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Photography
Prince William’s photographer says the Christmas shoot was ‘relaxed’
The photographer behind the Prince and Princess of Wales‘s Christmas portrait has revealed behind the scenes details of the shoot – which was ‘relaxed and enjoyable’.
Last week, Prince William and Kate, both 41, released a casual family picture with their children Prince George, ten, Prince Louis, five, and Princess Charlotte, eight, in matching white shirts which will be on the front of their festive card this year.
Photographer Josh Shinner has now shared an insight into the day of the photoshoot, revealing he learned some brand new jokes from the royal children.
Taking to Instagram, he also shared a sketch of the family which he had doodled while trying to work out what poses fit best for the composition.
Speaking about the atmosphere on the day, he wrote: ‘It was such a pleasure to photograph the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family for the Christmas portrait this year.
‘Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I’ve ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…
‘A huge thanks to the @princeandprincessofwales for having me.’
However, when asked what the jokes were, Josh remained tight-lipped, refusing to give away details of the banter he shared with the young royals.
‘Keeping those to myself I’m afraid!’ he wrote in response to a curious commenter who asked what the ‘funniest’ joke was.
In another post of the sketched composition, the photographer wrote: ‘I gave up trying to draw faces long ago, and I felt like attempting to draw the @princeandprincessofwales was something that could only end in dismal failure, but this was the starting point for the final composition…’
Many rushed to the comments to congratulate Josh on his amazing work with the royal family.
One person said: ‘Congratulations on such an amazing opportunity!’
Another said: ‘Such a lovely portrait – huge congratulations Josh.’
While a third wrote: ‘Thank you sir, for sharing this beautiful photo of the Prince and Princess of Wales with their lovely children.’
The monochrome image shows the royal couple smiling alongside their sons Prince George, ten, Prince Louis, five, and Princess Charlotte, eight, who is seated in a chair at the front of the group, with Louis’ hand resting on the arm.
The image shows the family in matching plain shirts – George wearing a Ralph Lauren Polo number – with William and the boys in dark trousers. Kate and Charlotte opted for denim jeans.
Previews of the cards that will be given to friends, family and staff of the Prince and Princess of Wales were issued on Saturday night – and spoke to the family’s love of understated, informal photographs to accompany their festive greetings.
And while the proud parents and oldest son George have opted for dark, formal-looking shoes, Louis and Charlotte have been kitted out with matching trainers.
William, Kate and their children photographed at Windsor earlier this year by photographer Josh, who has shot portraits of famous faces including Florence Pugh, Jodie Comer and Sam Smith.
Kensington Palace said of the photo’s release: ‘The Prince and Princess of Wales are very pleased to share a new photograph of their family.’
This year’s card, while informal, shows more restraint than some of their previously issued season’s greetings.
William and Kate’s first card as Prince and Princess of Wales was a relaxed affair – showed the couple with George, Charlotte and Louis, all in trainers, on a stroll in Sandringham Estate, Norfolk.
Previous cards issued during their tenure as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were similarly relaxed and often colourful affairs, such as their 2018 card, in which they sat on a tree trunk in Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
However in this years card there was also a mystery that puzzled eagle-eyed observers after they focused in on the left hand of Prince Louis, five, and noticed his middle finger appears to be missing.
Of course, he seems simply to be spreading his fingers wide. But then a closer look also led some to question what has happened to William’s left leg.
He appears to have adopted a wide stance but only his right leg is visible. Similarly, only one of Kate’s feet is in view behind the chair Princess Charlotte, eight, is perched on.
Many speculated the image had been poorly edited or photoshopped, with one social media user writing: ‘While it’s a nice family photo, as soon as I looked at it, I noticed Louis’ hand. He’s missing a finger.’
Another posted: ‘Consider the angle of his [William’s] supposed right leg, his left leg should be visible in the chair opening unless he’s trying to do a split?’
But fear not. All is well with Louis’s ‘missing’ finger, and all the Waleses’ limbs have been accounted for.
A royal source told the Mail: ‘It’s not photoshopped. It seems as if he [Louis]… just bent his finger over. He’s certainly not lost a finger – don’t worry about that!’
Famous photographers focus their lens on Hainan
More than 10 renowned photographers attended the “Hainan Diary·Our Rainforest” ecological and cultural on-the-spot activity, which was held from Dec 5 to Dec 8.
They will select their photos and include them into a book, aiming to show the unique charm of South China’s Hainan province’s tropical rainforest and Li ethnic group’s traditional settlements to the world, according to the event’s organizer Forestry Department of Hainan province.
