Archive for the 'My Photography' Category

Devin Townsend Project Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

Published on March 15, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 4 Comments Tags: , , , .

Devin Townsend Project Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

It’s kinda hard when you are shooting an act who you really, truly dig! It is sometimes hard to divorce yourself from the sheer magic that is pouring off the stage when a band is pounding through tracks you have played to death many, many times over in the past and concentrating on getting your shots – becomes somewhat difficult.

Tonight was no exception.

Big fan of anything and everything Devin Townsend touches be it the mind bending heaviness of Strapping Young Lad, or his various other endeavours in the form of the Devin Townsend Project et al.

Tonight, I made it to Billboard by the skin of my teeth. Last time I checked, the band wasn’t gonna hit the stage till 10pm but a last minute check on the venue’s website informed me that the time had been shifted back to 9.30. I was still at home at 9pm so there was a frantic dash to get to Billboard, park the car, get my pass and then wade through the gathered throng to the front of the stage.

And it was packed. To the fucking rafters. Getting to the front proved to be a monumental task.

By the time I got to the pit, Devin was already creeping out from behind the amps to a rapturous crowd. With cheeky grin and pin-stripe suit… the man approached the mike looking like a demented, bald, scientist… albeit with a flying-V guitar! As I got the camera ready, they mercilessly started grooving to the lead song from the masterful ‘Addicted’ album. Holy fuck it sounded just magnificent live! Kaboom!

Devin looked positively maniacal. Stomping the stage and pulling and contorting his face with every lick and riff pouring off his glorious flying V axe! The wall of sound behind him was as magic as you can get.

Standard fare in the pit, three songs and you’re out. Lucky tonight the opening three songs were nice and long so I was firing off shots like there was no tomorrow. The pit was also packed with at least 6-7 photogs and as many bouncers so it was awfully crowded and very, very hard to move.

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Victorian Roller Derby League

Published on March 14, 2010 in Events and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Victorian Roller Derby League

For quite a while now, I have wanted to attend a Roller Derby bout. For whatever reason, the planets have never quite aligned so I have always missed out when the Victorian Roller Derby League held it’s matches… or bouts as they are called.

Not this time. I bought a couple of tickets for my gal and me a week in advance as I was determined I was not going to miss the opening of the 2010 season. Lucky for me I did get the tickets early, because within days the event had well and truly sold out.

Held at Puckhandler’s Stadium in Reservoir, this South of the Yarra boy had to acquaint himself with the iPhone GPS to get to the venue. Sure enough, the place was packed and a lengthy motley crew of a queue had stretched around the venue as the fans were being led into the arena.

Wow! This is more popular than I thought.

With trusty camera in tow, I found a suitable spot and waited for the fun and mayhem to begin!

Initially, I didn’t know what the hell was going on but once I got into the rhythm and could understand the concept, it all made perfect sense and was freaking magnificent to watch!

Tonight’s opening game featured the Toxic Avengers Vs the Dolls Au-Go-Go. A prettier bunch of gals you are not likely to see but don’t let the Suicide Girls look fool you, they could bump and smash you from here to eternity before you even know what hit you.

The bumps and bruises are plentiful but it also takes an incredible amount of finesse and skill to be able to speed around the arena whilst avoiding contact and your bum hitting the floor hard. And man oh man did they come crashing down at various times during the night. One only had to listen to the sighs and groans from the gathered throng to know when a skater had hit the floor hard!

Roller Derby was hugely popular in the United States in the 50’s and 60’s and it reached WWF-like popularity in the ’80’s where the entire thing evolved into a caricature of itself. You know, flying chairs, fake blood, wrestling-like story-lines et al.

With movies like 2009’s ‘Whip It‘ directed and starring Drew Barrymore, one can be excused into thinking the Victorian league is all flash-in-the-pan. Not so. The league has been in existence for several years and if last Saturday night is any indication, these gals could chop it up with the best of them!

Founded in 2007 the VRDL is a Melbourne based, not for profit, women’s Flat Track Roller Derby League.

Seriously, this was the most fun I have had at a sporting event since following my beloved Magpies each week. Sure the AFL boys bump and smash each other like there is no tomorrow, but I bet they couldn’t even contemplate doing that with skates on their feet!

The next bout is on April 17 featuring the Dead Ringer Rosies Vs the Toxic Avengers. Tickets go on sale April 1.

See you there!

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Nashville Pussy Live @ The Espy, Melbourne, Australia

Published on March 10, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Nashville Pussy Live @ The Espy, Melbourne, Australia

I think I inhaled enough second-hand dope smoke tonight, that I will wake up in the morning and the world, no doubt, will be spinning!

You know it is going to be a damn hot night of pure Southern Rock the minute you walk into the hallowed grotty floor of the Espy. You can feel it in your bones even before the band, in this case, Nashville Pussy, have even set foot on the stage.

Never really checked these guys out but after tonight’s showing… geez, they sure can rock it with the best of them.

