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Our best news pictures for 2021

Dimitris — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 12:29:56 +0000

It wasn’t just the Covid-19 pandemic that made the news, there were severe floods, politics, gigs, a riot, a double-decker bus and a man who loves baked beans…

A day before Storm Christoph affects parts of the United Kingdom, fire service rescue personnel wade through the a flooded section of Dynevor Road, Skewen, Wales. Thursday 21 January 2021

Two young men run into the sea at the end of an unusually warm day, just before sunset in Swansea, Wales, UK. Sunday 28 February 2021

A woman has her hair washed at Boosh Hair Salon on the day lockdown measures were eased off with barbers’ and hairdressers’ opening in Swansea, Wales, UK. Monday 15 March 2021

Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru during his Senedd (Welsh Parliament) pre-election campaing in Ton Pentre, Wales, UK in Ton Pentre. Tuesday 27 April 2021

Cardiff West independent candidate, Captain Beany speaks to two women outside the Senedd, during his pre-election campaign in Cardiff Bay, Wales, UK.

Palestinian people and local supporters hold a rally in Swansea, Wales, UK. Sunday 16 May 2021

The immediate aftermath of a riot, two burned-out cars in the Waun-Wen area of Mayhill in Swansea, Wales, UK. Thursday 20 May 2021

A young couple take a selfie on the beach as the sun rises, marking the beginning of the meteorological summer, Swansea Bay, Wales, UK. Tuesday 01 June 2021

Investigation into the death of five year old Logan Mwangi. A police diver surfaces from the river Ogmore in the Sarn area of Bridgend, Wales, UK. Monday 02 August 2021

Emergency services attend the scene of an accident in which a First Cymru Coaster open top bus lost its roof after crashing onto a tree while travelling on Mumbles Road near Swansea, Wales, UK.

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis on stage at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, Wales, UK. Sunday 26 September 2021

GB News live broadcast Farage at Large, in which, Nigel Farage spoke with local MP Stephen Kinnock at the Twelve Knights pub in Port Talbot, Wales, UK. Thursday 15 October 2021

A band of five drummers, part of the Christmas Parade in Swansea, Wales, UK. Sunday 21 November 2021

Vistors of Luminate Live at Margam County Park, Wales, UK. Monday 29 November 2021

Two men fool around during Mad Friday in Wind Street, Swansea, Wales ,UK. Friday 17 December 2021

Our best pictures for 2020

Dimitris — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 14:16:16 +0000

2020 marks 12 years since Athena Picture Agency was founded, we worked through 2020 to produce yet another portfolio of pictures.

Since March, the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic bacame in itself a news category of its own which was enough for us to produce a blog of our coverage.

Having gone through hundreds of images, these are our very best for the year.

Stef Kamil Carlens performs at the No More Shall We Part exhibition in Antwerp, Belgium. Saturday 01 February 2020

Will Humphries swims in freezing weather conditions in Langland Bay, near Swansea, Wales, UK. Thursday 13 February 2020

PWaves crash against the promenade wall and lighthouse in Porthcawl, south Wales, UK. Saturday 15 February 2020
Re: Strong winds and heavy rain caused by storm Dennis has been affecting parts of the UK.

Two firemen bring two young children to safety after being evacuated in Nantgarw, Wales, UK. Sunday 16 February 2020

A young boy enters a flooded lane caused by storm Dannis in Pontypridd, Wales, UK. Sunday 16 February 2020

Jeremy Corbyn with local resident Richard Oliver whose house suffered flood damage at he area of Rhydyfelin near Pontypridd, south Wales, UK. Thursday 20 February 2020

Interior view of Retrosexual antique shop, Athens, Greece. Thursday 27 February 2020

Summer Solstice, a fishing boat departs from the port town of Oropos as the sun rises over the mountains of Evia island, north of Athens, Greece. Sunday 21 June 2020

Dean Beddis at his used records stall in the indoor Provisions Market which is being re-developed in Newport, south Wales, UK. Thursday 23 July 2020

A young couple from Hereford rest in their van on the site of an illegal rave party, in woods near the village of Banwen, in south Wales, UK. Monday 31 August 2020

A full moon, known as a Halloween Blue Moon, is seen rising over ruins of the Acropolis of Lindos, a Doric temple built for Athena Lindia, the ancient goddess of wisdom, handicraft, and warfare, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, marking the end of the tourist season in the country which was affected by the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. 1974 was the last time a blue moon was visible in the UK and Ireland and in 1944 was the last one visible across the whole world with the next one in 19 years. Saturday 31 October 2020

Swansea City Councillor Rob Stewart lays a wreath during Armistice Day at the cenotaph in Swansea, Wales, UK. Wednesday 11 November 2020

