2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

Studio Fractal

Office-based portrait and lifestyle shoot for a specialist architectural lighting design company

I spent a day with James Ball at the offices of lighting specialists Studio Fractal, whose work includes Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge and Cabot Circus, and London's King's Cross development. 

While James photographed their designs, products, templates and models - all the cool stuff - I did portraits of the designers. Not that I minded -  it meant I spent (a bit too much) time chatting, as it's rare and lovely to meet a client who speaks exactly the same language as you. Their passion seems to boil down to "how light reacts with different things" which is pretty much all I think about. Despite running over time in conversation, I still found a little bit of time at the end to photograph some of the cool stuff, too.

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2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

Musician

Portraits of musician Matt Smith

Portraits of multi-talented musician Matt Smith:

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2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

While I was waiting...

Images taken in the spaces between things

I've said elsewhere that one of the things I like about Instagram is that it's a place to put all the images which don't belong anywhere else. Too random for Facebook, not relevant for clients, and neither suitable nor strong enough for my portfolio. But worse would be to leave them on a hard-drive, forgotten in a cupboard, forever. While browsing my IG feed, I noticed that a great number were shot while I was waiting around for something.

It's an interesting category. These are the kind of images which, most of all, should fall between the floorboards. These shots are either an afterthought or noticed when you're thinking of other things. They're the result of time spent idle, with no planning or prior intention, and they wouldn't exist but for the opportunity of a few free moments. 

One New Change, London. Waiting for permission from the site manager.

One New Change, London. Waiting for permission from the site manager.

A friend was delayed. St Pancras station, London.

A friend was delayed. St Pancras station, London.

In a car park, on arriving early for a shoot.

In a car park.

I don't remember where this was but it's a lamp-post (or was, originally). Strictly, I wasn't waiting and I knew I wanted to do this for a while, but it was taken on a break between shoots.

I don't remember where this was but it's a lamp-post (or was, originally). Strictly, I wasn't waiting and I knew I wanted to do this for a while, but it was taken on a break between shoots.

Archway. Meeting a friend. 

Archway. Meeting a friend. 

Photographed while the film crew were interviewing a subject. I did actually send this one to the client along with a couple of other stock images from the day (there was a lot of waiting around).

Photographed while the film crew were interviewing a subject. I did actually send this one to the client along with a couple of other stock images from the day (there was a lot of waiting around).

London, in between corporate portraits. The 'razor' building can be seen (centre) through curtains. 

London, in between corporate portraits. The 'razor' building can be seen (centre) through curtains. 

The Tower of London, the Walkie-Talkie, the Cheese-Grater and the Gherkin. Taken from the event space at the top of Tower Bridge at dusk, while waiting for speeches to finish. 

The Tower of London, the Walkie-Talkie, the Cheese-Grater and the Gherkin. Taken from the event space at the top of Tower Bridge at dusk, while waiting for speeches to finish. 

In a cafe, waiting for a coffee.

In a cafe, waiting for a coffee.

Taken through glass in a queue at an airport.

Taken through glass in a queue at an airport.

Gelled flash through opaque glass. Waiting to do a portrait, I was playing around with the idea of using a coloured spot behind the subject. It wasn't working (there wasn't enough space to spread the light), but did make this interesting shot. 

Gelled flash through opaque glass. Waiting to do a portrait, I was playing around with the idea of using a coloured spot behind the subject. It wasn't working (there wasn't enough space to spread the light), but did make this interesting shot. 

Underground station sign (I had arrived early).

Underground station sign (I had arrived early).

London. During dinner at a press launch.

London. During dinner at a press launch.

Not quite waiting for paint to dry, but the next best thing.

Not quite waiting for paint to dry, but the next best thing.

Cracked glass at Sushi Samba, London, while waiting for people to arrive for an event.

Cracked glass at Sushi Samba, London.

Various gas pipes and pressure gauges in a factory corridor. I have absolutely no idea what they were for.

Various gas pipes and pressure gauges in a factory corridor.

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2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

Canvas

Portraits of educators and students in London, Birmingham, Trondheim and Oxford

I undertook a series of case-study portraits on behalf of Instructure for their state-of-the-art Learning Management Software (LMS). We photographed teachers, administrators and learners - users from all sides - and visited Birmingham University (where I studied!), Oxford, Sutton Tennis Academy and Trondheim, Norway. Here are a selection:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

Instawalks

A selection of images from photography classes I’ve been running for Facebook

I've been running occasional classes for Instagram/Facebook over the past year. These are informal sessions where I teach their clients everything I know about photography (!) before letting them loose in Camden, King's Cross or Southbank. They have then 30-40 minutes' shooting before we regroup, critique, and decide on the winner(s).

The lesson itself lasts an hour. We cover some theory, a few practical tips and techniques, and then look at using the app to edit images. Nothing technical. Among others, clients have included Heineken and Starbucks, and there's one in the pipeline for Apple.

They're given a variety of themes to work towards - it's important to have limitations - but they're not obliged to keep to them. These are usually Reflections, Shapes & lines, Signs and symbols, Colour, and Close-ups.

Judging the winner is always difficult as many are equally good, but for different reasons.  

While I could have shown plenty of descriptive images, lovely detail shots and neat observations, this selection I've made of their work either reflects some of the points we cover, or tends towards fresh and quirky (often abstract and arty shots) which are right up my street. That is, I'd be very happy to have any of these in my own feed (@alexrumford)! Although I should point out that the best pictures on the day are just that - they have nothing do with my own taste or preferences.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did:

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2016 Alex Rumford 2016 Alex Rumford

Property brochure

An editorial shoot for Landsec based around the parks, shops and offices around central London

This was a shoot for Landsec. The brief was to spend time around the central London areas of Aldgate, St Pauls, Fleet Street and Chancery Lane, where it has properties and ongoing developments. They required imagery of the buildings, shops, interesting asides, key sights -and the general feel and atmosphere - for a brochure and some other materials.

I loved this shoot - I had freedom over my schedule and route, and while there were some required shots, I was mostly left to my own devices as to what else to capture and how to photograph it. Apart from seeking a few permissions, I barely spoke to anyone for two days!

I'd done a couple of recces to plan the route, locate the main areas of interest, and see how the light was for the more architectural and wider scene shots at the different times of day. But still, so often I found myself winding around and double-backing on myself, getting lost around backstreets and frequently sidetracked with details I'd not noticed. I delivered a small library of photos in the end, very much an interwoven document of the area, but with a number of shots which I felt stood alone. 

Here's a selection of some of my favourite images:

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