Production Paradise

Welcome to the latest Showcase London, brought to you by Production Paradise. Presenting all the top visual media news from across 'The Capital', as usual more information is available on our directory pages.

If you're in London, be sure to check out our featured events:

• China Design Now at the Victoria & Albert Museum follows a journey through China's coastal cities to experience the country's creative landscape (15th March - 13th July).

• Martian Museum of Terrestrial Art at the Barbican Art Gallery (6th March - 18th May). Contemporary artworks under the fictional guise of a museum collection designed for extraterrestrials.

Our cover photo was shot by Clive Arrowsmith for Highlights Magazine.

Lon event/photo events: THE AOP

Lon film/film production: MASK CREATIVE

Mask is a specialist production company offering direction, photography and motion graphics in a bespoke package for 'above the line' visual advertising.

The company's partners have over two decades of advertising industry experience, having worked as freelance directors, photographers and designers.

Mask's unique quality of being able to visually bind a campaign through all media sets it apart from the competition.

The company produces the highest quality treatment suggestions and storyboards, utilising a specifically tailored team to produce campaigns that carry across press, outdoor, TV, Web, and cinema sources.

Lon film/film production: ZAP PRODUCTION SERVICES

For over ten years, Zap Productions has been providing first-class production support to film makers and photographers from all over the world.

Zap was established in 1996 by Mark Parsons. Mark's experience in advertising film production is extensive - his comprehensive knowledge of the UK production scene ensures Zap's clients are offered solutions that are reliable, cost effective and efficiently produced.

The company has managed productions from China, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, the USA, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, featuring celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sting, Pierce Brosnan, Gong Li, Boris Becker, Mika Hakkinen and Michael Ballack.

Lon photography/photo agents: NOELLE PICKFORD PHOTOGRAPHERS' AGENT

Latest work from the Noelle Pickford photographers:

• Angus Fraser has been working with Andrew Long and James Millers at M&C Saatchi for Lucozade Sport.
• Jess Koppel produced some lovely work for Marks & Spencer.
• Paul Thompson won Silver at both The Association of Photographers awards and The Creative Circle awards with his images for the Natural History Museum.
• George Kavanagh also did well at the Association of Photographers awards and won a Silver at The Creative Circle awards with his shot for 4 Creative.
• Sara Morris has been shooting with Ravi Beeharry and Andy Mancuso at VCCP for Dunhill, and shot for Space Magazine from The Guardian.
• Spencer Rowell has been shooting for Tangible Financial and The Gate.
• Rob White has been busy shooting for Waitrose and Sainsbury's.
• No sooner had Carl Lyttle returned from LA after speaking about 3D photography/CGI at CGAM2008, but he jumped on a plane to the Middle East to shoot a press campaign for Barclays Wealth with Ogilvy London.

Lon photography/photo agents: WYATT-CLARKE & JONES

Lon photography/photo agents: GILL TURNER

News from the Gill Turner photographers:

• This month has been another hectic one for Matt. He featured in a Saturday Times article on the perils of street photography, and then in a more conventional role was back behind the lens working with Elvis on their forthcoming work for Pizza Hut.

• David is enjoying continued success this year with nominations in two categories of the AOP Awards. His recent commissioned work has included a set of portraits for the National Geographic channel along with shoots for the Co-op, John Smedley, and Total Oil.

• Christopher is jetting-off yet again, this time to Cuba for Geo Magazine. He'll be covering the story of an unusual dance group who break the normal boundaries of 'dance' as we know it...

• Once again Tim has been busy working for The History Channel. Look out for the ads which are due to break at the end of April.

Lon photography/photo agents: THE SHARON BRANDMAN AGENCY

It has been a great start to the year for the Sharon Brandman Agency:

• Marie-Louise Avery shot some delicious food for Merchant Gourmet, Tracklements and Marks & Spencer.

• Ian Boddy has been busy shooting some great new baby work, as well as images of kids for the current healthy food drive in British schools. His work also featured in the recently aired 'Yummy Mummy' Find Me The Face TV show.

• Carlo has been jetting-off all over the world creating beautiful fashion and lifestyle imagery.

• Since recently joining the agency, award-winning Paul Bussell's book has been well received whilst making the rounds these last couple of months. He's working hard on testing for his next book of animal photography.

• Richard Seymour has been shooting some beautiful lifestyle projects.

Lon photography/photo agents: LUCID REPRESENTATION

Lucid Representation is a boutique photographer and stylists' agency; small enough to give personal attention to every job, but big enough to organise huge productions. The company's high-quality photographers and stylists are committed to making every client's vision a reality.

The agency understands the constraints that clients sometimes have to work under and therefore strives hard to find the right solutions for every shoot. Enjoying great relationships with the leading model agencies, set builders and hair and make-up agencies, if required the company can also arrange castings and production for shoots.

Clients include editorial, fashion, advertising, music and celebrities, both in the UK and abroad.

Lon photography/photographers: STEPHEN KEARNEY

Stephen has been invited to shoot two editorials for this year's Scottish Fashion Awards, showcasing work from the leading Scottish fashion designers.

He recently shot a stunning editorial for the May issue of Chic magazine, and has spent much of March and April between New York, Paris and London with his book.

He has just finished shooting new album covers for Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor and singer Alison Burns.

Some of his latest editorial shoots can be seen in Book 3 on his website.

Lon photography/photographers: NIGEL HARNIMAN

Nigel continues to shoot digitally both on location and in the studio alongside his CGI work.

Recent campaigns include:

• Volvo Sweden - the XC70, XC90 and V70, shot around the coast and in the mountains of Scotland.
• Jaguar XF shot in Monaco, for the new model launch in February 2008.
• Ferrovie Dello Stato trains press ads, shot in Milan.
• Mercedes-Benz trucks, shot in the UK.
• The new Nissan GTR 35, due into the UK in 2009.
• Three press ads for Chevrolet, shot in Miami.

Nigel's new website is under development and should be up-and-running in the next few weeks.

Lon photography/photographers: COLIN STREATER

Lon photography/photographers: LORENTZ GULLACHSEN

Lorentz Gullachsen has a new website, dedicated to his lifestyle and portrait photography.

Recent work will be featured alongside his signature images such as 'Sam' (Samantha) and 'Venice Flower Man'.

Lorentz has always shot people, but recently his lifestyle work has been attracting a great deal of interest. A separate site seemed the best way to present this alternative aspect of his work.

Visit gullachsenlife to see more.

Lon photography/photographers: STRUAN WALLACE

Lon photography/photo library/stock: BUTTERFLY IMAGES

Butterfly Images has developed a new photographic technique that produces unique ultra-high resolution images of butterflies and moths.

These immensely beautiful creatures are rarely seen let alone exposed on such a grand scale. Amazingly detailed and presented in perfect colour, the company's expertly produced images are printed on Foamex using a recently developed process that gives them a painting-like feel. Individual cells, scales and fine hairs can be seen in pin-sharp detail. Available as individual pieces of special art, these delightful images can be produced to a variety of sizes, from an inch Sq up to 6ft Sq or larger.

The company's latest project involves capturing images of extinct or near-extinct beetles, bees, and other insects to be produced using the same ultra-high resolution process that achieves such glorious results.

Lon photography/equipment rent: HASSELBLAD

Hasselblad recently announced the ten winners of its Hasselblad Master Award for 2008.

Whereas in previous years Hasselblad has awarded 12 separate Master Awards for overall photographic ability, the 2008 Hasselblad Master Awards are presented across ten separate categories of photography and represent a wide and exciting range of both young talent and established professionals.

The full list of winners can be viewed here.

Lon food/restaurants: THE GRILL ROOM

Cecil Beaton called it the most beautiful room in London. George Bernard Shaw sipped hock within its golden walls and the notorious Oscar Wilde wrote of "its glamorous mirrors under the clocks". To the bohemians of the late nineteenth century, the Grill Room within the illustrious Cafe Royal was the most iconic place to meet.

Recently refurbished, the re-launched Grill Room will harken back to the venue's glory days; complete with more intimate velvet banquette seating from which London's most stylish party people can sip cocktails unnoticed. Unlike other private clubs membership cannot be purchased for the Grill Room, simply because the venue is all about keeping its guests interesting and varied.

The Grill-Room is also available for private events (capacity 70-80), launches, salon shows, and fine dining for up to 45 people.

Lon night/bars and nightclubs: THE PAPER CLUB