-the-fight-for-lgbt-rights

We say strong NO to any form of homophobia, transphobia and hatred towards our Polish sisters and brothers!

Let’s meet outside the Polish Embassy at lunchtime on Friday 10th of July for a socially distant flash mob and draw a massive rainbow of hope outside the Polish Embassy to show our love, hope and support!’

Stand Up to Lgbtq+ Hate Crime, SLAV 4 U, FARSA Feminists Artywists Society in Action and Polish Rainbow in UK

Ilaria Lepore online store images

I shot some more look book style photos for Ilaria Lepore’s online store. The model is Lius Ben.

Black Trans Lives Matter

A set of images documenting some scenes and beautiful moments towards the end of the Black Trans Lives Matter protest. There was no usual commercial Pride this year on this weekend due to the pandemic but this event felt like a relevant and much needed Pride upgrade. People were asked to bring flowers…

Here I Am - Live streaming from the Queen's Theatre

For the last month, Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch has been asking its audiences‎ about their experience of lockdown. The Theatre has received over 1,000 responses – online and by phone – each of them by turn, surprising, funny, moving and ultimately full of hope.

The Theatre placed those stories firmly centre stage in its empty auditorium, reflecting them back in a loving patchwork of encounters that share the collective voice of an extraordinary community.

Superstitions about ghostlights allow echoes of former actors to perform in a theatre that’s closed, where the stage is empty. But what happens when one such ghost has been waiting for her much loved audience to return?

This project was my, as well as everyone’s in the team, first live video streaming experience. People were able to attend the Theatre online on one of three evenings only‎ on Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 or Friday 26 June.

Below are some screenshots and also some production stills that I managed to shoot during the technical rehearsals.

Here I Am was devised by Danielle Flett and Douglas Rintoul with music donated by Imogen Heap and sound design by Alexander Broad.