Royal photographer Arthur Edwards says Kate Middleton is getting ‘better and better’ at taking pictures and encouraged the public to submit their ‘historical images’ to her community project.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, joined forces with the National Portrait Gallery to launch a community photography project titled Hold Still designed to catch the ‘spirit, mood, hopes and fears’ of the nation amid the coronavirus crisis.
Kate, a keen amateur photographer, is a patron of the National Portrait Gallery and Arthur, 79, said that while her pictures have been criticised in the past, the royal has a knack for ‘making people smile’ with her pictures.
He spoke on This Morning today of ‘stunning’ pictures taken by Kate, released to celebrate Prince Louis‘ second birthday, where the young royal can be seen beaming having smeared rainbow colours across his cheeks.
Kate Middleton is getting ‘better and better’ at taking pictures, says royal photographer Arthur Edwards. She is pictured as she takes part in a a photography workshop with the charity ‘Action for Children’ in London last year
The playful Prince! As Louis celebrated his 2nd birthday his parents released this adorable snap of the youngster smearing rainbow paint across his cheeks in an outtake from his birthday photoshoot with mother Kate, 38
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards appeared on This Morning and encouraged the public to submit their ‘historical images’ to her community project
‘She’s getting better and better, said Arthur. ‘She started off and there was criticism from people about the images not being sharped or cropped properly. Now her stuff is just brilliant, that picture of Louis and the paint is just stunning.
‘The test is when you look at a picture like that. whether you laugh and smile, you’ve cracked it, and she does it every time.’
Last week, Kate launched her photography project with the National Portrait Gallery, with participants encouraged to provide a short written submission to outline the experiences and emotions of those depicted in their photograph.
Hold Still is completely free, open to all ages and abilities, and will focus on three core themes – ‘Helpers and Heroes’, ‘Your New Normal’ and ‘Acts of Kindness’.
Supporting the NHS: Charming pictures taken of Prince Louis by Kate show that – just like millions of other children across Britain – his parents are keeping him busy by painting rainbows to celebrate the NHS
The Duchess of Cambridge has joined forces with the National Portrait Gallery to launch a community photography project designed to capture the ‘spirit, mood, hopes and fears’ of the nation as it continues to battle coronavirus. Pictured during an interview, which will be broadcast on ITV’s This Morning last week
Speaking of the competition, Arthur said: ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea, I think it’s not normal times, it’s extraordinary times.
‘So many things home-schooling people playing games, doing jigsaws and doing gardening during the day.
‘Just the other day I was asked to photograph a funeral as only five people could be there. It’s something I’ve never been asked to do before.
‘Looking at some of the entries they’re stunning and whether you use a phone or camera, quality is not everything in this competition. Just send it in because it’s the content that counts.’
The Duchess of Cambridge has a longstanding interest in photography. Pictured: Photographs of Princess Charlotte, taken by Kate to mark her fifth birthday
As for his tips to take a good photo, Arthur advised turning around your phone and filling the frame- as well as stressing the importance of printing off these ‘historical pictures’ for the years to come.
He said: ‘The most important thing I tell people is to fill the frame and turn the phone sideways occasionally, because that makes a great photos.
‘Hold the camera still, but the most important is get them printed. These are historical pictures, people will be teaching this in schools from years to come.’
The project showcases the lives of those who have put everything on hold to help protect our NHS – and the reality of everyday life on the frontline for our helpers and heroes and the Duchess will personally curate 100 photographs for the exhibition.
Adorable – Here is a five-year-old girl called Eaddee who wears a painted rainbow face in support of the NHS
A favourite of the Duchess – grandparents greeting their grandchildren from the other side of a window while social distancing
Pictured: 79-year-old Jack Dodsley dancing with a health worker at Newfield Nursing Home in Sheffield
ICU nurse Aimee Goold posted a heartbreaking image of her tired and scared face, pleading with people to stay home
She said she had been ‘struck’ by the many ‘incredible’ images seen already, ‘which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people – some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic’.
Others, she said, had been more ‘uplifting’. Among her favourites are a five-year-old girl called Eaddee who wears a painted rainbow face for the NHS.
Others include 79-year-old Jack Dodsley dancing with a health worker at Newfield Nursing Home in Sheffield, grandparents greeting their grandchildren from the other side of a window, and Nottingham ICU nurse Aimee Goold.
The community photography project comes after the number of UK deaths involving Covid-19 passed 40,000 today.
People from across the UK are invited to submit a photographic portrait which they have taken during these extraordinary times for the community project.