Me, photographed by Cybele

Cybele, photographed by me

While Cybele and i were on holidays, a couple of photos we took of each other were part of an exhibition put on by Vice and sponsored by Bonds. It was held at Luxe Studios in Darlinghurst and by the looks of it proved popular.

It was for of a project that Vice initiated for Bonds where they got creative couples and friends to photograph each other. The only brief apart from that was that you had to wear clothes from Bonds new unisex range.

As is my way i procrastinated about it until the last minute and we both had a bit of a freakout the day before the pictures were due trying to work out what to do. There was also crises of confidence as we realised that we’re much happier behind the camera rather than in front.

After several aborted set ups and abandoned ideas we decided on the style you see above.

It’s a technique that Cybele had used in a previous fashion shoot.

Our pictures on the wall at Luxe Studios. Photo courtesy of Vice

More photos and coverage at the Vice/Bonds made2share site, Pedestrian and Oyster.

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To coincide with the Surry Hills themed issue of Time Out Sydney, the magazine held a one night only photo exhibition at Urban Uprising featuring 20 of my pictures, plus some more by Will Storr.

The pictures are all of Surry Hills people and places, some taken on assignment for Time Out, some just my personal work.

Surry Hills is a suburb dear to my heart, it’s where i was born, it’s where i’ve lived, and it’s where i spend so much of my time.

So it was a pleasure pulling some pictures from the archives for the show and sharing them with many of my Surry Hills pals.

Minnie Cooper's alter ego

Thanks are due to Urban Uprising, Dan, Andy, Phil, Roxy, ACP, Hardware Gallery, Pie Face, Peroni, Chandon and Café Lounge.

The show ran for one night only at Urban Uprising, but i’ve moved many of the shots to Café Lounge, where they’re on display till next Wednesday.

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Next week i’m having a little photo show with a couple of snapper mates, in association with the British Indie night Britpop.

It’ll be me, Graham Denholm and Mark Metcalfe, all showing photos of British bands performing.

I’ve managed to dig out the trinity of britpop heroes Noel Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker and Damon Albarn plus more modern fare such as The Horrors, Editors, New Young Pony Club and Amy Winehouse.

There’s a preview night this Wednesday from 6-9pm, with free beer courtesy of VB Raw.

It’s an invite only affair – but consider yourself invited – just RSVP to john@britpop.com.au

Then on Saturday 7th November, it’ll be open alongside Britpop, the british indie club night.

It all happens at The Abercrombie Hotel in Chippendale. Cnr Broadway and Abercrombie St.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll see.

The Horrors by Daniel Boud

The Pipettes by Daniel Boud

Arctic Monkeys by Graham Denholm

Franz Ferdinand by Graham Denholm

Kaiser Chiefs by Mark Metcalfe

Doves by Mark Metcalfe

Hope to see you there.

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This Friday night some of my photos will be on show beside the work of illustrator/designers Greedy Hen and Kareena Zerefos at World Bar in Kings Cross.

I’m extremely humbled to be in their company because they’re amazing women who do world class work that i’m a huge fan of. Plus they can draw, which alongside singing is one of those talents i’m terribly bad at and thus have great admiration for those who do it well. PLUS they’re drop dead gorgeous. Knockouts on all fronts.

A Greedy Hen artwork i liked so much i bought it for my wall

The glue that binds us for this show is our work in the music world. Greedy Hen have done album covers, tour posters and videos for many of your favourite artists like Bill Callahan, Cloud Control, Holly Throsby, Josh Pyke and The Panics.

A Holly Throsby tour poster designed by Greedy Hen

Kareena is a similarly talented illustrator who does lovely nostalgic drawings. I saw a show of hers at the MTV gallery last year which was filled with beautiful drawings of children, animals and other things. It sometimes walks a line somewhere between twee and creepy – in a good way. She’s also made album covers for Bob Evans, Sparkadia and John Steel Singers.

Boy with Rat on Head by Kareena Zerefos

Artwork for the John Steel Singers, Bob Evans and Sparkadia

Now me? I can’t draw, so i’m going to show some of my photos. Not just any old photos mind you but NEVER BEFORE SEEN secret photo project photos that i took in March over the weekend of the My Filthy Riot festival at The Annandale.

Human fountains Philadelphia Grand Jury

I set up a little mobile studio upstairs and whenever i got the chance would drag a band up and take their photo. All the photos were taken with the same setup, no pre-planned concepts, no fuss, just whatever popped into our heads. I probably spent about a minute with each act and all up i shot about 25 bands over the weekend.

