Sider Mike King

The first job of 2010 was of the kind that I really love doing. It incorporated a location shoot in Manchester centre and music – my two passions in one job!

Blues singer/guitar player Spider Mike King had just recorded his new album and required a handful of promo’ shots for the cover. He already had this idea which was inspired by a Henri Cartier Bresson shot entitled ‘Barrio Qino’ so we used this as a springboard for our own images. We did capture our version of Bresson’s image in black and white (which you can see if you click on ‘read more’), and Mike liked it, but we also got some great atmospheric stuff too with a touch of Dylan about them. In the end we both favoured some of the grainy colour shots – it often happens that way.

The weather was snowy and freezing cold and poor Mike’s eyes were watering terribly. He knew this tiny little alleyway off Oldham Road where the light was atrocious and there was a dreadful stench from the bins behind Afflecks Arcade. My hands were shaking from the cold. Not ideal conditions for photography but it all added to the ambience.

I believe the album is out in February. In the mean time there is a teaser on you tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBCThasUIcw