Demo 2010 – Student Protests 10/11/10

Documentary photography, London 10/11/10

Copyright © 2010 / Matthew Hilde

BrisFest 2010.. In the making..

Some early shots of the making + concept that was behind this years Bris Fest  (formerly Bristol Festival) to be used across online + print collateral. An annual community festival celebrating the arts, music and comedy in Bristol.

Collaboration w/ Bristol Festival Community Group 2010.
Art direction, design and photography.

Copyright © 2010 Matthew Hilde, Bristol Festival Community Group.

BBC Radio Cymru – Lleisiau: Photography

I have assisted on the large majority of photography featured in this BBC publication – ‘Lleisiau’ for Radio Cymru listeners. There were a number of locations, traveling the length of Wales from Bangor to Cardiff. This was a great opportunity to see some physical exposure of the photography I have been involved with recently. It’s a great little publication for the Welsh speaking public, but even if you can’t make out a word, you can appreciate the design and sensitivity to the photography and typographic treatment. This was pleasing to see, with my increased interest to combine both typical graphics and photography, it’s encouraging to see some literature that allows the imagery to breathe amongst clean and professional looking design.

While on shoot in my assisting role, I always have the intention to get out the iphone at any quiet lull and document the goings on of that particular moment. Here’s one of my little journeys at our final location shoot down by the sea at Penarth, near Cardiff.

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South Africa/Spring Boks: Photoshoot

Wow now!! .. this is my first post since November, but can you blame me?! .. The last few months have been no less than hectic. Let me guide you with photos.. Happy New Year by the way 🙂

© copyright 2010 / Matthew Hilde

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An unforgettable moment – The opportunity to photograph the South African International Rugby Team. As a massive rugby fan – this was the chance of a lifetime!

© copyright 2010 / Matthew Hilde

Alongside Matt Cant, I worked on reportage and specific, targeted imagery. Even though it was Matts place to shoot the South African team, I was given free reign to get what I could. Massive thanks to Matt and the Saracens for this – It was a special day! Even Matt admits, through a long successful career in photography – this was a little bit different! It was an action packed game that saw the Saracens come out on top and not to forget the quarter of a million pound cross bar challenge win! It was a day that I will find myself recalling for years to come.

Spillers Records 2010 Calendar

This year, I was lucky enough to cover Record Store Day in Cardiff at the famous Spillers Records. Record Store Day is an annual event that encapsulates the love of the traditional record shop. During the day DJ sets by a number of different and varying artists, including Guto Pryce of the Super Furry Animals and Radio One DJ Bethan Elfyn, filled the shop on the Hayes with positively amazing tunes!  The Truckers of Husk made sure that the magic of Spillers instores continued!… playing at the far end of the shop, the crowds packed in! Bulging at all levels.. pedals filled the floor and their unique sound jabbed its way into every spillers soul..

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Get yourself down to Spillers Cardiff, grab a 2010 calender for the new year!!  Record Store Day ’09 stands tall in my memory of great music events of 2009 at Spillers Records. The photography offers a time line to the past as well as this year. One of my fave photos is of the shop in 1994. With images from instores, Pop Peth exhibition at St.Fagans and Spillers around the world – Its a great capture from the oldest record shop in the world.

Treat yourself to the memories of the year that was..!
It’s almost Christmas after all!!


There are too many names to mention and thank, but here’s some…
Thanks to Nick & Ashli of course! for the hospitality.. and the beer!! what a show! and for running the greatest record shop in the world!
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Truckers of Husk, Pascal, Bethan Elfyn – great sports when it came to the photo bit!
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Massive thanks to Dafydd, for getting me in this great calendar! and doing a great job at it!
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Nice one guys, Roll on 2010

..reflective photography?

matt-hilde.co.uk © 2009

As some of you may know, train travel has been more than a regular occurrence for me over the last few months. The money that has disappeared down the tracks, bares not worth thinking about. Though there are moments on the journey that can forgive the raised fares, forgive the sweaty tramp and forgive the horrendous coffee at a disgusting 6am in the morning – And I didn’t even mention the punctuality of these overcrowded tin cans. This is of the course the opportunity of photography. Being able to view the outside at a fast pace, with the intermittent stop, as a visualizer this gives me the platform to see new things and capture them – the idea of capturing a moment has always united me, and photography.

As we can see from a selection of photographs (iphone) from last weeks travels, I stumbled across an instance where the reflection upon the trains windows interacted with the outside environment. Initially I thought cool photography, great effect easy upon the eye – creating a collage image of both inside and outside environments, created through a pane of transparent material…. yeah right! 🙂 I just saw it for its beauty.. it was 6am for a start!

matt-hilde.co.uk © 2009

matt-hilde.co.uk © 2009

matt-hilde.co.uk © 2009

Though I was made to think beyond the aethetics, after speaking to a friend about the processes of a photograph..