The activity included folk culture experience, tropical rainforest exploration, and visit to intangible cultural heritage inheritors.
“During the trip, we visited several representative areas such as the Wuzhi Mountain, the Bawangling Mountain and the Yinggeling Mountain in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and explored the ancient village of Li ethnic group and Li brocade workshops. We will definitely show these beautiful sceneries, rich history and vibrant culture to the world,” said photographer Xie Mo.
In April 2022, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Traditional Settlements of Li Ethnic Group were included in the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Now the province is applying for recognition of the “Hainan Tropical Rainforest and Traditional Settlements of the Li Ethnic People” as “mixed property”, meaning that they meet the conditions to be considered both of natural and cultural heritage significance. Currently, there are just 39 recognized “mixed cultural and natural heritage properties” sites in the world, with four of them located in China.
New Photography Studio Opens its Doors in Canonsburg
A vibrant addition to the downtown area, a new photography studio has recently opened in Canonsburg. With the cutting of the ribbon, Jasmine Powell Photography marked the beginning of its exciting journey in the vibrant community.
The grand opening ceremony took place on November 25, in the presence of Canonsburg Mayor Dave Rhome, members of the Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce, as well as the borough council. Jasmine Powell and her husband, Saviel Lopez, were thrilled to welcome their guests and showcase their brand-new business venture.
The event was a moment of great pride for Powell as she received a warm Mayor’s Certificate of Welcome from Mayor Rhome. This recognition further solidified the support of the local community and the eagerness to embrace this unique addition to the business landscape.
Jasmine Powell Photography offers a fresh perspective on capturing memories through the lens. With an artistic approach and attention to detail, Powell and her team bring a unique touch to every session. From weddings and family portraits to professional headshots, their range of services caters to a diverse clientele.
Located at 134 N. Jefferson Ave., interested individuals can find more information about Jasmine Powell Photography on their website at https://www.jasminepowellphoto.com/. The website showcases a portfolio that beautifully illustrates the studio’s skill and creativity.
As the downtown area of Canonsburg continues to grow, the addition of Jasmine Powell Photography adds to the already thriving business community. With a commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence, this new studio is poised to become a go-to destination for all photography needs in the area.
Experience the magic of Jasmine Powell Photography and capture your special moments with a touch of artistry and professionalism.
Meghan Markle gives rare insight into Prince Archie… and his expensive taste!
A Photographer in Pursuit of the Moments Between Fires
On a long-term assignment following wildland firefighters, Max Whittaker observed them struggling against walls of flames and grinding their morning coffee.
It was almost 1 a.m., and I was struggling to stay awake. For three days, I had followed the Tallac Hotshots while they worked on containing the Yeti fire near Happy Camp, Calif., and so far, this night shift had been quiet. On the dry, steep terrain of Klamath National Forest, crew members sat around their buggies reading or playing games on their phones. Their leaders monitored the changing fire and weather conditions.
Suddenly, the call to line up crackled over the radios. I scrambled to gather my camera, headlamp and fire pack to capture photographs of the hotshots preparing, but I was too slow. In what felt like one minute, the whole crew had already lined up with chain saws shouldered and tools in hand. All I could do was follow as the hotshots set off toward a new fire line.
I spent parts of the last two fire seasons, 34 days in all, following and photographing the Tallac Hotshots, an elite unit of federal firefighters. My work appeared in an article in The Times last month. And while it was gratifying to photograph the country’s premier wildland firefighters as they stymied flames with their chain saws and hand tools, observing their down time was what I was really after.
I started covering wildfires in California 22 years ago. Most of my assignments involved marathon days and nights spent photographing the dangers posed by catastrophic fires. I usually photographed a crew of firefighters for an hour or two (sometimes, I only had minutes) before dashing to photograph another location or leaving to find the cellphone service I needed to send my pictures to editors.
During these assignments, a certain type of crew often caught my eye. Their yellow fire-resistant shirts were stained with soot, dirt and sweat. They carried heavy packs while wielding tools, chain saws and drip torches with ease. They always appeared casual while facing walls of flames. They seemed to find a very palpable satisfaction, if not joy, in their work.
I learned that these crews were known as hotshots, highly trained firefighters the forest service calls in to combat the most complex fire problems. I dreamed of following them without the pressure of deadlines and telling their stories to readers who maybe only pictured firefighters with hoses and engines.
