Having just finished reading the thirteenth Ian Fleming book in my boxset, I was in a decidedly Bondy mood when I went down to Leicester Square for the Royal premiere of “Quantum of Solace“, the 22nd film in the James Bond franchise.
With it being a Royal premiere, the two Princes rocked up and having spent ages talking to punters around the corner, decided to dash straight past the assembled photographers without looking up once (apart from a quick glance as they came down the steps..)

Not that it bothered me TOO much as I was still feeling a little dizzy after one of the previous guests turning up. The woman below is 44. Good lord..

Premieres of this size are always good fun to shoot as the PR companies have normally managed to prune away all the drivel that usually turn up to these kind of things. Not one Big Brother contestant. Bliss.

I can’t wait to see the new film as, having read the books now, I can enjoy the character a lot more and Danny Boy seems to be doing a damn fine job of recapturing that original creation that makes any man in a tuxedo do a “gun pose” in front of the mirror when they’re alone.


The new baddy of the film, played by Mathieu Amalric, also looks to be well cast as he was the only person to turn up to the event with a cigarette in hand. Oddly enough, it reminded me that the only other person I’ve shot at a premiere with cig in hand was Heath Ledger but I can’t for the life of me find the pictures now. I wish I was more organised..

The new Bond-girl, played by Olga Kurylenko, looks to be the usual suitable late-2000′s beauty. Rather annoyingly, while Daniel Craig would only pose with his wife and only for a very brief moment, Olga was surrounded by PRs and hangers-on who managed to ruin the background of every shot. Grrr…

The one thing that every paper wanted from tonight was a shot of Bond with a Bond-girl on each arm but that would have been FAR too difficult to get organised, what with them all being in the same building and all..

Aside from that gripe, everything seemed to go pretty smoothly. I just wish we got to wander in and watch the film as we edited!

fantastic shots, babe. I’ll let you have Elle as your pink ticket
Wowser! Super glitzy shiny shots. The D C one is just delicious, sorry, I mean technically wonderful (phew!).
By the way, I zoned in quick as a flash to your Heath Ledger comment. Please keep looking and if you do find it – Christmas or Birthday present sorted!! Woo-hoo!
xXx
Is it true that Elle MacPherson made her dress out of Quality Street wrappers?
Nice work as always Leon, even in the case of the two princes you managed to catch the right moment. If I may ask, I am so curious as to the source of the light on Judi Dench and Daniel Craig’s photos. Great stuff!
Thanks Daniel. The lighting on all of these images is “catchflash”. This is timing the moment of your photograph to coincide with other people’s flashes firing. This way, you get nice side-lighting and more dramatic shadows.
Nice work as usual, My liege. Don’t get me started about PR agencies, though…grrrr….
Having fresh trouble with them or just a general gripe?
Normal gripe, of course…
As an update, I’ve just been to see the film tonight and it ROCKED. Go and see it. Now. Turn your computer off and go. Now.