One of my first shoots after lockdown was to photograph Michel Faber for Random House Publishing. It wasn’t to be a book cover, but rather an author shoot, providing images for Michael to use on the book sleeve and for PR.
I turned up at his doorstep in Folkstone that early summer afternoon. He let me into his house, filled with books and vinyl records. Michael was about to release his new book, about a 13 year old girl from Somaliland that one day discovered that all “D”s are vanishing from the English language. This is the kind of thinking and thought process that intrigues me. Where does an idea like this come from and where will it take me. Such a simple little thing, yet, when you think of it, you can imagine a whole world of serious and comic consequences.
Michael was very much like the story would indicate. A very interesting man to talk to and he seemed to know a lot about everything and anything. Photography and music were two subjects that he had given a lot of thought.
Lastly, we ended up along the seaside of Folkestone. He had brought his rabbit and doll, both things he brings with him everywhere and photographs in unexpected places. “The doll was a little too much for some people so I decided to photograph the gold rabbit in different places too.”
A wonderfully interesting man to spend an evening in Folkestone with.
Shot for Random House/Michael Faber
