WORK A Portfolio of Commissioned Photography by
DARREN WARNER
WORK
A Portfolio of Commissioned Photography by DARREN WARNER
To be a true photographer you have to know how to walk into a situation, take control and create the best image possible. You also have to be watching the action and press the button at that decisive moment, spoken about by the great French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson. Because of his vast experience and skill, Darren Warner knows how to deal with most given situations, whether it be for an advertising campaign or covering events for the press, and understands what makes a good image work. This portfolio is physical proof of his photographic talent, with the emphasis being on variety and quality. Although the portfolio highlights only a small percentage of Darren’s photographic work, it represents the many different types of client prepared to put their trust in the captivating images he creates. All the work shown here has been commissioned by a variety of clients, including magazines, theatres, construction companies, design agencies, local councils and governmental departments, as well as the National Press. The amazing photographs seen in this portfolio show Darren’s ability to adapt to any situation and capture images that are exactly what each client requires: from candid portraits to colourful carnivals, from highlighting a social cause to celebrating beautiful landscapes and gardens. Darren is available for commissions: email darren@darrenwarner.co.uk
Children Will Put Anything In Their Mouths Client: Environmental Services, RCT CBC
Probably the most controversial campaign that Darren has done to date, the image caused wide spread consternation by its placement on billboards throughout the borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff in Wales. Never before had a local borough council in the UK ever displayed an image that so outraged, dividing public opinion on how far a government body should go to highlight a cause. Regarded as ‘The Most Shocking Poster You’ll Ever See’ the image, devised and shot by Darren on a shoestring budget, made front page news in the Welsh national press. Understanding the power of the image, the photograph was used by other borough councils including Merthyr Tydfil and Wrexham as well as Torbay in Devon, whose following publicity regarded the image as the sole influence to their 50% reduction of dog mess in that borough over a summer period. This story was subsequently picked up by The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail and The Sun. “Using a controversial image isn’t new and can be quite effective — a little shock to highlight an appalling social issue will never harm anyone. Shock tactics in these cases can work. At least we didn’t use the image where the model was licking her fingers — now that would have really got people going!” The original campaign was followed up by two more very successful images that are still used in the local borough.
Cadwaladers Ice Cream Client: Studio Tri Design
With award-winning Welsh design agency Studio Tri gaining the redesign contract for the worldwide Ice Cream company Cadwaladers, they needed some quality product photography that complimented their new design for all the Coffee & Ice Cream Cafe locations and updated website. Commissioning Darren to take the shots, he proposed that the products were photographed on location in the Coffee & Ice Cream Cafe in the new St David’s Centre in Cardiff, rather than take the images into a studio, to give the products a sense of place. Cadwaladers were impressed with the results and have since used the images as exhibition photographs, mounted and framed throughout their UK outlets.
Broken Peace/Ni Ddaw Heddwch Client: Arts Council Of Wales/ Cultural Services, RCT CBC
Broken Peace was a musical collaboration project which had secondary school choirs and musicians working alongside professional folk singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph and musical director Andrew Griffiths. It had been commissioned to commemorate the centenary of the Tonypandy Riots. Darren was commissioned as project photographer and to create the artwork for the associated CD. He was also commissioned to photograph the live performances, where his workshop photographs of the students involved in the project were displayed on a screen throughout the performance. Martyn Joseph also gave an interview to PLUGGED IN Magazine with the resulting double page spread featuring Darren’s images.
E3+ 足(Extend, Enrich, Excite) Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
This series of pictures is just a selection from the hundreds taken on a regular basis of various after-school activities at a number of different secondary schools for an enrichment programme called E3+ (Extend, Enrich, Excite), devised to give young people a taste of different ways of learning. The subsequent images appeared in all the local and Welsh national press as well as many websites, including the BBC.
Be Road Safe Client: Road Safety Department, RCT CBC
A series of poster images for a road safety campaign that were released over a period of a year. The yellow brick road concept was a direct result of Darren’s intervention when choosing the model and devising the cartoon backgrounds. Originally planned to have different models for each poster, Darren suggested using rising star and Over The Rainbow finalist Sophie Evans for continuity, who at that time was appearing in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Wizard Of Oz in London. Darren had known and worked with Sophie for a number of years so knew she’d be perfect for the campaign. Sophie and the The Yellow Brick Road lent itself to the images that were aimed at young people of school age and the poster campaign was regarded as highly successful by the local council.
