Profile
Max Alexander has photographed icons from the worlds of science, astronomy and politics, including Neil Armstrong, Stephen Hawking and Nelson Mandela. Originally from New Zealand, now based in London and Madrid, Max is an editorial and commercial photographer, who has worked for a large number of prestigious organisations around the world for over twenty-five years.
In his projects and commissions, Max combines the ability to capture his vision with responding to the client’s needs. He makes a connection with the people he photographs and is always responsive to them. A firm believer in the power of serendipity, Max harnesses this with patience and insight to produce inspired, intriguing and powerful photographs.
Max specialises in science communication through photography. This can best be seen in two high profile exhibitions at the Royal Albert Hall in London for UK research councils and The Wellcome Trust. Explorers of the Universe was a cornerstone project for the International Year of Astronomy 2009, and Illuminating Atoms was for the International Year of Crystallography 2014. His passion for understanding the universe and making it meaningful to others has motivated him to work in this arena – and he is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
In his work for the UK Space Agency, Max has extensively photographed the British astronaut Tim Peake, including documenting his Soyuz training, and directly provided him with photography training while he was onboard the International Space Station. He is a team member of Asteroid Day and their Photographer-in-Residence.
In the charity sector, Max has worked for The Children’s Society for over a decade, telling the stories of young carers’ lives, seen through his eyes, as a former young carer. His Big Lottery funded Hidden exhibition was first shown at the Oxo Gallery on the South Bank in London, followed by a national tour of over 35 venues – which was covered by the BBC and The Guardian.
Max has worked on over twenty books, including Bordeaux And Its Wines, Vivir Madrid and the Starmus titles. Clients and publications include UK Space Agency, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), European Space Agency (ESA), European Southern Observatory (ESO), Royal Astronomical Society, Airbus, The Children’s Society, BBC, Dorling Kindersley Publishers, and The Guardian.
On assignment for European Southern Observatory in Paranal, Chile. Photo credit: Gerd Huedepohl
« In Max Alexander we are lucky to have someone with the artistic vision of a Julia Cameron (19th century photographer) and the scientific awareness of a John Draper (first person to photograph the Moon), with the results that you can see around you…a gallery of British astronomical talent and achievement. »
Andy Fabian – Royal Astronomical Society President on ‘Explorers of the Universe’
« A truly beautiful book, thanks to photography by Max Alexander who has captured images of Bordeaux that are unlike any published elsewhere. »
Amazon review of ‘Bordeaux and its Wines’
« The ‘Hidden’ portrait exhibition on young carers will have an effect on national policy for
the NHS.»
Sharon White OBE – School and Public Health Nurses Association
« Have you ever wondered how Tim Peake takes such amazing pictures from space? Behind all good work is a great teacher: professional photographer Max Alexander has known Tim from before his launch into space. The two kept in touch via email and Max has been giving Tim advice throughout his six-month Principia mission on the International Space Station.»
