By Owen Tonks For Mailonline

Published: 17:08 EDT, 20 April 2024 | Updated: 18:27 EDT, 20 April 2024

Tom Cruise stopped to help up a photographer who crashed to the ground as the movie star arrived at Victoria Beckham‘s 50th birthday party on Saturday.

The American movie star, 61, grabbed the arm of the snapper as he lost his footing on the steps outside private members club Oswald’s in London’s Mayfair.

Mission: Impossible legend Tom’s arrival caused much excitement outside the exclusive venue and as fans and photographers scrambled to get his attention, the man fell down.

Once the gentleman was on his feet, Tom headed into the exclusive club to celebrate fashion designer Victoria’s birthday.

The incident happened just days after his daughter Suri celebrated her 18th birthday in New York, where she lives with her mother Katie Holmes.

Suri looked like the spitting image of her mother Katie from her Dawson’s Creek days as she frolicked around the Big Apple on her big day on Thursday.

Tom, who has had ‘no part in Suri’s life’ for 11 years, is currently in the UK where he is filming Mission Impossible 8. 

Blockbuster regular Tom has been estranged from Suri since 2013, one year after he and Katie divorced. 

The last photo of the Top Gun actor out and about with his daughter was a trip to Disneyland in 2012, the year his divorce from Katie was finalised.

At the time of their split, it was reported that Katie had chosen to end the couple’s marriage over fears about raising her daughter as a Scientologist – the religion that Tom has been dedicated to for decades.

Her decision to quit the religion, as well as the marriage, caused a major rift between the former spouses, which has seen Tom and Suri’s relationship become increasingly distant over the years.

The birthday also signalled the end of Tom’s reported $400,000 a year child support payment to Katie as per their divorce agreement.

Tom looked smart in a black tuxedo which he teamed with a matching bow tied and a white shirt, while he shielded his eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses as he attended Victoria’s birthday on Saturday.

Former Spice Girl Victoria stunned in a semi-sheer floor-length green gown as she hobbled into the venue on crutches, following a gym injury, and prepared to celebrate the milestone with a string of her A-list pals.

Birthday Girl Victoria’s elegant sleeveless dress featured ruffles at the waist and decorative floral detail to the side. 

Victoria was joined by her husband David who looked dashing in a black dinner suit which he wore with a matching bow tie and white shirt.

He arrived alongside the couple’s daughter Harper, 12, who followed in her mother’s stylish footsteps as she wore an elegant white satin dress and open-toed shoes in the same colour

Middle son Romeo, 21, wore a suit to match his famous father, as did his older brother Brooklyn, 25.

While Cruz, 19, donned a cream dinner suit which he teamed with a black bow tie and a pair of black and white brogue shoes.

The aspiring pop star completed his look with a pair of light brown braces and posed casually with his hand in his pockets.

Other guests included Eva Longoria as well as Victoria’s former Spice Girls bandmate Geri Horner who attended solo after standing by under-fire husband Christian.

Victoria has chosen one of her favourite London hotspots, the Private Members’ club, to celebrate her 50th birthday, which was on Wednesday 17 April.

Oswald’s has long been a favourite for the Beckham brood, with David and Victoria pictured leaving the swanky eatery on many occasions.

Given their vast celebrity circle of pals, including Gordon Ramsay and Eva Longoria, no doubt Victoria’s guest list will be a who’s who of big names, heading to the venue for an intimate celebration.

Oswald’s is certainly credited for its discretion, with no social media presence, and even its website offers little insight into what guests can expect when they step through the unassuming front door.

The club’s interior is no doubt inspired by The Gilded Age, with chandeliers, columns and red upholstered chairs, while a mantlepiece is adorned with roses and greenery, changed twice a week, according to Tatler.

Upstairs’ the restaurant, where Victoria and her pals will dine in luxury to mark her birthday, boasts a stairwell lined with framed posters, paintings and dog portraits.

The restaurant itself boasts a colourful aesthetic, with patterned upholstered chairs, bold ceramics on the walls, and velvet Ikat cushions.

The South African-inspired menu and tequila cocktails are a favourite among guests, and Victoria will likely indulge in one of her few vices, a glass of wine or two.

A source previously told The Mail last week that Victoria is delighted that she will be joined by all four of her children, including son Brooklyn, for her celebration.

They said: ‘It will be a small, intimate, family gathering, and it is literally the best present that she could have.

‘It will be close to their London home. David has pulled a few surprises but what Victoria really wants is to be surrounded by her loved ones.

