Freelance Photographer
How do you sum up your work in just six images? If I’m honest I’m not sure I can but here goes (with explanations, of sorts no less!) I’m best known for my sport and Rallycross work, but a large amount of my time is spent shooting editorial and promotional work.
Fashion and Beauty Photography. Not a phrase you would expect to find associated with a Press and PR Photographer and certainly not with a Sports Photographer, but in the dark and distant past it was something I did a lot of!
I was lucky to work with many very talented individuals which included models, MUA’s, Hairstylists, Designers and Stylists. I’m always pretty amazed to hear about the heights they have all risen to!
It kind of all started by mistake when the PR of a designer named Pierre Garroudi called me and asked if I’d like to shoot some of his cloths! I just seized the opportunity and kind of made it up as I went along!
Pierre Garroudi collection shot at The Drop Redoubt on Dover’s Western Heights
From then on I just tried to make the shoot ideas more creative, challenging myself and the people I was working with what would (and wouldn’t) work. So over a period of time I tried to drown, smoke and bury models!
I was also lucky enough to work at some awesome locations, I think my one of my favorite ones was St Augustines Priory in Kent. Where I wanted to shoot a ‘Beauty in Decay’ themed shoot. Featuring Couture Italian Wedding Dresses and a whole hoard of pigeons who were not enamoured with the idea of us using their penthouse!
Another great location I shot in more then once is the little known Dover Transport Museum
More Retro
There are too many great shoot I did to mention them all, so here are a few of my favorites pulled from the archives.
I even shot at the mad circus that is London Fashion Week a couple of times.
Pam Hogg. London Fashion Week AW13/14
So why all this misty eyed reminiscing? Well I’m thinking of starting to do some beauty work again. So if we have worked together before or not get in touch, like, share or comment. I have a few ideas I’d like to explore creatively, but I am more than welcome to collaborate on ideas that you may have. I think I’d like to do something with explosions……erm maybe not! but then again…….
As the 2017-2018 Football Season draws to a close with the FA cup Final to be played this coming Saturday, apparently there is a wedding on the same day as well but I don’t know much about that! I thought it might be an opportune time to take a quick look back on a few of my favourites from the 2017-2018 Football Season. A season I might add that I found myself covering on average a game a week. I know this doesn’t actually sound a lot but I also work as a Commercial, Editorial, PR and Press photographer.
So in 8 months the tally is roughly 19 grounds, 54 teams that included everything from a full international friendly all the way down to step 6 and I absolutely loved it! At this point I should thank both Pro Sport Images and The Non league Paper as well as a load of other publications that continued to commission me to head out and work.
Football is such an ethereal thing; filled with passion and commitment. What follows is a selection of my work I personally like. As an aside about 80% of is published.
So I think I’ll divide this into three: Celebrations – The photographers holy grail, Action – in the game it happens and Passion – whats behind the game.
There are is a moment in football that overcomes all else for a photographer, that of the celebration. The moment where everything pales into insignificance. Yes the goal is good and if I’m honest normally happens behind a load of players from where I am sitting. There is something magical about that moment after the goal, the celebration moment when I sometimes think I can see the real player. The elation and sometimes the relief!
NOVEMBER 4, 2017: Folkestone Invicta against Dorking Wanderers in Bostik League Premier Division. Where the home side ran out 3 to 1 winners. Fullicks Stadium, England.Folkestones Ade Yusuff celebrates after putting the home side 3 to 1 up from his penalty in the 90th minute.
Its cool isn’t it? However take it from me its the hardest thing to take a photograph of in the game!
Probably the bit that is easiest or is it? many years ago I always remember being told that if its action and the ball isn’t in the frame then don’t bother sending it. Its a mantra I have followed since as everything else can be changed, straightened, made darker\lighter. Sometimes though it doesn’t matter.
Third from top Dover Athletic against second from bottom Solihull Moors in Conference Premier at Crabble Stadium in Dover, England. Dover ran out winners by a goal to nothing. Dover’s defender Manny Parry puts Solihulls goal keeper Nathan Vaughan under pressure.