European Space Agency
Solo Exhibitions
2017
Hidden, House of Lords, London: December (Total of over 35 different venues)
Hidden, Henley Festival, Henley: July
Hidden, ARC, Stockton Arts Centre, Stockton-on-Tees: March
Hidden, Oakham Museum, Rutland: January – February
2016
Hidden, The Lowry, Salford: October
Hidden, WHY Festival, Royal Festival, Southbank, London: October
Hidden, Henley Festival, Henley: July
Hidden, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester: June – July
Hidden, Chelmsford Cathedral, Chelmsford: May – June
Hidden, Peterborough Cathedral, Peterborough: May
Hidden, Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire: March
Hidden, St John’s College, Cambridge: March
Hidden, Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton: March
Hidden, The Workspace, Wolverhampton: February
Hidden, Birmingham University: February
Hidden, Pyramid Gallery, Warrington: January
2015
Hidden – NHS Commitment to Carers, The Grand Connaught Rooms, London: December
Hidden, The Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London: July
Hidden, Dreadnought Library, University of Greenwich (Public Health Conference), London: July
Hidden, Oxo Gallery, Tower Wharf, Southbank, London (The Children’s Society): February
Illuminating Atoms, STFC, Swindon
Illuminating Atoms, Welsh Assembly/Senedd, Cardiff: June
2014
Illuminating Atoms, Royal Albert Hall, London (STFC, The Wellcome Trust): September – November
Explorers of the Universe, STFC, Swindon
2013
Explorers of the Universe, National STEM Centre, York (second exhibition run)
2011
Explorers of the Universe, Space City, Portsmouth: June
Explorers of the Universe, National STEM Centre, York
2010
Explorers of the Universe, National Museum Wales, Cardiff: September – October
Explorers of the Universe, Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork, Ireland: July – September
Explorers of the Universe, Glasgow Science Centre, Glasgow April – May
2009
Explorers of the Universe, Centre for Life, Newcastle: November – March
Explorers of the Universe, University of Utrecht, Netherlands: November
Explorers of the Universe, Royal Albert Hall, London (STFC & RAS): September – November
Group Exhibitions
2018
Supernova Centre, ESO, Munich: April – Present
Black Achievers Wall, International Slavery Museum, Liverpool: April – Present
2017
Alexei Leonov – Cosmonaut, Starmus, Moscow: May
2016
Canada & UK: Great Partners in Science, British High Commission, Ottawa, Canada: June – October
2013
Alien Revolution, Royal Observatory Greenwich: August – October
Visions of the Universe, National Maritime Museum, London: June – September
2012
Measuring the Universe, Royal Observatory Greenwich, London: June – September
Public Collections
2009
National Portrait Gallery
Brian May, Colin Pillinger, Donald Lynden-Bell, Andrew Fabian, Ken Pounds
Books
Starmus – Beyond the Horizon; Brian May, Garik Israelian, Stephen Hawking: Canopus: 2017
Starmus – Origins of the Cosmos; Brian May, Garik Israelian, Stephen Hawking: Canopus: 2016
Starmus – 50 Years of Man in Space; Brian May, Garik Israelian, Stephen Hawking: Canopus: 2014
Europe to the Stars (and DVD); ESO/Wiley VCH: Govett Schilling & Lars Lindberg Christensen: 2012
Vivir Madrid; CEIM & PromoMadrid; Manual de Lope: 2006
Bordeaux and its Wines; Duncan Baird Publishers; Robert Joseph, foreword by Hugh Johnson: 2003
Tuscany and its Wines; Duncan Baird Publishes; Hugh Johnson; 2000
Dorling Kindersley Publishers – over twenty titles: 1991–Present
Clients
Airbus
Astronomy Magazine
Astronomy Now
BAFTA
BBC
BBC Sky at Night Magazine
BBSRC
British Airways Highlife Magazine
Cake London
CEIM (Business Confederation of Madrid)
Chelsea Football Club
Christies
Consignia
Cutty Sark
CZWG Architects
Davis Tanner PR
Diamond Light Source
Dorling Kindersley Publishers
Duncan Baird Publishers
English Heritage
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
European Space Agency (ESA)
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Gensla
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
Hospice Toronto
Immediate Media
Indira Madrid
Institute of Physics (IOP)
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
John Robertson Architects
Lung Theatre
Mitchell Beazley Publishers
New Zealand Geographic
Orion Publishing Group
Pearson Publishing
Penguin Books
People Matters
Pole Star Publications
PromoMadrid
Reed Business
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Albert Hall
Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals
Royal Museums Greenwich
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Sigma-Aldrich Company Ltd
Sky & Telescope
Sotheby’s
Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
Starmus
Stroke Association
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL)
The Children’s Society
The Independent
The Observer
The Sunday Times Magazine
The Wellcome Trust
Transworld Publishers
UK Space Agency
University College London
Unlimited Theatre
Uppsala University
Virtual Artworks
Wordsearch