mattbrookestudio

Cedric Delsaux - The Dark Lens (Star Wars)

2012-01-04T21:59:00.001Z

On a brief trip to Paris today I found this great book by Cedric Delsaux. All the images were shot in Paris, Lille or Dubai. It's a fascinating take on the Star Wars behemoth and how it fits seamlessly into our own reality. Check out Monsieur Delsaux's site and read an interesting piece from the New York Times here.

Independent on Saturday - Brights

2011-12-17T10:32:00.001Z

New story out today... brave the frosty morn and get yourself a copy of the Independent for my latest story with the delightful Mr Lee Holmes. Hair, as ever, by the impeccable Mr Natty. Out you go chaps... get some colour in your wardrobe!

Mr Natty takes New York

2011-12-01T16:53:00.000Z

Mr Natty and I took a little trip to New York recently... spreading the word about all things Natty. In between nattering Natty our good friend Mr William Gentle (aka Backyard Bill) took some fine shots of Mr Natty for his fantastic blog - there is, as ever, a link to it on the right. Go visit and tell Bill how amiable and talented he is.

Esquire Big Black Book

2011-11-28T12:04:00.000Z

In New York the other week I caught up with my old Arena mucker, Mr Nick Sullivan, now Fashion Director at US Esquire and the brains behind The Big Black Book. It's very well thought out gentlemen's organ that I highly recommend. Now in it's 5th year, it is, as the lady at Hudson News in JFK noted, 'expensive', but worth it. Some lovely stories by the esteemed Mr Poynter, Mr Roper and Mr Clarke.

The Jane Hotel - New York

2011-11-17T13:00:00.001Z

On a recent visit to New York I shacked up at the delightfully appointed Jane Hotel. It has been lovingly and thoughtfully restored in an early 1900s style. The hotel has a long and chequered past. It was notably the hotel that housed the Titanic's survivors after that fateful night in 1912. As someone who used to stay at the old Gramercy Park hotel back in the day, it feels like a real slice of a New York from days gone by (although the staff are far more attentive and the rooms are clean).

Boden Women Winter 2011 - Scotland

2011-11-11T16:38:00.001Z

Now if Maine was cold... Scotland was bitter! We shot this way up on the Cawdor Estate near Inverness. It is the most incredible location and the whole crew shacked up in the estate lodge (miles from anywhere) where we enjoyed wholesome dinners, roaring fires and the odd wee dram to fight the bitter July weather. I swear, the world is upside down in terms of weather. My hardy Scandi crew always enjoy a challenge (I guess this felt tropical to them) and it was one of the most fun shoots ever. Must mention the great umbrella work by Kelly Rippy. Thanks fella!

Boden Men Winter 2011 - Maine

2011-11-11T16:28:00.000Z

Despite the fact it's set to be 17C tomorrow, winter really is on it's way (surely?). Here's our latest trip to make it to press... all set on the beautiful Maine coastline. Hey, it looks like Blighty... and it's an amazing place to shoot, there's lakes, rugged coasts, sandy beaches, forests and cobbled streets all within an hour of each other. The weather is bloody lousy too - just like home. We shot this in July and it was wet and freezing.

Favourite Football Kits Ever # 7 Ajax Amsterdam 1987

2011-10-20T23:38:00.001+01:00

If you follow this blog (you probably don't), then you'll note that this image is not up there with the usual photo-journalistic standard that I set for my historical football posts. Stay with me...

This particular shot features one of my all time favourite players, whose name has particular relevance to the bouquet he is carrying in tandem with the 1987 ECWC trophy. Arnold Johannes Hyacinthus Mühren (on the right - with the flowers), in my opinion, has the best left foot of all time. OF ALL TIME. Though saying this, the best goal he ever scored for Ipswich Town was in an FA Cup 6th Rd replay in 1981 (against Nottingham Forest) with his right peg (previously only ever used for standing on). The very young Matt Brooke Studio almost fell off the drainpipe he was holding onto in the capacity crowd when said event happened. All seater stadiums? Allocated seats? Pre-booking? What's that all about?

Football Picture or Fashion Shoot?

2011-10-20T23:02:00.002+01:00

You decide.

