Up To Speed’s photojournalism students received an incredible insight into the challenges of working inside Downing Street this week.
In a specially convened seminar at ITV’s Westminster studios, two photographers, who have had unique access to Number 10, gave a frame-by-frame account of Gordon Brown’s last hours in office and the birth of the coalition government.
Guardian photographer Martin Argles began the story by showing his famous and exclusive pictures of Gordon Brown and his family preparing to leave Number 10 for the last time. Martin was the only photographer in the room as Mr Brown said farewell to his staff in May 2010 and prepared to walk out of Downing Street with his family.
While Martin was inside Downing Street, David Cameron’s photographer Andrew Parsons was with the Conservative Party leader. Andrew was there to document those amazing days in May when the leaders of the three main parties shuttled around Westminster attempting to divide up the spoils of a hung vote.
Some of the photographs from this period have never been published. So, Up To Speed’s photojournalism students were treated to exclusive access to candid photographs of the birth of the coalition. Andrew’s reportage includes images of David Cameron in a car park underneath College Green, preparing to meet Nick Clegg for the first time.
His account concluded with the Rose Garden meeting at Downing Street where the two new leaders held their first joint press conference.
After the talk, Up To Speed’s photojournalism students had a chance to chat with both photographers.
Earlier in the day, the Up To Speed group had been given a tour of Thomson Reuters in Canary Wharf and had met Russell Boyce, Global Head of News Pictures and Alexia Singh, Editor-in-Charge of the Wider Image Desk.
The students have just taken their NCTJ exams and are spending the next few weeks working on their portfolios.
Tags: Andrew Parsons, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, journalism courses, Martin Argles, NCTJ, NCTJ courses, NCTJ photojournalism, Nick Clegg, photojournalism course, Up To Speed Photojournalism