‘The kids are staying for a few days, which Victoria loves, and they will all join her at her posh dinner on Saturday night.’

Building a successful career in photography requires more than just technical skills and artistic vision. It demands resilience, adaptability, and a keen understanding of both the creative and business aspects of the industry. For young photographers, especially those in their 20s and 30s, navigating this path can be particularly challenging.

Coming to you from Daniel Norton Photographer, this insightful video offers valuable advice for emerging photographers based on Norton’s own experiences and observations. He reflects on seven key areas that he wishes he had approached differently or paid more attention to during his early years as a photographer. These insights are not just relevant for young photographers but also offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to establish a sustainable and fulfilling career in the creative field.

Norton emphasizes the importance of embracing change and being open to exploring different avenues within photography. He shares how his willingness to take on portrait and product photography, even though his passion lay in fashion, allowed him to gain valuable experience and build a solid foundation for his business. He also highlights the significance of self-discovery, encouraging young photographers to step outside their comfort zones and explore new experiences that can shape their perspectives and artistic vision.

Building sustainable relationships is another crucial aspect that Norton stresses. He emphasizes the power of genuine connections and the importance of nurturing relationships with colleagues, clients, and other industry professionals. Financial awareness is also key, and Norton advises young photographers to be mindful of their spending, invest wisely, and seek guidance when needed. He encourages a balanced approach to ambition and patience, reminding viewers that success takes time and perseverance.

Furthermore, Norton underscores the importance of mental health and encourages open conversations about challenges and emotions. He also emphasizes the value of embracing failures as learning opportunities, advocating for a growth mindset that allows photographers to learn from their mistakes and improve their craft. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Norton.
 

The work of photographer Anthony Lombardo will go on view in an exhibition at Southampton Cultural Center beginning Tuesday, April 30. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. and the show runs through May 19.

Lombardo will feature both color and black and white photography in the exhibition, along with wood cut relief prints, custom fishing lures and skin on frame traditional kayaks.

“The show is going to be a real mix of the influences from the mentors and associates from the years of working in the arts,” said Lombardo.

Southampton Cultural Center is at 25 Pond Lane in Southampton. Gallery hours are Friday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Call 631-680-7551 for details.

A solo exhibition featuring images of post-industrial Cymru from celebrated Treforest-based photographer, John Pountney has launched this weekend.

TEN gallery in Cardiff is presenting a solo exhibition of photography by artist Jon Pountney, titled ‘The Allure of Ruins’.

The seminal body of work from one of Wales’ leading photographers is a select fraction of the work amassed over ten years of repeated trips and constant inspiration.

The post-industrial landscape of Cymru has been a long-standing theme in Pountney’s practice, with a near-compulsive documentation of crumbling monuments, scarred land and iconic markers of the country’s history.

The photographs take us on a journey – from the south Wales valleys, through the canolbarth and up to slate-filled Blaenau.

He captures remnants of industry, stubborn structures who refuse to be reclaimed, markers of a bygone area – some obvious, others hiding in plain sight.

Moss-covered stones, rusted-still machinery and the dilapidated – these elements are ingrained into both landscape and memory.

Far from depressing, the romantic sublimity of it all oozes from the photographs.

Pountney’s lens gives us both the micro and macro views, focusing on hidden detail and magnifying the beauty which remains – all bathed in the extraordinary light his eye catches.

His love for his subject is clear and, coupled with his familiarity with his content, translates into authentic storytelling.

“No interest in the past as past, but in the accumulated intenseness of the past as present’

– Myfanwy Evans

Speaking about the exhibition, John said: ‘What would the face of Wales look like? If you picture in your mind the history of Wales, looming out of the fogs of time stand famous and mythical figures, castles and craggy mountains.

“Moving closer to the present day, the sudden explosion of the Industrial Revolution brings a multitude of new figures and landscapes into sharp focus as the mists of time slip away.”

“The men and women of that time are no longer with us, but the landscapes are, and it is those spaces that bring detail and scars to the imaginary face of the modern Wales.

“Communion with the environment”

“This work is a conversation with the artists of the past and future that have, and will, deal with the landscapes of Wales.

“Part of a dialogue that begins with Richard Wilson, Thomas Jones and Thomas Prytherch and continues with Graham Sutherland, John Piper and Ray Howard-Jones, I’ve covered the country in detail for over a decade, photographing the post-industrial landscapes that lie hidden in plain view.”

