Stay tuned for more from this session as well as a newborn shoot in the very near future!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Jenn Kenny Maternity Sneak Peek!
Jenn and Shawn were a great couple to work with. They brought tons of laughter and fun to the shoot which helped things to run smooth. It's always fun to shoot with people who aren't afraid to get creative or try new things. I think I laughed more than I photographed on this day which is super rare. Thanks for the great time you two!
Stay tuned for more from this session as well as a newborn shoot in the very near future!
Stay tuned for more from this session as well as a newborn shoot in the very near future!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Brad and Julianne
Beautiful skies, warm weather, pumpkin centerpieces and a sense of humor. That about sums up Julianne, Brad and their wedding day. Everyone gathered to witness love at its purest, and with this couple, they got what they came for. Congratulations Brad and Jules! Thank you for making us a part of your special day!
And now for some photos...
And now for some photos...
Friday, November 5, 2010
Jules & Brad: Sneak Peek
Jen and I had the great pleasure of traveling out to Colorado to shoot Julianne and Brad's engagement and wedding photos. This one was very special to me because Jules has been a good friend of mine for the past 7 or 8 years. We met by chance and immediately bonded through music and our fondness for being lazy and spending countless hours on the couch, smoking cigarettes and watching Fuse TV at the old Westminster house.
I met Brad on a few occasions when traveling to visit Jules and other friends in CO. It took us a little bit, but we also forged a friendship through our mutual friend in Julianne. I can remember, or better yet, have a fuzzy recollection of the time I spent in the kitchen with Brad, trying to keep up with him on Jager bombs, and subsequently spending time with my head between my knees, forcing the evil out of my body.
But that stuff is in the past...and since those days, Julianne and Brad have become an inseparable couple that exudes the definition of love. Watching them together is awesome. They are the couple that can finish each others sentences and knows what the other is thinking before any words are spoken.
We decided to do an engagement shoot pretty last minute and since I didn't know the area all that well, we chose to go to a garden near their house. Upon entering the front door, we asked if we could take some photos for their engagement, to which the lovely woman behind the desk told us it was a $50 fee if we wanted to take photos. We quickly scurried out of there, drove 1/4 mile down the street, parked in the seminary school parking lot, and hopped the fence...giving us access to the back of the gardens. Laughing about our craftiness, we continued on, finding a few locations between the massive groups of children in which we could shoot.
They were very easy to work with because of their love for each other. I gave them little direction and just let them play off of one another, chit chatting with them and pausing in between to capture the moment.
These shots serve as a preview of what is to come, not only from the engagement but from the beautiful ceremony and reception they held. Thanks again for everything J&B. We wish you the best as you journey along your new lives together!
I met Brad on a few occasions when traveling to visit Jules and other friends in CO. It took us a little bit, but we also forged a friendship through our mutual friend in Julianne. I can remember, or better yet, have a fuzzy recollection of the time I spent in the kitchen with Brad, trying to keep up with him on Jager bombs, and subsequently spending time with my head between my knees, forcing the evil out of my body.
But that stuff is in the past...and since those days, Julianne and Brad have become an inseparable couple that exudes the definition of love. Watching them together is awesome. They are the couple that can finish each others sentences and knows what the other is thinking before any words are spoken.
We decided to do an engagement shoot pretty last minute and since I didn't know the area all that well, we chose to go to a garden near their house. Upon entering the front door, we asked if we could take some photos for their engagement, to which the lovely woman behind the desk told us it was a $50 fee if we wanted to take photos. We quickly scurried out of there, drove 1/4 mile down the street, parked in the seminary school parking lot, and hopped the fence...giving us access to the back of the gardens. Laughing about our craftiness, we continued on, finding a few locations between the massive groups of children in which we could shoot.
They were very easy to work with because of their love for each other. I gave them little direction and just let them play off of one another, chit chatting with them and pausing in between to capture the moment.
