Award-winning architectural photographer Anthony Weller thought it was just another news story for a construction magazine-until a demented JCB driver suddenly turned his day upside down.
"I got the pictures of the depot for the story and had just returned to my car when I saw a JCB thundering towards me and before I knew what was happening the driver had scooped up my car and pushed it, with me still inside, onto a nearby railway siding. Then he disappeared and I grabbed my camera kit and clambered out before phoning the police and my office to report it. Unfortunately the JCB driver was never identified and the matter was eventually dropped."
That minor hiccup apart, Anthony, a perfectionist and passionate disciple of his art, has enjoyed a highly successful career in the competitive world of architectural photography.
Over the past three decades he has photographed some of the world's most compelling buildings and rubbed shoulders with some of the greats in the architectural firmament, like Lord Norman Foster and Lord Richard Rogers.
He bought his first camera (a Russian-made Zenith E) when he was just sixteen and went on to do a photography course at the then North East London Polytechnic.
He studied scientific photography and, after a short spell at the Building Research Station, decided to move on. He beat 900 other applicants to a job as a photographer on Building Magazine and stayed with the title for 21 years.
"I loved it," he says. "I was totally entranced by architecture and the magazine was the perfect environment for me to meet and photograph all the rising captains of the building industry while working right at the cutting-edge of architecture." But ultimately Anthony decided to fulfill his ambition to create his own independent business. Now he runs Archimage (www.archimage.co.uk) from his Chilterns base with Sarah, his wife and business partner.
Anthony covers all aspects of architecture: interiors (commercial buildings, shopping centres, offices, hospitals, etc.) construction and industrial-a selection of which can be seen on his website along with a category he calls ArchiDetails-and a comprehensive range of architectural images which are available as framed prints.
Anthony, a regular and long-time Calumet customer, now shoots with his trusty Canon 5D, but for many years his weapon of choice was a large format Linhof.
He recalls: "I must admit I did love using that camera and shooting film, but at least my back isn't complaining so much these days. Now I only carry lightweight gear and I work faster-which means my clients get more pictures at the end of the day."
He adds: "If I'm honest, the Linhof was probably capable of producing superior quality, but the 5D produces exceptionally good images which the clients love.
"I don't have any customers demanding I shoot on film these days…and now I'm just hoping that Canon will produce an EOS 1Ds Mark III, which will definitely be on my Calumet shopping list."
Like landscape photographer Charlie Waite and gardens specialist Clive Nichols (both recently featured in Focus), Anthony is reliant on favourable weather for his best work.
"This is a business where I need lots of notice so I can get to a building on a good day. You'd be amazed at how many clients seem to have no appreciation of the vagaries of the British weather. The light and timing are crucial. I often consider the building as a large sculpture, having form and texture; I try to utilize the natural light to display these qualities to best effect.
"But when you shoot buildings it's not just about aesthetics, it's also about functionality. The structure may be beautiful but it has to function as well. It's not just something to look at, it's something to use and live in-and that should come through in the photography too."
Anthony has shot a vast range of diverse architectural subjects over the years, both at home and abroad; including the iconic BMW building in Hamburg, the Mexican Embassy in Berlin, The Adelaide Law Courts, The Edinburgh Conference Centre and Bluewater shopping mall.
And the ugliest building he has ever shot? "Well, everyone hated the Tricorn shopping centre and car park in Portsmouth. It was a hideous mass of concrete constructed in a 'brutalist' style with nothing going for it at all. Fortunately for us all it was demolished three years ago."
He doesn't share Prince Charles' outspoken views on architecture: "I admit I do like classical architecture where it's appropriate and works well with the vernacular architecture. But you wouldn't for instance want to see a Georgian style office block in a modern business park."
Anthony's work has been featured on a Royal Mail stamp and he is a three-time winner of the International Building Press photojournalist of the year award.
In a transient departure from his mainstream shooting he recently agreed to do some Internet teaching work for students at the Perfect Picture School of Photography in Florida.
"I've put together some lessons which are followed up with assignments, critiques and forums. I'm really looking forward to having a new string to my bow."
And the next five years?
"Well, building will remain the key word. I want to increase my portfolio of architects," he says, "I've got a nucleus of building contractors and design agencies as customers, but I would like to work more closely with architects."
Another key strategy is to stay away from JCBs.
