5.30am and I found myself running around Bastakiya with Victoria Leckie. Victoria is a local legend when it comes to running. She proudly promotes the three stripped fashion brand and has completed more than a few ultra distance races. I’d been keen to shoot some personal stuff in old Dubai for some time.

I’d shot some cultural stuff previously but no action-based imagery. After a recce the previous morning, I had a solid feel for the light, angles and workflow. Besides, there was no call for stress what with there being no creative brief other than my own imagination.  Some local security guards tried their best to push us on but we successfully worked round them. Dubai has become stupidly strict about shooting in public places so sightings of anything that remotely resembles a tripod or studio flash sets off all kinds of unnecessary alarm bells. For this reason, we embraced the real Bastakiya light, just one body and a few lenses.

The addition of Profoto heads for some fill in flash would have been grand but simply wasn’t worth the lengthy discussion that would follow with some dude in a white shirt and a ‘security’ badge. We shot a quick and sweet collection that Victoria can now add to her portfolio and I can bank as additional portfolio content.  It turned out to be a lovely morning; stunning frames, lot’s of great chat about running and of course, the essential grande latte to finish. To be repeated!

Wk