Ian Watts

BAFTA award winning TV director of photography. Dramas, factual entertainment, documentaries, music and current affairs films in 50 countries around the world.

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

“One good thing about music — when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Bob Marley d 11 May 1981

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

My new Carnival photo show opens today @outernet. The images are from my archive taken over the years with a soundscape from @Blackmale_Beats
Check out https://t.co/hMoNTum4kv for viewing times until the end of October.
@LoveCamden @bhmuk #NottingHillCarnival2025 #WhatsOnLondon

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Join Ian Watts & curator @lisaandersonaa for a Q&A on his iconic Carnival & Black British life. This coincides with his show @OuternetGlobal. Music by @Blackmale_Beats. 15 Oct 7pm Claudia Jones Room, Camden Town Hall. Pay What You Can-supporting Umoja Health Forum. #CamdenEvents

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

I’m happy to share my new installation Carnival Through the Lens of Ian Watts opens 3 October @OuternetGlobal London's most visited tourist attraction. The show runs all month and features many years of Notting Hill Carnival through a vibrant mix of b/w and colour photos. @bhmuk

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Proud to have worked on Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color, now nominated for an Emmy!

Huge congrats to the team and to Idris Elba for his powerful narration.

Honouring the 8 million people of color who served in WW2.

#Emmys #ErasedWW2 #RepresentationMatters

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

I'm delighted to have worked on Live Aid at 40 a new docuseries marking 40 years since the biggest global music event in history. It’s a full circle moment for me having worked on Live 8 in 2005 and now Live Aid at 40 First episode tonight on @BBC next week on @CNN
#LiveAid40

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Today we honour the legacy of Stephen Lawrence who was murdered by racist thugs in London, on 22 April 1993, on what is now known as Stephen Lawrence Day.
@sldayfdn @Blklivesmatter #KnowledgeChangesEverything #SLDF #SLD25 #PowerOfLearning #ALegacyOfChange

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Since last year I have worked with Alex Thomas of True Vision TV on the TV series ‘Bibaa & Nicole: Murder in the Park’. which tells the heartbreaking story of sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman, who were murdered in a London park in June 2020. @SkyDocumentaries in May @Sky

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Boxing legend @GeorgeForeman , one of the most remarkable and enduring fighters in history, has passed aged 76. He won the world heavyweight title twice, 21 years apart making him the oldest champion in history aged 45, winning an amazing 76 fights.
RIEP Big George

#BoxingLegend

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Tonight I’m in conversation about my photos from back in the day at the @VAMuseums in London.
The talk is entitled ‘Black Photography: 1980s Rebellion to Renaissance Through the Lens of Ian Watts’. (If you don't have a ticket, sorry it's sold out).

@TimeOutLondon @TPGallery @BBC

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Just as we’re reeling from Angie Stone, another musical icon has passed. Roy Ayers, the jazz funk pioneer has passed aged 84.

Everybody loves the sunshine, everybody loved Roy Ayers. RIEP.

@royayers @Sunshine @jazzfunk #pioneer #vibes #icon #music @ubiquity #funk #music #RIEP

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Happy International Women’s Day. For more than 100 years International Women’s Day has been celebrated.
But at a time when rights across genders are being marginalised across the world, lets celebrate the social cultural, and political achievements of women.
#IWD25

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Another Soul diva has passed. The multi talented R&B singer-songwriter and actress Angie Stone has passed after a car crash in Alabama.

Her legacy is a huge collection of memorable neo soul songs, including  poignantly, Wish I Didn't Miss You. RIEP Mahogany Soul.
#angiestone

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

I will be giving a talk about my photographic practice at the Victoria and Albert museum in London on Friday 7 March from 18.15-21.45.

The talk is entitled 'Black Photography: 1980s Rebellion to Renaissance Through the Lens of Ian Watts’

https://t.co/hRKEI9s3kj

@V_and_A #photo

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Big respect to Bob Marley on what would have been his 80th birthday. His musical legacy is immense and as popular now, as during his short 36 years. Everyone knows a Bob Marley song.

'One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain…'
#bobmarley80 #jamaica #Reggae

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Wishing you a very happy and peaceful 2025.
@2025 @HNY

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Sad to hear about the passing of writer Nikki Giovanni, one of the foremost African American poets.
Another great voice has gone, but her works, which championed gender equality, and the realignment of female identity, and the African-American family, remains her strong legacy.

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

Quincy Jones, the legendary musician and producer has died aged 91. He worked with some of the biggest names in music, including Michael Jackson, on the record breaking Thriller album.
He won 28 Grammy and composed more than 30 films, with seven Oscar nominations. RIEP The Dude.

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

I’m going to be talking to curator Ayesha Adonais 7 March 2025 at the V&A museum about my unseen photo archive of music, fashion, politics, cultural and social photos, like reggae deejay I-Roy here, with music by Blackmale Beats.

https://t.co/hRKEI9s3kj

@V_and_A #exhibition

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

In collaboration with my colleagues at Dark Matters TV, I am pleased to confirm that our documentary ‘Tony Collins: Football’s Forgotten Master Spy’ is on UK Sky Sports TV tonight at 10.30pm.
@SkySports @SKYTV @TheFA @BritBlacklist @kickitout

[Ian Watts @ianwattstv]

I was UK DoP on Paid in Full which starts tonight @BBC. The series delves into racism faced by Black artists in music from its origins featuring @ChakaKhan @GeorgeClinton @NileRodgers @SmokeyRobinson @IdrisElba and Guy Evan produced, Alison Duke was director
@cbc @tv @blackmusic