articles/Profiles/Terry-don-mike-page2
by Mike McNamee Published 01/06/2015
Southbank Smooch
Southbank Smooch is my most successful competition/exhibition image and has been exhibited in over 20 countries winning 19 awards along the way. People often identify me by this image ahead of my name. The image features my partner and I, composited into a picture I took one early morning on The South Bank of The Thames. I shot the background first, and had an idea I would composite something into the picture later, but at that time wasn't sure what. I saw a picture later of a pair of dancers coming together, and the idea of what I would use in the picture sprung to mind. So I photographed my partner and I at home. The umbrella entered the scene because my partner was not keen on having the photo taken with no make-up on, but I think it worked out well being included. The picture has been supplied and used several times to raise funds for various charities in the UK and the USA.
I know you are keen on personal projects, tell us about some of the ones you have completed and have got planned.
Personal projects I believe are one of the most powerful activities a photographer can be involved in for self development. It gets the photographer out of a set routine, and into an active frame of mind. I was initially switched onto personal projects a number of years ago by my good friend, Glyn Dewis. I suppose you could say a personal project is similar to working towards a distinction award but without the external award element at the end of the process.
One of my completed projects is Rabbit's World which is a series of self portraits, in which I wear a rabbit's mask, and depict the rabbit sitting at a desk and creating different narratives which, in the main, include the rabbit's alter ego.
Another personal project is Conceptual Relationships which started back in 2012. This project produced the images that my ASWPP was awarded for, but more on that later. Other projects I am currently working on are passengers using The London Underground and images taken onboard an Airbus passenger plane.
There are 16 days to get ready for The Society of Photographers Convention and Trade Show at The Novotel London West, Hammersmith ...
which starts on Wednesday 15th January 2025