Photographically speaking, I was re-united with my beloved 25-105mm lens, having picked it up from the repair shop this afternoon. The lens has been out of commission since the Ace Frehley tour of last month, and you can bet your bottom dollar I have missed it so. For a pub gig environment, it is the perfect lens and it was a huge struggle to be without it this past month.

I put it through it’s paces tonight, and it was like being reunited with an old friend.

As stated, the band tore it up big time and had their rabid following loving every single minute of it. The rock was pounding, the whiskey was plentiful and the Espy well and truly got its collective ass kicked to hell and back.

For the complete Nashville Pussy experience, head on over to the Visceral Industry.

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Circa Nocturna 2010

Published on March 7, 2010 in Fashion and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Circa Nocturna 2010

Circa Nocturna is Australia’s leading alternative fashion and design showcase – bringing alternative fashion to the world of high fashion as a participant in the 2010 L’Oreal Melbourne.

Having attended the past two Circa Nocturna events in 2009 and 2008, I was eagerly awaiting for this year’s gala to arrive and this time, shooting in an official capacity. The past couple of years I have only been in the audience with my camera and have had to deal with restricted views. Granted, this made it hard to get a decent shot.

This year, I was granted an official pass and boy, was it a ton of fun shooting at this amazing event.

Held annually at the gorgeous Fitzroy Town Hall, resplendent in all its gothic charm and glory it proved to be very difficult to get additional tickets to the event as it had sold out. I was so bummed out about this as I couldn’t get a ticket for my girlfriend and I felt guilty as hell going to the event, and having to leave her home. It wasn’t the same without her but alas, the show must go on.

Having survived the tremendous storms that hit Melbourne this afternoon – an ominous, sinister mood had enveloped this city and kinda an appropriate setting for tonight’s event where all the creatures of the night come out to play.

All romantic gothic notions aside, it was going to be quite a trek to get to the other side of town in one piece.

A sea of black leather, spandex, latex, and rubber was ascending up the stairs of the Fitzroy Town Hall and I automatically felt at home! As promised, I found my photopass awaiting me as I arrived and was politely escorted to the photographer’s section at the foot of the catwalk.

I positioned myself amongst my fellow photogs and used the time before the show to get acclimatised with the venue and the somewhat, sombre, dim lighting.

I think I was the only shooter there who shot without a flash (can’t stand using flash at the best of times) – but I set my camera up to use as much of the light available as I could. I prefer the rich, warm tones and color of non-flash shooting and I was pretty pleased with tonight’s results.

All in all, a magnificent night and one that seems to be growing with every passing year.

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H.I.M Live @ The Hifi Bar, Melbourne, Australia

Published on February 26, 2010 in Gigs, Music, My Photography and Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

H.I.M Live @ The Hifi Bar, Melbourne, Australia

It’s always a treat getting to shoot a band you absolutely adore! Having been a huge H.I.M fan for quite a few years now, I was greatly anticipating the opportunity to photograph these guys.

Which is saying something. Earlier in the day I won a pass to go and see the incredible Faith No More but I surrendered that ticket to my cousin. Couple that with the fact that also, Meshuggah were doing a show elsewhere – I decided to stick with Ville and the boys and finally get to photograph this truly incredible band.

From the outset, The Hifi Bar was packed to the rafters. I was there about an hour early, made my way to the photo-pit and just could not believe the heat inside this place.

A hot night for rock and roll!

I shot tonight totally with my new 70-200mm – wanting to put it through the ringer and see what I could achieve with it. Granted, I am missing the hell out of my 24-105mm lens which is still getting repaired – but I thought it would be a good challenge to see what this new baby could do. I was pleased with the results. Even without the IS (Image Stablization) I managed to get some good, crisp, sharp results. I also fiddled around with my White Balance tonight and was trying for a more warm, ambient atmosphere.

I didn’t stay past my allotted three song limit in the photo-pit but as far as I could tell, it was proving to be a pretty raucous and fun gig. I’m sure the packed Hifi Bar had themselves a great night tonight.

And as much as I love the band, I was more concerned with my photos to worry about anything else…

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Life On The Road: On Tour With Ace Frehley

Published on February 7, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 18 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Ace Frehley Australian Tour 2010

For just over a year now, I have been taking live music photography. It has been quite an adventure and each and every gig I have shot has come with its own experience and story to tell. And for me, that is where the beauty and true majesty of photography truly lies. Bottom line, its ability to leave you with a story or an experience is what it is all about. And there have been many stories to tell.

Last year I was asked if I would like to be the tour photographer for Ace Frehley’s October fan meet & greet in Melbourne.

“Sure!” I excitedly said.

10 minutes later another email signalled its arrival in my inbox… “Would you be able to do the whole tour?”

I recall just staring at my screen in sheer disbelief for several shell-shocked seconds! I was staring at a chance in a lifetime and I sure as hell was not going to let this go… Opportunities like this only present themselves so often so I agreed to do the whole tour.

