Sam Spurgeon, Freelance Picture Editor, London
Picture Editor Portfolio
Heli Loggers - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Picture Editor: I arranged and directed a photoshoot with the loggers in Vancouver Island, Canada. We shot portraits and high shots from a helicopter of the loggers in action.
Human Cloning - Photoshoot
Photography: I photographed controversial human cloning expert Dr. Zavos for the front cover of The Independent.
Discovery Shed - Photoshoot
Picture Editor: I arranged and directed a shoot of Matt Hayes to be used in one of a trio of Discovery Shed press ads.
Glastonbury Festival - Photoshoot and Retouching
Photography: I photographed Michael Eavis for the Venue Magazine Picture Editor to use in a double page spread.
Animals in the Womb - Picture Researcher
Picture Researcher: Acquisition of pictures created from groundbreaking 4D technology through liasing with the production company.
Picture Publicist: Managing picture distribution including exclusives and fielding a barrage of calls from journalists relating to the way the images were acquired (After a photo appeared on the front cover of the Evening Standard). The images became a story in themselves and ran in most major nationals, a lot of locals and also featured in a number of TV news pieces.
Beginner's Guide to Yoga - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Dealing with PR and management agencies, directing/organising the shoot, photographer and hair and makeup selection as well as organising props and the location itself. The brief here was to create an image that showed the spiritual side of yoga rather than "yoga as exercise" which Jayne is known for in her videos. Orange flowers used in religious ceremonies, the religious iconography of the statue and soft white flowing clothes were used to achieve this, photographed in a simple, natural-looking environment.
General Picture Desk: Scanning and re-touching transparencies
Faking It - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Writing briefs, arranging shoots and commissioning photographers to shoot "before and after" images of each participant in the series. Directing some shoots and picture editing the results.
General Picture Desk: Scanning transparencies, retouching, captioning and uploading to a website for press distribution.
First World War - Picture Researcher
Picture Researcher: Recovering previously unseen colour photographs of the First World War from East European photo archives. Captioning, picture editing and researching the technique used to create these colour images.
Picture Publicist: Managing distribution of exclusive images and working with Press Officers to secure a multi-page spread in the Sunday Times Magazine
Roadtrip - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Selecting a photographer able to set up a location shoot including lighting in a very short time-slot. Researching filming locations in order to create a brief that would enable a decent image to be created within those short timescales.
Secret Millionaire - Picture Publicist
Photo Shoot: Ensuring that the millionaires remained anonymous while filming was still taking place while still generating a high degree of press interest. Securing a double page Radio Times piece.
Hannibal - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Acquiring stills that had been shot for this film and desaturating/grading them to improve their impact
God Gave Rock and Roll To You - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: As factual programmes do not often feature greatly in press around Christmas time, the brief was to create something fun/festive looking. I used Photoshop to create this version of the last supper featuring various contributors from the programme - placing musical instruments and other items as well as matching skin tones and blending heads onto the disciples bodies.
Picture Publicist: This image was used by the Observer for the cover of the 2006/07 Christmas TV guide.
Fire in the Sky - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Mark Kermode was photographed using lighting and props that enabled me to drop him into scenarios related to the films discussed. Photoshop was used extensively to create the effect that Mark was in a "towering inferno".
Skins - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: I directed a shoot set up by another picture editor to illustrate the series. Following an interview with Joe Dempsie, a major magazine requested portraits of him. I shot these digitally and sent them in time for their same day deadline.
New Spaces - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Organising a shoot around hectic filming schedules. Editing stills that would capture the feel of Ben's modern lifestyle-focussed design style.
God Is Green - Photography
Photography: I was asked to create a look different than images that characterised some of the religious programmes at the time. Using a neon cross, some cans and a generator, I shot this in my back garden.
Above the Below - Picture Editor and Researcher
Picture Editor: This programme had an extensive photography requirement as it attracted a lot of press attention. I commissioned a portrait shoot to illustrate the programme as well as photography before and during the stunt. Upon David's exit from the box, I was responsible for managing the press photographers.
Picture Researcher: Visiting David in hospital and acquiring photographs taken during his stay there.
Picture Publicist: Managing images to provide exclusives to press.
Brink's Mat - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: To illustrate the programme, I set up and directed a shoot at an airport. In order to reflect the nature of the characters in the dramatic recreations, lighting was used to create shadows and underexpose the background. A second unit shoot was also organised around filming schedules to get images of the robbery recreation.
Belsen - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Researching the programme in order to write an effective brief. Liasing with the production company to organise unit still photography on set and selection of a unit photographer.
The Age of Terror - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Photo Shoot: Management of a 30-day photoshoot. Working with Oscar-winning director John Blair I commissioned Hodge award-winning photographer Sam Faulkner, setting up a photoshoot spanning over ten countries photographing victims of terrorism and the terrorists themselves including the King David Hotel bomber and the Colombian army, moments before combat with terrorist organisation FARC.
Picture Editor: Editing, scanning, captioning and re-touching the output from the 30 days of photography.
Trapped By My Twin - Picture Editor
Picture Editor: Arranging photography with the twins. Selection of a photographer who would be sensitive to the concerns of the twins and the way they might be portrayed.
The Nixon Tapes - Photoshoot and Picture Editor
Photo Shoot: Working against a tight deadline, I set up a photoshoot in the basement of the venue where the programme launch event was happening so that the images would be ready for distribution the same day.
Picture Editor: Within half an hour, the pictures were captioned, uploaded and available for press to use.
