7 Life Lessons To Understand

Mood..

Over the past few years, I’ve come across a number of problems as well as opportunities. I have come across a number of things that I have won as well as lost, partially due to my attitude and mentality towards a number of things. The ride to happiness or success isn’t necessarily the easiest ride and it was something I always knew from young. Whilst on the road to my destination, there are a few things that I have learnt over the years which have impacted how I achieve a certain success or maintain a healthy relationship with others as well as myself. Something I want to share with you are some of the “laws” that I go by, which I have curated myself and have helped me a lot in order to improve myself. As I grow older, more shall appear but as of now, here are some lessons I…

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London Fashion Week A/W 14

London Fashion Week. To think at one point in my life that this event just went by and I had no recognition of it!! September Fashion Week 2013 was first time attending but I only went to one show at the end. But I will say this was my first time attending London Fashion Week and what and experience.

On the Friday night of Fashion Week, I attended the London Ethnic’s Opening Party which was good though majorly overcrowded. Some of my friends were modelling so I went down to support them and they killed it, so surprise. It was refreshing to see designs made by designers from London; it’s great to see home talent being recognised.

On the last day of Fashion Week, met up with my girl at Temple Station and headed up towards Somerset House. It was both our first times going and we were just excited. One thing that I loved in particular was that as we were getting closer, you could recognised the fashionistas and fashiomistas strutting their stuff down Strand Road. The level of fashion was sky high; from avant-garde to high street chic – it was a small piece of heaven. As we walked under and through the arches of Somerset House, the atmosphere immediately changed; it was though everything became slow motion and an eery silence descended. We had stepped into a new universe full of colours and different materials; I truly believe I was near tears at this moment. For the first 10mins, all I could was stare and look in awe at the different outfits dancing past my eyes.

My reactions seems exaggerated but it’s almost not enough to describe that moment. This event only happens twice a year and is highly recognised by everyone is some way; to be there at that moment was epic. I could finally say I was at London Fashion Week. Being a photographer, it was such a joy seeing so many photographers and cameras around; it was everything I loved in one place. Bloggers, designers, stylists, photographers, videographers, editors, journalist, etc. It was the embodiment of Arts and Media.

For me this was the biggest networking opportunity ever; who knows who I could meet? Fashion Week is known to be lurking with high end members of the Fashion and Media world; if one didn’t optimise such an opportunity, you would be a fool. Going through life, I’ve learnt that having knowledge and skills is brilliant but who you know will make the difference. For the next 4/5 hours, I photographed, talking, laughed and mingled with so many people I couldn’t possibly count. It was such an experience and I would recommend it anyone; even if you don’t go to any shows, going down to Somerset House alone is more than enough. By the end of the day, I had business cards coming out my ears!

One theme I saw continuously throughout Somerset House was long/oversized trent coats! Trent coats are a statement piece and can give an outfit a smart finish and bold presence. It reminded me of London in the early/mid 1900s when these were typical worn by business men/professionals.

It was interesting seeing all the different types of fashion people; the typical ‘You can’t sit with us’ groups were the funniest. But I did get to see Tinie Tempah but got to him late and got a photo of his red suit; not what I wanted but enough. My next Fashion adventures will be Vogue Festival and London Collections: Mens but I’m gearing up for September Fashion Week. I’ve learnt all the dos and don’t and now will fully ready for the next Fashion Week; hopefully I get a press pass this time. I just thank God for the experience and opportunity also to Nawal and JD for coming down with me; made it even more worth while.

Below are some Street Styles shots I took of outfits/accessories I liked:

These two lovely girls were the first ones I took photos of! The girl to the left’s ensemble was ‘bluely’ simple and I loved the fact that she was wearing slippers; anyone who can get away with this has an immediate thumbs up from me. Also a fan of her round glasses
The girl to the right’s necklace is what caught my eye more than anything!! She made it herself and excellent it is. Her ‘all black everything’ allowed for the gold piece to standout and I like how the triangles frame the chest area.

This outfit caught my eye as I was walking around Somerset House. Layering! Lord knows I love layering and she hit the nail on the head; the mustard base of this outfit gave a great foundation for everything to sit on. She almost looks like an old fashioned inspector from the 60s with a twist. The simple gold accessories didn’t take away from the look but just a sparkle to it. Her boots finished this look perfectly

These two!! They complimented each other so so well. Mayoa’s long red jacket was a force to be reckoned with, with the words ‘boys will be boys – wicked’ on the back. Cecila’s hair is what I fell in love with; her outfit was simple but poised. Killing.

I’m a big fan of minimalism and Leonie had it on lock. I saw her trousers right across the courtyard and had to take her pic. Her trousers belonged to her grandma and man did she own them. The leather jacket added a badass factor and immediately made think of the 1960s. Love it

Anthony Vázquez-Phillips – a friend and future icon

Caught up with my friend Anthony the other day and damn, it was over due. Met in college and have been good friends ever since. I think the immediate reason why we connected was because we both did and loved photography then realised we both had an interest in fashion. The reason why I am featuring Anthony in my blog is because I have no doubt that with his innate fashion styling skills, he will become an icon to following and take tips from; whether in his community or on a large scale. Right from college, Ant never had a ‘bad day’ – clothing wise; even when he was getting crushed down with coursework, he still managed to look fly. I truly believe that only a handful of people can successfully do this: all the time. He is currently in uni studying Fashion Journalism and is proving fruitful for him.

For our meet up, we met at Brick Lane and had a photoshoot of some of his outfits that he put together. He arrived in his first outfit and all I could do was smile; he just effortlessly owned it. Shooting was so much fun as Ant knew what he was doing and was no stranger to the lens of my camera. As night time unfolded rapidly, the settings we were shooting in became illuminated with street lamps and almost gave us a new location. We both acknowledged this immediately and had the same brainwave of how we would shoot the last outfit.

Overall, it was a lovely time spent doing what we both love and catching up. There’s people you meet in your life who will not necessarily be at the forefront but will always be there – this is Ant; if need help with anything fashion related/photoshoot, I’d get at him easily. Below are some of the photos from the shoot and details of his outfits

Follow him on Instagram: @theonlywayisanthony

Hat & Jacket: Ragged Priest
Jumper: Zara
Ripped jeans: Zara
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell

Quilted Jacket & Shorts: Boohoo
Tartan shoes: New Look

Suit: New Look
Belt: Hermes
Shoes: Doc Martens

Benjamin Amure: Jazz Photographer

One lovely day, I randomly stumbled upon the work of Benjamin Amure. I had seen his work floating around and thought his work to be of such great quality. He is based in London and is a Jazz Photographer; capturing scenes of Jazz in the 21st century in some of the top jazz clubs in London, i.e. Ronnie Scott’s, 606 Club, etc. I felt it a privilege to know and find the work of a photographer, in our day and age, who specialises in the Jazz scene. Over the years, I have seen some excellent photos of the greats from the 20th century but majority of the photographers are dead or not within my reach. But to know that greats such as Abram Wilson have photographically been documented to a high standard gives hope to the future of the genre in every aspect. Ben has the photos of Abram Wilson for the last 10 years; right up to the months before his death on 9 June 2012. For me, this simple fact alone is beyond words. From this very fact, I’ve learnt that photography is more than just capturing moments, it is documenting the very essence of what life is to an individual. Wilson is one the greatest Jazz influences of the 21st century; to be assured that generations to come will be able to see what he looked and how he performed, is a blessed assurance.

On a visit to a Christmas Jazz gig at the Spice of Life, Soho, I had the privilege of meeting Benjamin Amure; truly a great moment in my life and humbling in many ways. I was able to learn from his experiences and the extent of how much he had photographed. Finding Amure’s work has been one of the best, photographically, experiences of my life. I also attended Ronnie Scott’s that night for the late show; during this time I captured some of the greatest moments ever and had Amure guiding me through my clips. My experience of visiting jazz bars/gigs/clubs has given me more appreciation and understanding of how my mural will look.

The thing that separates Amure’s work from the rest, is his ability to capture the musicians ‘in the heat of the moment’. The photo above is a great example of this; Ben has captured this musician in the heat of his solo. The emotion and concentration can be clearly seen in his face which allows for viewers to connect beyond the photo and actual feel what he is portraying. His nostalgic use of black and white photography has only enhanced this further. Black and white photography is the hymn of the jazz scene; only few in colour due to the time period of when it started. The sharp contrast in the image allows for focus to made on key features: his face and trumpet. And that truly is the essence of it. The image almost tells a story of the harmony that is reached with a musician and their instrument. It isn’t two elements being portrayed, it is one: Jazz. This high level of photography will give viewers more understanding of the nature and quality of this genre which is a key criteria.

Discovering Ben’s work has personally been amazing; it has challenged me to take my photography to the next level and find my niche. If I can reach this high level of photography, then I believe that I will be able to portray any form of topic. I have spent hours going through his work and analysing how

he captures his images. Another great example is this photo above. Though the contrast isn’t as high in the first picture, Ben has still been able to capture the musician at the peak of his solo. The burst of light in the background glorifies the importance of the moment; the tightly shut eyes of the musician and the blur of his fingers show how connected he is in that moment. To some extent, you long to be there – to experience the high of this moment. The fact that such feelings can come from photo is astounding. They say a photo represents a 1000 words – Benjamin Amure’s photos tell a lifetime.

(photo credit: Benjamin Amure)

Emmanuel Franklyn Adelabu Quintet 23.1.14

First Jazz show of the year! Woop woop! The first show being run by my brother, Emmanuel (my family is pretty epic as you’ll come to learn through this blog)

Bag? Check. Camera? Check. Batteries charged? Check. Oyster card/money? Check. This is the general mental checklist I go through before I hit the road down to any show I go to and glad all was in tact. As I entered the homely yet wonderful bar, Spice of Life, Soho, I smiled because I knew it was going to be a good night. I looked around to find the quintet organising themselves ready for what was going to be a good night.

