In place of an end-of-year list or restrospective post, I thought I’d write a few words about one of my favourite photos from the year; not just to look at, but probably one of the most enjoyable to shoot…

During my behind-the-scenes tour of Iceland Airwaves with Icelandic band Rökkurró, we wanted to get some publicity shots of the band, so headed to the wonderful Cafe Babalú in Skólavörðustigur. The quirky decor and relaxed atmosphere were perfect so we pushed some tables together and I asked the band to talk amongst themselves while I worked out the best way to light and expose the shot.

At one point Skúli’s phone rang, and I thought having him pretending to have a conversation on the phone would be a good focal point for the photo, so once the call had ended he started ad-libbing to an imaginary friend and I just captured a series of reaction shots. I love the natural smiles and laughs, and with Bibbi looking straight into the camera the viewer feels connected with the image, like someone sharing the joke rather than an eavesdropper.

I lit the shot with a single flash, connected wirelessly and bounced off the ceiling of the cafe. I used a tungsten gel to match the colour of the cafe’s lighting, meaning the lamps in the top left, and any ambient illumination don’t look orange. The band members all chose a mug from the varied selection on offer in the cafe.