This was a rather insane day because for this event, photography was about 10% of my focus. I was trying to run sound, run a GoPro, run a DJI Osmo mostly, back up photos/audio/videos in my tent, etc etc etc. I was just taking photos while I video'd - I'd literally have the Osmo in my left hand and my camera in my right snapping photos.
In the spirit of tonight's Wild Card matchup, here are some photos I took of the Cubs and Pirates a couple Saturdays ago. As you attempt to unknot your stomach like myself, enjoy these. What a year so far. Hope it continues tomorrow and beyond.
Logan's EP - Gooma - drops today. Make sure you pick yourself up a copy. You can find it on iTunes, Amazon, or pick it up at Second String Music here in Quincy.
From Logan's Facebook page:
"Laid back and emotional, this folk/singer/songwriter record features notable vocals and delicate instrument stylings. This deeply personal album consists of thought provoking lyrics about reaching in to find what is real and important in life, and remembering all who have shaped us to this point. Dedicated to the memory of Janet E. Faler."
I took these pics of Logan at the 2013 Midsummer Arts Faire. I'm long overdue editing/posting them, and have promised them to Logan for a good year now, so I thought today was probably a better day than any. Procrastination wins again.
These guys have been one of my favorite shows to attend ever since I moved to Quincy, IL in 2007. They still put on a hell of a show. Don't miss them if you get the chance.
We were out to eat at The Abbey one night with family and Janell and we started talking about her upcoming competition she was in. I missed a couple of opportunities to see her perform in the past so I was for sure going, and then I just decided, “you know what? I’m going to photograph you.” And she said, “Ok!” And here we are.
The event was fantastic. All of the performances were great and they all impressed me. I was obviously a little biased in my opinion of my favorite, but overall I was very happy I attended and witnessed all of the performers. Looking forward to future events like this in Quincy – someone needs to keep me in the loop!
Photos taken at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD.
Once again, it's movie making time for Table Sixteen Productions, right here in Quincy. Open auditions were held at Gallery Solaro and if you missed it and are still wanting to audition, visit their website and/or send them an email.
http://www.table16.com/
Check out their previous film - Villainy For The Lonely - on IndieFlix:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM66JB_OB-0
On a whim, I decided to track down the necessary parties to get a press pass into this show. I’d never photographed an indoor concert before, but could only imagine how difficult it would be with the lighting and no flash. I wasn’t disappointed with my imaginings – it is very difficult. I took quite a few shots and whittled them down to these 37 of my favorites to share. Some are not absolutely tack sharp, but that’s ok with me – they are unforgettable moments from that night that I’ve transferred from my brain, to my lens, to here. Some are weird and you may not get them --- that’s ok too. My goal was to fuse the traditional with the nontraditional, and have a good mix. And nothing too samey. I tried to share color and b&w evenly. Crosses use a lot of b&w in their promotions and imagery. I wanted to recreate that in post-processing as it fits them well.
I want to thank the person who provided Jennifer Lee Heap and I press passes to this show. You were quite hard to track down, but well worth the effort. It was an experience I’ll never forget as I was able to photograph some of my favorite musical artists in their element. I’m eternally grateful. (Please don’t ask who this person is; I will not share their info).
Lastly, thanks to Crosses ††† for an unforgettable performance. I informed some fellow fan friends of mine that it was probably the best sounding concert I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a LOT. Everything sounded crisp, even, and amazing. Nothing drowned out anything else. It was a perfect mix – studio quality. Kudos to you and your crew. I’ll always hold the badge of honor of being one of the first to see you live outside of California. Well done, and good luck on your future dates. Looking forward to 02/11.
Entire show video here (not taken by me):
Dexter Tortoriello performing as Dawn Golden, opening for Crosses †††.
We were the first to be let into the venue and claimed a table up front to prepare our equipment to photograph the show. As fans started filing in we heard a lot of complaining about "a DJ opening the show." Once Dexter began his performance, they changed their tune, quickly. After each song, he was met with louder and louder applause. The crowd, it seemed, were appreciative of the passion and exertion that Dexter was putting forth. He seemed entranced, and his intensity was mesmerizing. I had to remind myself to keep photographing multiple times; I just wanted to watch him perform. As he thanked the crowd and announced his last song, I was disappointed that his performance was over. That is a rarity for me with opening bands I've never seen or heard before. It all went by too fast. I'll be following Dexter's career from now on and will be looking for opportunities to witness Dawn Golden again someday. If you get a chance, don't miss him.
A free-hand macro lens experiment with no tripod, no flash, and no gloves. Just a hoodie and the shivers.
Photos taken with an iPhone 4S
This was my first Dillinger experience and it was unhinged, maniacal, and just plain crazy, as completely expected. I'm a very long-time fan of this band - on my top 5 - and the stars have just never aligned for me to see them live. I still cry very deeply inside when I think about the Deftones/DEP tour I missed, and the famous Bottom Lounge show afterwards. What else was I doing that was more important than those shows? It better have been a birthday or something.