Tonyrefail Car Show Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
At this annual event that attracts thousands of visitors, Darren’s aim was to show the people who visited the show and the exhibitors with their vehicles. The photographs were published as double page spreads within all the local newspapers.
Big Heads Campaign Client: Leisure Services, RCT CBC
Another poster campaign using a series of different images of people doing various activities created to encourage the public to attend their local leisure centres. Darren shot the models in set-up action poses to capture the different activities, then using his mobile studio shot their faces separately so they could be added in their enlarged state to the bodies during the design production stage. It was during the second photographic stage that Darren had to use all of his experience to gain the confidence of those posing to enable him to coax the correct expressions from the models, as none of them were professionals and they felt very self-conscious being outside their comfort zone. Due to his sympathetic ability of dealing with the models, the cartoon creations made the poster campaign a massive success.
No Vote, No Voice Client: Electoral Services, RCT CBC
A one-off billboard poster which once again caused a controversial stir. Devised to speak out to the nameless public, hence cutting off the eyes in the image, this idea of Darren’s was chosen over other concepts he put forward Âincluding one with the model having a sock stuffed in their mouth. Though the campaign was only short-lived due to the subject matter, it still managed to get the cause noticed and is believed to have increased the number of people who registered to vote.
Left: Gino D’Acampo, TV Chef Centre: Chris Corcoran, Comedian & BBC TV Presenter Right: Rhod Gilbert, Comedian and TV & Radio Presenter
Left: Derek Brockway, BBC Wales TV Weatherman Centre: Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, Darts World Champion Right: Max Boyce, Comedian
We Will Rock You Client: Tonypandy Community College
This production of We Will Rock You was featured in the local press to promote the show and highlight the talent of the young people involved. The images were sent to Brian May of Queen who helps support the musical project throughout the UK. The images were shot during the actual performance which limited Darren’s movements and intrusion on the show he could make, but his skill and experience enabled him to capture the performers intimately while not disturbing the audience’s enjoyment of the show.
Period Living & Traditional Homes EMAP Publishers Ltd One of EMAP’s most prestigious publications, the magazine oozes style and opulence and required articles that matched their ideals. Darren was commissioned to supply features, with words by Gail Griffiths, for the magazine’s beautiful gardens section, some examples of which are shown here: Front Cover - July 2003 Colours of Autumn - November 2003 A Garden For All Seasons - July 2003 Colour By Design - September 2005
What House? Blendon Communications Landscapes commissioned for the travel section of this glossy monthly magazine: Talkin’ About A Devolution - August 2003 Easy On The Eye - February 2003 Bristol Cream - January 2003 The Bonnie Build - April 2003 Island Life - February 2003 Wales, Certainly Not The Weakest Link - December 2002
The Rambler The Ramblers’ Association Some of the commissions by Britain’s walking charity for their members’ magazine: Front Cover - Spring 2000 Race, Rambling & Rural Prejudice Autumn 1999 Pennine Way Walk - Autumn 1999 Wychwood Forest Walk - Autumn 2000 Cotswold Way Walk - Spring 2000
Cân yr Adeilad/Song Of The Building Client: Arts Council Of Wales/Cultural Services, RCT CBC
After the success of the Broken Peace collaboration project an even grander idea was born to celebrate the centenary of the Parc & Dare Theatre in Treorchy, which included three primary school choirs alongside the RCT Youth Orchestra and Youth Choir. Working on a musical piece composed by Jack White and musically directed by John Quirk, Darren was commissioned to document the project from start to finish. As with Broken Peace, Darren was also commissioned to create the CD artwork using his photographic images and original line drawing artwork. The resulting work was published in an online monograph called ‘In The Watcher’s Eyes’ as well as local & national press.
