Author: darren

Happy New Year and thanks to all my amazing clients for making 2022 a fantastic year.

Here are some of my favourite photographs from 2022.

I took thousands of images so deciding on these few was a bit of a task!

There are a few of my favourite portraits / headshots, some architectural, press and PR images. I’ve also included some events I covered and one of the best jobs of the year… the Oldham Coliseum panto!

The images of the Active Tameside outdoor gym were supplied for my client Cornerstone Design & Marketing in Oldham.

Thanks to my other clients featured here…. UA92, Black Cat Building Consultancy, Hill & Knowlton, Petal & Co, East Lancashire Railway, Future PR, The National, Tameside Council, Tour de Manc, Manchester City Council, Oldham Council, Tristone Capital, University Campus Oldham, Platinum Live, Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

It’s been really great to see some fantastic reviews of this year’s panto, Robin Hood,  at Oldham Coliseum Theatre.

I photographed the dress rehearsal for them recently and and it’s great to see some of my pictures used to highlight these amazing reviews.

I would highly recommend going to see the pantomime with all the family…. you can book tickets here…..

 

Thousands of motorcyclists came together today from around the country to take part in the ‘Rings of Red’ campaign for Remembrance Sunday.

This year’s Remembrance ride of respect supported Veteran into Logistics, a non-profit veterans charity.

I spotted these riders from a bridge in Denton, Manchester.

Get to the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre in Oldham this Saturday from 11am to 3pm for the usual Kids Club fun, with a Hallowe’en Twist!
Meet the wizard with his chocolate treats, take part in spooky crafts or have your face painted by Vix face painting !  Esports Events UK will also be hosting a retro games area opposite Next and I will be capturing the fun!!

Some pictures from last year!

 

This time last year I was preparing for a shoot for East Lancashire Railway and their Hallowe’en trains.

What a fantastic and scary day… and the kids loved it!!

So if you fancy booking on  this year’s trains there are spaces left tonight and tomorrow night….. the booking details can be found here…..

Some of my favourite pictures from last year……

 

Land Rover Experience West Country

 

At such a sad time for our country I’ve felt honoured to record the passing of Queen Elizabeth II for Oldham Council and also to see my 30 year old photograph I took for the Oldham Evening Chronicle in 1992 when the Queen visited Oldham. You can see the article here.

Pictured below is the picture that brought back such great memories.

Also pictured is the Mayor of Oldham Councillor Elaine Garry with a floral tribute and signing the book of condolence at the Civic Centre the day after the Queen’s passing.

Later that evening the Civic Centre was bathed in purple light for the period of mourning in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

 

I saw the news yesterday about football player Juan Mata ending his time at Manchester United.

It reminded my of the shoot I did with him four years ago for Spanish football magazine Panenka. I’ve met and photographed hundreds of footballers in my 35 year career and I can honestly say in the time I spent with him he was the most courteous, professional and pleasant football player I’ve ever photographed.

 

 

I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing Diane Modahl MBE in Manchester.

Diane is one of Britain’s most successful 800m runners. She won a Gold Medal in the 1990 Commonwealth Games and followed this up with a further Silver and Bronze Medal.

Diane represented Britain in an impressive four Olympic Games, from 1988 to 2000 and was unbeaten for six consecutive seasons by any other British athlete over her specialist distance of 800m. As one of Britain’s most accomplished middle distance runners, she held the English, British and Commonwealth records for both 800m and 600m.

After retiring from athletics, Diane and her husband Olympic coach Vicente Modahl, established the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, a registered charity. Her early experiences as a young person from a deprived community, inspired her to establish a youth foundation to help those most in need.

DMSF champions young people from disadvantaged areas across the North West, enabling them to make the most of themselves in sport, education and employability.

 

Yesterday, I photographed the Tour de Manc charity cycle ride for Tameside Council.

As in previous years I was located on Werneth Low in Hyde, the mad steep section which as ever, was a challenge for the hundreds of riders who took part.

It was definitely a bit nippier than in recent years but the atmosphere amongst the riders was as good as ever.

Looking forward to next year already!