Living in the Midwest will do that to you -- shows aren't just down the street, they are down the interstate. If shows don't fall on a weekend, vacation days are necessary. Having a career and being responsible can certainly put a stick in the craw of your wanting to be 20 again, just for a day.
Being the old man that I am these days, I usually just hang in the back during shows and watch the craziness unfold in front of me. But this was Dillinger, and I wasn't going to short myself a full experience. I put myself up in the sweaty front for 95% of the show. Normally very annoyed and irked by fellow fan contact, I let all those inhibitions go and literally went with the flow of the crowd.
I grabbed photos when I could, snapping as I was knocked around, shoved, and kicked in the head -- a death grip on my iPhone all the while. I was stuck in a vortex of wanting to be a concert-going fan, and being a photographer and wanting to capture the experience, even if all I had was my iPhone.
During one photo attempt, Ben Weinman jumped from the stage, flipped, and landed directly on my phone and then his derriere ended up on top of my head. My head became a chair as he situated and re-positioned himself to get back to the stage. I'm almost 90% sure this was intentional, because before he jumped, we made eye contact, and then he looked at my phone. If so, his aim was true. Nice try by him, but I managed to hold onto my phone. Did I mention the death grip?
Should I be angry at Ben if his flipping body loft aimed directly at my iPhone was intentional? Absolutely not. He probably gets tired of looking out at the crowd and seeing masses of phones in the air -- people no longer taking in the concert experience for themselves and instead trying to Facebook/Instagram/Tweet something instantly to inflate their already overly-inflated egos. Kids these days. Get off my lawn.
I would tell Ben that although I commend his admirable attempt to dislodge my iPhone from my now famous death grip, I understand the effort. And I would tell him that I took in the Dillinger experience as a whole -- I swayed with the uncontrollable sways of the crowd, I shared sweat with fans and band members, I took on a Greg Puciato stage dive and helped push him back on the stage, I sang/screamed along to every song, and I snapped a few photos along the way. But I definitely waited until the next day to post them.
Ok, maybe Instagrammed one right after the show. My ego needed a boost. Don't judge me.
Some videos from the show (not taken by me)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8V-4eg2bew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbbLdFF8c0g
Washington D.C. was one of the most surreal, trippy trips I've ever experienced. When you are walking through the city, looking at monuments you've only seen pictures of in your school history books, it blows your mind that they are actually real, right in front of you. The experience is - literally - monumental. You can actually walk up to them and touch them. Craziness.
We were granted the rare experience of touring the West Wing of the White House (most people only get to tour the East Wing). We entered through the west entrance. If Secretary of State at the time, Hillary Clinton visited the White House, this is the entrance she'd use. No pictures were allowed inside past the Presidential Seal, but the mental images I gathered of the hallways, the Oval Office, the Situation Rooms, even the bathroom (did I piss where Presidents have pissed???), are ones I will never forget. The hallways are not what you'd expect -- very officey, very "normal." The situation rooms were something else. I was questioned by an FBI Agent about my camera and whether I had taken pictures in those rooms. I ensured her I had not and that my lens cap was on. She replied "Good. But if you had, we'd know about it." Yikes. I actually walked into the room where this famous photo was taken during the Osama Bin Laden raid: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Obama_and_Biden_await_updates_on_bin_Laden.jpg
Outside in the Rose Garden, the First Dog, Bo, came out for a bathroom break. Taking an in-focus picture of a pitch black dog, in pitch black darkness, with only my built-in pop-up flash for assistance proved near impossible. It didn't help that he was completely nuts, 100 MPH, and all over the place. Upstairs, President Obama was with his family and he was preparing for the third debate of the 2012 elections. We could look up and see the upstairs residential section where he lived (the lights were on). If he walked up to a window and looked out and waved at us, we'd see him. Again, that feeling of surreal craziness.
The White House Press Room was a trip as well, and I was allowed to take pics. The podium was right there, begging me to step up to it, put my hands on both of the front corners, lean down to the mic, and just say "Nation..." I was informed that if I stepped onto the stage, alarms would go off and I'd probably get into big trouble. No thanks.
The rest of the trip was monument touring. I put my hand on the Washington Monument. My face was mere inches away from the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. I stood 5 feet away from where Lincoln was shot in the back of the head by John Wilkes Booth. I could have walked right into the front doors of the FBI Offices and asked to speak to the X-Files Department.
Standing in front of Lincoln's statue was probably one of the most moving moments of my life. What an amazing man, shot dead in the same hatred and bigotry that remains in this nation today.
The Changing of the Guard is something you cannot pass up if ever in the area - very moving as well. Those soldiers are the definition of "dedication."
I highly recommend putting Washington D.C. on your bucket list. We didn't get to see it all, but we saw more than I expected. No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, being there will change your life. I've never felt more American.
