These included Jasper Conran at the Saatchi Gallery, Julien Macdonald at the Royal Courts of Justice, Roksanda at the Old Sorting Office, New Oxford Street and Anya Hindmarch at Old Billingsgate Market.
Gray brings his distinctive crossover style to the world of fashion show - a dynamic mix of rock 'n roll attitude, industrial chic and a hint of adventure! He particularly enjoys the challenges of working in found spaces 'offsite' and lighting shows in new and different ways that still ensure everyone gets the results they need.
In the main showspace, Marios Schwab and Vivienne Westwood were just two of many shows to which Gray applied the magic of illumination to change the atmosphere and help showcase the style.
For Marios Schwab, the creative starting point was an image from US photographer Hank Walker' s dramatic Drag Racing series, starkly beautiful; black and white classic cars with the headlights forming huge startling lightsources. This was used on the show's invite.
Gray installed two massive 10K Laco fresnels at the runway entrance / exit. The showspace was configured as two identical mirror-image runways with models walking up one side, across and down the other - a format introduced last season to maximize the audience capacity.
The giant vintage housings of these luminaires set the exact retro image that Gray sought to replicate, and the bulbs were downgraded to 2Ks so they could be run through the conventional show dimmers. They were positioned on stands behind an angled smoked Perspex glass, a concept originated by the Showspace's creative producer, Charlotte Lurot of Bacchus.
The runways in the Showspace were lit with around 200 ETC Source Four Profiles on overhead trusses, plus a front array of 40 more above the media platform.
In keeping with the moody Marios Schwab theme this season, these were dimmed by around 50% to give a warmer hue on the back of the models' heads.
Lines of electronic candles - supplied by Schwab's team - were placed along the floor adjacent to the runway
All lighting was supplied and co-ordinated by Renegade, and operated by Paulus Van Den Heijkant with Paul 'PK' Kell as crew chief.
The biggest challenge for Gray during another action-packed London Fashion Week was scheduling his time ... to be able to brief all his various crews, oversee the get ins, re-rigs, focuses and shows ... a method which he now has down to a minute-by-minute fine art, together with his ability to stay sharp on two hours sleep snatched when possible.
(Jim Evans)