I always find looking at players faces during the action is where the true emotion comes out
Its always hard to force yourself to see the game from a slightly different angle, but when you do the rewards are nearly always better than the action itself.
Dover’s Manager Chris Kinnear
Managers and fans a like its about the passion!
So when all is said and told do I have a favourite? not really. But, then again a huge amount of my time was spent getting wet and cold covering Dover Athletic and truth be told I have become a fan! So my favourite picture from the past season has to be this one. For me it sums up their season, an inexperienced team thrown together and very nearly did the unthinkable.
Dover’s midfielder Nortei Nortey celebrates scoring Dovers first goal late in the first half during the Vanorama National League match between Leyton Orient and Dover Athletic at the Matchroom Stadium, London, England on 18 November 2017
So whatever happens during the impending FA Cup final and the much talked about World Cup 2018 in Russia I will be chomping at the bit to get going again for the new season.
After putting a few frames on Facebook I have been persuaded to add a few more here (basically so that the quality is better). Cyclocross is great to cover I haven’t done any since I covered the UCI Cyclocross Worldcup round in Milton Keynes last year, for some reason I never added any here!
Action from the veterens race. Betteshanger Country Park, Kent. (c) Matt Bristow
The day was split with 4 or 5 races across the day.
London X league Round 6 2015. Betteshanger Country Park, Kent. (c) Matt Bristow
Next up were the Veterens, all Ladies and the aptly named super veterans! (I was expecting loads of capes!)
London X league Round 6 2015. Betteshanger Country Park, Kent. (c) Matt Bristow
And finally the juniors and Senior men.
Blood, Mud and sweat. Betteshanger Country Park, Kent. (c) Matt Bristow
I wanted to mark the anniversary of the D-Day landings but I was not sure what picture to use. A bit of thought and for me the choice was obvious. A couple of weeks ago I was on a press job covering the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in Ramsgate. Where a fleet of small boats crossed the channel to rescue stranded allied troops from northern France.
During the event there was a fly past of a Spitfire and a Hurricane. Right in front of my was somebody with a huge Union Flag, the frame made itself definitely a case of of right place, right time.
I had originally thought it was the spitfire, but I was later corrected by a Anorak friend. It is of course the Hurricane.
A fly past by a Spitfire and Hurricane completed the send off. Operation Dynamo 75th anniversary. A selection of ships leave Ramsgate harbour and sail to Dunkirk accompanied by the Royal Navy and RNLI to mark the occasion.
As we all adjust to the surprise result and life returns to what is commonly accepted as normal (I’m no political commentator and I’m not about to start either!) It occurred to me just how much time I have spent covering the election in and around Kent over the last couple of months. In fact it started way back in February!
Sandwich Market, Guildhall Forecourt, Cattle Market, Sandwich. Nigel Farage doing a walkabout in the town and speaking to residents.
Unusually snapped him sipping at something other than a pint as well. I was quite surprised that the good people of Sandwich seemed to like Nigel Farage and UKIP.
Sandwich Market, Guildhall Forecourt, Cattle Market, Sandwich. Nigel Farage doing a walkabout in the town and speaking to residents.
There seemed to be a trend of MP’s and general political types donning hard hats and getting down with the working man. Sittingbourne’s MP Gordon Henderson visiting Carillion’s training centre to talk with the apprentices. Have you ever tried using a camera with full hard hat, protective glasses and gloves on? its not easy!
Succesfull Apprentice Paulo Pinhal, Gordon Hendrson MP, Centre Manager Ian Young speak to Bricklaying instructor Steve Moyle. National Apprentice Week : Sittingbourne. Local MP Gordon Henderon visits Carillion’s traing centre to talk with the apprentices.
For some unknown reason I decided to go and cover a UKIP policy release, still not sure what the policy was other than something to do with health and I’m not entirely sure he did either. Divine inspiration?
Nigel Farage speech on UKIP health policy. Farage, Ukip health spokesman Louise Bours MEP and Ukip deputy chairman Suzanne Evans will unveil UKIP’s health policy.