Football kits Saint Etienne etc. blah blah

2011-10-20T22:58:00.001+01:00

Ok, this is getting a little repetitive. What it is it about this once mighty French football team that so inspired a generation of sports photographers?

JohnnieB Winter 2011 Film

2011-10-10T20:50:00.002+01:00

A little video Gemma and I shot and I edited for your delight. Lovely colour work and general finessing by Dionne Loftus. This is a Northern People's Film Production. Enjoy. If you'd like to watch in higher res... check out the johnnieb.co.uk website.

JohnnieB Winter 2011

2011-10-10T20:36:00.001+01:00

Here are a selection of images for the new season Johnnie B winter 2011. All shot up the road in Aldeburgh. A cracking few days was had by all, in particularly wintry conditions (considering it was July). All shot by Gemma Booth, my old mucker from The Face and Arena days way back when. As for all this nonsense about the youth of today, I can only say this young bunch were a joy to hang out with. We've just finished the Spring shoot and I will post that in the new year.

Daks AW11 Far East Campaign

2011-10-07T19:42:00.000+01:00

Another sneaky campaign I did for Daks recently, specifically for the Far East. Shot by David Slijper and featuring Alana Zimmer and Matthias Bergh. These will be running as billboards in major Asian airports this autumn, so if anyone sees them send us a snap!

My Positano Pirate Crew

2011-10-05T08:48:00.000+01:00

Cap'n Brooke all shipshape and Bristol fashion here, just back from one of our favourite locations - Positano, on the Amalfi coast. An amazing spot teamed with with a fantastic crew and a phenomenal set of images for the new Boden Men's Spring 12 collection. Can't wait to get these up online in the new year. All hands on deck for admiral Lane, young wrens Smart and Lewis, able seamen Lamb and Raine, the old viking shiphands Haggren and Larsen, the pirates Guido and Davide and the stowaways Kulkov, Keyser and Noel. Land ahoy!!!

Daks AW11

2011-09-20T20:19:00.001+01:00

Here's the latest Daks campaign I art directed back in May. If you are a regular reader of this blog you may recall a post about where it was shot from around that time. If not, go and look! Photography Josh Olins, Styling Cathy Kasterine, Hair Shon, Make Up Sally Branka and the models, Alana Zimmer and Vincent Lecrocq.

Favourite Football Kits Ever #6 - France 1982

2011-09-09T00:13:00.001+01:00

The default 'favourite' French kit is undoubtedly the one in which they won the 1984 European Championship in (blue with a single thick red and three thinner white horizontal stripes across the chest). I personally prefer this one, with its subtle tricolore stripes that follow through the shirts to the shorts. This image shows the Bordeaux midfielder Alain Giresse celebrating giving France a 3-1 lead against W. Germany in the 1982 semi-final. Only 22 minutes remained of extra-time, and still the French contrived to lose on penalties. As an Englishman, I understand how this works. My memory of watching this game as a child with my father is vivid, and the disillusion of how unjust the game can be stays with me (I am an Ipswich fan, so I have carried this burden in other ways). It remains, however, one of the greatest games I have ever seen, as the French captain Michel Platini said; 'That was my most beautiful game. What happened in those two hours encapsulated all the sentiments of life itself. No film or play could ever recapture so many contradictions and emotions. It was complete. So strong. It was fabulous.'

Favourite Football Kits Ever #4 & #5 - Ipswich Town & Liverpool 1980

2011-09-08T14:50:00.002+01:00

This set of images shows Ipswich and Liverpool in action in the 1980-81 season, both at Anfield and Portman Road, when both teams were on a fairly even footing (Ipswich would win the UEFA Cup that season and Liverpool the European Cup). The photography here is very much of that time, I find it far more inspiring than what we see today in this genre. You can just feel that it is film, it's not unrealistically sharp and the colours are naturally saturated from the type used and the printing process. It's so evocative, just red vs blue. This is helped, I feel, by the vivid simplicity of the kits, unadorned as they are by sponsor names, player names and ludicrous weaves in the fabric. I find the composition of the images and the very shallow depth of field gives them a very painterly quality too. Phil Neal looks a bit tubby as well, which you wouldn't get away with today.