Challenged and accepted…this entries purpose is to introduce a future post that questions – when does a photograph become design? What defines The involvement of manipulation techniques and manipulation instances, how are these defined… and how does this effect how we read a photograph?..

well, this is the aim!

Until next time – keep snapping away! 😀

The Big ‘Shoot’ Out! – Wembley Stadium, London

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

Photo Shoot with Matt Cant, Lifestyle photographer.
The Saracens Rugby Team ‘Big Day Out’ at Wembley Stadium, London

Working as a second shooter, this day was different to any other I have experienced while working alongside Matt. Access to large areas of Wembley Stadium, that most who visit are oblivious too – this was a day of photography primarily but as an avid sports fan, it was difficult not to let the whole occasion tackle you to the ground.  It was not just a rugby match that was shot, a host of activities were captured as a sometimes congested schedule tried to get the better of us.

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

This was altogether a great day! Upon reflection it still created a great image.. but, a moment occurred while reviewing the images,

It’s time to get myself a Nikon! ..with a healthy looking lens or two!

Saracens photoshoot. w/ Matt Cant

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

Welcome to the Saracens training ground!

A great looking place, kitted out with everything a professional rugby player might require.  The Saracens rugby team play in the Guinness Premiership Championship, against the likes of Northampton Saints and Bath.

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

The studio shoot alongside Matt Cant as an assistant was to photograph the team with a new set of flags, that had been designed with each flag sporting a different position in the team, for example, fly-half etc.  It was important that the actions of the players in the photographs reflected the traits of the position. The Locks created a very tight and secure appearance to symbolize their strength and unity, for instance.

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

The equipment for a studio shoot stacked up nicely, with the potential to stack my arms up also – nothing better than a bit of manual labour to feel alive!!

Next stop.. Wembley!

Assistant photographer. w/ Matt Cant

Another busy month of no money! But I’m actually enjoying not earning the dosh.. this is one of those curves that everyone seems to be talking about, not the curves on Lightroom or Photoshop, but a learning curve! It certainly is that – with every moment focused on developing my skills.

Working alongside clients such as the BBC, S4C and the Saracens rugby team – it’s a great start to progressing my photography ambitions.

BBC Photo Shoot (iplayer + publications)

The photograph (above) of Lisa Rogers, BBC Sport Wales reporter, who has presented a number of well known TV shows, such as The Big Breakfast + Top of the Pops etc. was the first image I worked on in an assistant role, with photographer Matt Cant. This dreaded but excitable first day, saw me assist with four photo shoots on location, with BBC presenters and newsreaders.

Matt Cant is a commercial / lifestyle photographer, now based in Cardiff, after eighteen years of the London lifestyle! With a wide client base Matt has been very helpful with a mass of knowledge and experience that is seeing me progress steadily with the ups and downs of commercial photography.

To be continued..

Banksy Vs Bristol Museum

If you missed it..

..here’s an insight into the exhibition that took place through the summer months at Bristol Museum, by the formidable street and graffiti  artist, Banksy.

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

© 2009 matt-hilde.co.uk

So there we have it.. An exhibition by an artist who has marked our streets, provoked and empowered authority through his political and socially aggravated subjects. It was worth the visit and worth the two + a half hour wait outside in the infamous Banksy queue – but was it right?

This public platform can be seen as a follow up or development or progression or even an extension of the street. Though I question the authenticity of his art when the stage has changed from what was purely through the street, which creates a rawness and lawless canvas, that his life as a graffiti artist has been founded upon. Does the shelter of a museum, a model of order jeopardise how he is viewed by his public?

But lets step back for a moment!
Banksy is reknowned for creating a stir, thriving on the mystery with an intrigued approach. The decision to place his art in a place of containment conflict upon his works of the street that draw conclusions and open questions on political orders, amusements and quips upon the fools of government and society. By using a traditional space, the contrast of the street is a clear reflection upon his postion of where he sees himself in the arts-sphere. I see the exhibition as a singular entinty – one that is a stencil, a message and response to his life as a fledged artist of the street, where he has gained control.

It was a shrewd move by Bristol Museum – it created much public interest in Bristol itself and of course the exhibition. The exhibition space did not only inform and educate through the works of Banksy, but permanent works of Bristol Museum interacted and featured in the incredibly popular, crowd pleasing city pleasing exhibition.