Enter stage right Mr Al Murray standing in Thanet South as his character ‘The Pub Landlord’ things were going to get weird. He arrived in a fire engine converted to be a beer pump!
Al Murray handing in his nomination paperwork.
Comedian Al Murray, AKA The Pub Landlord, handing in his nomination paperwork at the Thanet council offices in Margate, Kent.
If I’m honest its a good job he didn’t win as thats one rubbish poured pint! It was then the turn of Labour to wheel in the big guns! So Ross Kemp accompanied Will Scoobie for a walk around Broadstairs which would have been fine but it was more of a selfie fest for Kemp.
Ross Kemp celebrity Labour supporter accompanies Labour Candidate Will Scobie on a walk about in Broadstairs.
Although the chip shop stop was a welcome opportunity that was fast becoming a waste of time.
Will Scoobie and Ross Kemp stop and buy a lunch of a cone of chips. High St, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 1NQ. Ross Kemp celebrity Labour supporter accompanies Labour Candidate Will Scobie on a walk about in Broadstairs. Picture: Matt Bristow
Theres always a Farage opportunity but since I last had the pleasure it had all got a lot more serious and it was invite only.
Nigel Farage visits The Northwood Club in Ransgate, Kent for a drink, along with some veterans to mark St. George’s Day.
So lets cut to the actual election count, by now like many other Press Photographers I was wishing it to come to an end! I think the Liberal Candidate Sarah Smith was thinking the same!
Liberal Democrate candidate Sarah Smith. 2015 General Election. Constituency Results, Dover.
So that’s enough I think! here’s a last few
I wanted to take a slightly different look back. Not that long ago I had a conversation about world champions with somebody, which got me thinking. Just how many World Champions pass infront of my lens in 12 months? Because I don’t particularly specialise in any sport photography it took me a little time to actually work this out. So here goes in the order that I took pictures of them and not in the order of winning.
1. Petter Solberg – Secured the inaugral FIA World Rallycross Championship title. The first person to win two FIA world titles in different diciplines. Pictured here at round 2 which was held at Lydden Hill Race Circuit in Kent.
2014 World Champions – Petter Solberg, FIA World Rallycross Champion
2. Jessica Fox – Who won the K1 and C1 Canoeing titles in 2014. Pictured here at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup held at the olympic Lee Valley White Water Centre, London.
2014 World Champions – Jessica Fox who won the K1 and C1 world titles
3. Sir Bradely Wiggins – Who took the UCI Road World Championship Men’s Time Trial title held in Spain in September by a huge margin of 26 seconds. Pictured here at the start of the time trial on stage 8a of the Tour of Britain held in London.
2014 World Champions – Sir Bradely Wiggins. UCI Road World Championships – Men’s time trial
4. Novak Djokovic – OK not strictly called a world champion, but he was crowned as world number 1 which is good enough for me. Pictured here at the ATP World Tour Finals held at the O2 in London.
Novak Djokovic who was crowned the world number 1 at the ATP Tour finals in London
So my total tally for the year was 4, not bad but this year I plan on making it more. Happy new year everyone.
The annual return to the O2 and as a Sports Photographer I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I started out with Marin Cilic against world number 1 Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic plays Marin Cilic in their opening matches – Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014 – 10th November 2014
Novak Djokovic plays Marin Cilic in the group B opening games. Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2014. London O2 Arena. (c) Matt Bristow
Djokovic started out as he meant to go on winning in straight sets.
I then had Djokvic again this time against Stanislas Wawrinka. A game I was looking forward to and expected a drawn out affair. However, Djokovic had other ideas and beat Wawrinka in straight sets. It was starting to look like nobody could get anywhere close to Djokovic.