Independent on Saturday - Seaside Stripes

2011-08-31T19:20:00.001+01:00

A few images from my latest story that I shot for The Independent. Shot on a very cold, blustery and wet day on the Suffolk coast. Let's say we used God's softbox. Thanks to Lee Holmes on fashion, Matt Raine on hair, Xander on modeling, Robbie McLintock on production and Tim Hill on assisting. Special mention to the fantastic summer puddings in the Ferry Boat Inn, the homing pigeon we helped recuperate and see on his way home and Xander for rescuing the Dior sunglasses Mr Holmes dropped in the North Sea.

Southwold Pier Oddities

2011-07-27T00:04:00.000+01:00

I was on the pier at Southwold the other day and always enjoy a visit to these most bizarre amusements. Make what you will of them.

Supreme T's

2011-07-26T15:00:00.000+01:00

Found a few of my old Supreme T's the other day. Can't seem to bear letting them go, even the though Burberry one shows signs of being used while painting. The Grand Royal one is an bonus to this post, from the long lost store on Lafayette St, NYC, just across from Supreme.

Boden Women Autumn 2011 - Paris

2011-07-26T14:19:00.001+01:00

Here are a few shots from the new Autumn story we shot in Paris a couple of months ago. It features the lovely Edda as an aspiring fashion photographer about town (a role which she took to a little too easily I may add!).

Boden Men Autumn 2011 - Amsterdam

2011-07-26T12:02:00.000+01:00

Been a little slack posting our Boden jaunts on here. Here's a little snippet of a recent shoot in Amsterdam. Much fun had by all, the whole crew whizzed about the city on bikes (very eco - and more fun than a passenger van). Followers of this blog may notice the Brandon bar I posted a few months ago. We were frequent visitors.

Favourite Football Kits Ever #1 (revisited) - Saint Etienne 1982

2011-07-26T11:46:00.000+01:00

I am revisiting a club I have already featured in this short series because a) I love this kit (in fact I still have the shirt from when I was a kid stashed away in a box and b) I actually really love the sports photography from this era. There is always such a rawness to it, having been shot on fast film and shorter lenses, that makes me feel so much more engaged with the subject.

Mr Natty will see you next Tuesday

2011-07-26T11:40:00.002+01:00

The intrepid Mr Natty, barber utensils silently stashed in his fishing bag, awaits a young model to snip at while standing upon a Maine dock at 5.15am. Times, it appears, are hard. Our hirsute friend is currently back in New England, taking care of the chaps at Bear Week in Provincetown. Best of British Natty!

Beachcombing

2011-07-26T11:35:00.002+01:00

A rather large jaunt to the Norfolk coast with friends and offspring, led us to the incredibly rocky shores of Cromer. No injuries, just wet feet. A miracle considering my daughter is the one wearing the inappropriate Havaianas.

Cawdor Estate - Scotland

2011-07-26T11:33:00.000+01:00

No, it's not The Proclaimers new album.

The lovely Cathrine Wessel, stoic in the face of midgies biting her face off.

Spot the digital assitant - in his latest 'office'

We have just returned from a fantastic week shooting (photos - though they do have wildlife you can aim if you are inclined) in the wind and rain. It's an incredible place. I'm sure we'll be back, we have been already. It would be even better without the incessant midgies.

BMW 3.0csi

2011-07-26T11:27:00.000+01:00

Beautiful. I just used this for a shoot in Maine. It was difficult to source a Euro spec one, but we found it. It was immaculate.

Favourite Football Kits Ever #3 - Argentina 1982-86

2011-07-26T11:25:00.000+01:00

I think this is one of the all-time greatest international kits. I'd guess this shot is from the Copa America, featuring a young Maradona in action against El Salvador. I picked this kit over the adidas shirt as it is made by the French brand Le Coq Sportif. They were prolific in the early 80s supplying many major club sides. Check out www.lecoqsportif.com and see if you can make sense of their website. It appears as though they have had a massive re-branding, and have pillaged their archives for some fantastic images.

Her Majesty Approves

2011-06-28T12:21:00.001+01:00

Nice to see Her Majesty with the latest Daks SS11 campaign we shot last year in her royal grasp.
One is most amused.

