STEVE-READ

Steve’s career as a photographer hit new heights in the late 90’s when he was headhunted by the legendary Tina Brown to join her in the U.S. for the launch of the celebrated and acclaimed Talk Magazine.

Arguably the biggest name in magazine publishing having edited both The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, Tina Brown’s new publication would turn out to be a life-changing experience for Steve. He moved from the U.K. to L.A. to become the West Coast staff photographer and joined the masthead in the esteemed company of David Bailey and Patrick Demarchelier.

During his time in the U.S. he would travel the world photographing Hollywood A-Listers, rappers, rock ’n’ rollers, major sports stars and even royalty. Not only for Talk but also for U.K. titles Q, Radio Times, The Observer Magazine, The Mail on Sunday and loaded.*

He toured South America with R.E.M; went training with “Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World” Lennox Lewis; shared a recording studio with Eminem and rode with Hell’s Angels head honcho Sonny Barger.

Along the way he also managed to shoot Ray Liotta, Mickey Rourke, Vinnie Jones, Zara Tindall, Neil Young, John Lydon, Wayne Rooney, Hugh Hefner, Pavarotti and the only one who punched him was 50 Cent.

Riding shotgun with this, Steve has also enjoyed a successful filmmaking career, working as DP on a number of projects and shooting/directing three of his own full-length documentaries - all of which enjoyed theatrical releases and great press.

Gary Numan: Android in La La Land (co-directed with Rob Alexander).

**** The Guardian **** Total Film **** The Times **** The Express

“Numan is winningly candid and guilelessly charming” - Variety

“A film that reminds me to smile” - The Huffington Post

Which enjoyed an international theatrical release before showing on the BBC. And, most recently, In the Company of Kings produced by Robert Douglas) - currently available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV

“A compelling and illuminating mosaic” - The Guardian

“A film with a mix of poetry and immediacy. A film that avoids the A-B-Cs of sports documentary.” - Yardbarker

Steve’s passion for film and photography finds its current expression now takes a deep dive into his extensive archive.

Predominantly focused on the L.A. years in the late 90’s and early noughties,

The shows will feature images printed from the original negatives in the darkroom by world renowned black & white master printer Robin Bell.

Some you may have seen before, most are revealed for the first time.

Later this year the collection of iconic portraits travels to venues around the U.K. and U.S. with the Shooting People Pays The Rent theme also in development for a serialised documentary, with Steve revisiting and reshooting his subjects along with a film crew, whilst exploring their incredible successes, struggles and side effects of their fame... In some cases, 25 years on, since they first met.

* JUST SO YOU KNOW:

Steve was also the Art Director of loaded from launch until that phone call from Tina Brown and was responsible for the look, the iconic logo and award-winning design of the generation-defining title.