Production Paradise

Welcome to the October edition of Showcase London with all the latest visual media news and highlights brought to you by Production Paradise.

The AOP awards will soon be upon us and the deadline for entries is 26th October. Info and downloadable entry forms at the AOP website.

For more information about what's on in London, please see our events section below.

Our selected photo was shot by Davide Cernuschi showcasing the latest high-end collection from Aimee McWilliams, fast becoming one of today's sought-after prêt-à-porter designers. The video was shot at Production Paradise's London offices, with production by Senso.

Lon production/photo production: LOULOU LOCATIONS LTD

LouLou Locations & Productions combine excellent creative location scouting with a full production service for advertising campaigns, both internationally and in the UK.

The summer season brought a diverse and challenging selection of advertising projects. With autumn in full flow LouLou Locations are also in the process of compiling an online location library from their extensive database.

Some of the recent campaigns that LouLou Locations worked on include:

Puma - Puma, O2 - VCCP, Ligne Roset - BBDO, Stuttgart, Skoda - Fallon, Sony - Iris, Barnardos - BBH, N-Power - BMB, Barclaycard - BBH, Flora - BBH, and Hsbc - JWT

Visit the website to see more.

Lon production/movie production: SENSO

From commercials and music videos to independent projects, Senso prioritises creativity throughout the production process. To fulfil a wide range of briefs the company can ensure unique solutions and an exciting collaborative experience with talents from London, Berlin and Paris.

Projects have included the critically acclaimed documentary 'Let The Lolitas Dream'. Produced for French television and supported by the Centre National de la Cinematographie it continues to be broadcasted. 2007 will see the release of documentary 'The Beatbox Choir', a project supported by the South-Bank Centre.

Senso's success in promos and idents include 'Four Tet, Back and Forth' which was featured at the Berlin film festival and on the BBC's Film network. A two year collaboration with the London-based couturière Aimee McWilliams resulted in the production of her commercial (as previously featured in Production Paradise), and a series of video installations at the Royal Academy of Art in London.

Thriving independent projects include the short film 'Moshi' screened at the Raindance Film Festival. Two short films are also in development for early 2008.

Lon photography/photo agents: THE SHARON BRANDMAN AGENCY

Sharon Brandman provides full production services to clients as well as agent representation to a select group of photographers working in the advertising industry. Her personal approach with each individual client ensures that the company delivers first rate services at every stage of production.

Latest projects from the agency's photographers include:

• Marie Louise Avery shot a new chicken range for McDonald's, and completed a Christmas shoot for Bombay Sapphire gin.
• Ian Boddy completed a shoot for Tesco. Working on-location in a reindeer park for a Christmas campaign, the team found themselves attempting an authentically-lit snow scene on the hottest day in August!
• Stuart Chorley shot for Fibresure, and has been working on his portfolio of underwater images.
• Richard Seymour shot across the UK for a re-branding campaign of BUPA hospitals, and recently returned from Europe where he had been working on car and landscape photography.

Lon photography/photo agents: ANGELA WOODS

Angela Woods' photographers continue to impress on the international market.

• Tara Moore presented a new folio that art buyers are describing as "her most sophisticated work to date."
• In the company's previous feature John Mac was into cosmetics. This time it's lingerie - but for all the right reasons! He is currently receiving commissions from a range of luxury brands.
• Adrian Samson was in his native Hungary to complete some touchingly sensitive pictures of children, together with a comical series of portraits set in psychedelia. He will soon travel to Buenos Aires for a personal project that asks the question 'Do angels really exist?'
• Steve Hoskins continues strongly with commissions for Barclays, Blackberry, Lexus and Pedigree. In this feature he shows a series of moody landscapes and a short film entitled 'Wolf'.

Detailed portfolios can be seen on the agency's website.