What House? Magazine Blendon Communications What House? was a stylish property magazine that was the favourite creation of its publishing house. The editor required strong, bold and distinctive photography to illustrate its gardening pages, written by Gail Griffiths, to attract the younger house buying audience it was aimed at. The Beauty Of Bulbs - October 2003 Climb Time - April 2003 Beside The Sea - August 2004 Rock On - March 2003 Bedtime - May 2003 Liquid Lessons - August 2003 Feel The Heat - September 2004 Thought Of Warmer Climes - March 2003 Floor Fillers - December 2004 From Tiny Acorns - September 2003 Hot Headed - August 2005 Caught In The Web - December 2002 Harnessing Herbs - February 2003 Head For Heights - October 2004 Patio Perfect - February 2003 Minimum Effort, Maximum Impact February 2004 Break For The Border - March 2003 A Cut Above - July 2003 Small Spaces - June 2003 Object Of My Desires - February 2005
Pathways To A Career In The Creative Industries Client: Cultural Services, RCT CBC
As a way of highlighting alternative routes into the creative industries, these posters highlighted individual people who had made an impact within South Wales in their chosen career. The idea was to demonstrate that not all career paths are smooth or straightforward and people often change their minds during the process. Darren was given a free hand with the images, often working quickly due to the nature of the subject’s workload. For example, Cays Parry was captured seconds before the audience entered the auditorium for her latest performance, while Dave Driscoll had to be shot at 7.30am before his day started.
Left: John Cale, Singer/Songwriter and former member of The Velvet Underground Centre: Katherine Jenkins, Mezzo-Soprano Superstar Right: Jonathan Deakin, Entrepreneur & Economist
Left: Lewis Rhys, Olympic Boxer Centre: Sara Edwards, BBC Wales News Reader & Nick Hewer from BBC TV’s The Apprentice Right: Carol Ann Duffy CBE, Poet & Playwright, Poet Laureate 2009
Fly Tipping Clearance on the Bwlch Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
After Darren’s initial photographs of an illegal fly tip of over 2000 tyres on a local beauty spot in the Rhondda Valleys reached the attention of the national press, he was commissioned to follow the story up and photograph the clean up campaign. With over fifty school-age volunteers, members of the British Army and the local council’s environment department, the team set to work on a day of torrential rain carrying the tyres down the hill to waiting trucks due to their difficult location. On hand to help all day and not just doing it for a publicity campaign was the then Environment Minister for Wales, Jane Davidson AM.
Destination RCT Client: Tourism Office, RCT CBC
Created to highlight the spirit of the Rhondda Valleys, not well-known as a tourist destination, these colourful images of Darren’s captured the essence of the area. The images were thought to be so strong they were made into a set of postcards and distributed through Tourist Information Offices to encourage day-trippers and weekend visitors.
Outside The City CD Artwork Client: Deadstar/Roostafish
A CD of rock music by bands from the South Wales Valleys, the image was created to depict the progress north from Cardiff. Shot on a shoestring budget as a favour to the featured artists and record promoter, Darren wanted the images to be uncomplicated but full of depth.
Timeless CD Publicity Photoshoot Client: Treorchy Male Voice Choir
The most famous male voice choir in the world commissioned Darren to capture all 80 members for their forthcoming album’s PR. Not one to hold back on his idea of the perfect image, Darren got the choir of mainly older men to climb a hill and pose by the wonderful Carreg Cennen Castle in Carmarthenshire.
The Bridge/Y Bont Client: Cultural Services, RCT CBC
The first collaboration project between professional musicians and school pupils, Darren was commissioned to shoot the PR and workshop photographs for this musical project to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the construction of Pontypridd’s famous single span Old Bridge. The client loved the images so much, they then used them on the subsequent CD.
RCT Collective Client: SONIG
The RCT Collective is a group of young singer/songwriters who work both together and separately under the guidance of successful musician Amy Wadge and Tanya WalkerBrown of SONIG. Darren was commissioned to shoot some unique photographs of each artist for their PR and publicity mail-outs that had a connection but were still individual. The client didn’t want that typical ‘posed singer look’ but didn’t know what else could be done. Shooting in a vintage clothes shop, Darren created images in a filmic Sixties style that pays homage to the images of Brigitte Bardot and other icons of that time. The resulting shots are distinctive in their captivating and candid feel, created by Darren setting scenarios for the young musicians to act out then photographing them during the process before turning the images into gritty black & white using Photoshop.
Falklands Parade & Concert Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
To commemorate 25 years since the Falklands War the local council organised a parade of the Welsh Guards and other military organisations, as well as a special concert with Welsh singing star Iris Williams as the main headlining act. Darren was commissioned to photograph the two events with the subsequent photographs being published throughout the local press and news websites.
