Richard Boll

Category Archives: Editorial Portrait

UK Visual Artist Photographic Portraits 1 of 4: Gavin Turk – artist and sculptor, YBA and Saatchi ‘Sensation’ Exhibitor

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Filed under Artists, Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, Fine Art Photography, Gavin Turk, London, Portrait Photography

UK Visual Artist Portrait Series

When I initially developed an interest in photography and started learning about well-known artists and photographers, I appreciated seeing photographic portraits of them in my research. Even though I didn’t know who these people were at the time, an interesting portrait can tell a visual story and open a window into that person’s world. I found it very intriguing and was curious about why that person had been photographed in a particular way. I recently decided that I’d like to continue this rich photographic tradition by taking a series of photographs of well-known visual artists currently working in the UK.

Gavin Turk

The first set of images in this series features Gavin Turk, a British-born, world-renowned international artist, and one of the Young British Artists (YBAs). The YBAs were a group of visual artists who were noted for shock tactics, use of throwaway materials, and often controversial works of art. They attracted considerable media coverage and dominated British art during the ‘Cool Britannia’ scene of the 90s.

Turk’s work deals with issues of authorship, authenticity, and identity. He has pioneered many forms of contemporary British sculpture now taken for granted, including the painted bronze, the waxwork, the recycled art-historical icon, and the use of rubbish in art. Spotted by the art collector Charles Saatchi, he was invited to take part in ‘Sensation’, the highly controversial contemporary art exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts (London) in 1997. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, this significant exhibition drew a lot of media attention at the time and showcased work by 42 different artists, including Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst.

On the day of the shoot, I spent around three hours at Gavin’s studio in East London. The original concept that I had for this visual artist series was to take a range of photographs with four distinct elements depicting images of the artist and their work: behind-the-scenes studio shots, details referencing their work and processes, the artist at work (where possible) and more formal photographic portraits.

A photographic portrait of the british artist gavin turk with his signature written in the air

This image is a reference to Turk’s work on identity and the frequent use of signatures in his work and also mimics a project carried out by the photographer Gjon Mili, who photographed Picasso drawing in the air with a torch. The effect of this portrait was created by taking a long exposure of Gavin writing his name in the air with a torch and then firing a flash to expose the room in which the photograph was taken.

A double black and white photographic portrait of the artist gavin turk

This double portrait combines two photographic portraits taken in quick succession and references Turk’s artwork: ‘Portrait of something that I’ll never really see’ (1997), a self-portrait of the artist from the neck up with his eyes closed against a blank background.

An interior photograph of the studio of british artist gavin turk

A photograph of collected items on the shelves in the studio of gavin turk

These photographs of the interior of Turk’s studio provide an insight into the artist’s work and his influences. I’d like to thank Gavin for being so open to my ideas and generous with his time on the day of the shoot. It was a particular pleasure for me both to meet him and to take portraits of him. It’s also been great to see some of the images I’ve taken being shared on the artists’ website and social media platforms.

Watch this space for features on 3 more visual artists, currently working in the UK that I’ve also photographed, namely Adam Chodzko, Gordon Cheung, and Jake Wood-Evans. Future plans include an exhibition of the complete series of portraits of visual artists working in the UK today.

Discover more about Gavin Turk and his work by visiting his website and read about the controversial 1997 ‘Sensation’ exhibition here. More of my photographic portraiture can be seen here.

 

Commissioned Still Life and Portrait Photography for J & A Beare, London

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Filed under Corporate Photography, Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, London, Product Photography

J & A Beare are an internationally-renowned musical instrument dealer based in London and Germany.

Their reputation has been built over 125 years of authenticating, valuing, making, restoring and selling musical instruments and bows.
They recently asked me to provide them with portrait photography of their members of staff as well as interior photographs of their premises on Queen Anne Street in London. I first took photographs of J & A Beare in 2015 for Rolls Royce Magazine, and it was wonderful to be back in the calm, quiet spaces of their premises. It’s an amazing experience to look inside the workshops where the beautiful instruments are lovingly restored by their expert craftsmen. As well as the portraits and interiors, the commissioned photography also included still life images of the instruments and bows that are being repaired and that are for sale.
More of my still life photography can be seen here and more of my portrait photography can be seen here.

 

Product photography of cellos and violins in London

Simon Morris Manager at J & A Beare, London

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Studio Furniture Photographer for Gabbertas Studio

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Filed under Advertising, Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Furniture Photography, Product Photography, Studio Furniture Photography, Studio Photography

Richard Boll Photography was recently commissioned as a studio furniture photographer for the designer Mark Gabbertas. The brief was to produce a range of imagery that creatively expressed the qualities of the designs.

The new website for Gabbertas Studio went live in April of 2019 and features many images taken for the designer by Richard Boll Photography.

