I had a shoot this last weekend, in the cold, and the rain, in a stormwater drain.
Three days later and I still have the smell up my nose - although it was nice to rough it for once (not to mention shoot some film instead of that yucky digital that seems to be so popular right now).
So anyway, with no further ado, heres a couple from the shoot.
Details: Leica R8, Summilux-R 1.4/35mm
Three days later and I still have the smell up my nose - although it was nice to rough it for once (not to mention shoot some film instead of that yucky digital that seems to be so popular right now).
So anyway, with no further ado, heres a couple from the shoot.
Details: Leica R8, Summilux-R 1.4/35mm
Insurance came through, new laptops and camera bags were brought.
Writing this on my nice new shiny Macbook, so far everything is good - gotta love those new screens! Also nice to finally have a DVD burner that works properly, that going to help so much with storing images!
I shot an all ages gig the other night, felt very out of place. Who would have thought the day would come when I was the only person with a mohawk at a punk/hardcore gig. Sheesh kids these days! Myspace certainly has a lot to answer for, was a real fringe fest...
Anyway, heres a couple of shots of the band I was there to shoot - "Collapse". Check them out, Deftones insired emo/hardcore - and definately better than that comparison sounds...
Writing this on my nice new shiny Macbook, so far everything is good - gotta love those new screens! Also nice to finally have a DVD burner that works properly, that going to help so much with storing images!
I shot an all ages gig the other night, felt very out of place. Who would have thought the day would come when I was the only person with a mohawk at a punk/hardcore gig. Sheesh kids these days! Myspace certainly has a lot to answer for, was a real fringe fest...
Anyway, heres a couple of shots of the band I was there to shoot - "Collapse". Check them out, Deftones insired emo/hardcore - and definately better than that comparison sounds...
So we were broken into last night, while we were home.
Sitting in the lounge watching a movie, while some asshole was cleaning out our kitchen.
Nothing too important stolen, oh except for my apple laptop with all the images of my sons birthday weekend (not backed up) and my brand new wallet containing about $100 in cash.
Still, I guess it was nice to recieve a free Suicide Girls Tour DVD in the mail yesterday.
Sitting in the lounge watching a movie, while some asshole was cleaning out our kitchen.
Nothing too important stolen, oh except for my apple laptop with all the images of my sons birthday weekend (not backed up) and my brand new wallet containing about $100 in cash.
Still, I guess it was nice to recieve a free Suicide Girls Tour DVD in the mail yesterday.
Kicking it 'Old School'...
Once upon a time I used to get asked to shoot bands in small clubs with no lights/only red lighting gels/instore gigs etc. Thats all well and good, until it comes to trying to correctly expose your shots, or make them look different from every other fanboi/girl there with a happy-snappy digital camera.
It's then I like to pull out my flash and proclaim i'm going to be "kicking it old school tonight".
Excuse me, but what?
Well when I first started out shooting live shows, and didn't have the fast lenses, or the money to buy fast film I used to shoot everything with flash on black and white. Direct on, blown out, sometimes blurry. It didn't matter, because I was there, hearing my favourite bands, living in the moment. Lately i've been very spoilt with the shows i've been shooting, perfect lighting setups, big stages, minimal red lighting. Everything perfect. Boring.
So why the long winded memory trip? Well I got to shoot the boys from Black Chrome the other night in an extremely small club - tiny stage, no lighting except for a projector set up and a couple of red and yellow gels on some crummy old lights. What did i do? I kicked it old school.
Wicked.
See some of my shots of the night here: http://www.parazz.com/html/?username=umbradigital&albumID=65845
Once upon a time I used to get asked to shoot bands in small clubs with no lights/only red lighting gels/instore gigs etc. Thats all well and good, until it comes to trying to correctly expose your shots, or make them look different from every other fanboi/girl there with a happy-snappy digital camera.
It's then I like to pull out my flash and proclaim i'm going to be "kicking it old school tonight".
Excuse me, but what?
Well when I first started out shooting live shows, and didn't have the fast lenses, or the money to buy fast film I used to shoot everything with flash on black and white. Direct on, blown out, sometimes blurry. It didn't matter, because I was there, hearing my favourite bands, living in the moment. Lately i've been very spoilt with the shows i've been shooting, perfect lighting setups, big stages, minimal red lighting. Everything perfect. Boring.
So why the long winded memory trip? Well I got to shoot the boys from Black Chrome the other night in an extremely small club - tiny stage, no lighting except for a projector set up and a couple of red and yellow gels on some crummy old lights. What did i do? I kicked it old school.
Wicked.
See some of my shots of the night here: http://www.parazz.com/html/?username=umbradigital&albumID=65845
Nashville Pussy
Plus special guests
Black Chrome + Knife Fight
Sitting at work, busy as hell when I get a text. "You ready to go? Be there in 15 minutes." Switch the computer off, rush down the hill and get picked up in the shitty red van.
With a flight crew consisting of the lovely Black Chrome boys, plus sound tech, wife and driver - not to mention full drum kit, plus guitars and amps the ride was a little cramped. Drive down was full of album design plans, bad drummer jokes and crazy drivers (not ours, he was a legend), and the two hour journey had soon ended, long before I even realised it had begun. Nice.
