It’s a bank holiday so inevitably it is pouring with rain in London. I arrange to meet Michael in a local Kentish Town pub, as it will almost certainly turn into a deluge if I arrange an outdoor location. He turns up a little late and makes his apologies. He is quiet, unassuming, and happy to let me decide where we start the shoot. I have already set up a shot under a covered section of the garden. The rain has now slowed down, although there are a few drips still coming through holes in the awning.

I like this shot, but want to give ‘Paper’ (the magazine I’m shooting for) a choice of images so I do a quick set up in a semi-open room opposite. It has white walls and a soft natural light, which is a nice contrast to the flash I used in the first set-up.

I pack up my gear whilst chatting to Michael about his favourite artists. We exit the pub in the now brilliant sunshine… Michael is off to see the Bob Marley documentary on at the cinema up the road and I head home.