Independent on Saturday - Menswear

2011-05-21T22:06:00.000+01:00

Another bit of editorial I shot for The Independent on Saturday Magazine, which came out today. Fashion by Lee Holmes, Grooming Matt Raine using Mr Natty and the model is Thom at Select.

Back in Maine

2011-05-15T22:46:00.000+01:00

Favourite Football Kits Ever #2 - Juventus 1984-85

2011-05-15T21:55:00.001+01:00

An absolute classic. Great tailored fit and amazing collar detail.

The Royal Wedding

2011-05-15T04:10:00.000+01:00

A little off the pace here, but I've finally found a moment to post some images of our street party for the Royal Wedding. I came home from a job in Amsterdam to find England totally wrapped up in the Disneyesque thrall of regal matrimonials. I imagine this was like Britain in the 1950s. Good to see we are still good at something. Hurrah!

Englefield House

2011-05-15T00:30:00.000+01:00

Just shot at this astonishing country home in Berkshire. I'll follow up with an interesting post shortly.

Favourite Football Kits Ever #1 - Saint Etienne 1974-75

2011-05-15T00:26:00.001+01:00

This will be a little series I'll post from time to time. I have long been an admirer of the more sartorially concerned football teams. I'll kick it off with the darlings of 70s French football, Saint Etienne. I love the sheer audacity of them having the tricolore incorporated into the traditional green kit, embracing the concept that they were France's 'team'. This image is also an interesting take on the official team shot. Nice art direction. Loving the lower case Helvetica too.

Boden Summer 2011

2011-05-02T21:57:00.000+01:00

It's a long time since I've posted any Boden pictures, but here are a few from a recent shoot in St Barth's. The sea really is that blue.

Found Photos and other Ephemera

2011-05-02T21:54:00.000+01:00

There's a wonderful little shop in the Marché des Enfants Rouges on Rue de Bretagne in Paris that sells only 'found' photos and other photographic knick knacks. You should check it out. My friend tells me the food is amazing in the market too.

Odd things I have seen in France # 2

2011-05-02T21:41:00.000+01:00

Parisian rollerblading gendarmes. I'm thinking I may have seen this before in Santa Monica, CA. But it seemed less odd in La La Land.

Odd things I have seen in France # 1

2011-05-02T21:36:00.000+01:00

I saw this in Chamonix. I have no idea why a man would take a picture of a child (I presume it is his child) sat atop a condom machine. There may be a whole story behind this. We can only speculate.

Olympus Trip 35 - Paul Smith

2011-04-01T21:27:00.001+01:00

I was at Heathrow Terminal 5 this morning. The best thing about T5 is the Paul Smith Globe shop. As you'd expect it has all the usual quirky Smithy pieces, but also a very well curated books and art selection. Perfect for whiling away some quality time instead of in the ubiquitous duty free stores.

Tucked away in one of the cabinets were these lovely Olympus Trip 35mm cameras. I'd always wanted one of these and were it not for a trusty Adox I had when I was a kid, I would have pestered for one. Anyway, it was rather fortuitous to find these beauties, as only this week I'd been reminiscing and had requested my producer to hunt one down on eBay as a prop.

It seems as though Mr Smith has sourced these from www.tripman.co.uk. They are a little more expensive than the usual Trips you find for sale, but the delightful colourways justify the extra few pounds. I'm off to buy some film.

ELLE April Cover

2011-03-25T10:23:00.000Z

Goodness... I'd almost forgotten I had a blog...

Here is the last cover of ELLE that I art directed. As you know I'm no longer at the mag as acting creative, so this was put together by Tom. Nice work Mr Meredith. Loving the Subs cover.

Gwen was a dream. Actually, it was pretty much the easiest LA based celebrity shoot EVER. Photography by Matthias Vriens McGrath.

Chamonix - l'autre jour

2011-02-21T21:18:00.001Z

Hackett Kids SS11 - Behind the Scenes Video

2011-02-21T21:14:00.001Z

It's finally up! Check out how much fun we had shooting Spring Summer at Kew in the wind and rain! How very British!