Upcoming fashion designers FTW

I was a bit tired of shooting bands where everything is overthought and you have to deal with layers of management, labels, approvals, contracts, egos and restrictions. So i thought i’d keep it simple, go back to my roots and shoot some up and comers fast and furious.

The show on Friday will feature my favourite 10 photos of artists including Philadelphia Grand Jury, Lions at Your Door, No Art, The Scare, Aleesha Dibbs, Fait Accompli, Ghosts of Television, The Spirits, The Amazing Philips Sisters and fashion designers FTW. That is if the prints turn out nicely from the printer tomorrow.

The Amazing Phillips SIsters. You may recognise Johnny on the right from his side project Children Collide

I don’t really know what to expect, but this won’t be like a regular art show, it’s at a nightclub/bar on a Friday night in Kings Cross for starters. But if you have the willpower to ignore the dickheads who infest the Cross on a Friday night then do come by, have a drink and see some ART.

There’ll also be live performances from Villains of Wilhem, The Vignettes, Allies and Underlights. If you come by around 8pm you may also aurally witness me DJing whatever the hell i feel like.

Normally you have to pay to get into this thing on a Friday, but if you leave a comment below or RSVP on Facebook by Friday lunchtime, you’ll get your name on the door and waltz past the shmucks queuing and paying to get in.

Kicks off at 8pm, this Friday at World Bar, 24 Bayswater Rd Kings Cross.

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I didn’t take any photos myself on the opening night of 3 Songs. No Flash, but the fellas from China Heights gave me some of these snaps that they took.

I told you it was popular! After publishing my work to a faceless audience on the internet for so long it was cool to see real live people in a room there to enjoy it. Or at least turn up for free drinks.

I’ve collected these shots, plus some photos i took at quieter moments in the 3 Songs. No Flash photo gallery.

Matt also took some photos of the show which you can see on his blog.

I promise i’ll stop going on about the show now. Normal blogging resumes tomorrow.

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View larger panorama of the room.

Now the show‘s over i figure it’s good to review all the media coverage we got for it.

• A full page feature interview in The Brag with cover inlay photo.
• An article and photo in Drum Media.
• A feature in 3D World plus social photos.
• On air interview with Matt on FBI and triple j radio.
• A mention in Mess and Noise magazine.
• A plug on the homepage of Australian Infront.
• Lead item on Kripy and Two Thousand email newsletters.
• Threads on Fasterlouder, Mess and Noise, Myspace and Flickr.
• Plugs on various blogs including whothehell.net, The Sandwich Club, A Reminder and Sydney Food Diary.
• Links from Crumpler website and email mailout.

I think we did rather well considering we didn’t spend a cent on promotion.

Many thanks to everyone who supported us.

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As an official sponsor of 3 Songs. No Flash, The Brag magazine gave us some plum coverage before the show, with a cover inlay photo and a full page feature interview with Matt, Nic and I.

The email interviews with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown were edited down to fit in the magazine, so i thought it might be nice to post the full contents of each interview – plus an intro from me.

• Interview with Nic Bezzina
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Slipknot by Nic Bezzina

One of the reasons i wanted Nic to be in 3 Songs. No Flash is that he’s so different (in a good way) to Matt and I. Most gig photographers these days are loaded with lenses and a swish digital SLR. Nic on the other hand only uses one camera (a film camera) and one lens. A fully manual Nikon FE2 and an 85mm lens.

I’m amazed at what he can do with it. The quality of his photos speaks for itself.

Here’s Nic’s interview with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown:

BRAG: Tell us a little about yourself. Who do you work for, what is your style
of photography, do you have a day job?

NIC: Hi, I’m Nic; day dreamer, observer, perverse, quite silent, music lover.
I contribute to Blunt Magazine and the absolute worthless, Unbelievably
Bad.
I have a casual day job at Crumpler, so visit me in the Newtown store
and buy stuff.
My style of photography is ummm…
I like to think it carries atmosphere.

How did you get into the photography business?

I dreamt of being a music video director, and music photography seemed
the perfect stepping stone.
I bought a 2nd hand camera and lens off eBay and started shooting gigs
at the Annandale Hotel, which soon led to a residency. Thanks go out to
the Dale for giving me a home to grow as an artist and photographer. Oh’
that and I became obsessed with my work.

Memorable moments.

Watching Craig Nicholls (The Vines) kick a photographer’s camera and
flash out of her hands. She was 3 people down on my left.
I’ve always hated bursts of flash going off mid-performance anyway.

Not so memorable moments.

I was shooting Brisbane band, Raising the Dead, as a favour. The singer
was extremely out of his head and volatile on stage. He started throwing
garbage into the crowd from a bin he wheeled in from the alley. A girl
standing next to me was hit in the face with a piece of meat. It was
rotten.

