Hello and welcome to Salamander Photo.

So what is an image to you?

A statement? A message? A record? The capture of a moment, an emotion maybe? A memory or a dream? A fantasy - or just a laugh? Here, you'll find a little of all of those in different combinations.

The main site holds many different pictures grouped in folders mainly by theme. Having a good look around takes over an hour. There is a rapid tour which is a picture-only presentation of 100 images. To go there, click HERE. As with every gallery, click on the smaller pictures to get to a larger version.

The sharpness of some images will appear average rather than good. This is because every file size has been kept to a minimum. Some images compress with more visible damage than others. The site is already over 900 Megabytes in its current form (with several client download areas). And that's after trying to keep space and download times as low as visually acceptable. It is, as ever, a question of Quality versus Quantity. On one hand, perfect quality shots can be over 10 times bigger in file size, but only 20% or so better in terms of detail. On the other hand more bandwidth allows the broader picture to be more rich and varied. As a growing body of work, it not only increases in size, but also changes characteristics over time. This means minor alterations are frequently carried out to the site; usually at short intervals (usually a couple a week) rather than with a major "content overhaul" once a year. The compromise weighs in favour of quantity as there are over 2,000 pictures on this site allowing you to see the broader picture. A hard A4+ portfolio of gallery quality prints & tear-outs of published work is available by appointment.

To keep maintenance simple, presentation is mostly through basic indexes and mosaics that link to larger images on a plain black background. Proper graphic design on each page would no doubt look better. With the different contexts (mindsets & media) these images are destined for, the appropriate layout work - best left to a specialist - would just be impractical.

It's unlikely every viewer will like all the images in the different sections of the site. Some may find some images too "commercial", "cheesy" or "experimental". Hopefully the fun to be had, both sides of the lens, making images for all the value sets featured in the selections here will come across in the broader picture for you to see.

The majority of the images presented on this site are of people in a variety of contexts according to a broad range of briefs and uses. Purpose, Target Audience & Context can play key roles in the conception of an image. Some are styled and edited with a specific theme or use in mind, others are more spontaneous or experimental. There is also a series of concept images and personal projects that will feature in a forthcoming exhibition such as the finger series.

Briefs and creative approaches vary greatly with the message the images are meant to carry. In some cases, images are created without a brief at all. Many images are conceived with a promotional bias such as publicity shots for performers, PR and feature portraits for the corporate market.

In every case, the sitter or client's privacy is respected. Images are never offered for publication unless they were specifically commissioned for that purpose or permission has been given.

Commissions taken on are both for use in Traditional Media such as photographic or magazine printing as well as New Media such as web sites. When print quality is paramount, high resolution files are supplied to labs, printers or designers. When bandwidth is critical, optimal formatting is carried out to the site's specifications to ensure the best compromise between file size and picture quality.

Clients are mostly British, French and Spanish. They are Publications, Press & Publicity Officers, Graphic Designers, Event Promoters, Web Sites, Venues, Advertising and PR Agencies, Marketing Departments, Actors, Singers, Musicians, DJ's, Artists, Record Labels, Corporations, Collectors and Individuals for the occasional personal sitting.

Photographs are taken and edited on state of the art digital equipment which offers speed and editing benefits that conventional photography does not allow. These benefits are listed in the "information" section of this site.

When choosing Salamander Photo & its associates such as hair, make up & labs, clients can rest assured they will be working with courteous and reliable professionals who know how to listen, and take pride in making images that are fun to shoot, look great and are delivered on budget & time.

Shoots take place in the UK and abroad with a bias on London, Paris, Ibiza and the Caribbean.

To navigate, click on one of the tabs at the top of your browser window screen.

Enough words - enjoy the images! :) .

Go to Portraits