Hackett Kids SS11 - Behind the Scenes video link

Minis in Paris

2011-02-21T21:10:00.001Z

Have you ever noticed how many old Minis there are in Paris. Once you start looking they are around every corner. They are certainly more ubiquitous that the 2CV. Oddly, they are always ever so slightly pimped - chrome bumpers front and rear. I find the best ones are always in British racing green, with a little Union Jack sticker on one side of the boot and a little 'F' (for France) sticker opposite. Trés chic.

Café Brandon

2011-02-21T15:07:00.001Z

On a scout in Amsterdam recently, my producer and I stumbled across this bar. We were out for a jet-lag curing run at the time and not in any fit sartorial state to enter for a brew. However, the next day our local producer pointed it out, explaining that it had only recently been re-opened - after 20 years. The new owners felt compelled to preserve the 70s treasure trove as they had found it. It's on the corner of Keizergracht and Leilegracht, if you're in town make sure you visit, maybe not in your lycra and runners though.

Hackett Kids Spring Summer 2011

2011-02-02T15:05:00.001Z

Last Autumn, fresh from jetting in from Maine, and before shooting off to Provence, Mr Natty and I had a lovely day at Kew (in awfully inclement weather), shooting the new Hackett kids campaign for Spring Summer 2011. While Mr Natty was making the little ones look rather spiffing, I was behind the camera taking the pictures, rather quietly in the case of the parrot shot - don't want to lose one of those beasts in the Tropical House. Our young model was very brave as the feathered one's talons sunk into his skin. Kids seem to be made of stern stuff these days. Bravo! A rather lovely video was made too, which we will post when it is ready.

Daks SS11

2011-01-31T09:00:00.001Z

Here are the new images for the Daks Spring Summer 11 campaign I just directed. Photography is by Josh Olins and styling by Cathy Kasterine. Our models were the lovely Dree Hemingway and Mattias Bergh. Hair by Shon, make up by Sally Branka.

Land Rover Monster

2011-01-19T22:06:00.000Z

Look at this bad boy. I didn't art direct this. It was just parked there.

Volvo 144

2011-01-19T21:57:00.001Z

Time for a gratuitous car post. I have been chatting today with Mr Smith, a friend of mine with a similar interest in functional, and understated, car design. Our common interest was formed in South Africa recently where we both professed an unhealthy interest in the VW Citigolf. Smith beat me to it with a nice piece on his blog about those. Great picture too. Anyway, today we were specifically chuntering on (in a most nerdy male way) about the virtues of a Volvo 240GL (note to self: what is going on?). Specifically to coupé or not. So seeking some oneupmanship in this situation, I have hunted out the 144, essentially the car that became the blueprint for Volvo's range for decades. These pictures are from the splendid book called Cars, by Stephen Bayley. If this rambling post was of any interest at all, you might like it.

Prop House Heaven

2011-01-19T21:20:00.001Z

I was in South Africa recently. We were hunting props (as in we were looking for things to use for a photo shoot - I am not conversing in a 'West Coast gangsta style' and expecting your reassurance for doing so). Whatever. We met this chap called Braam, who lives in what appears to be a massive car boot sale. Prop houses are often interesting, but more often than not the goods are housed in a warehouse, making a visit rather perfunctory. Braam keeps his collection in his home and another house nearby. This makes the whole experience a real adventure as you never know what is in the next room. I can't possibly do it justice here, but should you be in Cape Town and searching a certain hue of 1950s luggage, give him a look. He has everything. Except, he tells us, a chocolate fireguard.

Elle Covers # 2 - Cheryl Cole

2011-01-19T18:36:00.000Z

The ubiquitous Cheryl Cole gets a rather beautiful, and slightly edgy, presence on the newsstand this month, thanks to our shoot with Jan Welters for ELLE. A good time was had by all (while cranking up Mr Tom Macklin's R&B mix tape) not least my young daughters who had the pleasure of Cheryl's company for some souvenir snaps. Dank u wel, Mr Welters! The shoot was reet up our street.

ELLE Covers # 1 - Carey Mulligan

2011-01-19T18:28:00.001Z

My tenure as Acting Creative Director at ELLE has sadly come to an end. Which is probably for the best as I thought I might have to clone myself or at least find a suitable doppelganger to fulfill my obligations. Anyway, here are my final two covers (well, there's actually another sneaky one I did coming up in a month or two). Such a lovely magazine with such very, very nice (and talented) people working for it. I will continue as a Contributing Editor.