The locally grown barley used to make whisky at the Welsh Wind gin distillery near Aberporth, Wales, UK. Wednesday 25 November 2020

Owners the Welsh Wind gin distillery Ellen Wakelam and Alex Jungmayr, near Aberporth, Wales, UK. Wednesday 25 November 2020

A football fan identified only as James (C) with other campaigners protest against the use of facial recognition technology used by South Wales Police, outside the stadium in Cardiff. Sunday 12 January 2019

Prince Charles stands next to an Aston Martin DBX, worth £158,000, at the Aston Martin Lagonda factory in St Athan, south Wales, UK . Friday 21 February 2020

Harriet Prothero Sultani who runs a rental union in the Roath area of Cardiff, Wales, UK. Thursday 10 December 2020

Four people walk their dogs as the sun rises over Swansea Bay, Wales, UK. Friday 25 December 2020

Natasha Jenkins enjoys a walk through the sunflower field, which has re-opened after the Covid-19 lockdown in Rhossili, Wales, UK. Sunday 26 July 2020

Craig Williams, owner of Capelli hair salon in Bridgend, Wales, UK. Wednesday 19 February 2020

Musician Cian Carran who is against the redevelopment of the Britannia Park in Cardiff Bay, Wales, UK. Tuesday 15 December 2020

A low cloud in Swansea Bay, Wales, UK. Wednesday 20 May 2020

Behind the scenes of “We’Re Still Here” by the National Theatre Wales

athena_admin — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:24:22 +0000

Although I mostly cover news and PR, I am in love with performance photography, be it theatre or live gigs, I have done quite a few.

Starting in May 2017, and during five days, four of which in mid-September, I had the great privilege in documenting production behind the scenes of We’Re Still Here, a play by the National Theatre Wales and Common Wealth.

The obvious challenges were the lack of light during the two dress rehearsals and trying to guess what the plot may be, in a production, taking place in a disused recycling industrial unit, a stone’s throw away from the Steel Works in Port Talbot.

It is never easy trying to produce news-worthy imagery in a dark place but given that I was allowed on two consecutive days, I managed to pull it off.

I always try and offer the best service to my clients and I am led to believe that they were happy. Quite a few newspapers reviewed the play in a positive way and my pictures certainly got used.

This is an excellent opportunity for me as a person, and for my small picture agency business which gives me pride being trusted to deliver my services in a photography subject which I adore.

Launch Day, Day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5

Our theatre and live music photography gallery is here.

The following is from: https://www.nationaltheatrewales.org/were-still-here

15 – 30 September, 2017

Port Talbot

WE’RE STILL HERE

National Theatre Wales & Common Wealth
People have forgotten how to say ‘no’. That’s the problem in this country. We are allowed to say ‘no’.

Port Talbot steelworks; site of one of the last heavy industries in Wales, and threatened with closure in 2015. The story made headlines around the world, and the Save Our Steel campaign was quick to respond, gathering a momentum that captured the spirit and uncertainty of our times. So what happens when we come together? What happens when we say ‘no’?

In Port Talbot, leaders, workers and unions all said no. These people came together to save their jobs and their community.

These are the people behind the headlines and the politics, living and working at the heart of the machine. These are their lives, hopes, fears and dreams and this is their story, told with humour, passion and pride.

Based on interviews with steelworkers, union representatives and the people of Port Talbot, We’re Still Here is a site-specific performance. Dynamically staged in the disused Byass Works, it celebrates the unique spirit of the town.

Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Steel worker and actor Sam Coombes during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actor Jason May during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”, a play created by Rachel Trezise, Common Wealth and the National Theatre Wales about steelworkers, which will be performed in Byass Works, a disused industrial unit, in Port Talbot, south Wales, UK.

Actor Sam Coombes during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actors Jason May, Sion Tudor Owen and Simon Nehan during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actor Sion Tudor Owen during the dress rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Writer Rachel Trezise (L) during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

The four main characters perform a dance scene during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actor Sam Coombes who plays Lewis during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

L-R: Co-director Evie Manning, artistic director Kully Thiarai, writer Rachel Trezise and co-director Rhiannon White

Actors Simon Nehan and Sion Tudor Owen during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actor Ioan Hefin who plays Adrian during the press rehearsal of “We’Re Still Here”

Actor Jason May

“We Are Still Here” rehearsal

Actor Ioan Hefin rehearses for “We Are Still Here”

Directors Rhiannon White and Evie Manning

Actor Sion Tudor Owen

Actors Simon Nehan

Actors Jason May, Sam Coombes, Sion Tudor Owen, Ioan Hefin and Simon Nehan

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