If you could photograph anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Nick Cave with The Birthday Party, 1983. I was still in the womb that
year.

The Mars Volta. Again.
And again.
TOOL.

Deftones
Bjork – Debut tour.

FAITH NO MORE

Who has been the most exciting person to shoot and who has been the most
difficult?

Shooting The Mars Volta was a dream come true.
Shooting The Mars Volta from the Enmore foyer was a nightmare.
Also, taking a good photo within The Dillinger Escape Plan pit proved to
be difficult.

Is there a memorable image that you have taken that has become your
favourite?

Chino Moreno, on his tour with Team Sleep, climbed the barricade and
sung into the face of many smiling fans. The show was at the Roundhouse
and I was lucky enough to have been on the second level, waiting, camera
poised.

What is 3 Songs, No Flash about? How did it come around and what do you
hope it achieves?

Literally, 3 Songs No Flash are the two general rules for photographing
higher profile gigs. The exhibition is a showcase of best works from 3
of Australia’s next generation of talented music photographers.

Dan and Matt asked me if I wanted to take part in a joint exhibition. I
jumped at the offer and the ball started to roll. They’re both great
photographers.

I hope it brings about future collaborations with bands/artists that I
admire.
Ongoing work and projects.

What advice would you give to budding photographers out there?

Practise, experiment, be patient, and always look to improve.
DeviantART.com is a great place to publish your work for feedback.

You can see more of Nic’s work at Nicbezzina.com.

See Also:

• Interview with Matt Booy
• Interview with Daniel Boud

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The Detroit Cobras by Matt Booy

When i was starting out taking concert photos i’d look all over the place to find inspiration. One of the places that seemed to have consistently top-notch concert photos was the triple j website, with credit usually going to Matt Booy.

He’s fantastic at capturing the atmosphere of a gig, not just the singer at the mic, but the lighting, the pedals, the quiet looks of people. His work is also remarkably sharp. It’s tough getting a sharp shot in such low lighting, but Matt seems to have got it down pat.

Apart from his skills in photography Matt was invaluable in the organisation of 3 Songs. No Flash – he suggested the title, he designed the website and flyer. I couldn’t have done it without him.

Here’s Matt’s interview with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown:

BRAG: Tell us a little about yourself. Who do you work for, what is your style of photography, do you have a day job, how did you get into the photography business?

MATT: My day job is working on the triple j website.  After working there for a while and seeing heaps of concerts – I thought it would be cool to see if I could get some images for triple j.  Luckily for me – the promoters actually let me up the front and so began my quest to get as many guitar pedal shots as possible.

Memorable moments.

The Mars Volta at the 2004 Big Day Out.  Cedric was throwing his mic stand and pouring water into the photographer’s pit and generally misbehaving. Great fun trying to dodge his antics and get a pic. The fact that they only play 3 songs in a festival set meant we got heaps of time to shoot them as well!

Also Wayne Coyne hitting me directly with a handful of confetti during the Flaming Lips set at the same BDO was pretty fun.

Not so memorable moments.

The Mars Volta at this year’s Big Day Out. Their management must have cottoned on to the 3 songs loophole so we had a 10 minute limit in the pit.  In reality this turned into 3 minutes  - 2 ½ minutes of that was the intro music when none of them were on stage. Oh and it was pitch black! Fun times… Their Sydney sideshow was even worse. We were given just a few minutes to shoot them from behind the punters at the back bar of the Enmore. Not owning a telephoto lens I was screwed!

It’s even more frustrating thinking about the shots you could have got as they are a killer live band.

If you could photograph anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Bandwise:

Led Zep at their peak. Purely for selfish reasons – just to be up the front for 3 songs.  I’d also take heaps of photos of John Paul Jones – because no one bothered shooting him in the seventies – they just concentrated on Page, Plant and Bonzo!

Can’t wait to shoot Tool next year (err that’s if they are coming out – haha).

Non-bandwise and dead:

Stanley Kubrick – so I can nerd out with him about camera equipment.

Who has been the most exciting person to shoot and who has been the most difficult?

Dillinger Escape Plan was pretty fun – shot them at both the Annandale and Gaelic club shows – and as neither of the venues have a photo pit – it was an intense experience.  The band spent about 90% of the time in the audience!

Stalking Adrian Belew (of King Crimson) earlier this year was a bit of a blast as well. Went to all three Sydney shows and had a brief chat with him after the Basement gig – he’s  a top bloke!

Aside from Mars Volta – Missy Elliot was pretty disappointing only getting one song (although to be fair (?) her set only had a total of 5 songs!).