Independent on Saturday Magazine

2011-01-19T18:20:00.001Z

Profuse apologies... over 2 months since a post? Well, I have been very busy, and it was Christmas. So to kick off 2011 I'm posting this eveningwear story I both shot and directed for 'The Indy'. Featuring the rather dapper Mr Simon Clark it was was styled by the talented Mr Lee Holmes of the aforementioned organ. Hair, naturellement, is by Mr Matt Raine using his esteemed Mr Natty grooming range. It ran before Christmas, don't ask when. I can't remember.

Cape Town Vespa

2010-11-17T22:17:00.001Z

Another nice decal. Not quite on the scale of the Airbus below.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

ELLE March Cover

2010-11-17T22:13:00.001Z

On my way to LA to shoot our cover for March. What are the chances I'd be on this plane?

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ELLE Anne Hathaway December Issue

2010-11-05T08:57:00.002Z

I am still enjoying my tenure as Acting Creative Director at British ELLE. Here's our latest cover, on newsstand this week. Anne Hathaway in a rather stunning Balmain dress that seems to have graced every women's title cover this month. Oh well, must be the zeitgeist, or the glittery seasonal feel, or just how it goes. Anyway, I'm saying ours is the best. But then, with our subscription cover, we do get two attempts. It was shot by David Slijper.

Don't mess hombrés...

2010-10-17T21:58:00.000+01:00

That's Halloween sorted. Graçias Signor Natty.

High Climber

2010-10-17T21:56:00.000+01:00

ELLE Alexa Chung November Issue

2010-10-17T21:47:00.000+01:00

You can see from my previous posts that I've been whizzing about a bit lately. So when I get back into my office at ELLE it was very exciting to see the new November cover sitting on my (rather messy - did I really leave it like this?) desk. It features the very lovely Alexa Chung, shot by David Vasiljevic and styled by our very own Anne Marie Curtis.

Things I saw in Sicily

2010-10-17T21:36:00.000+01:00

Things I saw in New England

2010-10-17T21:29:00.002+01:00

Things I saw in Provence

2010-10-17T21:24:00.001+01:00

Things I saw in Paris

2010-10-17T21:21:00.001+01:00

Sometimes it's nice to look up

2010-10-17T21:15:00.000+01:00


Vendeé, France

Siracusa, Sicilia, Italia

Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Willards Beach, Portland, Maine, USA

Somewhere on the the I-95, New Hampshire, USA

Somewhere over Southern England

Provence, France

Provence, France (the next day)

Paris, France

Picardy, France

London, England

Felixstowe, Suffolk, England

Old Faithful

2010-09-25T09:03:00.002+01:00

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Digging for Australia

2010-09-12T20:35:00.002+01:00

Mr Natty

2010-09-10T23:14:00.003+01:00

Check out these natty designs I put together for Mr Natty. We are going to take over the world... starting in Barnet, as 't were.

Alain Delon - Cool as...

2010-09-10T23:12:00.001+01:00

The other Godfather - Bambaataa!!

2010-09-10T23:08:00.002+01:00

ELLE Kate Hudson 25th Anniversary Issue

2010-08-31T16:35:00.003+01:00

Here is the new cover of ELLE which just hit newsstands today. It's the 25th Anniversary issue. It was a real pleasure to be creative director on such a massive issue of the magazine. Kate was an absolute dream to work with. We shot this at her holiday home in Tuscany with my old mate, Ben Hassett. I wanted to update the iconic 80s cover that ELLE was so synonymous with back in the day. Sharon Dowsett did a fantastic job with the make up, updating the whole retro look. I threw some diagonal type on there for good measure. Check out the behind the scenes video at www.elleuk.com

La Rochelle Aquarium

2010-08-31T15:53:00.002+01:00

Holy Zucchini!!

2010-08-29T19:19:00.003+01:00

I am no gardener, but when the Brooke family returned from holiday we found this beast lurking in our vegetable patch, and I'm sure it can't be normal. The children were astonished, and are used here for relative sizing purposes. My good friend Mr Natty is a keen horticulturalist and I am sure he will be mightily impressed by this prize courgette. Well done Mrs Brooke for cultivating such a whopper.

