Photographing the First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones

News photography can be very rewarding at times and having to photograph a Head of State -although by no means easy- can be very fulfilling as an experience. Time is at a premium and photographers are rarely allowed more than a few minutes.

Throughout my career though I have been given quite a few opportunities to photograph Carwyn Jones, in his capacity as the First Minister for Wales.

The last time was when he gave a press conference following the death of Carl Sargeant and a few weeks prior to that, I was commissioned by The Guardian newspaper, to take his portrait at his Cardiff Bay office, for an editorial piece by Steven Morris.

 

 

Rhodri Morgan (R) with successor Carwyn Jones (L) in the Senedd Cardiff Bay. Last day in office for First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan at the Welsh Assembly Government where he took part in First Minister Questions at the Chambers in the Senedd at Cardiff Bay for the last time, to be succeeded by Carwyn Jones Assembly Member for Bridgend.

Carwyn Jones takes over from Rhodri Morgan in the Senedd, Cardiff Bay on 8th of December 2009.

This is where it all started for First Minister Carwyn Jones, when he officially took over from Rhodri Morgan in December 2009 at The Senedd. The strange thing was, in typical Welsh politics fashion, there was no big fanfare, a few speeches in chambers and that was pretty much it.

Pictured: Labour leader Ed Miliband (C) strolls through Llanelli town centre with First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones (L) and Welsh Assembly candidate for Llanelli Keith Davies (R). Wednesday 20 April 2011 Re: Labour Party leader Ed Miliband was touring south and west Wales today in support to candidates of the forthcoming Welsh Assembly election in May. He arrived by train to Swansea Railway Station where he was greeted by MP for Neath Peter Hain and he was then driven to Llanelli, Carmarthenshire where he toured in the city's enclosed market with local Labour candidate.

Labour leader Ed Miliband (C) strolls through Llanelli town centre with First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones (L) and Welsh Assembly candidate for Llanelli Keith Davies (R). 20 April 2011

 

Pictured: Carwyn Jones (R) with Nick Ainger (L) coming out of a flat they just canvassed Re: First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones canvassing in Carmarthen west Wales with Nick Ainger. Thursday 08 April 2010

Carwyn Jones (R) with Nick Ainger (L) coming out of a flat they just canvassed in Carmarthen,Wales. 08 April 2010

 

Pictured: Nia Griffiths and Carwyn Jones in Llanelli Market Re: Nia Griffiths MP canvassing shoppers for Labour's pre election campaign, in the town centre of her constituency of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire west Wales, with First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones. Thursday 08 April 2010

Nia Griffiths and Carwyn Jones in Llanelli Market in Carmarthenshire west Wales. 08 April 2010

 

There is no politician without having to walk the streets and talk to people, and the First Minister has always been there joining his political allies on the streets of Carmartheshire.

There was some editorial coverage at the time, mostly by the Western Mail and South Wales Evening Post newspapers.

 

Pictured L-R: First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones with Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Re: HRH The Queen Elizabeth accompanied by her husband, Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh and Charles The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall, visiting the Welsh Assembly Parliament in Cardiff Bay. Tuesday 07 June 2011

First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones with Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visiting the Senedd (Welsh Assembly Parliament) in Cardiff Bay. 07 June 2011

This was indeed a rare occasion of HRH Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip having been joined by Prince Charles and wife Camilla, to visit the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

WORDS STEPHEN MOSS FOR G2 Pictured: Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones next to a picture of american golfer Payne Stewart celebrating his win on the last green of the 1999 US Open in North Carolina. Tuesday 14 September 2010 Re: The effect that the Ryder Cup 2010 which will be held at the caltic Manor resort, will have to nearby areas such as Ringland in Gwent, south Wales.

First Minister Carwyn Jones next to a picture of american golfer Payne Stewart celebrating his win on the last green of the 1999 US Open in North Carolina. 14 September 2010

The First Minister’s support to large employers has been great throughout the years. In 2010, he took part in a press conference ahead of the 2010 Ryder Cup at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, a venue which hosted the NATO Summit a few years later.

Pictured: First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones in the cab of a refuse lorry. Thursday 22 July 2010 Re: The first minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, is doing a tour speaking to public workers at the Neighbourhood Services department in New Inn near Pontypool where he was taken in a refuse lorry from the town's Civic Centre.

First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones in the cab of a refuse lorry in Pontypool, Wales. 22 July 2010

athn_carwyn_jones_stock_1213L-R: Debbie Wilcox, Sir Terry Matthews, Carwyn Jones and Stephen Bowcott during a ground-breaking photo-call for the ICC Wales at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. 23 June 2017

Mirst Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones in his office at the Ty Hywel building in Cardiff Bay, Wales, UK. STOCK PICTURE Re: First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones has been having meetings with members of Welsh Labour.

First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones in his office at the Ty Hywel building in Cardiff Bay, Wales. 13 September 2017

 

This must have been one of the quickest photo-shoots of my entire career. For this particular shot I approached the nice and simple theme, a horizontal headshot with a plain white background. My Canon 85mm f1.2 helped quite a bit too, throwing everything behind the First Minister’s shoulder out of focus.

To see our this photo-shoot’s entire set, please click here.

 

Pictured: First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones speaks to the media. Thursday 09 November 2017 Re: First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones gives a press conference after a meeting with Welsh Labour colleagues, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Wales, UK

First Minister for Wales, Carwyn Jones speaks to the media at Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Wales, UK. 09 November 2017

 

Monday 12 November 2012 Pictured L-R: First Minster for Wales Carwyn Jones hands over the sealed document to Claire Clancy Clerk of the Assembly at the Welsh Government in Cardiff, south Wales. Re: The first bill passed by the Welsh assembly since last year's referendum on its powers has become law at a ceremony in Cardiff. First Minister Carwyn Jones has fixed an official seal to documents signed by the Queen giving Royal Assent to the Official Languages Bill. It is the first time the ceremony has happened since the assembly acquired direct law-making powers in May 2011. Mr Jones said it was a "historic" occasion. The bill became law when the first minister applied the seal and handed it to the clerk of the assembly. Drawn up by the assembly's own authorities, the measure is designed to give equal status to the Welsh and English languages in the assembly. The assembly has also approved legislation to reform the way local bye-laws are made, but it was challenged in the supreme court by the UK government before it could become law. Mr Jones said: "Today is a historic day for us as a nation. It heralds the beginning of a new era for the governance of Wales."

First Minster for Wales Carwyn Jones hands over the sealed document to Claire Clancy Clerk of the Assembly at the Welsh Government in Cardiff, south Wales during the first bill passed by the Welsh assembly since last year’s referendum on its powers has become law at a ceremony in Cardiff. 12 November 2012

This is my favourite picture of the First Minister as it has the element of old technology which in effect gives power to new laws and also shows that there are quite a few other important people working for government, without whom, even a Head of State could not function.

To see all of our pictures of First Minister Carwyn Jones, click here.

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