The Prodigy in photographs • every frame 1992 & 1996 - the book by Phil Nicholls

Release date: 8th October 2025
Author: Phil Nicholls
Publisher: Phil Nicholls

Pre order here!

From the author:

The first 250 copies will be signed and numbered with just 25 contact sheets inserted in random orders - the contacts will be at 10 x 8 inches in size and feature the original images combined to create the band image on the Firestarter sleeve.

This collection of photographs from my two, very different sessions, appear in full, every single frame, including all the contact/working sheets which show the progression and thought process behind each setup and location. 

I've been scanning and editing individual images over this year and see them as a final, perfected version of my captures from the 90's. Why do I say 'perfected'? Well, my original prints, all turned out of the darkroom (and often rushed under pressure to deliver) were sometimes a bit harsh and lacking detail, colour balance was often very wrong too. Dish- processing colour paper in trays of chemicals was a bit of a novelty at that point in time and I overlooked the strong yellow and green casts that gave the prints a particular and now very dated, 'of the period' look.

The cover artwork is a detail from a collaborative piece with Conrad Milne 'Dystopian Artist' and the full image appears in the book across two pages.

Beginning with my Firestarter promo shoot I'm presenting a large number of my favourites along with precious outtakes. Followed by my Melody Maker session from 1992 you'll be able to read the original article from the paper, published with permission from the author, Ian Gittins.

I have written up my memories, the precious recalled moments of these days and included them in the book too. 

Look out for updates via my social media accounts as there will be a few extras which I'm pulling together!

 

Sized at 10 x 8"/20.32 x 25.4cm and with approx 120 pages (more may yet be added).