Lon photography/photo agents: GILL TURNER

Photographers' agent Gill Turner presents a round-up of recent commissions and projects from the company's list of exciting photographers:

• Matt Stuart had an extremely busy summer, producing a range of campaigns that included Sky One with The Red Brick Road, Visit London with RKCR/Y&R, Vodafone with Fitch, and Ford with Ogilvy.
• Tim O'Sullivan's jobs included a shoot for The History Channel with Karmarama.
• Christopher Pillitz completed a beautiful travel book on China, due for publication this Christmas. He is due to start another book in India next month.
• David Short is a new photographer at the agency. His project on a Sheffield boxing club was featured in this year's Creative Review Photography Annual and the prestigious AOP awards. His recent clients include, GHD, John Smedley, London Fire Brigade, and Men's Health.

Lon photography/photographers: JOHNNY CARR PHOTOGRAPHY

The end of the summer saw director & photographer Johnny Carr working on a shoot for Audi, which was a collaborative affair with Peter Saville.

The two of them shot a series of images of the new Audi A5, racing around the waste ground at Battersea Power Station at the dead of night.

Johnny caught the action using a locked-off camera position with time exposures, allowing the A5 to create light trails within frame. The event was filmed for the Audi channel and will be broadcast at the end of October.

Lon photography/photographers: STEPHEN KEARNEY

Stephen Kearney had a hectic summer shooting editorial fashion assignments. He also recently shot several projects for Standard Life.

He is a photographer inspired by great locations, and spent a couple of weeks shooting in the harsh light of the deserts of Southern California.

Working with his new Hasselblad H3D 31 he believes on-location digital photography "has really come of age for fashion purposes".

His latest website and fashion book are nearing completion.

Lon photography/photographers: CLAIRE-JESSICA WEAIT

Claire-Jessica Weait presents her unique and often quirky photography style.

She says of her current work: "I either seem to be shooting sexually-suggestive images of gorgeous people in Ibiza, or mad old granddads and little children on Bournemouth beaches."

She confesses to loving working with people, and aims to create humorous, fun, colourful and big images that often draw attention to the lighter side of life.

Recent commissions have included this year's Club 18-30 publicity material, and a South West Trains advertising campaign. Look out for billboards in the Clapham Junction area of people lost in the New Forest with a map of Derbyshire wrapped around their heads!

Lon photography/photographers: COLIN STREATER

London-based photographer Colin Streater specialises in architecture, interiors and the urban landscape. The last twelve months has seen him accept commissions in the UK, Spain, Portugal, France and the USA.

Clients enjoy the relaxed ambience of his shoots and describe his work as "clean, graphic, airy and friendly".

Recent commissions include: The O2 Dome, Phillip Morris, ICAP, Charles Worthington and The National Portrait Gallery.

His newly re-designed website and portfolio includes examples from all facets of his work. Colin is also involved in documentary film production and is currently working on several short film projects.

Lon photography/photographers: DAVID PARFITT

Based centrally in Clerkenwell, still-life specialist David Parfitt's recent commissions have included projects for Debenhams, Boots, Waitrose, The Body Shop and Max Factor.

He also completed editorial assignments for Marie Claire, In Style and Red.

Lon photography/photographers: FABRICE RIZZATO

Over the past year Swiss-born Fabrice Rizzato has established himself as a London-based fashion and beauty portrait photographer.

To date he has generated a significant portfolio of corporate and private work that includes book and CD covers for a variety of international artists.

His work was featured on television programs for both ITV1 and BBC3 in September 2007.

Fabrice works from his spacious and stylish central London studio and is currently looking for representation by a professional agent.

Lon photography/photographers: NICK DOLDING

Nick Dolding has been busy working on a number of projects over the summer, including shooting Guinness for Ark in London and 'The Sofa' series for Virgin Active Gyms.

Humour continues to be a major influence on his work, a fact recently highlighted by a series of images created in collaboration with art director Dan Black.

He also gained a nomination at the 'Annual Photography Masters Cup'.

Lon photography/photographers: STRUAN WALLACE

Photographer Struan Wallace is based in the trendy Brick Lane area of East London, famous for its culinary delights and colourful markets. It's no wonder he has followed his passion into food and drink photography, shooting for packaging, editorial and advertising clients.

For further delicious examples contact Struan direct, or visit him at his studio where he also videos short recipe blogs and products.

