TONY KELLY

Colorful, loud, a little shrill, but also with a little wink-wink nudge-nudge can you fit all of that into one picture? Yes, if Tony Kelly is the one behind the camera! The Irish fashion and fine art photographer manages to imbue his pictures with that special something extra. Whether it s a fashion shoot for "Vogue" or erotic photos for "Playboy," Kelly creates images that are both sensuous and ironic, and always entertaining. So it s no surprise that his photo book is called "Entertaining Nudes." Showcasing his best work beautiful women posing with stormtroopers from "Star Wars" or Sheriff Woody from "Toy Story," sunbathing beside breathtaking pools or leaping out of cakes, Tony Kelly s photographs bear witness to the fact that he is truly a master of his craft. Even better, he has a very special talent: he knows how to put a smile on someone s face with his pictures. Go ahead and see for yourself!"

Tony Kelly was football crazy from the age of seven. At sixteen he was the youngest ever player in the first team at Bristol City and in his twenties he became a pro, playing for clubs such Stoke City and Cardiff City in the Football League, second and third divisions. But his blossoming soccer career was marred by a series of mishaps and misdeeds which drove him to disaster. Ruined by an addiction to gambling, he lost his job, his career, his partner and all his money. Now he has written his story as Kelly puts it, to "invite the public, my family and my friends into my secret hell of racism, despair, depression, stardom, gambling addiction and ultimately self-destruction". Red Card is a tragic yet uplifting story of a sportsmans battle with his demons, on and off the pitch.