Joseph Fiennes

In terms of brothers, then I would say that Joseph Fiennes and Ralph Fiennes seem as different as can be. I have had the pleasure of photographing them both and the shoots could not be more different. This may of course only be on the surface, a projection issue towards hairy Norwegian photographers. When they share a quiet moment with a glass of cognac in front of the fireplace, then it may be a different story. The one thing they both had in common was that they are both gentlemen.

Both the shoot with Ralph and Joe were fun in their own way. With Joe I collaborated on a set of images that he could use for his own press and publicity. I sourced a venue but also had the luxury of going outside with Joe to explore Camden’s hidden arches and parks. Joe was full of life and energy, a good laugh and generous with his time and compliments. I often assess the character of my subjects by how they treat my assistant and Joe was all inclusive. A real ‘diamond geeza’ as they say in ‘ackney’!

Shot for Joseph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes

Ralph Fiennes is one of Britain’s best actors. Schindler’s List, The English Patient, The Constant Gardener, Harry Potter and now ‘M’ in the current James Bond series. These are just some of his award winning achievements on the big screen. His training is more Shakespearean and he has had just as many notable achievements on stage as on screen.

I will refer to Ralph Fiennes as Fiennes, because he has an aura that demands the respect of being called by his surname. Not due to unfriendliness, ‘au contraire’, he was in fact very friendly and nice, purely out of respect and curtesy to a man who deserves it.

My shoot with Fiennes was a short one, at a theatre rehearsal space in South London. He was rehearsing an Ibsen play at the Young Vic. He told me he had paid Oslo a visit to get the gist of where Ibsen might come from. I told him that I was about to head to a cabin, remote, no water and no electricity - and his face lit up. Yes, this was the kind of place I would highly recommend that he’d go to really get the idea of the traditional Norwegian mood. The darkness that Ibsen can portray comes form dark winters, remote and solitude places and closed in society with little external input. The seriousness of Ralph’s acting would complement this perfectly. His captivating eyes, stern and notable presence and the beard to top things off he will be able to will carry off any Ibsen play. For those of you who are curious and want to get ‘educa’ed!’, go check out “The Master Builder” at the Young Vic.

Sir Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen is one of Britain’s best-loved actors.  He has won numerous awards both for his on-screen performances and for his theatre performances.
Sir Ian is someone I would associate with traditional acting but lately he has taken on the main rolls in more fictional adaptations of such Hollywood blockbusters as X-men, Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit to mention a few.
When interviewed about his part in the film The Da Vinci Code on The Today Show, he was asked if he thought the film should come with a disclaimer that it is a work of fiction as many religious groups had requested, he replied:  "I've often thought the Bible should have a disclaimer in the front saying 'This is fiction.' I mean, walking on water?  It takes... an act of faith. And I have faith in this movie — not that it's true, not that it's factual, but that it's a jolly good story."
The shoot with Sir Ian took place at his pub.  Not his local pub, but the pub he now is an owner of as he didn’t want to see it close.  A small, atmospheric pub not far from Canary Wharf, facing the river Themes.  I expected a man in suit or perhaps a man in blazer and a neck scarf to walk in the door but instead came a youthful Sir Ian McKellen in the door with a colourful shirt, blazer and a giant Koru pendant in the place of a tie.  Sir Ian came across as a gentle and kind man who was professional and obviously comfortable in his own skin.