Left: Jonathan Davies, former Welsh Rugby Star & TV Presenter Centre: Norbert ‘Nobby’ Stiles, England World Cup Winning Footballer Right: Dr Lyn Evans, Inventor of the Large Hadron Collider
Left: Terry Venables, ‘El Tel’, England Football Player & Manager Centre: David Roberts CBE, Eleven Times Paralympic Gold Medal Winner Right: Frank Vickery, Playwright & Actor
Porth Carnival Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
An annual carnival full of colour and action which Darren covered on a regular basis with many images always making it into the local press and onto websites.
Richard Attenborough, CBE, Actor & Film Director Opposite: HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Ynysybwl War Memorial HRH Prince Edward with an apprentice on his visit to GE Aviation
Ideal Home IPC Publishing Ltd One of the mainstays of the IPC crown, Ideal Home needed inspirational articles with quality photography about everyday working people who had created their own unique vision via their gardens. To capture this vision they commissioned Darren to provide the visuals for many articles, a few of which are illustrated here: Seaside Gardens Need Shelter As Well As Sea Views - February 2003 Our Garden Began Life As A Field - August 2004 When Our Children Left Home, We Started Growing Flowers - September 2003 I’m Constantly Changing My Garden - March 2004
Some of the many gardens Darren was commissioned to photograph for prestigious glossy magazines: Inspirations For Your Home Highbury/SPL Publishing Ltd Heavenly Heligan - July 2005 The English Garden Archant Specialist Publishing A Feast For The Eyes - October 2005 Giverny Of The Fens - March 2002 What House? Home & Abroad Blendon Communications Aqua Tonic - October 2005 Garden Life Seven Publishing Ltd Breaking Boundaries - September 2004
Left & Above: Let’s Round Up Recycling Together Client: Environmental Services, RCT CBC
A simple image that was used to highlight the type of food waste that could be recycled. The poster was one of a series showing different recyclable products alongside shots for a stills cinema campaign. This image has also appeared on the side of all the recycling refuse lorries throughout the borough and on streetliner buses.
Opposite: It’s Only One Butt...But Client: Environmental Services, RCT CBC
A series of images created for a 30-second cinema advert. The concept being that it may be only one cigarette butt, but they all mount up to create a mass of litter. This was one of a number of cinema campaigns that Darren devised, produced and photographed for the local council’s Environmental Services Department.
it’s only one butt...
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...but! each cigarette dropped could cost you ÂŁ75
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Images Of People At Work
When Darren is commissioned to photograph people going about their job, he likes to capture them with the dignity they deserve - proud, hard-working and experts at their tasks. These images have been photographed for different clients including Costain, RCT Highways Unit and Animal Welfare.
Love Ponty Client: Town Regeneration Department, RCT CBC
A series of over eight posters that were created to encourage people to visit and shop in the Welsh market town of Pontypridd.
Titan The Robot Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
The legendary robot performing for the crowd at the Rhondda Heritage Park. Darren’s images capture the moment and were published in the local press.
Mike Peters Client: Push 4 Media
The famous rock star and face of The Alarm on one of his Rhondda Rocks hill walks and concerts to fundraise for his Love, Hope & Strength charity. The photographs were used in the local press and PLUGGED IN Magazine.
Artists & Their Subjects Client: Press Office. RCT CBC
Photographs depicting the work and portraits of some of the Welsh artists who have exhibited their work throughout art galleries in the Rhondda. The concept of Darren’s photography was to create a picture that not only showed a likeness of the sitter but worked with the art that was on display.
Peter Pan Client: Y Pant School
Publicity photographs of the cast for press and the programme of their production of Peter Pan.
Captivating Covers
Examples of the variety of different magazines and brochures that Darren has worked on, including clients Canon UK, The Women’s Institute, St Cenydd Secondary School, RCT Library Services, Gardens Made Easy magazine and the Welsh Language Board.
Some of the amazing landscapes Darren was commissioned to photograph for prestigious glossy magazines: Choice Magazine Future Publishing Ltd Time & The Tide - June 1997 Woman’s Weekly IPC Publishing Ltd A Taste Of Aragon - September 1997 Isles Apart - September 1996 The Northern Lakes - November 1997 The Wye Valley - April 1997
The Lady The Lady Magazine Ltd Wells & The Mendip Towns - January 1998 Writers Retreat - June 1996
Woman & Home IPC Publishing Ltd Sea Spray, Wild Thyme & Kittiwakes August 1995
Britannia Magazine The Britannia Building Society Hidden Britain - Summer 1998
B-Boy Competition Client: Cultural Services, RCT CBC
An international B-Boy dance competition that needed action shots to highlight the excitement of the event. The images which perfectly captured dancers in mid-flight have appeared worldwide.