Quintet consisted of:

Emmanuel Adelabu: Drums

Conor Chaplin: Double Bass

Gareth Lockrane: Flute

Binker Golding: Tenor Saxophone

Sam Leak: Piano

(is it me or do all Jazz musicians naturally have epic names?)

When the band started, my shoulders immediately sagged – I was taken away. The thing I love about Jazz is that when you’re caught in it, you float in an endless wave of electrifying peace. The energy pulsing was addictive and infectious; I have an incurable dancing left leg when they went into half time.

But what I truly appreciated about this band was the mix match going on. You have Adelabu throwing down fire on the drums whilst Chaplin is holding down the sweet undercurrent bassline; Lockrane soothing your heart with the flutes of the wind. Golding resonating notes that have you on the edge of your seat waiting for that peak and Leak just dancing off the piano. On the song breathe; you literally felt like the musicians were teaching you to breathe but in their language.

The flute is an instrument I always known about but never came to truly understanding its beauty until hearing Lockrane play it; he is the Pied Piper of Jazz. He wistfully enchants you as he plays; on Jacques Frere, this is exactly what he did. Adelabu’s ability to recognise the need for a flute section on that number is to be given an around of applause; it gave the song that lullaby touch. One thing I have noticed in all the Jazz shows/gigs I’ve been too is that the pianist has an inability to stay seated throughout the duration. It’s so common, that I aim to photograph them out of their seats and Leak did not disappoint. But I just see this as an expression of passion. His love for the keys is eminent in his body language as he hangs over and sways with it in his solos; it’s inviting to watch. Chaplin, oh Chaplin. His sombre appearance is fooling because when he starts playing, he licks you down constantly as he holds down the entire set, balancing the intense energy coming from the others. His presence was key to moulding the quintet; I always say the bass player is the anchor in a group because when the energy is flying at an all time high, you can look to the bass player and hear the sweet undercurrents. It acts an anchor for one’s ear to hear everything at an equal, quality level.

(my entire view points on double bass is bias because I love that instruments, sorry (not sorry))

Binker is an interesting character to watch and listen to; he peacefully follows as the song is being rendered, playing his part, adding the quality sounds of the tenor saxophone. But when it was time for him to play his solo, he gave it all. There is a grace about the way he played; he was smooth yet powerful. A humble character with great skill. Adelabu’s composition skills and drum technique is of an excellent standard; when he plays, he let’s you know he’s playing. He embraces the mood and theme of his pieces and creates the dynamics at which we are to journey with. It’s almost psychological; he will determine whether the roof is to blown off or we are to weep in the heart felt atmosphere of the ballad. Incredible. He brought together a quintet worthy of all stages.

Spice of Life was the perfect place to hold this; the size of the place allows for you to enjoy the fullness of such quality music. The food and drink is pleasurable as always; had their nachos for the first time and I shall be back again for them! I’m glad it was the first show I went to and love that I could support my brother in his playing. Favourite song of the night? Jacques Frere.

Edgy/Dark Photoshoot – First Shoot of 2014

It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn, it’s a new liffffeeeeeee… And yes indeed it’s a new: year! 2013 was good to me; to say the least it has been the best year of my life so far. Foundation was laid and I started building. Now in 2014, I plan to continue to building, taking risks and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone. I’ve wasted no time with this New Year and executed my first photoshoot with a dark/edgy theme at night. Been wanting to do a series of night shoots and this was the perfect opportunity to start.

 When deciding the location for this shoot, I had no problem deciding. I walk through this place everyday when going to uni and from the first day I saw it I knew instantly that I would be shooting here at some point and viola! This little tunnel/subway was the perfect place; it gives an old London, backstreet aura which would compliment the theme very well. When we all arrived, there was a general consensus that it was perfect.

The models for this shoot, Mel and Sophie, were amazing to work with; both with different looks but when together made something new. Lovely personalities and strong work ethic; we had some awkward situations but they rode them through. As well as modelling, Mel is a MUA (make-up artist); talk about kill two birds with one stone! Her skills are impeccable; she understood what I wanted and created it effortlessly. Watching her work was incredible – I mean, I sat and chilled on my phone while the stylist ran around and make up was being done lol. My stylists for this shoot: Nawal and Mariam!! I couldn’t ask for better friends – ready and supported my vision through. In previous shoots, I’ve done most of these things myself but it was nice to sit back a bit and focus on just photography. It was in those crazy, organising moments that I truly saw growth; I had gathered an efficient team and was ready for the shoot.

Overall, it was a great night minus the rain but nevertheless, a great night. Currently in the process of editing through the photos (this can be so tedious at times, honestly) and in such happiness of the results I’ve gotten. My goal was achieved and I’m just grateful to God for such a good start to the year. On to the next project! 

below are some of the behind the scene shots