In my last post, I was saying that I thought the last set of comedy photos I took were among the best I had ever shot. Well, this will be the second time in a month I will say that!

Just over a week ago, I had the absolute privilege of having free reign at the beautiful and huge Hippodrome Theatre in Birmingham for Luisa Omielan’s benefit show for the charity set up in her mother’s name - Helena’s Hospice Foundation. Luisa’s mum died last year after a short battle with cancer. The foundation helps deliver home comforts to hospices around the U.K, whether that be coffee machines, soft bedding, guest beds, updating family rooms, buying special double hospital beds so patients can lie with a loved one. Any home comfort that helps improve a patients time.

Luisa announced the gig shortly after Christmas and I offered my services as a press photographer to try and get the message out to a wider audience. It’s the privilege I have in this job; I sometimes get to do some really cool shit.

Luisa put together a stellar bill, with Aaron Twitchen, Suzi Ruffell, Sara Pascoe, Ellie Taylor, Darshan Sanghrajka, Tez Ilyas and Iain Stirling - all braving the snow and giving up their time. It was an amazing night, raising £14,000 for the foundation.

I must have shot over a thousand frames (call it excitement) - and I was like a kid in a sweetshop. I was running around everywhere, I was in the wings, in the boxes, at the back of the auditorium, up in the lighting box - such an embarrassment of riches when it came to different types of shots. Each act only had 10 minutes, so I was busy…

I loved it though - it was the first time I’d been given that much access in such a big venue and the scope for creativity was massive.

I have found my niche in photography now. I am excited for the first time in a long time and I hope that this shows in my work. I have a full gallery up on the site - which can be found here; and all the information on the foundation can be found at www.helenashospicefoundation.org - I strongly urge you to donate and spread the word.

Blog - Through the Lens

Posts tagged with show

Philip Selway

Birmingham Comedy Gala