Luv Wales, Luv Peter’s Client: Studio Tri Design
A poster created to relate Peter’s Pies with their sponsorship of the championship winning Welsh rugby team. At the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Pride In Wales Awards, Studio Tri won two gold awards for their ‘Luv Wales, Luv Peter’s’ campaign: a Gold Award for Best Integrated Campaign and the much-coveted overall prize of a Gold Award for Measurement & Evaluation. In addition to this, the Studio Tri campaign also won one of the most coveted prizes in Wales for advertising, The Institute Of Welsh Affairs Business Award for Creative Marketing.
Allan Yn Y Fan Album Artwork & Publicity Photographs Client: Allan Yn Y Fan A selection of images from Darren’s commissioned work for Celtic folk band Allan Yn Y Fan, including Pwnco album artwork (above), Trosnant album artwork (above right), studio publicity photographs (right & far right) and a live performance photographed in Swansea (bottom right).
Teddy Bear’s Picnic Client: Press Office, RCT CBC
A regular annual event that gained much recognition due the amount of post-event press coverage that it had in the local newspapers. Not just a photographic commission, the job also involved Darren asking the schools/parents permission to photograph each child, as the Council has a very strict Child Protection Policy.
Kyshera PR & Publicity Photographs Client: Kyshera
This breakthrough rock band commissioned Darren to give them a different perspective on their image. So he took the boys out onto the streets of Cardiff one Saturday morning, inspired with the photography from the early punk era, and created a series of pictures from the elements around them to produce eye-catching street photography with attitude.
Switch It Off, Before You Drive Off Billboard Poster Is There A Killer In The Back Seat Billboard Poster Client: Road Safety Department, RCT CBC
Because of the success of the ‘yellow brick road’ images that featured Sophie Evans, Darren was asked to create further poster photography for another road safety campaign aimed at an older audience. Shot in gritty black & white to make the images different from the previous campaign, the idea of using Sophie again for continuity proved a massive hit. The posters appeared all over the county borough as well as on the back of streetliner buses.
Tourism Campaign Client: Tourism Department, RCT CBC
After being commissioned to photograph local tourist attraction the Grogg shop, Darren came up with the concept of using some of their ceramic creations of famous Welsh icons in a location situation to add some humour to a tourism campaign. This included Sir Tom Jones overlooking his hometown of Pontypridd, rugby star Neil Jenkins at Pontypridd Rugby Club and Max Boyce in the Parc & Dare Theatre where he famously performed ‘Live From Treorchy’. Added to this Darren took a set of three sheep on a tour of the county, shooting them at many of the beauty spots. He also organised to shoot pictures at local tourist attractions such as Sgwd yr Eira waterfall and Miskin Manor for a tourism brochure and a poster campaign that appeared on the back of Edwards Coaches, a local bus firm that travels throughout Europe.
25 Beautiful Gardens IPC Magazines Ltd As a magazine jam packed with beautiful gardens, the editorial team needed a steady supply of quality work. Darren was commissioned to help them fill their pages, with more than one of his captivating gardens featuring in each issue. Cover - Autumn 2004 Garden Gallery - Autumn 2004 Work In Progress - Summer 2002 Tunnel Vision - Summer 2003 Pretty In Pink - Summer 2002 Keeping It Simple - Spring 2003 Sylvan Spectacular - Autumn 2004 Planting Pleasure - Autumn 2004 On The Line - Summer 2002 Paved With Gold - Autumn 2004 Suburban Surprise - Summer 2002 New Beginnings - Summer 2002
The Kitchen Garden The Kitchen Garden Magazine Ltd On The Up And Up - October 2001 The Times/The Sunday Times Shaping Up - September 2001 A Study Of The Classics - May 2003 Water Gardener TRMG Publishing Ltd Heavenly Hever - December 2002 Inspirations For Your Home Highbury/SPL Publishing Ltd Garden Of Plenty - July 2005 Amateur Gardening IPC Magazines Ltd A Lawn Of Dimishing Returns - June 2001 From Jail To Jewel - July 2001 We Ditched Dull & Went Wild - February 2005 It’s A Jungle Out There - February 2003 We’ve Got Planting Down To A Tea - October 2004 On The Sunny Side Of The Street - January 2002 Sweet Smell Of Success - January 2002 The Lost Garden Of Buckingham - December 2003 Youngs Love Their Dream Garden - March 2005 In Pursuit Of Perfection - July 2001
My New Foster Family Is Perfect...Well Almost! Client: Fostercare Services, RCT CBC
Darren was commissioned to create a series of billboard poster images to help with the recruitment of foster carers within the local borough. The concept of ‘My New Foster Family Is Perfect...Well Almost’ was devised to say to people that exacting high standards were not always required when applying to be a foster carer and Darren helped come up with some of the ideas for the subject matter.