“The landscapes exist out of time, in the past, present and future, and the industrial scars left on them are only a tiny blip in the continuum.

“Restlessness”

“Over time, I have been taken in by the sense of place of these spaces.

“All of them have the feeling of restlessness, a recording of an energy from the past, lives lived and lost.

“Very often I’m the only person there, and documenting the atmosphere becomes a kind of communion with the environment; I become a conduit for what the space is sharing with me – becoming part of that space.”

The Allure of Ruins can be viewed at TEN Gallery, Cardiff from now until 25 May.

Located at the rear of 143 Donald Street Cardiff CF24 4TP, the gallery is open Wednesday – Saturday 10:30-17:00.

Find out more and view further images here.

While the mid-air collision over Moose Jaw on April 8, 1954, was tragic for the community, a photographer with the Times-Herald was heralded for a picture he took of one scene.

About a month after the disaster, The Canadian Press (CP) judged a photo by Ross Roach as the “Picture of the Month.” The national organization selected the photo from 207 other pictures it had issued during April. 

Gillis Purcell, CP’s general manager, made the announcement in Toronto on May 13, 1954. 

Published in two editions of the Times-Herald on April 8, the picture showed a flaming engine of the Trans-Canada Airlines plane beside the ruins of the Gordon Hume home. After colliding with an airbase Harvard trainer, the passenger plane’s fuselage fell on Hume’s home and destroyed it while also killing cleaner Martha Hadwen. 

Roach joined the Times-Herald in 1953 “as an enthusiastic amateur photographer,” the newspaper said. He took the picture with a 4×5 Speed Graphic camera with an exposure of 1/200th at F-8. He also used a red filter and Super XX sheet film.

By taking Canada’s best news photo for the month, the photojournalist received $25. 

After the incident, CP transmitted the picture to the Associated Press, a CP affiliate in the United States, by wire photo transmitter set up in the Times-Herald offices on the evening of April 8 and air-mailed to Canadian newspapers, appearing in nearly every newspaper and news magazine in the U.S. and Canada. 

Time magazine also featured the award-winning photo. 

Roach and Murray Banks, another staff photographer, made 400 prints of 13 pictures for CP on the day of the crash and the following day. However, the limited number of drying machines necessitated the use of drying equipment in a commercial studio, along with a makeshift drying apparatus set up on radiators. 

After creating the prints, the men bundled them into envelopes and rushed them by car to Regina at 1 a.m. on April 9 to catch planes that would distribute them across Canada. 

“The visiting newsmen, photographers and wire-photo men were most appreciative of the job that had been done by the Times-Herald staff, and the Canadian Press on behalf of all the newspapers in Canada has poured a whole bucket of praise over us,” an editorial said days afterward. 

“All this only goes to show that newspapermen, while they work and grumble, have always a tremendous reserve up their sleeves and they know how to use it.”

Mother possibly sees lost son

While the mid-air disaster killed 37 people, there may have been a bright side for a West Coast family. 

A photograph of the wreckage revived a Vancouver mother’s hope that her son, believed to have drowned in Moose Jaw in July 1952 and whose body was never found, might still have been alive. 

Mrs. Jack Sedman told the media that she believed she recognized her son, Owen James Sedman, in a newspaper photo of a wreckage scene. She said a young man shown looking at the debris “bore a marked resemblance” to her son, who would then have been 19.

Mrs. Sedman said she would attempt to meet the young man to determine if it was her son. 

The young man, one of 13 onlookers at the scene, was not identified in the photograph that the Times-Herald took. 

There was no indication whether the mother met the young man or whether he was her son.

Money, money, money

Two days after the incident, the Moose Jaw Red Cross Society announced that it had collected $14,288.52 in donations and would continue for a while longer, officials said.

Some donors included J.E. Overs Ltd., with $25, Jas. Richardson and Sons with $50, Turner and Ellis with $10, Moose Jaw Hardware with $35, Blackwood Hardware with $25, Henderson Agencies with $15, Western Implement Co. with $28, Western Grocers with $29, community dentists with $110, city hall with $42, and Woolworth Ltd. with $8.50.

However, not all money related to the crash was positive.

William Sweny, a respected industrialist and businessman in Vancouver, left a gross estate of $738,764 when he died in the collision. His new wife of a few months, Jeanne Nelson, was also killed.

The industrialist left a bequest of $3,000 to his former secretary, Margaret Russell, and divided the bulk of his estate among his wife and two children — daughter Anne Garnett of West Vancouver and son David Sweny of Toronto. Mrs. Sweny’s share was divided between her kids.