The Independent on Saturday

2010-08-29T19:04:00.005+01:00

Matt Brooke photographer hat on: here is some menswear editorial I shot for The Independent Saturday Magazine. A mix and match tailoring story. Styling by the delightful Mr Lee Holmes, grooming by Mr Matt Raine (Mr Natty himself). Digital and lighting assistance by the flying Finn, Mr Petri Haggren and the dapper young chap in the smart clobber is Mr Tom Warren. Post-production courtesy of the tremendous chaps at Mullis Morgan.

Bar Vitelli, Savoca, Sicily

2010-08-29T18:32:00.007+01:00

On a recent location scout I was delighted to stumble upon Savoca, the village where they filmed the Sicilian scenes of The Godfather. It was a very odd experience as I had, only two weeks previously, turned on my television in a French hotel room and found this exact scene being played out. Incredibly the bar is preserved virtually identically to as it was when the movie was filmed almost 40 years ago. Maurizio, our local production guide, assured me it would have even had the same wooden chairs and tables had the owner, Maria, not sadly passed away last summer. By all accounts she was a very engaging character who ran the bar with a passion until her last days, making her famous granita lemoni everyday. Her nephew now runs the bar, and I suspect it is very similar still to how it was, save for the generic new rattan chairs and tourist t-shirts. A nicer touch is the video running in an ante-room of Maria describing her village and love of la campagna. It is a lovely spot, quite apart from its Hollywood history, and I can vouch that the granita is still ottimo. Although, Maurizio disagrees.

The granita machine

The late Maria, in her bar

There are plenty of movie stills framed inside the bar

The bar today

The original tables were like these typical Sicilian ones here

Ortigia

2010-08-10T22:10:00.003+01:00

Most original use of scaffolding I've seen.

Gatwick

2010-08-10T22:01:00.002+01:00

There's no evidence of Eero Saarinen or Norman Foster at Gatwick. What a depressing airport.

Spigaou Bike

2010-08-06T22:37:00.000+01:00

Loving this. Saw it in Provence last week. Check out www.spigaou.fr

Daks - Autumn Winter 10

2010-08-06T22:24:00.003+01:00

Here's the new Daks London campaign I art directed for AW10. Nice to be working with Mr Phil Poynter again, with styling by Cathy Kasterine. Our models are Sigrid Agren and Ollie Edwards. Looking forward to SS11 already!

ELLE Emily Blunt September Issue

2010-08-06T21:23:00.005+01:00

Here's the new cover of ELLE, where I am now Acting Creative Director. We shot this in New York with Matthias Vriens McGrath back in June. Emily was lovely and looking great in all that lace. Look out for the 25th Anniversary issue next month!

Tom Eckersley

2010-08-06T21:16:00.002+01:00

Spotted this nice example of Eckersley in Odéon, Paris. The man was a genius... see more here
http://www.rennart.co.uk/eckersley.html

Brasserie Lipp Typography

2010-08-06T21:07:00.002+01:00

Nice Trunks

2010-08-06T19:51:00.002+01:00

Lover's Lock

2010-08-06T19:38:00.002+01:00

On Pont des Arts young (and maybe old) lovers and friends attach these padlocks to the fences to proclaim their ties - until some official from the council turns up with his bolt cutters that is.

Paris in the rain

2010-08-06T19:34:00.001+01:00

More Scotland

2010-08-06T19:24:00.002+01:00

A cracking Joke Shop

Love this GB sticker, unfortunately the company that makes them has gone under, so they didn't have any.

Edinburgh

2010-07-10T11:29:00.001+01:00

Location:Edinburgh

Hub Cap Heaven

2010-07-01T19:54:00.003+01:00

Have you lost a hub cab? I think I found it. It's in Maine and it's stuck to this shop. Ask for Jimmy Rimmer.

