Andy Crouch Photography

Faces of Norwich – Caroline Richardson – 29/11/11

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:33:23 +0000

Everybody knows how popular The Norwich Playhouse is, especially for Stand Up comedians, fringe events and bands. Caroline, the director was nominated and what a great subject for a portrait. I arrived about 3pm for our appointment and Caroline suggested we use the patio area at the rear of the bar. The light was just how I like it, cloudy but with a warm light balanced with a Grey Card. Caroline was great and not at all put off by looking into a lens, so I took some close head shots at various angles. I chose the frame in which she looks kind of cheeky with a hint of humor with the great colour of her coat and the background. Shot on the 50mm at F2.8, thank you Caroline. Oh yes had to do some photos of Caroline and her dog!

Movember!

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:34:04 +0000

If you don’t know already it’s Movember an awareness month for prostrate cancer. Paul, Rob and Tom at the SCVA have been growing their moustaches for the cause! So to do my bit I took their portraits. We all decided we wanted an old style portrait e.g. very shallow depth of field and a toned tint to the photographs. Shot F1.8 and the sitter looking away, which is how the victorian’s would pose but without the neck brace. Movember apparently will be back in 2012! Check the web site here

Tom

Paul

Rob

Faces of Norwich – Future Radio – 22/11/11

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:14:51 +0000

I recently had an interview on Future Radio, a community based radio station involving young people with the arts and music about my project. It was on a program called the ‘Community Chest’ a round up of the local arts news and I was able to describe (I hope) the project. The wonderful Jackie Heffer-Cooke and Alison Turner were hosting the show and low and behold Jackie nominated Alison to be a Face of Norwich. We did a few photos during a music break but I didn’t feel they good enough, may be a bit Face Book! So I came back and took some more controlled shots outside in front of the Future Radio trailer. Thanks for your help Jackie and Alison!

Jackie Heffer-Cooke

Alison Turner

Faces of Norwich – Ian Johnson – 28/10/11

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:41:52 +0000

Ian Johnson was nominated via email at the SCVA and I’m very glad Ian was nominated as he is a leading light in young peoples education in the music scene. After many times trying to pin him down, he’s a very busy man! I met him at the Studio while he was meeting Darren Leader. I love the portrait of Jimi Hendrix by Gared Mankowitz so I used a 28mm lens and had him stand in front of the wall outside of the studio. Ian apologized for the clothes he was wearing but I thought the check shirt was great and the mug he was holding, making the photograph look immediate. 28mm lens at F8, thanks Ian and keep up the great work! Follow Ian’s Blog here.

Faces of Norwich – Adrian Ramsay – 21/10/11

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:09:33 +0000

Following a political trend I photographed the leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay. He is one of a band of young politicians coming into the arena. The amazing thing is how the stereotypical looks of parties have gone and now we have media savvy people who are now up to speed with the world of Twitter, Facebook and PR etc. I met Adrian at the Forum and I asked him where was his favorite location was and he suggested Chapelfield Park. I first started taking head shots but to mind they didn’t work so I had him stand next to a tree and took some long shots with the greenery etc behind him. With a bit of dodging/burning and saturation increases in Photoshop I was happy with the shot. Again 50mm at F4.

Faces of Norwich – Charles Clarke – 25/10/11

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:42:09 +0000

First of all sorry about the delay in the blogs! I’m nearly up to 100 faces, many thanks to all who have participated. The visual exhibition at the SCVA will have an extra week, closing on the December 10th. However the project will carry on as a personal project as there are so many faces to do and most importantly, as I’m reminded! many more faces in different walks of life that have been suggested….so I have taken notice! It will take the form of categories so I’m mainly interested in Religion and Fashion, watch this space.

The next person is a very familiar. Charles Clarke has been and still is a major player in the political world being Home Secretary and Norwich North MP for many years. He now lectures at the UEA so we see him a lot around the campus and the SCVA popping in for a drink at our cafe. I managed to catch him and asked if he was willing to have his portrait taken, he said yes but I had only 15 minutes. So I set up a white screen in the our empty restaurant with a table cloth on the floor to reflect the light coming in. First of all I started by taking head shots while he was taking and then I wanted a long shot of the Mr Clarke which I think works well for political people. Shot on the 50mm at F4.

New Page 17/10/11 The Forum Building Project.

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:34:06 +0000

I’ve just uploaded a new page on the build of the Forum from 2000/2001. The Forum this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Shot on Kodak Tri-X this was a project I undertook as part of my degree and has been sitting in the vaults for the last 10 years! Happy Anniversary!

Faces of Norwich – Anthony Thwaite, Poet 15/10/11

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:48:23 +0000

I received a really nice card from Ann Thwaite to nominate her husband Anthony who is a renowned poet and honorary doctor at the UEA. He was also a close friend of Phillip Larkin and Ann included a photograph which Phillip Larkin took of himself and Anthony outside Suffolk Terrace at the UEA in 1972. They live in a mill cottage in a small hamlet outside Norwich called Low Tharston. I arrived about 10:30 and Anthony was watching the Wales/France rugby match, I think Wales lost 9-8. I started by taking some head shots outside near the river but had to be careful of the sun which was coming from the left behind the trees then to shoot some full shots in the back garden among the trees and bushes making a nice background. After taking the photographs I had a cup of coffee and a chat with Anthony during which I discovered that we went to the same school in Bath, Kingswood School. What a small world! Thank you Anthony and Ann.

Anthony Thwaite

Faces of Norwich – James Duez 12/10/11

admin — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:12:01 +0000

I finally met up with James Duez after initially contacting him a few months ago. We met up at the Kings Street coffee bar on a wet drizzly day and chatted for about half an hour over a cup of coffee. He is the Chief Technology Officer for a company called Validus who develop software for the insurance market. He mentioned that he had set up his first business at Swan Yard right opposite the Cafe, so I suggested we take the photograph in the yard. I asked him to open his umbrella up and used this to frame the face. Shot at F4 there is a slight hint of the rain coming down also it was very quick possibly only 6 frames, thank you James.

James Duez

Faces of Norwich – Mechanics 4/10/11

admin — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:59:24 +0000

One of my previous jobs was a tyre and exhaust fitter in a local Norfolk firm. So in a nod to the past I wanted to photograph some mechanics and I found a nice bunch round the corner from where I live. Run by three partners who have revived a declining business with a band of young mechanics. It brought back memories of the dirt in my hands, the smell of grease and rubber. I met afterwards the other two partners, who are twins so hopefully they will be included in the next couple of weeks. Here are two, Danny Lowe and one of the partners Avishek.

Avishek

: Danny Lowe