Of the $317,533 insurance, $8,774 went to William’s former wife, Dorothy Sweny of Vancouver. 

Simon Carter has teamed up with Thames & Hudson to showcase his 30 years of climbing photography in an all-encompassing photography book, The Art of Climbing, that is as much about the land as it is the action. 

Carter’s groundbreaking work has been shown globally for decades, cementing him as one of the pioneers of modern climbing photography. His imagery, as showcased in his new book, goes beyond that of the action sport and captures the essence of what climbing is: a physical connection to nature. His work captures the relationship between climber and landscape with great drama, but equally dignity and grace. 

I found myself awestruck by the work and how each image was simultaneously an expertly composed landscape photograph and a sports / climbing photograph. I had to find out more about what it takes to be a climbing photographer and Carter’s experience in the genre. Ahead of the release of The Art of Climbing, I sat down with him to learn more… 

The Art of Climbing by Simon Carter is an incredible look at a genre of photography that doesn’t often reach the mainstream spotlight. It is not only packed full of spectacular images, but holds a wealth of information on climbing, the landscape and the photographic equipment used to capture the images. 

Accompanying texts from some of the world’s leading climbers add incredible depth to the book and provide another dimension of context to the imagery. I have had this book for a little while now and it has kept drawing me in for another look, and each time I see or learn something new. It is certainly a fantastic coffee table book!

Published by Thames & Hudson, The Art of Climbing by Simon Carter will be available from May 28 in the US, and is on sale now in the UK and Australia. The price is $45 / £30 / AU$59.99. 

You may also be interested in our guides to the best coffee table books, the best books on photography, and the best books on portrait photography. 

Adam Bowen is a local photographer living in Finksburg.

“I became interested in drawing in elementary school. I traced photos on the computer and filled them in,” Bowen said.

Then Bowen started taking studio art classes. He took a class at Staub’s Studios in Catonsville. He learned charcoal, watercolor and pastels.

“I moved towards digital design when I was in middle school,” Bowen said.

He studied graphic design at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center in Westminster. They had a program to do commission projects for businesses in Carroll County such as Westminster Fire Company. He also did a Fall Fest banner for a pumpkin patch that a man had in his backyard in the fall.

“It was a good intro into doing starter professional design,” Bowen said. “It was good to get that experience while I was still in high school.”

After he graduated, Bowen took a road trip to Colorado with some friends and camped for two weeks. They went to four national parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Badlands National Park. Bowen’s grandfather had given him his old Nikon camera.

“It was the first time I had a camera with me 24/7, and I took photos continuously, seeing what the U.S. parks had to offer,” Bowen said.

In 2017, Bowen attended Towson University and started with a focus in graphic design.

“As I continued, one of my experimental art teachers told me to try and take a path in filmmaking,” he said. “I switched my major to a Film and Graphic Design double major.”

“I fell in love with film making and started writing and directing short films during my junior and senior years in college. After college I did not know what I wanted to do with my life at all.

“I knew that I did not want to stay in Westminster and Maryland. I had taken road trips out west and fell in love with it. As I was graduating, I got a job opportunity to work at a go-kart track in Arizona located right outside the Grand Canyon. After I made the jump out there, I decided to get into photography full time.”

When he lived in Arizona, Bowen had two black and white 35-milimeter film photos exhibited at a film photography art show held at Hidden Light, Flagstaff. The photographs from the show were turned into a book. He also has a short film screened at the 10-minute film festival in Phoenix and Tucson.

Since Bowen’s job was flexible, he took three-day weekend camping trips and drives to Utah. He hiked, camped and took pictures. Bowen met a man from India at a campground and helped him set up a tent and get firewood. Bowen was fascinated by the man’s story. The man had spent his entire life in India and moved to the U.S. to become a motorcycle rider, his life dream.

Bowen also went to Joshua Tree National Park in California.

Seven months later Bowen was at Joshua Tree again and saw the same man from India on the side of the road taking pictures.

After that meeting they sat down and talked about doing a documentary series about desert people. He had two weeks of no work and had time to shoot a documentary with a friend about the motorcycle rider.

“I am hoping in the next six months I will have a release of a short documentary,” Bowen said.

Bowen was a photography guide in Juneau, Alaska, this past summer. That is what solidified his interest in photography. Every day, he took photos of humpback whales, black bears and at times a rare coastal brown bear.