Is there a memorable image that you have taken that has become your favourite?

My best images are of my favourite bands.  It was a real dream come true to shoot Radiohead. For three songs you get the best seat in the house!

What is 3 Songs, No Flash about? How did it come around and what do you hope it achieves?

Since most of my stuff is on the web – it is good to print some images out and let people see them larger than at 400*267 pixels on a crappy computer monitor.

Will be nice to share them with people and nervously wait for their reaction.

What advice would you give to budding photographers out there?

Piss the flash off.  You’re unlikely to get good shots using the onboard flash on your camera (well the backs of people’s heads will turn out well!). Plus it’s pretty annoying for everyone having  flashes going off during a show.

And although it’s hard, it’s good to sometimes put the camera down and actually enjoy the concert. (I should talk…)

You can see more of Matt’s work in the triple j galleries, plus his new blog. Go and leave fawning comments.

See Also:

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Selfish C*nt by Daniel Boud.

If you told me a year ago i’d be holding an exhibiton of my concert photos i’d ask what you’d been smoking. Exhibitions were for professionals and artists.

Inspiration came about 6 months ago when i went to a photo show that was put on by some local amateur photographers from Flickr. It was great work and lots of people turned up. I realised that to put a show together wasn’t impossible and something normal people like me could do. Simply book a space, promote the show, print out and hang your work. You don’t need someone to ask you to do it, just do it yourself.

So i emailed Matt and raised the idea, he said he’d been considering something like that too, we got in touch with Nic and the ball started rolling.

I spent a lot more of my time on organising and promoting the show rather than on the photos. In the end the photos were all hastily collated and only delivered the day before the show opened. But it all seemed to work out in the end – hundreds of people came, a bunch of prints sold, our egos were stroked.

Here’s my interview with The Brag editor Kirsty Brown:

BRAG: Tell us a little about yourself. Who do you work for, what is your style of photography, do you have a day job?

DANIEL: I work freelance photography, so that means my photos end up all over the place, from The Brag to Drum Media to Hot Press to Triple J to Spin. Whoever wants my shots.

I also work as a web producer, so that helps me in publishing my work online.

I like to capture people when they’re doing something bold or wild. A split second in time when emotions are highest.

How did you get into the photography business?

I started a blog and used to post the odd picture that I’d taken at gigs and parties to it. After a while I began contributing stuff to street press. I just kept doing it and more mags started to run my photos. It started as all live stuff and events, but I’ve since done press shots in the studio for a number of bands too.

Memorable moments.

Shooting the Big Day Out was a dream come true, with Iggy Pop probably being the highlight. The man is a legend and photographs amazingly.

Not so memorable moments.

Having a wet sponge flung from the crowd at me at the Big Day Out. It landed on my camera and freaked me out for a bit – but it was all ok in the end.

If you could photograph anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

I would have loved to photograph U2 in their early days, playing the clubs of Dublin, and the first tours of America. I’d still love to photograph the band.

Who has been the most exciting person to shoot and who has been the most difficult?

There’s a UK band called Selfish Cunt who I photographed a couple of times – once in London, and once in Austin. The singer is a modern day Johnny Rotten, completely mental, flinging himself into the crowd, getting into fights, getting naked. You never know what’s going to come next. That’s exciting to shoot.

It’s always tough to shoot acts in low-light. Like Matt, I found The Mars Volta pretty much impossible to shoot seeing as they played in darkness.

Is there a memorable image that you have taken that has become your favourite?

There’s a shot I took of The Scare at Homebake where the singer is screaming his lungs out, looking directly down the lens. Straight after the shot he lunged at me and we both fell to the ground. That was rather memorable.

What is 3 Songs, No Flash about? How did it come around and what do you hope it achieves?

I’ve never really considered myself a proper artist type that exhibits his work in a gallery. But i decided to bite the bullet and risk appearing like a wanky art student and get a show together. I have a lot of admiration for Matt and Nic’s work, so i know even if i wasn’t involved it’d be the sort of thing i’d be keen to check out.

I hope people in the music, concert promotion and publishing industry see our work and realise we’re talented people who they want to work with.

I want people to see there’s a new generation of music photographers around – that you don’t always have to hire Tony Mott to get great results.

Oh – and i want a nomination in the Jack Awards. Hint hint.

What advice would you give to budding photographers out there?

Practice, practice, practice. Shoot heaps before you start shopping your work around to magazines. Seek feedback from friends and other photographers. Put your work online on a site like Flickr. Sign up as a contributer to sites like Fasterlouder.com.au and thedwarf.com.au.

See Also:

• Interview with Nic Bezzina
• Interview with Matt Booy

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