Asif's Muslim Wedding Part 1 - The Mehndi Ceremony
I've covered several weddings over the years but I have a real fascination with Muslim weddings.
In April I was commissioned to cover Asif's wedding which was to be held over three days in three different locations. The Mehndi ceremony is mainly a ladies function held a few days before the wedding. Female friends, family members and relatives of the Bride come together to celebrate the upcoming wedding.
Asif, the Groom, had his own Mehndhi ceremony in Nottingham. Attended by his male friends, family members and relatives he had a glorious entrance accompanies by drummers, traditional dance and sung folk songs. Whether Bride or Groom events, the Mehndi usually has a festive touch of celebration where bright colours are worn by guests and the Groom.
Below are key moments captured at this initial stage of Asif's wedding.
Roy Stone Foundation Concert
On Sunday 6th March 2016 I covered the opening acts of the Roy Foster Memorial Concert at the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham. This was the inaugural event for the Roy Stone Foundation to celebrate Nottingham musician Roy Foster and to raise funds for local charities in the region.
The event featured several acts including Roy's band Performance of which Roy was the frontman. Roy's nephew's band, Black Rose Garden also featured - all of whom are just 14. Tony 'Doggen' Foster, Roy's brother also performed along with local artist Just Ben who also hosted the event with DJ Adam Jay supporting with classic music for the large crowd in attendance.
Skinhead Photoshoot - Birmingham
Last Sunday was my third photoshoot in my hometown of Birmingham. The shoot was organised by Wezism who arranged two previous shoots, This is Birmingham '82 and Peaky Blinders. Once again collection of models and photographers descended upon urban decay of Digbeth, Birmingham which was used as the environment to capture a pictures of a powerful misunderstood culture of the late 70's and early 80's. As always it was a total scream.
"Today, the scene has spread across the entire globe and as well as the spread of the extreme right-wing element, there are also skins of every colour and creed imaginable. Skinhead isn't specifically about white boys and it never was - it's more than that and anyone who thinks this isn't the case doesn't know enough about the history and the soul of skinhead. As one West Indian told me -
'The skins when we were at school (late 70s/early eighties) weren't just white kids, there were black skins as well but it wasn't about race - they kicked anybody who wasn't a skinhead.'" No Whites; No Rudies; No Blacks; No Skins
Lorna & Harry
Lorna & Harry
Locations: The Leopold Hotel, Sheffield and The Workstation, Sheffield
I'm not one for really writing much in my blogs but on this occasion I must say that these two, Lorna and Harry, really, really, really loved each other. I was a blessing to cover their day.
Wonderful.
Framework's Big Sleep Out 2015
On the 21st November 2015 the charity housing association Framework hosted their annual Big Sleep Out event in Sneinton Market Square, Gedling Street, Nottingham.
This event invites people to 'sleep rough' overnight with whilst rising money for the Charity. It provides a unique and rewarding opportunity to feel part of something special whilst giving the chance to reflect on what it might be like to sleep rough in Nottingham.
I documented the arrival of volunteer participants and the building of their cardboard homes.