These shots serve as a preview of what is to come, not only from the engagement but from the beautiful ceremony and reception they held. Thanks again for everything J&B. We wish you the best as you journey along your new lives together!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Beechwood Hotel
Recently I was hired to shoot the opening of Ceres Bistro at the Beechwood Hotel in Worcester. Ceres Bistro describes themselves as "Serene and sophisticated, inspired by the Goddess of the Harvest, celebrates the seasons and delivers only the freshest ingredients to your table. The decor is warm and inviting with soft curving booths and beautiful views to our outdoor gardens." Well, during the opening, the gardens were not quite finished so at the time, all that was there were dirt piles and construction equipment. And despite what one might think, this didn't take away from the ambiance at all! The inside of Ceres is absolutely gorgeous. A lot of time and planning went into creating this restaurant before anyone got the "OK" to start construction...it's apparent. Take a little tour and you'll see what I mean. Right in the middle of the dining area is a beautiful dome that I was told was pulled from storage and reconstructed to specifically be a part of this restaurant. While there for the opening, I grabbed a shot of the owner below the dome for the Pulse Magazine.
With details like this, it makes it feel that you're dining in an upscale Boston restaurant, not in a hotel on the outskirts of Worcester. Ceres Bistro can definitely be added to the list of newer niche restaurants and bars that seem to be taking over Worcester.
Well...a month or so after the opening of the restaurant, I was contacted by Beechwood Hotel to come back and shoot some exterior images of the finished garden and patio area for their new brochure. I was very happy to hear back from them and agreed to scope out the new area. It was a world apart from what I had seen before. Where there used to be dirt, there are now shrubs and plants abundant, and a new putting green that offers guests a chance to work on their golf skills! It completely changes the feel of the restaurant patio area. Very serene and calming for anyone who wants to enjoy some food or a drink under the awning.
So after the meeting and nailing down some details I got to it. I shot what was needed from a bunch of different angles to give them some choices in how they wanted it portrayed in the brochure. Some that were heavy on the putting green angle and some that barely included it or not even at all. As I was shooting, I kept noticing the clouds and how fluffy they looked in the background. I really couldn't have asked for a better day to be shooting. Calm winds, bright blue skies, and fluffy clouds made it a fun shoot...not to mention the staff that I've gotten acquainted with over the past couple of shoots. It's always great to see familiar faces.
After I finished up taking some shots outside, I headed inside to grab a shot of one of their suites. Shooting interiors is not something I've done a lot of but was happy to give it a try for them. They asked that I just get an image that showed the king size bed and fireplace in the same room. The result is below. It was pretty much a one shot and done type of deal as there wasn't much room to get both the bed and fireplace in one frame from any other angle.
From there I had everything I needed so I started making my way out to the car but on the way I saw a guy practicing his putting, so for fun I decided to get a shot of him, showing the putting green and the hotel/restaurant in the background in a soft focus.
All in all, I thought it to be a successful day and was very fortunate for the opportunity. I really enjoy this type of shooting. It's a much different thing than live music but having the time to think through shots, set them up, and really focus on composition is a welcomed change.
Thanks for stopping by!
With details like this, it makes it feel that you're dining in an upscale Boston restaurant, not in a hotel on the outskirts of Worcester. Ceres Bistro can definitely be added to the list of newer niche restaurants and bars that seem to be taking over Worcester.
Well...a month or so after the opening of the restaurant, I was contacted by Beechwood Hotel to come back and shoot some exterior images of the finished garden and patio area for their new brochure. I was very happy to hear back from them and agreed to scope out the new area. It was a world apart from what I had seen before. Where there used to be dirt, there are now shrubs and plants abundant, and a new putting green that offers guests a chance to work on their golf skills! It completely changes the feel of the restaurant patio area. Very serene and calming for anyone who wants to enjoy some food or a drink under the awning.
So after the meeting and nailing down some details I got to it. I shot what was needed from a bunch of different angles to give them some choices in how they wanted it portrayed in the brochure. Some that were heavy on the putting green angle and some that barely included it or not even at all. As I was shooting, I kept noticing the clouds and how fluffy they looked in the background. I really couldn't have asked for a better day to be shooting. Calm winds, bright blue skies, and fluffy clouds made it a fun shoot...not to mention the staff that I've gotten acquainted with over the past couple of shoots. It's always great to see familiar faces.
