CAROLE O'NEIL SHOT FOR THE NORTH EAST TIMES MAGAZINE
Carole O’Neil is a powerhouse in both business and powerlifting. We had the opportunity to capture her portrait during a lunchtime training session, just before she flew to South Africa for the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation Championships. When Pete Mallon reached out to ask if I’d be interested in shooting Carole for September’s cover story, I was immediately drawn to the project.
Normally, I’d opt for a documentary style in the gym, capturing the raw energy of the environment. But for this shoot, that didn’t feel quite right. Instead, I wanted to create a more refined, focused look by using a backdrop to isolate Carole from the usual distractions. My moodboard drew inspiration from Bruce Weber and Annie Leibovitz, aiming for a classic, thoughtful, and focused approach.
Black and white photography is something I don’t do often—though I love it, and for one reason or another, I just don’t shoot in it as much as I’d like. However, I’m really happy with this set, especially since it reflects how I envisioned the shoot when I was first commissioned. The magazine required both a subdued colour and black & white images, which was fine since they make the final call. But after the session, I took the time to select the images for myself, presenting them the way I saw the story unfold.
This is rare for me as a photographer because, with tight deadlines and commitments, it’s often difficult to separate my personal vision from the client’s. While I’ve always appreciated the collaborative nature of my work—being fascinated by how others see things differently from me—I am interested in the way others see things compared to myself, there is no right or wrong, but with this shoot especially I really wanted to put across how it was shot and how I wanted to present it… I really wanted to showcase the images in the way I shot them, and how I wanted them to be seen
INSPIRATIONS
