Alex Cornes

I’ve always found it useful to take a moment and reflect on the successes of the past year as we pass into a new one. Happy News Years to you all. I hope 2011 is good to you.

For me 2010 was a great year and a massive improvement on 2009 in the quantity and quality of work I was involved with as well as a much welcomed financial boost as I ventured into advertising work. I’m starting to reach the very limited financial glass ceiling of assisting work as was anticipated, however my current plan is to continue with assisting for 2-3 more years as I begin the transition from assistant to photographer. 2011 however is going to be concentrating solely on assisting and increasing my income with shooting weddings. Having had a terrible track record at missing out as a 2nd option or even once having to pull out of a trip due to illness (I missed 4 days in Barcelona with Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Raikonnen last year. Gutting!) it’s been a much welcomed change of events to be heading to Amsterdam in early Jan and possibly Qatar in early February. One of the reasons I got into assisting was to travel and get things I would never get to do otherwise. This year is looking like the year to turn things around and start flying places!

I was lucky enough to get up to some really cool things last year. From going to Tony Blairs house to shoot his christmas card… and meeting his machine gun wielding police officer guards (as well as his Royal Tonyness of course), putting Monty Python legend Terry Jones in a headlock before heading off for a beer with him (pictures below), hanging out with the Lostprophets on a boat in Cornwall for the day, to being one of the very first members of the public in the world to know about the Jaguar concept car the C-X75 due to working on the press release images.

The highlight for me in 2010 above all this however was definately travelling up to Mam Tor in the Peak District in October. It was a beautiful October day that started with a majestic sunrise through eerily thick fog that slowly ascended to reveal stunning landscapes every way you looked. I spent the day running up and down the hills carrying kit and I had a great time.. Even if the money sucks, I can’t and wouldn’t dare complain. I love my job.

2010’s photoshoots in descending order: