To commemorate the 90th birthday of the biologist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, portrait photographer Mark Harrison, based near London, was called upon by Radio Times for an adorable cover feature with a lion cub.
As the world’s most well-known man with animals, they wanted a startling shot, so why not a lion cub?
Mark has worked with Radio Times for almost 20 years, photographing both covers and spreads. They tend to call him for trickier photoshoots or when the lighting is especially important.
[Radio Times] is the UK’s oldest TV magazine — so old that they existed when there was only radio. I think they called me for this one as I had worked with Attenborough before.
This was Mark’s fourth time working with Sir David, so Mark has been able to get to know his style and preferences for being photographed. David doesn’t like vanity or being fussed over — he just wants to nail the shot and be done with it. He listens to the brief and delivers it perfectly.
Photographing him involves less direction and more recording of an event. He is as charming and friendly as one could hope for and is full of great stories. He always wears a blue shirt and is ready on set in minutes, so I have to get it all together immediately.
Preproduction was simply handling the logistics of kit and crew, which was sorted out between Mark and the magazine’s picture desk. They were to have about 90 minutes in all, which is typical for celebrity portraiture. On set were the editor and photo editor from Radio Times, grooming for David, two animal handlers, David’s assistant, and then Mark with two photo assistants.
The location was David’s house and as I drew my car up outside, the magazine editor greeted me, which is unusual. “Ah, Mark, good. Can you now please convince David to let us shoot inside as he doesn’t know that this is going to be a big set up?” Five mins of chat and we were inside — lion cubs and all.
Radio Times sourced the animal handler specialists. The cubs were not from the wild but bred in captivity among multi-generational captive animals. These cubs had been rejected by their kin for needing hand-rearing to survive. The question had to be begged — did Mark get to hold the cubs?
Only the handlers and David held them, but I did get close.
The energy is always quite charged on these quick, one-take portrait shoots. Adrenaline can’t help but rush when one is in a new environment and not every element is controlled. Given Mark’s massive celebrity portfolio, he is clearly trusted in these conditions. When asked what Mark attributes that reliability to, he said:
I think, firstly, I always deliver, and often in quite pressured conditions. Secondly, I get on with people, be it presidents or film stars or hardened criminals. I guess they see me as a safe pair of hands which is paramount when you only get one chance.
Mark took extra care to appreciate and enjoy this photoshoot, as Mark suspected this could very well be his last with David.
Credits
Radio Times Editor: Shem Law
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