A beacon of hope and optimism
As a young gay man growing up in Grimsby in the 1970s, role models weren’t just scarce—they were practically non-existent. Then I heard about Peter Tatchell, a name that carried with it a sense of defiance and unyielding bravery. He was out there, fighting for our rights at a time when simply being yourself could lead to ostracism or worse. It’s hard to convey what that meant to me. Knowing that someone like Peter was out there, standing up, made me feel less alone in the world.
Decades have passed since then, and the world has changed dramatically for LGBTQ+ people in many places. But Peter has never stopped. He’s still out there, fighting the good fight and still one of the bravest and most selfless people around today. Meeting him in person was nothing short of an honour. He’s one of those rare individuals who doesn’t just talk about empathy and compassion—he lives it every day. His tireless energy and commitment to human rights are awe-inspiring.
For this shoot, I wanted to capture Peter in his own environment, as part of my ongoing series, At Home, where I photograph people of note in their personal spaces. As a London portrait photographer, I’ve always been drawn to environmental portraits. They tell a story, not just of the person, but of the world they’ve built around them, and Peter’s world is one of activism, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.
at home - a long-term book project
This At Home series gives me access to the homes of people I admire and respect. I am deeply grateful for their trust in letting me into their private spaces to photograph them and capture a real insight into what makes them tick.
Unlike shooting weddings which can be quite hectic, these photo shoots usually give me time to get to know my subject and experiment with different locations and ideas. My background is in portraiture and street photography and I love trying to capture a person’s essence in a photograph. I am a curious person by nature and always want to know the real story, what a person is really like behind their public facade.
YOUR LONDON BASED PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER
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