Parked the van behind Valve, and scattered throughout town to do whatever it is you do whilst in the big city. Record stores it was then. Spent far too much money on a limited edition double picture disc of Tool's Lateralus, then proceeded to wander the streets and people watch.
Back to Valve at 5pm so Black Chrome could set up and soundcheck for the matinee show they were to play, then lots of random sitting and waiting, and a little more sitting, some more waiting etc etc. The doors opened at 7pm and was an all ages matinee show for some Australian punk band-or-other. Didn't matter really, as Black Chrome hit the stage at 7.40pm to a room consisting of myself, some of another band who were playing next, and a couple of young girls who had wandered in looking all star struck, no doubt dropped off by mummy with strict instructions not to make eye contact with any dodgy looking boys. Shame really.
After the seemingly short set (or "paid band practice" as it came to be known), we hurredly threw everything in the van, saw Pandie walk past but was too busy to stop and chat, and rushed off to Black Chromes second gig of the night, as support for the mighty Nashville Pussy.
Climbed the stairs of Indigo to be met with lots of loud feedback, random drum beats and a seemingly frustrated american accent trying to deal with too much in this monitor, not enough in this monitor etc etc. There on stage were Nashville Pussy, right in the middle of soundcheck. Excellent. Hung around and watched them soundcheck, sat backstage for a while then got bored and headed off in search of food.
After feeding myself on the most nutricious, balanced diet of a meal I could find at short notice (The last meat pie in the place and bottle of Red Bull), I wandered back to Indigo to find Black Chrome soundchecking. Their sound was amazing, really suiting the large P.A. that was being provided that night. Got all excited and had to calm myself by getting my camera gear ready before the doors were opened and punters started arriving.
Many fellow Turbojugend members arrived and soon Black Chrome were on stage sounding better than ever. I shot a few images, sang "My Band" with the choir and had an awesome time. All too soon they had finished, and were packed up ready to party. I found a dark corner to lurk in (for old times sake of course), and watched the next band from a distance. I don't even remember who they were, and my Mum always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all so i'll leave it at that.
Found a couch to sit on, and had just got settled when the next band of the night - "Knife Fight" hit the stage. Thirty seconds or so into their first song and I was on my feet and to the front of the stage for a boogie. To say they were great is a serious understatement and it's very unusual for me to like a band so much on first listen. They had a range of styles from shoegazer noisescapes to thrash punk'n'roll, I certainly look forward to seeing them live again soon (hopefully!).
They finished and everyone cleared away from the stage, enabling me to get a prime spot front row centre to stash my camera gear and to wait for Nashville Pussy. Soon I was surrounded by other eager fans, all waiting for the redneck onslaught. The lights went out and a bloodcurdling scream emitted from the speakers.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME PUUUUUSSSSAAAAYYYYYYY!
Well yes indeed I was, and so was everyone else there it seems, as the crowd exploded and Nashville Pussy launched into "Pussy Time". I spent the first song or so trying to concentrate on getting some good images, but soon I just let myself have a good time with everyone else there. The show went from great to pretty fucking legendary, with Nashville Pussy playing all the songs I really enjoy, including "High as Hell", "C'mon C'mon", "Go Motherfucker Go" and "Shoot First and Run Like Hell", not to mention the finale of the encore "Keep On Fucking" which ended with the guitarist/vocalist Blaine Cartwright and lead guitarist Ruyter Suys pouring beer all over themselves, and Ruyter ripping her top off to play the end of the song before leaving the stage in a wall of feedback and noise.
I was in heaven, pure and simple.
After the show we stood around a chatted, I got a picture with Ruyter (any excuse to cuddle up with a hot rock chick...) and we left at around 3.00am to drive back to the swamp. Only three of us for the return trip, so I had a whole seat to myself. It's amazing what excites you when you get a little tired. I promptly fell asleep and was woken when we pulled into a service station in the middle of nowhere for pies.
Went to drive off and the van wouldn't start. It's seriously not cool to be broken down in a hire van at 4am in the middle of nowhere, although after an hour or so of mucking around the service station attendant came out to help and deduced we had a flat battery. Apparently it had died suddenly with no warning (how handy), and in no time had callled the AA to come help out. I sat in the back and played Solitaire on my iPod while we waited and soon enough we were on our way home.
5.30am we drove into Palmerston North, tired and ready for bed. Got home and the family were just waking up, so coffee was put on and I sat down to recount the nights adventures.
So much fun, I should do it more often.
Images of Nashville Pussy from the night can be seen at
http://www.parazz.com/html/?username=umbradigital&albumID=64575
Black Chrome images coming soon.
Plus special guests
Black Chrome + Knife Fight
Sitting at work, busy as hell when I get a text. "You ready to go? Be there in 15 minutes." Switch the computer off, rush down the hill and get picked up in the shitty red van.