World Number 1 Novak Djokovic serves for the match. (c) Matt Bristow
Stanislas Wawrinka world number 4 eyes up a forehand return. (c) Matt Bristow
Novak Djokovic reaches to make a low return on his way to beating Wawrinka. (c) Matt Bristow
My next game was in the other group and was a real crowd puller. GB’s own Andy Murray playing the ever popular Roger Federer. Federer had already qualified for the knockout stages. What followed was difficult to watch if you were a Murray fan as Federer systematically destroyed Murray in straight sets. Infact Murray only took one game all match! From where I was sitting it looked like Federer gifted him that as well!
Andy Murray was never allowed a look in
Roger Federer kept his cool and barely broke sweat.
For Andy Murray it must have been lonely sat in the break being 1 set down not having won a single game
Andy Murray sprints to return a drop shot.
Unfortunately the showdown between the world number 1 Djokovic and Number 2 Federer never happened as unusually Federer pulled out of the final moments before it was to start due to a back injury.
Which left Djokovic the winner of the 2014 ATP Tour Finals with hitting a ball in the final.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after dismissing Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets and ultimately winning the tournament
Here are a few of my favorites from the week. To see full galleries and for license information please visit SportsPix
Events like this always attract celebrities this year I saw Alan Carr, Pippa Middleton and José Mourinho
José Mourinho has his picture taken with a fan.
Hurricane Burtha hit the UK and I was working. The call went out from the picture desk to get ‘Weather’ pictures. Great was my first thought, here we go again!
I happened to be covering the Ashford and Folkestone area for KMG so headed towards the coast to see what was happening and was would make a good frame. I must admit what I found was a little surprising to me. Surfing in Folkestone! (apparently not that unusual by all accounts) At this point I feel I ought to point out that I am from Devon originally and spent a fair amount of my formative years surfing on the North coast. Moreover I have never turned my lens towards surfing and I felt it worthy as a nice spin on what would undoubtedly be a plethora of flood and downed tree images. We will see when the papers hit the shops if my alternative ‘spin’ idea was picked up on or not.
I really enjoyed it for the brief time I was actually shooting for. If you want to see how it should be done however you need to check out the work of Alex Williams who has been traveling the world for the last 20 plus years capturing stunning surfing imagary.
So Dover Athletic have earned promotion to the Conference after what can only be described as a roller coaster 2013 – 2014 campaign.
So with the new season looming, and lets face it there’s no real interest in the World Cup anymore! A lot of eyes are starting to turn to the new season. I consciously spent a year away from shooting the premiership last year and it occurred to me that I spent a fair amount of time last season on the touchline at Crabble covering The Whites for the KMG group. The last club I covered as many home games for in a season was Chelsea! and I have to admit I enjoyed shooting at Crabble more!
So as a small retrospective here are a few of my personal favorites form the games I covered:
First up was Dorcester in October, with a 1-0 win.
Ricky Modest on the attack
Theres nothing like a good FA cup tie and Dover most definitely had one of those against Oxford City. Without a doubt the goal of the season for me was the cool headed back heal of young Sean Raggett to make it 3 – 0.
Dover v Oxford City in FA Cup. Sean Raggett back heels the third goal!
The 2 – 0 win over Leamington in the FA trophy was next for me. Its hard to take pictures when half the flood lights fail in the second half but I did my best!
Nathan Elder (9) brought down in the Leamington box and gain a free kick that lead to the second goal. Dover v Leamington in the FA Trophy.
After a string of away games early in the year and many, many wet days the first game I was at was Gosport in March and a 3 – 0 win!
My next was the 1 – 1 draw against Basingstoke
Liam Bellamy (7) shakes off a tackle. Dover Athletic FC, Crabble, CT17 0JB. Dover v Basingstoke in the Skrill South
As the title race started to hot up a 1 – 0 against Stains at home:
Moses Ademola (10) makes a surge forward
And so to the last league home game of the season against bottom of the table Whitehawk, safe to say not the shining moment of the season as it ran out 1 – 1, but there were a few highlights:
Tom Murphy (11). Dover v Whitehawk in the Skrill South.
So that was was I did for the season 2013 – 2014. I wont go into the comings and going and whats good and whats bad for that head to Dovers website, its very good and full of information. Hopefully I’ll be back for the new season…. so watch this space