After I finished up taking some shots outside, I headed inside to grab a shot of one of their suites. Shooting interiors is not something I've done a lot of but was happy to give it a try for them. They asked that I just get an image that showed the king size bed and fireplace in the same room. The result is below. It was pretty much a one shot and done type of deal as there wasn't much room to get both the bed and fireplace in one frame from any other angle.
From there I had everything I needed so I started making my way out to the car but on the way I saw a guy practicing his putting, so for fun I decided to get a shot of him, showing the putting green and the hotel/restaurant in the background in a soft focus.
All in all, I thought it to be a successful day and was very fortunate for the opportunity. I really enjoy this type of shooting. It's a much different thing than live music but having the time to think through shots, set them up, and really focus on composition is a welcomed change.Thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Slayer + Megadeth = Face Melt
Typically, Lowell isn't a place that I like to visit. Wait...let me correct that. Lowell is NEVER a place I like to visit. But sometimes you have to do what you don't want to do. In this case, it meant dragging my butt out to Lowell to go shoot Slayer and Megadeth.
I pulled into the parking lot with only a few minutes until Megadeth's set was to begin. I made my way through security and as I walked into the Tsongas Arena, I heard the crowd roar as Megadeth took the stage. Wading through the masses of people and trying to get my camera out and ready to go, I took off towards the photo pit. As I arrived I saw a ton of familiar faces which instantly made this trip more bearable! I settled in right as their opening song took shape and Dave Mustaine approached the mic. Couldn't have timed it any better! Now...I've never been a huge follower of either Megadeth or Slayer...but if you haven't seen either of these legendary bands in person, you are seriously missing out! Just the way the crowd is pumped up is enough to get a person excited to see them. I know it worked for me! As I clicked my shutter away and watched the show through my view finder, I grew an appreciation for Megadeth that I didn't have before. Prior to this show, my most frequent run-in with this band was anytime I played Guitar Hero and wanted to shred some Hanger 18. Now? Well...I might not listen to them daily or anything...but I will be more than happy to hear them when my iPod shuffles in their direction!
After the 3 songs were up, all of us in the photo pit were escorted through the backstage area...out to the entrance doors where we could either choose to watch the show from the general admission area or hang out outside. I chose the latter. Sitting outside, I was joined by Evil Robb, Mary Ouellette and a few others. I sat there for the next hour laughing at the stories being told by everyone...most of which consisted of Robb being drunk or arrested...sometimes both.
So after story time, we all headed back in to shoot slayer. And that's when the chanting started. SLAYER! SLAYER! SLAYER! People on the barricade were trying to guess their entire set list, in the order it was to be played, people were talking about how many times they've seen them live, which rivals the amount of times I've seen Thrice or Every Time I Die. Water bottles were getting hurled into the air even before the lights went down and security was on high alert. It was almost as if the President was about to take the stage...if the President had long wavy hair, rocked a slayer shirt, and had a guitar strapped to his back...
Then it happened...the lights went dark, the crowd went nuts, the curtain dropped...and there was SLAYER! As my friend Jake would say...they were shredding it...hard! Another band that I had never seen in person before, melting my face with fast and intricate guitar licks. I will probably never run out and buy a Slayer album...but you better bet your biscuits I'd jump at the chance to see them live again! There's just something about watching a legendary band tear it up like they were 25 years before. Something that can't be described...so go see them!
Consider this post a preview of what is to come!!! To see more, visit The Pulse Mag online and view the concerts captured!
I pulled into the parking lot with only a few minutes until Megadeth's set was to begin. I made my way through security and as I walked into the Tsongas Arena, I heard the crowd roar as Megadeth took the stage. Wading through the masses of people and trying to get my camera out and ready to go, I took off towards the photo pit. As I arrived I saw a ton of familiar faces which instantly made this trip more bearable! I settled in right as their opening song took shape and Dave Mustaine approached the mic. Couldn't have timed it any better! Now...I've never been a huge follower of either Megadeth or Slayer...but if you haven't seen either of these legendary bands in person, you are seriously missing out! Just the way the crowd is pumped up is enough to get a person excited to see them. I know it worked for me! As I clicked my shutter away and watched the show through my view finder, I grew an appreciation for Megadeth that I didn't have before. Prior to this show, my most frequent run-in with this band was anytime I played Guitar Hero and wanted to shred some Hanger 18. Now? Well...I might not listen to them daily or anything...but I will be more than happy to hear them when my iPod shuffles in their direction!