Silly Bandz

2010-06-30T21:59:00.003+01:00

Just did a casting in Boston and pretty much every kid came in with these coloured elastic bands on their wrists. After a lengthy explanation one young chap made it all clear... they are trading them with each other at school and it has become a nationwide phenomenon. The bands cost $3 for 12 from Walgreens, CVS etc and come in loads of different styles - girl packs, boy packs, safari, glow in the dark etc. Promptly I went off and spent nigh on $20 on rubber bands for my girls, and they went mental for them. I am even sporting one myself. But it's a bit tight to be honest.

More Rifugio

2010-06-30T21:41:00.003+01:00

Prendi la tua scelta

Dive! Dive!

Something tells me the owner of this Italian café has little patience for les françaises.

It might have been June, but it was proper cold.

Rifugio di Torino

2010-06-30T21:02:00.004+01:00

For a hut at the top of an Italian mountain, this Rifugio proved to be a little treasure trove of blog worthy posts. My own particular favourite being the Pope rocking a quilted jacket (very AW10) in papal white (a bit gangsta) with a natty baseball cap. Baseball caps on septegenarians is always a questionable look, but on the pope? In white? Mind he makes it work... well, better than William Hague ever did.

I'm all ears

2010-05-10T21:34:00.003+01:00

Call me on the elephone. I suppose it's a trunk call, etc, etc...

Boden Summer 2010

2010-05-10T21:16:00.004+01:00

The eagle eyed among you might have put 2 and 2 together, what with all my jaunts to Cuba recently. Indeed, I was there, with my fantastic crew, to shoot Boden's Summer collection. Here are the fruits of our labour. The photography is by Cathrine Wessel.

Vintage New York Signs

2010-05-03T21:23:00.001+01:00

Englishman in New York

2010-05-03T20:59:00.008+01:00

I was only there for 3 weeks, but there's no doubt you start to hanker after a few home comforts. The Americans can't half rustle up a good breakfast, but there's never any HP (I'm not sure how that can work for a man). Now, all New York Brits know there is a place to go to if you're feeling in need of some sustenance from Blighty... good old Myers of Keswick on Greenwich Ave. My photographer friend scooted out of the studio on time the other night to pick up his bangers with a spring in his step. It's all very nice, though it does tend to give an impression of Britain in the 50s. I waited til I was home to tuck into a nice bag of Walkers Cheese and Onion.

Baseball Caps

2010-05-03T20:48:00.004+01:00

The JCrew men's store in Tribeca is a nice little haunt to while away some time. Their current affiliations with many tried and tested men's labels (Barracuta, Belstaff, Saint James, Adidas, Sperry et al) are proving to be quite a draw for a label that was all about bright jumpers not so very long ago. These spiffing felt baseball caps caught my eye when I popped in the other day. Only available fitted, they feature the logos of baseball teams of yesteryear. I am not advocating that grown men should wear such attire, in the same way one should not sport a football shirt in public (cup finals possibly excepted - no danger in my case), but I admire their simplicity of design.

Midtown

2010-05-03T20:19:00.004+01:00

I always like this spot in New York. It's 6th Ave by Radio City music hall. It always makes me feel like I'm in the middle of it all. It's not that there's anything to do here particularly, no decent bars or the kind of places I want to eat, it's just midtown, but makes me feel a little bit in awe of the place. If you've ever seen Buena Vista Social Club, this is the spot where Ibrahim Ferrer just walks around like a child, taking in the wonder of it all. I can see his point.

New York Pinhole

2010-05-03T20:02:00.006+01:00

Actually not strictly pinhole. Just a little mode feature I found on my new camera that kept me amused for a day or two, particularly as it seemed so effective at portraying Gotham City in such a suitably gothic way during the downpours.

New York Rain

2010-05-03T19:57:00.003+01:00

Is all very nice and romantic and that, but a bugger to try and get any work done in. Now I'm home, I hear it's gorgeous and just like summer.

Matt Brooke

2010-05-03T19:55:00.002+01:00

I'd like you to think I found these like this in the tacky 5th Ave store. But you'd never believe me.

Event Horizon

2010-05-03T10:38:00.002+01:00

Just back from a long spell in NYC, where both my crews were obsessed by the Anthony Gormley installations around Madison Square Park. The original exhibition around London's South Bank was impressive but I think the Manhattan one tops it. There is something very Gotham about figures looking sentinel like from skyscrapers, I think they should stay there forever.