With the help of editors at The Times, I navigated the bureaucracy of the U.S. Forest Service and found myself in Meyers, Calif., near Lake Tahoe, in May 2022, introducing myself to the Tallac (pronounced Ta-LAK) Hotshots. They politely welcomed me, and I began trailing them through two fire seasons in California and Nevada.
The 2022 and 2023 fire seasons were two of the slowest in recent American history. The younger hotshots seemed unaccustomed to fighting fires that weren’t burning down small towns, while their grizzled superintendent, Kyle Betty, referred to the year as “normal.” Normal meant the hotshots fought less noteworthy wildfires nearly nonstop from June through November.
But normal also meant that I had access to the moments that I had always wanted to photograph. Like when I saw Coriston Smith, a third-year Tallac Hotshot, dancing in the first raindrops to have fallen in months. Or when Dylan Ney, another hotshot, balanced his cellphone against a chain saw to watch the sitcom “Modern Family” during dinner. Captain Charlie Jones was serious about his pour-over coffee, meticulously grinding his beans every morning.
By late September in my second season with the crew, when it was clear that Northern California had escaped another traumatic fire season, I got a brief text message from Mr. Betty. The Tallac crew had used a helicopter to fly into the Marble Mountain Wilderness, a remote area in northwest California, to fight a 30-acre fire. My follow-up questions about their location went unanswered, but I had gathered enough information to feel confident I could find them.
From my home in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, I drove seven hours to the wilderness area and then hiked 16 miles before I found the crew at a beautiful mountain lake. They had already contained the Grants fire and were doing the painstaking job of mopping up, making sure the fire was completely extinguished and had no chance of jumping over their containment lines.
They joked and laughed as they worked, enjoying the cooler weather and time away from the complexity of larger wildfires. At night, they warmed themselves around a campfire and cooked Hot Pockets and Meals Ready-to-Eat (M.R.E.s) as they chatted, not at all weary of one another’s company even after spending nearly six months together.
I had missed the fire, but found what I had come for: small moments of intimate camaraderie, ones I likely wouldn’t have been able to stay for a few years earlier, if I were to witness them at all.
Rare Doctor Who photographs discovered after 53 years
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Don Smith’s previously unpublished photos of Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Roger Delgado from December 1970.
Published: Sunday, 17th December 2023 at 8:00 am
The Radio Times photo archive is always yielding surprises, but we believed we’d accounted for every last morsel of Doctor Who. That is until a few months ago, when a set of 25 black-and-white negatives was discovered in the files of our late and much-missed RT staff photographer Don Smith.
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Never catalogued, never scanned nor printed before, they had lain forgotten since he took them in December 1970. Broadcasting historian Steve Arnold stumbled upon them while helping to sort through Don’s collection after his death last year.
During a career that began in the 1950s – much of it working for Radio Times – Don had preserved thousands of unused photos. “He hated seeing anything go into a skip so took it upon himself to become a sort of archive of the unwanted,” says Steve, who became friends with Don and visited him in hospital the day he died.
Calling at Don’s house in the weeks that followed, Steve encountered “stacks of material. I’d promised I’d help him but the task was monumental and I’m grateful to Don’s family that they trusted me to get on with it. The sheer volumes meant I couldn’t stop and fully comprehend what was there, although it was obvious there were long-lost Doctor Who images passing through my hands and into boxes to deal with later.”
The pictures were taken on Saturday 5th December 1970 on the set of a story called The Mind of Evil, in Studio 6 at BBC Television Centre in London. It was the recording day for Episodes Three and Four, which were subsequently broadcast in February 1971.
Jon Pertwee was into his second year as the third Doctor, Katy Manning played his plucky companion Jo Grant, and together they were tackling the latest diabolical scheme of the Master (Roger Delgado). He had seized control of a men’s prison with the Keller Machine, which housed an alien parasite feeding on criminal impulses.
Katy is delighted to see the pictures for the first time 53 years later. “Back in my day they didn’t take a lot of studio shots that we ever saw, so seeing these now is absolutely wonderful. I think they’re extraordinary.”
They’re particularly luminous because they were taken on the higher-quality, two-and-a-quarter-inch-square film, sometimes called “medium format”, which by the early ‘70s Don Smith had been moving away from, in favour of 35mm film.
“The Mind of Evil was only my second story – after Terror of the Autons – and a slightly different one for Jo,” says Katy. “She got to take on a whole prison full of blokes and show that she was made of tough stuff. People often forget that Jo was quite handy when necessary and was already starting to show her colours. It was a great story to have Roger in as well.”