After the 3 songs were up, all of us in the photo pit were escorted through the backstage area...out to the entrance doors where we could either choose to watch the show from the general admission area or hang out outside. I chose the latter. Sitting outside, I was joined by Evil Robb, Mary Ouellette and a few others. I sat there for the next hour laughing at the stories being told by everyone...most of which consisted of Robb being drunk or arrested...sometimes both.
So after story time, we all headed back in to shoot slayer. And that's when the chanting started. SLAYER! SLAYER! SLAYER! People on the barricade were trying to guess their entire set list, in the order it was to be played, people were talking about how many times they've seen them live, which rivals the amount of times I've seen Thrice or Every Time I Die. Water bottles were getting hurled into the air even before the lights went down and security was on high alert. It was almost as if the President was about to take the stage...if the President had long wavy hair, rocked a slayer shirt, and had a guitar strapped to his back...
Then it happened...the lights went dark, the crowd went nuts, the curtain dropped...and there was SLAYER! As my friend Jake would say...they were shredding it...hard! Another band that I had never seen in person before, melting my face with fast and intricate guitar licks. I will probably never run out and buy a Slayer album...but you better bet your biscuits I'd jump at the chance to see them live again! There's just something about watching a legendary band tear it up like they were 25 years before. Something that can't be described...so go see them!
Consider this post a preview of what is to come!!! To see more, visit The Pulse Mag online and view the concerts captured!
Switchblade Suicide Takes On The Big Stage!
Recently, my good friends in Switchblade Suicide won the Guitar Center contest to open for KISS on their "Hottest Show On Earth" Tour. An online contest was held where voters chose their top 5 favorites. Those 5 bands were reviewed by KISS and then a winner was chosen. I'm sure many of the bands in the contest were deserving of the opportunity to open for KISS but in my mind, none of them are as deserving as SS. These guys have pushed hard and endured a lot to get where they are today. Over the course of the past 5 or 6 years, they have played countless shows, lost members, added members, recorded 2 albums and have marketed themselves to a wide audience, all on their own dollar. It seems as if all of their hard work is starting to pay off...and I couldn't be happier for them!
For the KISS show, I was able to spend the day with SS, from loading in to hanging out backstage, watching all of the insane KISS fans practically throw themselves at the band when given the opportunity to meet them.. The experience was, for lack of a better word, EPIC!
Before the set, Barry and I headed out to the lawn to get some shots of him for his new endorsement by Silverfox Drumsticks. We tossed around a few different ideas as to what we wanted to portray in these shots and then we got started. Barry isn't what I would consider to be a serious person. He's always smiling and laughing when I see him and has a genuine love for life. This is something that we wanted to portray in his shots. Originally I had thought that shooting him on the grass with a pretty blue sky would be nice, but once we got up there and I saw the texture of the fence behind him, my mind was made up! We shot these with ambient light as I had no lighting setup with me.
After Barry's shoot it was time for the show! I was only able to shoot the Switchblade set, as I was denied a pass for the rest of the bands. I was pretty bummed but sometimes these things happen and you just can't take it personal. I heard from a photographer friend that KISS only gave out 3 passes for this particular show. But even though I wasn't able to shoot the entire show, I didn't let it get me down. I made the best of it and shot the guys in SS with a smile on my face. For once, I was able to shoot them under some awesome lighting! In my previous post, I discussed how I'm not a fan of using a flash and thankfully, at the Comcast Center, there is a no flash rule...and there's no shortage of good lighting! SS was given a 20 minute set which consisted of 4 songs. This day was probably the best I've ever seen them play. They really delivered on this huge opportunity! If you live in the Boston area and you haven't had a chance to see them yet, I suggest you find when they are playing near you and go check them out!
