April 16-19th 2016 Berlin, Germany
Arriving at the Aldon Hotel lobby, Berlin, to photograph the Laureus Members attending the 2016 Awards Ceremony was heaven for any autograph hunter or selfie taker. Of course none of that was going on inside this luxurious hotel but outside it was a free-for-all as fans waited in the chilly spring air for their sporting icons to make an appearance.
We scouted the ground floor for possible locations to set up our studio for the next four days. The huge winter garden (conservatory) to you and me was perfect... However not available for each day. The Sra Bua fine dining restaurant however, was. It was elegant and tranquil with a screened glass roof that allowed natural light to flood in. Most of all it also provided attentive staff to prepare some much needed coffee from time to time. (Thanks Stephanie)
The style we were looking to create for these portraits were dramatic, up close and personal. A simple black velvet cloth as our back drop and some creative moody lighting would do the rest. The portraits will open each chapter in the Laureus Opus focussing on every Member, ahead of telling their own individual story of sporting greatness in the spreads that follow.
To see these sporting giants now, some 40 /years older than when they ruled the world was amazing. Some hadn’t physically changed, others naturally looked more glamorous than when competing and a few had aged with grace and dignity.
The end results are dynamic, dramatic and honest.