Peter Thorpe Photography

Creating a library of images to capture the vibe of a specific location, by shooting lifestyle + scenics to encourage people to live or visit.

For property development, tourism, student promo, etc. Many of these shots commissioned by Village Design

Working with minimal equipment and mostly available light, to create a natural reportage style of imagery over a range of projects, including relaxed profile pics for business + organisations.

Shooting new products is a large part of my work, both in my own studio and on site.

I enjoy the process of crafting lighting and creating mini sets and am often tasked to shoot technically difficult items. I have a permanent table top set up in the studio for speedy turnaround jobs and for when larger volume catalogue images are required.

I was commissioned to create over 250 images for a Royal Mail photo library by the agency Home.

An epic task of planning and production for their team and myself.

Thanks to the dedicated team from Home + Royal Mail, Good spaces locations, Jaine Bevan stylist, Ian Usher retouching, Claudia + Victoria hair / make up, Callum, Fergus + Charlie assistants, Mustard models and everyone else involved.

Here is a small selection:

I was offered an amazing opportunity to travel to Pakistan, Nigeria and Kenya for Reall, who are investors and innovators in affordable housing.

My brief was largely informed by the filming script, 'A home for human potential' Documenting the issues of homelessness, poor living conditions and the steps towards a solution.

Commissioned by Kieran from Spooner Fitzgerald + along with director Andy from Olas Roe + cameraman Eric Huyton, we set off to Lahore + Faisalabad followed shortly to Abuja + Nairobi.

We had such a warm welcome from everyone we met, below is just a small selection of photos from the 3 trips.

Working with Proctor + Stevenson on these stylised moody images for Panasonics latest Toughbook range.

Photographing office interiors and London scenes, to promote a range of flexible workspaces for The Instant Group, with Spooner Fitzgerald ,

Enjoyed working on this Orange project with So Design

Creative director Steve Haskins produces illustrations that are painted full scale onto urban buildings, making use of existing architectural features.

Shot in Birmingham and Bristol, it was fascinating to watch the artists in action, at great speed they reproduced the illustrations in exact detail and scale, simply working from A4 prints.

I worked with So Design to produce a series of images for the Auschwitz Foundation. A very memorable trip with the winter landscape adding to the moving atmosphere.

The shots formed part of a successful international fundraising campaign, for the preservation of Auschwitz as a historical site of remembrance. The work was also selected for AOP and D@AD awards.

To capture the intensity and drama, boxing is thrilling sport to photograph but also quite a challenge.

From the first bell, head, hands and feet are quickly changing direction, often the lighting is not great, no flash, fast shutter speeds, and constantly trying to trace the unpredictable action to maintain good focusing with a lens set at wide aperture.

These were photographed at Sanigar Events, huge respect to the boxers and their teams whose level of dedication + discipline is inspiring.

I'm often asked to shoot staff portraits.

These shots for Bray Leino were printed as a double page spread so I had the opportunity to create a more dramatic image within a landscape.

I enjoy mixing daylight with flash, to create an intentionally theatrical mood to the scene.

Do dogs dream and if so what about ? A discussion we had in the garden while watching our dog sunbathing.

My son Callum and I came up with an idea. Would she do same in the studio under artificial light and could we build a dreamscape around her ?

Well, we tried an 800W lamp and she laid down just the same!

For the scenes, we looked at references from Gullivers Travels, Sci Fi + Ray Harryhausen etc.

Using simple props, we lit and prepared the set then took her for a long walk. In a quiet studio, she naturally went to the heat of the lamp and fell fast asleep.

We had to work quickly as these are done in one shot, Photoshop just to tidy up and colour treatment.

In 1990 I made a Christmas card featuring our rescue terrier Paddy.

This was to be the first of many over the next 27 years continuing with Our other rescue dog Raggle.

2 dogs, 3 children and 27 Christmas's later, making these cards had become something of a family tradition.

The fun for me, had been choosing to create these traditionally rather than with Photoshop, by making my own sets, props and using a fair bit of food bribery!

Below is a selection of images from over the years.

On holiday in Pembrokeshire during a coastal walk, I chanced upon this derelict chapel. The door was open, just nettles and brambles blocking the way, It looked like a good photo opportunity, so with my camera, I tiptoed around the rotten floorboards and spent a little time in church!

Below is another chance discovery, Tubbies an abandoned amusement park in Severn Beach, South Gloc

A nostalgic study of old photographic items.

I recently dug out a couple of boxes containing old photo and darkroom kit.

These are random items belonging to my Dad and myself but also familiar with any photographer working in the pre digital age.

Equipment that would once be essential, expensive and of very specific use, now years out of date or broken but somehow difficult to throw away.

I’ve rarely looked back since turning digital in 2002, however I did shoot this series using my old 5”x4” camera.

I'm reminded of the disciplines - the intense patience, knowledge and precision required working with film and chemistry.

One thing I do miss from this era is Polaroid, especially large format with its unique quality and immediacy, which still to this day seems like a magical process.

Snow, fog and poor light, just some of the challenges creating this image.The final shot, all done in camera with no retouching.

I had some fun messing about in the studio to create this imagined winter landscape.

As you can see below, a very lo -fi selections of props and materials, kitchen foil, dead plants, lumps of tarmac and flour. Amazing what you can do when added together with a bit of moody lighting and fog!