Switchblade Suicide <----click the link to visit their myspace page.
After their set wrapped up, we wanted to get a shot commemorating their opportunity to open for KISS. We decided to shoot near the stockade of 18-wheelers, all adorned with the KISS/Dr. Pepper advertisements. Again, I shot this with ambient light as the sun started falling behind the trees, before it ran out on us! Congrats guys! And thank you for making me a part of your day! I had a blast!!
For the KISS show, I was able to spend the day with SS, from loading in to hanging out backstage, watching all of the insane KISS fans practically throw themselves at the band when given the opportunity to meet them.. The experience was, for lack of a better word, EPIC!
Before the set, Barry and I headed out to the lawn to get some shots of him for his new endorsement by Silverfox Drumsticks. We tossed around a few different ideas as to what we wanted to portray in these shots and then we got started. Barry isn't what I would consider to be a serious person. He's always smiling and laughing when I see him and has a genuine love for life. This is something that we wanted to portray in his shots. Originally I had thought that shooting him on the grass with a pretty blue sky would be nice, but once we got up there and I saw the texture of the fence behind him, my mind was made up! We shot these with ambient light as I had no lighting setup with me.
After Barry's shoot it was time for the show! I was only able to shoot the Switchblade set, as I was denied a pass for the rest of the bands. I was pretty bummed but sometimes these things happen and you just can't take it personal. I heard from a photographer friend that KISS only gave out 3 passes for this particular show. But even though I wasn't able to shoot the entire show, I didn't let it get me down. I made the best of it and shot the guys in SS with a smile on my face. For once, I was able to shoot them under some awesome lighting! In my previous post, I discussed how I'm not a fan of using a flash and thankfully, at the Comcast Center, there is a no flash rule...and there's no shortage of good lighting! SS was given a 20 minute set which consisted of 4 songs. This day was probably the best I've ever seen them play. They really delivered on this huge opportunity! If you live in the Boston area and you haven't had a chance to see them yet, I suggest you find when they are playing near you and go check them out!
Switchblade Suicide <----click the link to visit their myspace page.
After their set wrapped up, we wanted to get a shot commemorating their opportunity to open for KISS. We decided to shoot near the stockade of 18-wheelers, all adorned with the KISS/Dr. Pepper advertisements. Again, I shot this with ambient light as the sun started falling behind the trees, before it ran out on us! Congrats guys! And thank you for making me a part of your day! I had a blast!!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Transmission Festival
So I've gone and done it...crawled out from under that rock I've been living under, created a blog and joined the rest of the world in the year 2010. I'm not sure what I'm trying to accomplish with this blog other than letting people have a gander at the work that doesn't make it to my portfolio. So I guess this will be something I start doing in conjunction with flickr. Welcome to those of you reading this! I hope you decide to stick around and give some feedback! And don't forget to tell your friends!!!
I shot the first day of Transmission Festival at the Palladium in Worcester. It was an interesting day to say the least. I was able to witness many anxious scenesters meet their favorite bands as they (the musicians) stood outside, trying to get one last drag of nicotine before heading out on stage. But none of them quite made me laugh like the 16ish year old boy that could barely breathe at the sight of lead singer of I Set My Friends On Fire, Matt Mihana. The kid was literally jumping up and down and holding his breath, unsure of how to approach Matt and what he should even say to him. I sat on the stairs watching this unfold, hoping that something epic was about to happen. Well...nothing happened. The kid never summoned up the courage and as Matt walked in to start his set, I saw the feeling of defeat wash over this guy as he moped away. To that kid, I say - muster it up dude! All of these people you idolize in bands are just that...PEOPLE! I'm sure Matt felt awkward as he stood there waiting for you to say hello to him. Everyone in a 2 mile radius could hear you talking about him and we all knew how badly you wanted to meet him...so next time...just say hello!