M4 Highways & Sign Maintenance Client: Costain
With Costain gaining the contract to service and maintain all the electronic signage, CCTV cameras and emergency telephones along the M4 through Wales, they required some PR and publicity photographs to highlight the fact. Darren was commissioned and given a free hand to create the images the way he felt was right. Shot using a hand-held reportage technique, the images give a gritty realistic approach to the brief.
Pantomime Posters Client: RCT Theatres
When the yearly panto season starts, there has been many hours of work preceding the actual event. With deadlines and targets to hit, the production companies need a photographer they know will get the shots that are appropriate for the performances. Darren has been commissioned on a regular basis by RCT Theatres to produce the photography for such events, including Cinderella that starred Alex Winters from the CBeebies children’s channel and Jac A’r Goeden Ffa written by and starring Welsh language actor and S4C presenter Martyn Geraint. Often images needed to be photographed so far in advance of the actual production that sometimes sets and props had not yet been made — meaning that the actors had to pose in certain positions to enable other elements to be added around them during the design process of the posters and show programmes. An example of this is Jac A’r Goeden Ffa where Martyn had to act out climbing an invisible beanstalk with nothing around him to represent the cartoon image that was added to the photograph for the show’s poster.
Aladdin Brochure & Live Performance Photography Client: RCT Theatres
After the initial success of RCT Theatres first pantomime production of Cinderella which Darren photographed, he was re-commissioned for their next venture, Aladdin. Darren provided all the images the production required, including all the initial brochure photography, poster work and live stage photographs, even returning with the full mobile studio set-up to shoot more members of the cast when the original Lady Genie dropped out after finding out she was pregnant.
Heads Of The Valleys Brochure Client: Welsh Development Agency/Creative Design RCT CBC
As part of an on-going project based around the Heads Of The Valleys, Darren was commissioned to photograph the access areas and industrial estates close to the A465 road. With a very short time to shoot the project due to the planned publication’s deadline, Darren ventured out in the freezing cold weather to capture some beautiful images of the industrial landscape — including his trademark alternative views that proved very popular with the client. The resulting brochure was sent out worldwide as part of a campaign to attract new business ventures to Wales.
Church Village By-Pass Client: Costain
As part of the major road building project of the Church Village By-Pass, Darren was commissioned to cover all aspects of the build including regular monthly progress pictures as well as all publicity and PR photography work. Rather than giving standard snap-shot images as is the norm with progress work, Darren used his time on-site to create some vibrant and artistic photographs that stood out and looked beautiful, despite the mud and muck that such a build incurs. To see more work like this, check out Darren’s Construction & Architecture Portfolio.
Ynys Gwydr/Island Of Glass Client: Head For Arts/Arts Council Of Wales
A set of photographs were required for the publicity of this community opera, so Darren was commissioned to attend their first full group rehearsal. Without any form of theatrical lighting and a cast who were still working on the staging of the production, Darren was still able to make the images look like a final performance. The images appeared in the local press and the performance programme.
Amy Wadge Songwriting Workshop Client: SONIG
Songwriting impresario and recording artist Amy Wadge has helped many talented young musicians in her career, including working alongside Brit Award winning Ed Sheeran. Having her work with up-and-coming young Welsh talent was a coup for SONIG, so Darren was commissioned to record the process. Using his skills in reportage photography and making sure his presence didn’t disturb the group’s creative flow, he captured some beautiful images of the lady at work.
