David Ovenden |

by David Ovenden

Exceptional photography

for theatre and the arts

Exceptional photography

for events and conferences

Exceptional photography

for individuals, groups and families

Exceptional photography

for catwalks and catalogues

Exceptional photography

for advertising, websites and brochures

Exceptional photography

Hello,

my name is David Ovenden and I am a freelance professional photographer providing a wide range of photographic services to individuals and businesses.
I specialise in portraits (for social media, family and business), theatre, fashion and commercial photography but I can help you with all your photographic requirements. I offer studio or location shoots, and with my portable studio I can create studio quality shots in your own home, office or at your function.
I cover all areas of London and the South East, or further afield on request.

Below you will see some of my recent work. Bear in mind that a lot of my work is for private clients and and will not appear here to maintain client confidentiality.

Recent Work

Musical Theatre Conference 2022

Come join us! It’s time to gather and consider, with determined optimism, the prospects for musical theatre to lead the way in our evolving times. From this perspective, Stephen Sondheim’s beautiful lyrics could be talking about the UK’s growing new musical theatre sector over the next decade: ‘it’s our time, breathe it in: worlds to change and worlds to win’. This year’s Conference will look at areas where musical theatre is making a difference within the performing arts and wider society, and poised to make more significant impacts over the next decade. More information on speakers and session topics to be announced soon.

The 2022 UK Musical Theatre Conference is brought to you by Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments, in association with Birmingham Hippodrome.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Based on the film of the same name, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tells the story of two very different con men, the debonair Lawrence Jameson and the vulgar Freddy Benson. The chalk and cheese con men know they can’t both work the same resort so they decide to make a bet.

The first to make $50,000 from one of the many wealthy ladies of the French Riviera town of Beaumont-sur-Mer will get to stay, the loser has to leave town. All they have to decide is who is the mark – and no mark is more loaded and less aware than the American Soap Queen herself, Christine Colgate. As they try their different approaches to get the dough, they find that Christine isn’t as easy as they first thought and that this con is going to be harder and more painful than expected, but the most fun they’ve ever had.

Nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2005, this show has it all, from glitzy dance numbers to hilarious songs and stupid jokes.

Presented by Sedos at the Bridewell Theatre

Ophelia Thinks Harder

A riotous reworking of Shakespeare’s Hamlet – with serious themes, nevertheless. Featuring Ophelia, her maid, St Joan and a couple of locals – Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

The Prince is a hazard and the new King’s a puppet. Who the hell is running Denmark? Ophelia tries to please. Ophelia fails. Ophelia thinks harder.

With guerilla feminists invading the castle, failed spells from a frustrated maid, endless direction from a wily Queen and various ignored ghosts, this is not the Hamlet you know.

Ophelia Thinks Harder is a heightened, confused and darkly-funny world, where Shakespeare meets feminism. And this time Ophelia gets all the best lines.

Presented by Sedos at the Bridewell Theatre

Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Concert 2021

The Best New Song Prize is awarded on an annual basis recognising an outstanding song from a new musical, written by a member of Mercury Musical Developments, the UK’s largest membership organisation dedicated to developing new musical theatre writing. 12 finalists selected from 175 applicants had their songs showcased by West End performers at this celebration concert at Hackney Empire on Friday 10 September 2021

BEAM 2021

BEAM2021 is a live and digital all-day event, the UK’s biggest showcase of new musical theatre. BEAM features presentations of new musicals in development from throughout the UK, including ideas ranging from daytime bhangra raves to climate change told as a love story, from challenging the UK’s hostile environment policy to singing lesbian pirates. BEAM is for anyone interested in musicals. The 38 new musicals, found via a nationwide call-out, will be presented in live or in digital form, with stream.theatre also livestreaming the whole event.

BEAM is produced by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network, with funding and support from Arts Council England, the PRS Foundation, the Coach Jack Curran Trust, Youth Music and the Coral Samuel Charitable Foundation.

ART UK – Sculpture photography

ART UK is the online home for every public art collection in the UK. Featuring over 270,000 artworks by over 50,000 artists. ART UK is a charity, and its website represents a collaboration between over 3,400 British institutions.

Following a plea from the Royal Photographic Society, I volunteered to became the sculpture photographer for the London Borough of Waltham Forest. This involved researching sculptures throughout the borough, photographing them from various angles and completing a spreadsheet with details. coordinates and references (probably the hardest part)

“‘I do like the way you represent my work on your web site. many thanks for the exposure.’” Marshall Lambert, Sculptor

The high spot for me was the Hitchcock murals at Leytonstone Underground Station, some of which are shown above. They were difficult to shoot as they are at the entrance to a busy (even during lockdown} Underground station and are mosaics on curved tiled walls in a constricted space.