Polished to Perfection

Seldom has an apartment block generated so much publicity, but then seldom do apartments command such eye-watering prices. One Hyde Park materialised at the start of the credit crunch, but has apparently been unaffected by it, sailing above the economic storms battering the rest of Britain and the West. Conceived by the developer brothers, Candy & Candy, it is not a single apartment block, but 4 inter-linked buildings designed by architects, Rogers, Stirk, Harbour & Partners. The exterior divides opinion, but I'd been itching to get inside the building ever since it was completed. Fortunately, award winning Interior Designers, Casa Forma asked me to photograph what must be their most impressive project to date. The shoot was not without its challenges. Simply getting into the building is a hurdle in itself, as security is understandably tight. The main issue however concerns the finishes throughout the apartment. 'Antique' mirrored walls, highly laquered timber veneers and polished stone and marble. All look fabulous, but are super glossy and reflective, making it almost impossible to conceal the tripod and camera, let alone any flashlight. On occasion it's unavoidable, so thank heaven for Photoshop!

As I mentioned, many column inches have been devoted to the subject of One Hyde Park. Here's a thought provoking one that appeared in Vanity Fair recently.

On Reflection

There are only so many ways to photograph a room, but when viewed through a mirror, spaces can take on different or unexpected characters. Designers employ them to add light or dimension, and as a photographer I use them to frame, as above or to highlight, or even to confuse the viewer. Plain mirrors can create an effect, but distorting mirrors or those with an unusual, fractured or "distressed" finish can be even more beguiling.

And then, trickier to shoot, but fun all the same, are the infinite reflections created by positioning mirrors opposite each other. Like trompe l'oeils, they really do appear to add another dimension to a space.

My most recent shoot, was an essay in reflection, although there were no mirrors at all. Eduardo Cardenes, a young Spanish Designer, has  an impressive office in Chelsea Harbour, decked out in ultra glossy black joinery and an extraordinary reflective black ceiling. Made by a company called Barrisol, this material is a polymer that can be stretched between fixed points to create ceilings or partitions. The result is extremely slick, and at first confusing. On entering , the brain is somewhat dazzled by all the reflections, and you are not sure where walls end and ceiling begins; an effect heightened by the two dramatic contemporary chandeliers that hang, one either side of the central glass partition.

Naturally as a Photographer, there was lots of fun to be had!