More playing around thanks to AnnMarie. I’d shot this with a different camera and forgotten it until I pulled the card to check for some other old images.
I don’t know much about cigars, but I’m told this is a good one…
Archive for September, 2009
29
Sep
09
MAE at the Canal Club.
I don’t get to shoot many concerts (or “shows” as the cool kids call them these days) but I did the other day get a chance to see a band I’d heard of in the last year and really liked. What made it especially fun for me was that I got to take pictures.
(Dave)
I’d been under the impression that there would be a strict photography ban. My understanding of concert photography is that most artists let the photogs in for the first few songs – 3 maybe – and then the photographers have to disappear. Moreover, those photographers aren’t allowed to use flashes and the people in the audience are usually searched and told not to bring their cameras. That’s how it was when my wife took me to see the Police in Atlanta two years back.
(Zach)
The MAE show was different, though. Not only was the venue, the Canal Club here in Richmond, a small enough place for the fans to be right at the edge of the stage, but there were flashes going off the whole time. I watched as folks recorded the whole show on their phones. Even more interesting was the range in the demographics of the audience. I expected to be surrounded by a bunch of twenty-somethings but was pleased to see several thirty and forty-ish looking people. But none of this was what truly amazed me.
What was absolutely amazing about this concert was the devotion of the fans. I stood next to one fellow who’d seen the band six times. “My first show was back in ’03,” he said, matter-of-factly. He didn’t look a day over 23. There were girls singing the lyrics, matching Dave Elkins note for note. Their eyes were closed, their heads thrown back and occasionally, a fist was thrust in the air for emphasis. They knew the all the words to the songs from the EP the band released last Tuesday. For these people, this music was more than just music. It was life. I loved every minute of it and captured as much as I could.
Once the main performance was over, they moved upstairs for a small acoustic benefit show. They’re donating the proceeds from their online sales (I think) to different charities, one in every state. How many bands are that forward thinking? You can see more about that endeavor on their website.
As for me, I scored a tshirt before I left and I can tell you with certainty that I plan to make it back to see them when they come to town again and back to the Canal Club for a show from time to time.
Oh, and be sure to follow these people on twitter, if you’re into the twitterverse:
MAE
The Canal Club
25
Sep
09
What Did You Say?
It’s been a long week.
I’m not listening anymore.
Have a great weekend!
24
Sep
09
Drinks at Morton’s.
Knowing people makes for a lot of opportunities.
I mentioned on twitter the other day that I was interested in shooting some pictures of some desserts and the lovely AnnMarie Grohs of Morton’s chimed in and offered me the bar at her place of employment to play around one afternoon.
I had an hour to work and I’d packed a light (as in low-weight) bag with a single flash. Time was of the essence, but I was pleased with what I’d gotten.
At any rate, as I was packing up to leave, the evening crowd was starting to filter in. I decided then that I was going back there sans camera equipment for a proper drink. Theirs is a beautiful bar.
I’m having the website redesigned. Here’s a small taste. I’ll give a shout when the dust clears.
23
Sep
09
Reconnoiter.
I’m shooting a wedding early next month with Joe and we decided to take a quick jaunt out to have a look at the space. Turns out, the Inn at Warner Hall is amazing. It’s the kind of place I’d like to have free run of to shoot a clothing line. The spaces are decadent and rife with natural light. The views are breathtaking. I’m gonna see if I can’t get my wife to run away with me there sometime soon. ‘Course, someone’ll have to babysit the kids… Wanna help?
I shot these as grabs with the G10, ’cause no matter what anyone tells you about how “real” a photographer he (or she) is, it is far easier to take snapshots with a point and shoot camera.
This is the view that greets you upon entering the house:
And this is the back porch:
And there’s this amazing outdoor chess/checkers set:
This wedding is gonna be fun!
22
Sep
09
An Exercise in Coolness.
The skateboard kept calling me.
I thought about how I’d initially shot this young lady and how I was going for her harder edge. I thought about how it’d make an interesting photo to have her kinda dressed up. We settled on this sun dress. After it was all said and done, I’m convinced she looked like we’d stolen her away from Hawaii, longboard and all.
I had Carlos come along to help me with some light experiments — new gear always requires experimentation, doncha know! — and he shot a fair amount in his distinctive way. He even scored one of me trying to make exposure decisions. Mostly, we played with the natural light and used a reflector, but I was interested in seeing what overhead light might’ve done on a day with full sun.
All in all, a good time was had. And we finished up with wings and fries from B-Dubs.
Solid.
21
Sep
09
Strange Goings On.
I was working with Chris again. He’s so very pleasant and willing. I mean, how many people do you know who’d wade out into the river (the bottom of which neither of us could see) and wait patiently?
I’d tentatively titled this “Regarding the Recent Occurrence at Spaulding Creek,” thinking I’d write a short piece to go with it that was (longer than, but) in the spirit of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, by Chris Van Alllsburg. Alas, I never wrote anything. Go figure.
I’ve got a couple of other shots like this planned and Chris has agreed to help me. Moreover, I’ve got some cool new models lined up to work on more images in this kind of spirit.
Keep watching!
18
Sep
09
The Beginning of His Troubles.
And by “his” I mean Lucas. My buddy, Tim and his wife Jessica just recently had this little bundle of joy and well before Lucas’ arrival, Tim asked if I’d be his second shooter on a final excursion with his wife.
I wasn’t sure I’d gotten anything but when I looked back at this shot and the couple of others near it from the shoot, I realized poor Lucas is gonna have his picture taken all the time. For the rest of his life. His dad is a photographer and is never gonna let him go.
17
Sep
09
Big Boy Pants.
We’ll probably use those very words again when he’s toilet training, but for the moment, he’ll have to settle for the humor.
This was an idea for a shoot that my wife came up with before he was born. I’ll need to reshoot it later on so it’ll look cleaner, but the idea here is pretty fun.