So back to it. Transmission Fest was packed with bands. It was a 2 day festival going on in 2 cities, Worcester and Hartford. The bands that played day 1 switched locations for day 2 so that no matter what city you were in, you were sure to see some amazing bands perform. Like I said, I only shot the first day of the festival, but I was blessed to see some bands I haven't seen in a very long time and fill my day with shooting bands that I haven't yet had the opportunity to photograph. For me, the day started when I Set My Friends On Fire took the stage. I was a little bummed to find out that Nabil Moo had left the band and Matt was a lone soul up there. It seemed to play into the energy and the performance as well. When I saw them on Warped Tour a couple years ago, the energy level they brought to the stage was insane. They had a way of getting everyone in the crowd super pumped but this time around, it seemed that the crowd was much more into it than they were. Sometimes it's for the best though...right?
After I Set My Friends On Fire came natives Therefore I Am. I was really stoked to see and shoot these guys. I love the music they make and they are regulars on my iPod rotation. The energy that came from them set the tone for the rest of the day. Everyone was into it! Typically, I will shoot the first 3 songs of the set and then take a break and head outside, away from the noise and madness...but not this time. I stayed for the rest of their set because I was captivated by them. Lead singer, Alex Correia spent an extensive amount of time in the crowd during their set and was swarmed the entire time. The response was just insane! The set kept getting better as it progressed, but when they started into "Death by Fire", all hell broke loose! If you haven't had an opportunity to see these guys, I highly recommend you find when they are coming to town and check them out!
Sky Eats Airplane takes the stage next. I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never really gotten into their music, nor had I seen them live at this point. I was happily satisfied as they rocked out and played a quality set. The momentum carried over from Therefore I Am and they had a great crowd response to their 2 newish lead vocalists. Overall, I was happy with how my photos turned out although the lighting was tough once again.
Thanks for stopping by today and listening to me ramble. I hope you decide to start following this blog and watching my work as it grows. And always make sure to check out my flickr for additional photos!!!!!
I shot the first day of Transmission Festival at the Palladium in Worcester. It was an interesting day to say the least. I was able to witness many anxious scenesters meet their favorite bands as they (the musicians) stood outside, trying to get one last drag of nicotine before heading out on stage. But none of them quite made me laugh like the 16ish year old boy that could barely breathe at the sight of lead singer of I Set My Friends On Fire, Matt Mihana. The kid was literally jumping up and down and holding his breath, unsure of how to approach Matt and what he should even say to him. I sat on the stairs watching this unfold, hoping that something epic was about to happen. Well...nothing happened. The kid never summoned up the courage and as Matt walked in to start his set, I saw the feeling of defeat wash over this guy as he moped away. To that kid, I say - muster it up dude! All of these people you idolize in bands are just that...PEOPLE! I'm sure Matt felt awkward as he stood there waiting for you to say hello to him. Everyone in a 2 mile radius could hear you talking about him and we all knew how badly you wanted to meet him...so next time...just say hello!
So back to it. Transmission Fest was packed with bands. It was a 2 day festival going on in 2 cities, Worcester and Hartford. The bands that played day 1 switched locations for day 2 so that no matter what city you were in, you were sure to see some amazing bands perform. Like I said, I only shot the first day of the festival, but I was blessed to see some bands I haven't seen in a very long time and fill my day with shooting bands that I haven't yet had the opportunity to photograph. For me, the day started when I Set My Friends On Fire took the stage. I was a little bummed to find out that Nabil Moo had left the band and Matt was a lone soul up there. It seemed to play into the energy and the performance as well. When I saw them on Warped Tour a couple years ago, the energy level they brought to the stage was insane. They had a way of getting everyone in the crowd super pumped but this time around, it seemed that the crowd was much more into it than they were. Sometimes it's for the best though...right?
I Set My Friends On Fire
After I Set My Friends On Fire came natives Therefore I Am. I was really stoked to see and shoot these guys. I love the music they make and they are regulars on my iPod rotation. The energy that came from them set the tone for the rest of the day. Everyone was into it! Typically, I will shoot the first 3 songs of the set and then take a break and head outside, away from the noise and madness...but not this time. I stayed for the rest of their set because I was captivated by them. Lead singer, Alex Correia spent an extensive amount of time in the crowd during their set and was swarmed the entire time. The response was just insane! The set kept getting better as it progressed, but when they started into "Death by Fire", all hell broke loose! If you haven't had an opportunity to see these guys, I highly recommend you find when they are coming to town and check them out!