The Doctor and Jo may have been bitterly opposed to the Master on screen but relations were very different off camera. “We all got on frightfully well, and by this point we’d also been to Roger’s house for dinner so we were all bonding, which became so apparent through the three years we worked together. We always discussed how we were going to do something and worked hard to make Doctor Who an incredibly strong show.”
She looks back on that formative period with immense fondness. “Right from the start, Jon, Roger and I formed such a strong bond. They were mentors to me. I’d had very little television experience so was like a little sponge sucking everything up. I learnt from Roger especially a lot about the art of television acting, and from Jon I was already hearing the most wonderful stories about the entertainment business.
“I soon realised that I was in a very safe and happy place with people who were going to teach me so much but also seemed to warm to me. I adored them all. And I love Jon’s hair in these photos, that length. He was already going to my hairdresser!”
Jo Grant became the first long-running female companion, staying three years and winning the hearts of millions. Katy left in 1973, but the magic of Doctor Who has never left her.
She adores her association with the show and has returned to the role many times. Now Jo Jones, she has featured in dozens of Big Finish audio dramas, in The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2010 and, in more recent times, in films shot especially for the BBC’s Doctor Who Blu-ray box sets. Last year, there was a surprise cameo in The Power of the Doctor, which she describes as “a tiny little ‘Hello, is that Jo?!’ in the 59th”.
How does it feel still being associated with the programme 50 years later? “I’ve grown into Jo Jones. So it’s the same character but she’s had an enormous life that’s now arced into the loss of her husband Cliff. You’d never have imagined back then in 1971 that all this would happen for this wonderfully wacky, clumsy, naïve person.”
Just this year, Katy was back filming her own moving edition of Tales from the TARDIS. It brings us up to date with Jo, now a grandmother and a widow reflecting on love and loss. “It was very emotional for me,” says Katy, whose Doctor Who co-stars and friends died many years ago. “I felt a flash of ‘double memory’ as both Jo and myself of some of the people that I had truly loved in my life.”
She even wore one of the Doctor’s original jackets, now owned by writer/actor/fan Mark Gatiss. “It still feels Jon, it almost smells Jon – it’s filled with Pertwee!” says Katy. “I’d nestled under it on so many cold locations. Whenever someone has a velvet jacket on now, I get butterflies in my stomach. Velvet hugs!”
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All of Katy Manning’s Doctor Who episodes are now on iPlayer, as is her 2023 return as Jo in Tales of the TARDIS.
Our thanks to Katy Manning, archivists Steve Arnold and David Carlisle, and Radio Times head of heritage Ralph Montagu – and, of course, Don Smith
Read more:
Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road airs at 5:55pm on Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Previous episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer and on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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Photographers/Videographers Sought to Capture the Stories of Redwood Region RISE’s Diverse Communities
Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:
As the holidays are nearing, Cal Poly Humboldt’s California Center for Rural Policy is excited to spread the joy in the form of an opportunity: we’re looking for up to two Photographers/Videographers in the Redwood Region RISE (Resilient Inclusive Sustainable Economy): Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino Counties and Tribal Lands.
As Photographer/Videographer, your efforts will help make tangible and bring to life the economic development projects and initiatives taking place in our Region, and highlight our diverse communities’ lived experiences, challenges, and opportunities.
Those interested can apply to submit a proposal for the position of Photographer, Videographer, or both. Please send your proposal to Leoni Fohr, Communications Associate by January 1st, 2024, 11:59 p.m. via email to [email protected] and include “Proposal for Videographer/Photographer” in the subject line.
Background Information on Redwood Region RISE
Redwood Region RISE is a regional collaborative working together to bring good, quality jobs to our Region – Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino Counties and Tribal Lands – through “California Jobs First”. CA Jobs First is a $600 million state-wide initiative designed to promote a sustainable and equitable recovery from the economic distress of COVID-19. Through these efforts, Redwood Region RISE aims to:
- Center communities that don’t always participate in or benefit from economic development planning processes;
- Create good jobs for workers in our Region;
- Pursue sustainable economic growth (diversifying economies);
- Get us closer to California’s goals for a sustainable future.
Rob Dibble. Baseball photography, Cincinnati reds, Baseball mom – rethnea.gr
Love of mountain goats drives Glacier Park photographer Sumio Harada
When the summer crowds of Glacier National Park disperse and snow starts to blanket the peaks, wildlife photographer Sumio Harada reliably treks into the mountains to capture spectacular images of the resident mountain goats.