Mark Gabbetas became a furniture designer after having initially worked in advertising as well as having been trained as a cabinet maker. He served an apprenticeship in Codrington Furniture and also Stemmer & Sharp in London. Having opened the Gabbertas Studio in London in 2001, he later moved the business to the Oxfordshire countryside in 2016.

More of my studio furniture photographer portfolio can be found here.

 

Studio furniture photographer. Framed chair by Gabbertas Studio

Triad tables photographed by London studio furniture photographer Richard Boll

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Interiors and Portrait Photographer at Granger & Co in London for Habitus Living

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Filed under Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, Location, Location Photography, London, Publications

It was a great pleasure to be commissioned by a favourite client, the Australian lifestyle magazine, Habitus Living as an interiors and portrait photographer. The brief was to photograph the restaurateur and food writer Bill Granger in his London restaurant Granger & Co in Chelsea.
The commission was to produce a range of portrait and interior photographs for the 40th issue of Habitus Living.

Bill Granger moved from Melbourne to Sydney to study art in the late eighties, and it was whilst working as a waiter that he was inspired to switch his creative interests to food and hospitality. He opened his first restaurant the Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst in 1993, followed by “Bills Surry Hills” in 1996. From Australia he took the brand to Japan, opening restaurants in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Fukuoka, and Osaka.

Granger & Co in Westbourne Grove, Chelsea was his first London restaurant, followed by Granger & Co in Clerkenwell, London.
It was a real pleasure to meet and photograph Bill and see the results of his ambitious hard work. I was also treated to one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Huge thanks to Holly Cunneen for commissioning the shoot, and to Leanne Amodeo for incorporating my images into her excellent article.

More of portrait photography can be seen here.

Portrait of Bill Granger in London for article in Habitus Living magazine

Pages from Lifestyle magazine Habitus Living. Images by Richard Boll of London.

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Product and Lifestyle Photographer for nolii in London, summer 2018

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Filed under Advertising, Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, Lifestyle, lifestyle Photography, Location, London, Product Photography, Publications

Throughout the summer of 2018 I was delighted to be commissioned as a product and lifestyle photographer to produce a variety of images of the new range of mobile phone accessories from nolii.

 

The nolii products were designed by the industrial design studio Layer, owned by Benjamin Hubert.

The project drew on a range of disciplines, including product and lifestyle photography. I photographed the nolii products at Holborn Studios in London, and carried out a lifestyle shoot in various locations around East London. A team portrait of the nolii team with Benjamin Hubert was also required, which was taken in a cafe in East London.

The images have had a great deal of exposure, having been featured across the nolii website, as well as appearing in magazines including Wallpaper•, Dezeen, Medium, Design Week and Designboom.

More of my lifestyle photography can be seen here and more of product photography can be seen here.

lifestyle photography of woman in cafe with phone accessories

Lifestyle-photograph-of-man-in-London-cafe

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Editorial portrait photographer commission to photograph Joseph Galliano for Buzzfeed in London

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Filed under Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Location Photography, London, Publications

The journalist and editor Joseph Galliano is currently working on a project to create the first LGBT museum in London. Buzzfeed commissioned me as an editorial portrait photographer to photograph him at the great London restaurant, L’Escargot to accompany a feature about the planned museum.

Galliano told BuzzFeed News that the museum will reflect every race, gender, and orientation under the LGBT umbrella in a bid to preserve histories that have been ignored or destroyed. It was great to meet him and congratulate him on his very exciting project.

More of my portrait photography can be seen here.

 

portrait of joseph galliano in london for buzzfeed by Editorial portrait photographer Richard Boll

 

Editorial portrait photographer Richard Boll's photo shoot of joseph galliano in london

 

 

Commissioned portraits of the opera singer Benjamin Bernheim in London

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Filed under Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, Location, London

 

Portrait of Rolex ambassador Benjamin Bernheim in London

Portrait of Benjamin Bernheim by columns in covent garden London

Portrait of opera singer Benjamin Bernheim in a London cafe

Benjamin Bernheim is one of the world’s leading opera singers, and it was an honour to meet him in London. I took portraits of him in and around the Royal Opera House where he was debuting as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Boheme. Benjamin is performing in major operatic roles in London and internationally, as well as being an ambassador for Rolex.

See more of my portrait work here.

Portrait of Designer Marc Newson commissioned by Vogue Magazine, London, April 2018

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Filed under Editorial Photography, Editorial Portrait, Environmental Portrait, London, Publications, Vogue

Portrait of Designer Marc Newson commissioned by Vogue Magazine, London, April 2018

In May 2017 I had the great pleasure to meet the renowned designer Marc Newson CBE, and take portraits of him at his home in London. I was delighted when Vogue, London, commissioned a portrait of the designer for their April 2018 issue.

Marc Newson was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, and his work is held by many major museums, including MoMA, New York, the Design Museum in London, the V&A and the Vitra Design Museum. He has set various records at auction, and his work now accounts for almost 25% of the entire contemporary design art market.

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