Therefore I Am
Sky Eats Airplane takes the stage next. I wasn't sure what to expect as I've never really gotten into their music, nor had I seen them live at this point. I was happily satisfied as they rocked out and played a quality set. The momentum carried over from Therefore I Am and they had a great crowd response to their 2 newish lead vocalists. Overall, I was happy with how my photos turned out although the lighting was tough once again.
Sky Eats Airplane
Following SEA was another local favorite, A Loss For Words. Yet again...another band that I hadn't seen or had the chance to shoot. I'm not usually one for poppy music but I was sold by their live performance. Very high energy and it was apparent that these dudes love to have a good time. Although it would be a far stretch for me to pop their disk in my cd player...I'd absolutely go see them live again!
A Loss For Words
Then We Came As Romans took the stage. Prior to this I was going back and forth with whether or not I wanted to shoot with flash. Shooting at the Palladium pretty much guarantees that you'll need some type of flash to get quality shots without shooting 5000iso. I've photographed shows alongside Jeremy Saffer quite a few times and have seen him use his Lumiquest when the venue warrants a flash. He swears by them and I never was really sold on it until now. I decided to pull it out of my bag, blow off the dust and slap it on my flash. I wasn't expecting to have great results with it but I was definitely mistaken. Shooting with the 80/20 and a diffuser, this little monster produces awesome results! Much better than using a gary fong or any other type of diffuser I see people shooting with. It instantly cut down any harsh shadows and put light exactly where I wanted it, without being too overbearing. I quickly decided that I wanted to switch to a slower shutter speed so I could get the movement, all while locking in my subjects with the flash. The Lumiquest certainly delivered! I was able to shoot at 1/60th of a second and slower and still get awesome results! So thanks Jeremy...I owe you one!
We Came As Romans
And on to the band that I was really there to see...Emery! I love these dudes! I have been a huge Emery fan since before I shared a stage with them at DiPiazza's in Long Beach, CA...circa 2003? I've always had a thing for them. The lyrics are awesome...the music is eclectic...and these dudes rock out HARD! Switching between 3 singers isn't something many bands can pull off...nor is looking like Charles Manson, but Emery has got it down! I can't even count how many times I've seen them live...but this was my first chance at shooting them. I was so psyched! Again...not many bands that I stick around for their entire set but there's no way I'm missing a minute of this band...every time I see them they blow my mind...and once again, they delivered and then some!
Emery
And this brings me to the final band that I shot for the day. Story of the Year. What to say about these guys. They have been around for quite a while now but still play hard, fast, and have a ton of fun doing it. I have a soft spot in my heart for these guys. I haven't really listened to them since their first album but I can't say that I don't enjoy them either. A few years after I graduated high school, I moved into a house with 5 of my closest friends. We were dubbed the frat house because of the parties we threw there. It wasn't unusual to have 200+ people in our backyard, having a good time. It also wasn't unusual for the cops to show up at some point in the wee hours of the morning to usher the people out. This house was special to us. It was the place where we all came out of our shells. Did I need to tell you this? No...but it was a nice segway into me telling you that it was inhabited by the dudes of Story of the Year before us. You know the house where, in the dvd, they throw the tv off the roof? The one where they sound proofed the garage? Yea...it was that one! When we first moved in, we had to pick stickers off of every room of the house where they had left them. It was the house they decided to live in while they became rock stars and before they made it big. So for some reason, I feel close to these guys. I feel like we come from the same place which makes me appreciate their music and hard work. Oh...and just in case some of you are skeptical...the address is 14852 Alcester St., Westminster, CA 92683. Go check it out...you'll find the stickers we left behind as well. And say hi to Big Louie for me, Jake, Will, Mike, Andy, and Shane.
Story of the Year
Thanks for stopping by today and listening to me ramble. I hope you decide to start following this blog and watching my work as it grows. And always make sure to check out my flickr for additional photos!!!!!
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