Lon photography/photographers: GRAHAM ATKINS-HUGHES

Photographer Graham Atkins-Hughes has had a particularly successful and exciting year, working hard whilst continuing to develop an already prestigious client list. The recent Autumn/Winter shoot for Heal's provided him with a particularly interesting and rewarding project.

Graham is soon to unveil a new portfolio he has been working on over the past few months.

Planned for the near future is a website re-launch, but for the moment an updated selection of images can be found on his agent's site.

Lon photography/photographers: LORENTZ GULLACHSEN

Recently on-location in glorious Yorkshire, Lorentz Gullachsen shot a landscape and lifestyle commission for Euro RSCG-Life with Art Director Jonothon Yuill, as well as an Autocruise Motor Homes shoot for Propaganda with Art Director Pete Denton.

The photographer comments: "After such a wet year it was fantastic to see the Indian summer finally kick-in. It was a great surprise to shoot so many sunny days".

The rain that came afterwards, however, provided an opportunity to shoot some great storm clouds for Gullachsen's Sky library.

Lon photography/photographers: PAUL WEBSTER

Paul Webster has had a busy summer shooting for Waitrose, The Lowry Centre in Manchester, 'At Home' Catering, Slimfast, Hardys Wines, Lyons Seafood, Tiffin Bites and BBs restaurants, and The Ugo Group (pasta).

He also shot on-location for a new development close to the Bluewater Mall in Kent, and will be exhibiting his personal images at both Battersea Arts Fair and Islington Contemporary Design and Art Fair in October.

Lon locations/rental studios photo: BIG SKY LONDON

Big Sky, central London's largest and most accessible full-service photography and media production complex, is a purpose-built facility designed specifically for the photographic and image-making industry.

The 37,000 square foot complex has five versatile, fully equipped self-contained studios, staffed by trained assistants who offer full support throughout the image-making process.

Big Sky offers a comprehensive range of services including equipment hire, catering, sets and props, communications and digital services. Services and budgets can be tailored to suit the individual needs of each production.

Lon hotel/hotels: THE SANDERSON

Suka offers modern but authentic Malaysian cuisine prepared with European sensibility. Created by acclaimed New York chef Zak Pelaccio, Suka's menu of fresh British and Malaysian produce marries French cooking techniques with the intensity and spectrum of Southeast Asian flavours.

Set on the ground floor of the Sanderson, Suka's dramatic setting has been redesigned by renowned Paris-based architect and designer India Mahdavi, and encompasses a 'hidden' space following the Long Bar and the entire Garden Terrace. Suka has a relaxed and casual ethos, while still capturing the wit, irony and elegance of Sanderson.

The menu is served in typical Asian sharing style and includes dishes ranging from home-style to truly elegant and luxe.

For special Production rates at Sanderson, please call Samm Lycett on (0044) (0)20 7300 5535.

Lon event/photo events: THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S GALLERY

Taryn Simon: An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar

This is the first UK exhibition of Taryn Simon's latest project, a culmination of four years extensive research and documentation of the unseen and inaccessible that is hidden beneath the surface of national identity.

Nicholas Hughes: In Darkness Visible

A new body of work that re-examines the traditional symbols and metaphors used in photography to portray the human sense of wonder before nature. In-keeping with the themes of his previous series 'Edge', Hughes seeks to illustrate the frail residue of the contemporary wilderness and our relationship to it.

Lon event/photo events: NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Pop Art Portraits [11 Oct - 20 Jan]

This major international exhibition is the first to explore the role and significance of portraiture within Pop Art, one of the most important and popular artistic movements of the twentieth century. Presenting a visual dialogue between American and British Pop, the exhibition focuses on key portraits by leading artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Peter Blake and Richard Hamilton.

Pop Art flourished in Britain and the USA during the 1950s and 1960s and was closely connected with the rise of consumer culture. For that reason Pop is usually seen as being concerned with the depiction of objects. Pop Art Portraits takes a different view. It shows how Pop artists reinvigorated and redefined portraiture, creating new kinds of portraits: from those depicting recognisable sitters, to portraits with a hidden or imaginary subject.

The exhibition is divided into six sections, including screenings of Warhol's influential 'Screen Tests' and a secular 'chapel' devoted to portraits of film star Marilyn Monroe.