With a flight crew consisting of the lovely Black Chrome boys, plus sound tech, wife and driver - not to mention full drum kit, plus guitars and amps the ride was a little cramped. Drive down was full of album design plans, bad drummer jokes and crazy drivers (not ours, he was a legend), and the two hour journey had soon ended, long before I even realised it had begun. Nice.
Parked the van behind Valve, and scattered throughout town to do whatever it is you do whilst in the big city. Record stores it was then. Spent far too much money on a limited edition double picture disc of Tool's Lateralus, then proceeded to wander the streets and people watch.
Back to Valve at 5pm so Black Chrome could set up and soundcheck for the matinee show they were to play, then lots of random sitting and waiting, and a little more sitting, some more waiting etc etc. The doors opened at 7pm and was an all ages matinee show for some Australian punk band-or-other. Didn't matter really, as Black Chrome hit the stage at 7.40pm to a room consisting of myself, some of another band who were playing next, and a couple of young girls who had wandered in looking all star struck, no doubt dropped off by mummy with strict instructions not to make eye contact with any dodgy looking boys. Shame really.
After the seemingly short set (or "paid band practice" as it came to be known), we hurredly threw everything in the van, saw Pandie walk past but was too busy to stop and chat, and rushed off to Black Chromes second gig of the night, as support for the mighty Nashville Pussy.
Climbed the stairs of Indigo to be met with lots of loud feedback, random drum beats and a seemingly frustrated american accent trying to deal with too much in this monitor, not enough in this monitor etc etc. There on stage were Nashville Pussy, right in the middle of soundcheck. Excellent. Hung around and watched them soundcheck, sat backstage for a while then got bored and headed off in search of food.
After feeding myself on the most nutricious, balanced diet of a meal I could find at short notice (The last meat pie in the place and bottle of Red Bull), I wandered back to Indigo to find Black Chrome soundchecking. Their sound was amazing, really suiting the large P.A. that was being provided that night. Got all excited and had to calm myself by getting my camera gear ready before the doors were opened and punters started arriving.
Many fellow Turbojugend members arrived and soon Black Chrome were on stage sounding better than ever. I shot a few images, sang "My Band" with the choir and had an awesome time. All too soon they had finished, and were packed up ready to party. I found a dark corner to lurk in (for old times sake of course), and watched the next band from a distance. I don't even remember who they were, and my Mum always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all so i'll leave it at that.
Found a couch to sit on, and had just got settled when the next band of the night - "Knife Fight" hit the stage. Thirty seconds or so into their first song and I was on my feet and to the front of the stage for a boogie. To say they were great is a serious understatement and it's very unusual for me to like a band so much on first listen. They had a range of styles from shoegazer noisescapes to thrash punk'n'roll, I certainly look forward to seeing them live again soon (hopefully!).
They finished and everyone cleared away from the stage, enabling me to get a prime spot front row centre to stash my camera gear and to wait for Nashville Pussy. Soon I was surrounded by other eager fans, all waiting for the redneck onslaught. The lights went out and a bloodcurdling scream emitted from the speakers.
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME PUUUUUSSSSAAAAYYYYYYY!
Well yes indeed I was, and so was everyone else there it seems, as the crowd exploded and Nashville Pussy launched into "Pussy Time". I spent the first song or so trying to concentrate on getting some good images, but soon I just let myself have a good time with everyone else there. The show went from great to pretty fucking legendary, with Nashville Pussy playing all the songs I really enjoy, including "High as Hell", "C'mon C'mon", "Go Motherfucker Go" and "Shoot First and Run Like Hell", not to mention the finale of the encore "Keep On Fucking" which ended with the guitarist/vocalist Blaine Cartwright and lead guitarist Ruyter Suys pouring beer all over themselves, and Ruyter ripping her top off to play the end of the song before leaving the stage in a wall of feedback and noise.
I was in heaven, pure and simple.
After the show we stood around a chatted, I got a picture with Ruyter (any excuse to cuddle up with a hot rock chick...) and we left at around 3.00am to drive back to the swamp. Only three of us for the return trip, so I had a whole seat to myself. It's amazing what excites you when you get a little tired. I promptly fell asleep and was woken when we pulled into a service station in the middle of nowhere for pies.
Went to drive off and the van wouldn't start. It's seriously not cool to be broken down in a hire van at 4am in the middle of nowhere, although after an hour or so of mucking around the service station attendant came out to help and deduced we had a flat battery. Apparently it had died suddenly with no warning (how handy), and in no time had callled the AA to come help out. I sat in the back and played Solitaire on my iPod while we waited and soon enough we were on our way home.
5.30am we drove into Palmerston North, tired and ready for bed. Got home and the family were just waking up, so coffee was put on and I sat down to recount the nights adventures.
So much fun, I should do it more often.
Images of Nashville Pussy from the night can be seen at
http://www.parazz.com/html/?username=umbradigital&albumID=64575
Black Chrome images coming soon.
Hi everyone!
Wow, I finallly joined.
Should be a couple of sets I shot online soon.
Sweet.
Wow, I finallly joined.
Should be a couple of sets I shot online soon.
Sweet.