It’s an animal he has been passionate about his entire career. Harada will share a look back at his career as a wildlife photographer during an upcoming presentation at Flathead Valley Community College. The presentation presented by the Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates will feature behind-the-scenes footage of the “challenges and rewards of wildlife photography.”
Born and raised in Japan, Harada studied Japanese serow as a college student, taking photos that highlighted the many different fur patterns on their faces. Serows are a close cousin of the American mountain goat, which he learned more about in a book called “Never Cry Wolf” by Canadian biologist Farley Mowat, which ultimately influenced him to go study the animals in the Canadian Rockies.
It was during a one-year-long camping trip in Canada that he first heard of Glacier Park by reading “A Beast the Color of Winter” by Whitefish wildlife biologist and author Douglas Chadwick.
“I also met many tourists, they told me ‘you should go to Montana, Glacier National Park is a very nice place to see goats,’” Harada said.
Harada married his wife Kumi in 1989 and the two got their first look at the park when they spent their honeymoon there. He said she enjoys being outdoors and camping, a perfect match for a photographer who is willing to go the extra mile to find the park’s wildlife. The two lived out of their van while Harada was successful in getting great shots of mountain goats.
Soon came along Harada’s daughter, who lived with them in the van. He said the tiny family often called Many Glacier home in the frigid wintertime.
“It was fun but very difficult, the time staying in the van,” Harada said, showing a photo of his wife warming his daughter’s feet at camp. Another photo shows the cart he made to carry his daughter across the snowy landscape, her bundled up in a 90s yellow, blue and pink neon-colored snowsuit. Even though it was cold, they seemed to be having a good time.
These photos were interspersed between some of Harada’s best shots of goats in his early career. One photo shows some 40 mountain goats dotting the rock face of Goat Lick, a location along Glacier National Park’s southern border that is popular with goats due to high concentrations of minerals.
The family moved to Tokyo for two years to save up enough money to return for another trip to Glacier. This time, Harada planned to make a permanent move to Montana, and the stars aligned for him to secure a contract with National Geographic. His photo was featured with an article from Chadwick, the biologist whose work led him to Glacier in the first place.
“He wrote for my picture, so I am proud of that. Chadwick was already very famous with National Geographic as a biologist,” Harada said.
It took many years of hard work, but Harada established himself and his family in West Glacier. They bought a house, but he still spends plenty of time in the park’s snowy backcountry to see what wildlife are up to.
Harada published his first book in 2008, “Mountain Goats of Glacier National Park” which documents seasonal change for the animal. He later went on to publish “Wild Harmony” in 2016, which features many other species of animals in Glacier living alongside mountain goats, with an emphasis on their unique ecosystem.
“All wildlife is connected,” Harada said.
Along with his books and National Geographic, Harada has been published in National Wildlife, Geo, Ranger Rick and Canadian Wildlife, among others.
Harada recently made the switch to focus on capturing video of wildlife in the park. He said he’s getting older — capturing photos of mountain goats during the wintertime is very special to him but he has been doing it for more than 30 years. So, this led him to want to try filming more video, something that can capture the environment of the mountain goat better than a still photograph.
“Wind especially … And they love to play, like jumping, running and sliding on the snow. So, I wanted to record that movement,” Harada said.
He said a television crew with NHK Japan, a public broadcast station, is making a trip to Montana in December to film him for a television special that is set to premiere next fall.
They’ve visited him before to film a wildlife segment in Glacier, and after Harada became friends with the director, he started asking them for advice on filming video. He shared many of his videos with the plan of creating his own film, which led the crew to pitch it for TV. Harada said they’ve come back to film more about his background and how he got into his career of wildlife photography.
Harada will share his experiences of setting up camp in the snowy wilderness, battling freezing temperatures and braving the elements to get the perfect shot during his presentation at Flathead Valley Community College at Arts and Technology Building on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.
See more of Harada’s wildlife photography on his website www.photorocky.com.
Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4433 or by emailing tinman@dailyinterlake.com.
Harada said this photo has the most goats he’s every captured in one frame, some 40 of them hanging out at Goat Lick in Glacier National Park. (courtesy of Sumio Harada)
Mountain goats are by far Harada’s favorite subject, dedicating his career to capturing images of them, particularly in the winter time. (courtesy of Sumio Harada)
Harada’s daughter and his wife Kumi hang out in their tent, braving the cold while Harada shot wildlife photography in Many Glacier. (courtesy of Sumio Harada)
Harada captures a photo of a mountain lion devouring what’s left of a mountain goat. (courtesy of Sumio Harada)