JLS, Liberty Stadium, Swansea Client: Orchard Entertainment
Major popstars JLS played to a packed audience at Swansea Liberty Stadium, their biggest concert ever in Wales. Darren was commissioned to shoot their performance (first three songs only, with no flash — the standard practice for live performance) and then had to send a selection of images directly to the national newspapers for publication the next morning. JLS came on stage at 8.50pm, the deadline for the photographs reaching the papers was 9.15pm. Darren got the shots and had sent the photographs through to the awaiting picture editor with time to spare.
PLUGGED IN Magazine PLUGGED IN magazine was created six years ago by Darren Warner and his wife Gail Griffiths, as a not-for-profit social enterprise, with the sole intention of promoting and assisting creative young people with an interest in music and publishing in all its forms to fulfil their career and life objectives. Darren and Gail organise and run a variety of creative workshops – such as Live Performance Photography – and tutor young people in the skills they need for a creative career. PLUGGED IN magazine is the platform which showcases these young people’s creative talents and is a positive stepping stone to a career in the creative industries, as it gives contributors a portfolio of published work to show prospective employers or colleges. Such opportunities for young people to display their talents in this way are extremely rare. The complementary value of the magazine is that it helps promote the Welsh music sector – including unsigned bands, young musicians, local music venues and theatres, new recording studios, young promoters and emerging record companies. The magazine has been designed, edited and produced by Darren & Gail as unpaid volunteers during these six years. When PLUGGED IN was launched it was based in Rhondda Cynon Taff – with the young contributors and the musicians featured all coming from RCT, and the magazine being distributed within the county borough. After the publication of the second issue it was clear the magazine had to expand its boundaries – both in terms of musicians featured and young contributors who could submit work for the magazine. By Issue 3 PLUGGED IN became the music magazine for Wales – it is now distributed in over 200 locations Wales-wide and is also available internationally due to free downloadable copies of every issue. PLUGGED IN not only features Welsh artists but other artists that play live in Wales, publicising live performance and venues; young people from all over Wales contribute copy and photographs, highlighting their creativity. Many of the bands featured in each issue of PLUGGED IN magazine are suggested by our young contributors – they write about the bands they like; they go to see the bands they themselves like and write live performance reviews of them; they write CD reviews of the music they themselves choose to listen to. Young people contact us to tell us of live performances they want to go to, if we can we take them or organise press passes for them; we lend them camera equipment so they can take professional-quality photographs; we publish their reviews and photos. Young bands send us their demos/CDs and we write a review of their music, giving them much-needed publicity; bands also contact us to let us know if they’re playing live and we arrange for someone to be there to write a review and take photos of them for the magazine and to give the bands the pictures too. Young people are actively involved in everything we do and will continue to influence what goes in the magazine. Darren also organises a day for young and unsigned artists to come into a studio situation and be photographed and interviewed by a group of young people for the Rising Talent section of PLUGGED IN magazine. This gives young photographers and writers an opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals as well as have their work published in the magazine, in addition to giving exposure to the artists themselves. Because of PLUGGED IN magazine’s unique vocational and educational ethos of inspiring young people to aspire we have won a number of awards – Red Dragon FM Community Music Award (2008); The Institute of Welsh Affairs Inspire Wales Award Educator of the Year (2011); Finalist & Runner-Up (out of 500 UK projects) of the National Lottery Education Awards (2012).
to view copies of the magazine please visit www.pluggedinmagazine.co.uk
Other Portfolios
Thank you for viewing this portfolio Work: a Portfolio of Commissioned Work. If you like Darren’s photography then there are a number of portfolios that you can view online. These include Darren’s specialist work in Performance Photography and the work he has done for the construction industry. In addition you can view some one-off projects that Darren has photographically documented, including ‘In The Watchers Eyes’, a monograph of the work produced while following the creation of Cân yr Adeilad/Song Of The Building; Kyshera, a portfolio of images produced while working with one particular rock band. Please contact Darren via darren@darrenwarner.co.uk for the links to the photographs.
Gardens, Flowers & Beautiful Locations
Darren has a large collection of photographs of Flowers, Gardens and different Beautiful Locations taken on his worldwide travels which are available in his stock library for use to illustrate calendars, books and other publications. Please email for details and to view a selection of this photographic work.
Darren is available for commissions: email darren@darrenwarner.co.uk
WORK A Portfolio of Commissioned Photography by
DARREN WARNER
darren@darrenwarner.co.uk