He decided to sell his photos. His mother and grandmother have always sold crafts at the Carroll County Agricultural Center Farmers Market and craft shows. After returning from Alaska, Bowen’s mother and grandmother encouraged him to sell his photographs at the Agricultural Center Christmas Craft Show. He was successful.

Bowen is currently planning to work out west or in Alaska as a photo guide.

Bowen’s webpage is adambowen344f6c2.myportfolio.com.

Lyndi McNulty is the owner of Gizmo’s Art in Westminster. Her column, An Eye for Art, appears regularly in Life & Times.

Ryan Pennesi, a U.S. Forest Service wildlife technician and wildlife photographer, spends significant time tracking wildlife in the Superior National Forest.

As a wildlife technician based at the Tofte Ranger District, Pennesi monitors wildlife populations, including the elusive Canada lynx. In his off-work hours, he continues his passion for tracking wildlife by using trail cameras and various camera-trap photography equipment.

Camera-trap photography relies on remotely triggered cameras, such as trail or DSLR cameras, to capture a photo of wildlife in a natural setting. Once a species walks by the remote camera, it triggers and takes a picture.

“It really allows you to study some of these more elusive animals, especially nocturnal animals,” Pennesi said. “It’s a noninvasive way to study populations.”

Pennesi said camera-trap photography allows him to monitor various wildlife species’ natural behavior and patterns within the Superior National Forest. The insights into the patterns and frequented locations further contribute to his ongoing conservation and recovery as a wildlife technician.

One of the Forest Service’s ongoing conservation efforts is monitoring Canadian lynx populations. The species has been federally listed as threatened since March 2000.
In winter, Pennesi looks for lynx tracks in the snow and collects a scat sample for DNA genetic testing.

“In 2008, the Superior National Forest created and continues to maintain a database of genetically confirmed lynx to document their occurrence, their persistence, and their reproduction in Minnesota,” Pennesi said.

The scat sample is then sent to the Rocky Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colo., for further testing. Over the years, the Forest Service has identified over 600 individual lynx species within the Superior National Forest.

Pennesi said one of the interesting things the Forest Service has learned over the years is the recurrence of one particular lynx. “One thing we learned is we had one lynx that persisted for over ten years,” he said. “So that means from one season to the next, we picked up the scat from the same individual.”

The DNA included within the scat provides the Forest Service with insights into the movement of the lynx over time and the continued monitoring of offspring. “It’s fascinating to follow these animals around and habits, learn their behaviors through tracking them,” Pennesi said.

Pennesi said he hopes his use and application of camera-trap photography to document and monitor Canadian lynx will only further conservation efforts for the elusive species in northeastern Minnesota.

“I think trail cameras can lead to interesting stories,” Pennesi said. “It can get people excited about getting out and creating their own and doing some tracking and connecting with the land.”

He said he encourages others to set up trail cameras on their property or on public land like the Superior National Forest to monitor wildlife and connect with the natural world.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Ryan Pennesi about monitoring Canada lynx and other wildlife species using camera-trap photography in the Superior National Forest. The audio from the interview is below.

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EXETER — The Seacoast Artist Association awarded Best in Show for the April Theme “Pure Poetry” to David Blomquist of Brentwood for his Digitally Manipulated Photograph and original poem titled “Lifetime.”

“I recently heard that a special friend in my life had passed,” says Blomquist.

“The news brought both shock and a host of other feelings because I had always assumed that I would see my friend again, but that would now never be.”

This realization made Blomquist pause to question the time we have, in essence to question one’s lifetime.

“The poem came first, and I wrote it as if I was having a conversation and questioning the entity, Lifetime,” he said.

The artwork came second, and it’s a compilation of three photographs taken over time in three different locations.

The People Choice Award, voted on by attendees of the SAA monthly Second Friday receptions, went to Peter Gumaskas of Goffstown for his photograph “Vermont Barn,” shown with Susan Cook’s poem “Winter Barn.”

“Susan, the poet, and I were together when we saw the barn in Vermont and were both very inspired by the scene,” says Peter.

“We were returning from a long weekend getaway, and it was a special weekend for us. She was inspired to write the poem after seeing the print of the barn. At that time, I was also heavily into Andrew Wyeth and was feeling very influenced by his work.”

Visit the gallery before April 27 to read these poems and see the rest of the show, along with new artwork.

The Seacoast Artist Association gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

Next month’s themes are “Primavera: the Art of Spring” at the Town Hall; and “In Full Bloom” at the Water Street gallery.

Details at www.seacoastartist.org, on Facebook and on Instagram.

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