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Matty Healy photo snapped in minutes up for award

Evie LakeNorth East and Cumbria
News imageNeil Ferry The portrait of Matty Healy which has him looking to the left with a serious look on his face and slightly furrowed brow. He is sitting in front of a grainy, brown backdrop which has creates a realist, gritty effect. Healy has dark hair which is greying on the sides and is cut in a mullet where it is longer on the top and shaved short on the sides. He has dark stubble around his mouth and down his neck. He is wearing a dark v-neck jumper with a white shirt underneath.Neil Ferry
Neil Ferry's portrait of Matty Healy has been shortlisted for a British Photography Award

A photographer has been shortlisted for a national award for a portrait he took of Matty Healy.

Neil Ferry, 56, from Newcastle, took the photo in just a couple of minutes while the 1975 frontman was rehearsing for his Sunday for Sammy performance in February.

Ferry said Healy, 37, was a "lovely guy" and more than willing to give his time.

The snap is just one of three photos Ferry is shortlisted for at this year's British Photography Awards, with the winners announced on 1 November.

Sunday for Sammy, which features a host of well-known TV, theatre and music stars from the north-east of England, began in 2000 in honour of actor Sammy Johnson, known for his roles in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and Spender, who died in 1998.

The musician's dad, actor Tim Healy, was one of the show's founders.

News imageJohn Millard Photography Matty Healy sitting on a chair playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone. He has dark hair which is sticking up on the top and has large over-the-ear headphones on. He is wearing a dark v-neck jumper with a white shirt underneath and light blue jeans and his legs are crossed. He is looking ahead of him which is to the left of the camera. There are other instruments around him on the stage.John Millard Photography
Matty Healy's dad, actor Tim Healy, is one of Sunday for Sammy's founders

Ferry only started taking photos at aged 48, eventually deciding to do a BA at Newcastle College.

Although it is now his great passion, he makes his living selling pianos.

Through his work photographing musicians in Newcastle, Ferry's friend who runs Beyond Vinyl, told him Healy was there rehearsing and to come and ask him for a photo.

"So I went in, he was really busy, lovely, lovely guy and he said 'look, you know, I'm rehearsing, but I've got a couple of minutes before I go home,'" Ferry said.

"I literally only had a minute to do the photo."

His friend sat in as the test subject while Ferry got everything set up for the photo shoot.

"[Healy] was really tired because he'd been obviously rehearsing all day, but that really made the photograph, in my opinion," the photographer said.

"And I loved the fact that he was a bit weary, I just think it really makes the photo."

Ferry has another photograph shortlisted in the portrait category of another musician, Nick Celino.

He is up against photographers from around the country whose photos feature the likes of Ncuti Gatwa and trainspotting influencer Francis Bourgeois.

Ferry has another shortlisted in the Wedding category.

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