I had an amazing lecture yesterday by this London based photographer. It made me feel truly inspired to push myself to create more work & be more forward with people about freelance work. I find that I have loads of idea but I don’t enjoy approaching people to make them a reality. Obviously with the vicious competition for work between freelance photographers, this is a far from ideal trait to be holding!
Leckie talked about how he got into the industry and how he became so successful. It turns out that this approachable nature was the heart of this. He constantly approached people to get work to fund his degree, during his university years. Using his initiative & creative mind, he adapted a band shoot that he was being paid for. He acted upon his artistic ideas and changed an, ‘average’ documentary band shoot into something more creative. Taking the time to pose the band after their set and creating different imagery to what was expected of him. It turns out that Warner Music signed the band, they were pleased with his work and that’s how it all started.
I personally LOVE how diverse this man is and how creative & different each of his pieces are from each other. I also enjoyed hearing about his influences, finding out that most derive from a photograph by photographer, Penni Smith. The picture was called 'The Clash' & was taken in 1979 & It followed him through his education. It made me feel more passionate about the power of imagery, this one image influenced Leckie's entire career. It influenced him to create one of his most famous images which was of a band called, 'Bombay Bicycle Club'. The similarities between Pennie's style and his own are uncanny in this particular image & I really hope I experience this passion in my own career.
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| Pennie Smith |
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| Michael Leckie |
I got this mini bio from his website, so check it out:
“Michael Leckie is a photographer based in London, whose ability to work in, and adapt to, wide-ranging styles and subject requests have seen him work with some of the biggest names in music, fashion, designers and politicians.
Originally from Belfast, Michael’s love of photography led him to study photography at the University of Westminster in London, where he graduated with 1st class honours. Michael’s approach to photography is that it should be spectacular and show its subject in the best possible light. He is instrumental in the planning process of each and every shoot, and helps his subjects decide on a theme and style if needed particularly for bands and models.
Recent projects include a circus-themed shoot with dancers from the Royal Ballet, covering the Royal Variety performance and shoots for Elle Magazine, Columbia Records and Warner Music. Along side work for the RNID and Whizz-Kidz
Michael is also a seasoned live music photographer, with a portfolio of official press images from events like Glastonbury and Offset Festival, and gig reportage with bands like Bombay Bicycle Club, The Futureheads, Mick Jones and Billy Bragg.
Above all he is professional and efficient. His work also includes event and reportage photography. Michael has worked with some of the biggest celebrities and public figures in the UK, including shoots with London mayor Boris Johnson, pop stars Michael Buble and Katherine Jenkins and R&B superstar Toni Braxton. He works quickly and is friendly and approachable, ideal for putting his subjects at ease and getting the best out of them”
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