A few weeks later, the tour was postponed and I thought my opportunity had disappeared before it could even materialise.

When the tour was rescheduled, I was once again asked to take my seat as the photog and we were all systems go from this point!

I found myself counting down the days and using this time to prepare myself for every-possible-situation that could arise. I put a lot of thought into it and spent time and money on additional gear and peripherals so that I could be ready at all times.

Little did I know the catastrophe that would befall me throughout…

Read on dear readers…

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The Horrors Live @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Australia

Published on January 27, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The Horrors Live @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, Australia

I feel like a dog chasing its very own tail at times. The chase for a photo-pass to the Horrors’ Corner Hotel gig came down to the wire – and very well never materialized!

On the actual day of the gig, I thought I wasn’t going to be able to shoot these guys as no official confirmation had been forthcoming so it was an anxious day as I waited for my Inbox to sound that old familiar chime – and for confirmation to arrive.

Arrive it did. The obligatory “3 songs, no flash” edict was there as was an escorted exit out of the venue upon completion of those 3 songs.

And of course, just as my Horrors accreditation arrived so did one for the Fear Factory gig over at the Prince Bandroom across the other side of town. Same night. Same times.

Now, if only I could be at two places at once hey?

I decided to do The Horrors.

Arriving at the Corner Hotel an hour before the band was to hit the stage, I was told that there could only be one photographer at a time in the pit. As I was the first there, I was scheduled to go first.

In total, there were 4 photogs present. I hadn’t seen these guys at other shows I have shot so we quickly exchanged pleasantries and planned our strategy for the night.

We were to take turns doing a song each for three songs. Sounded fair.

I went in first and noticed that all the backlights were shining directly into my face and lens. Sigh! It was going to be tough to get a decent shot but I planned to make the best of the lighting and try and get some decent silhouettes happening.

After we all had a turn each within the segmented photo-pit area, security pulled the pin and didn’t allow us in again. That’s how it goes and as unfortunate as that is, one song is still better than no songs.

As for the band, well, I have been a fan from the minute I heard the first album and it is quite evident that these guys are going to be the biggest thing in long, long time. If they can keep it together – I am easily seeing world domination happening. They have this undying aura and quality about them with a uniquely marvellous retro-goth-punk-indie-alt groove.

Just fucking magnificent.
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Finally, Ron Mueck

Published on January 24, 2010 in Art and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Ron Mueck National Gallery Of Victoria

I fell in absolute awe and amazement with the work of Ron Mueck several years ago. And that was just from looking at photos of the man’s work online and in magazines. I had never had the opportunity to see his work up close and personal.

And it was with great excitement, anticipation and utter exhilaration when I found out the National Gallery of Victoria would be holding an exhibition of Mueck’s work here in Melbourne. I marked the date on my calendar and then began counting the days down.

What can I tell you? I’m a fan. Unashamed! I just couldn’t wait to finally get to see some of this work live… in the polystyrene flesh, and today, I got my chance.

Truly, it was as incredible as I always imagined.

Genius. Marvellous. Shocking. Disturbing. Moving. Astounding.

More info here and some photos from the exhibition after the jump.

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The Clandestine Manifesto

Published on January 23, 2010 in My Photography. 2 Comments

The Clandestine Manifesto

Whilst my live music photography is well documented over at my Visceral Industry website, I felt I needed a vehicle to show off some of my off-stage, everyday photos. Sure my Flickr account serves that purpose well enough, but it doesn’t really show the images with a bit of oomph and size.

So, I have decided to launch The Clandestine Manifesto which will be a home to my daily snaps and my journal throughout the year 2010.

It is very much a work in progress but I do hope you stop on by and check it out sometime.

Chimaira Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

Published on January 16, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Chimaira Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

Tonight was one of the hardest shoots I’ve had to endure.

The allotted three-song limit was quickly cut down to half a song as the frantic security in the photo-pit alongside me – had their hands full within seconds of the band hitting the stage. Seconds!

This was akin to a veritable war-zone! Bodies flying everywhere! Three Doc Martin clad headbangers came flying over crashing into the photogs and security before the band had even hit the bridge of the first song and before I could even get my camera settings correct, a stage diver flew right over me, clipping my lens hood as he came crashing into the crowd behind me. Mayhem folks! Mayhem!

For as empty and sparse as the pit was at the Rotting Christ/Dark Funeral gig a couple of weeks ago, is as full and claustrophobic tonight’s was.

There was absolutely no room to move and with Chimaira in absolutely scintillating form (gosh, they were fucking phenomenal tonight!) and a maniacal, rabid crowd who were more like a pack of starving sharks circling a kill – it proved to be an intensely brutal gig. On stage, off-stage, in the pit… everyone got sucked into the blitzkrieg and were spat out the other end in pure Metal ferocity.

Insane! Just insane as the band were in some sorta serious form tonight. Precision like playing and serving song after song in a sublime first-class performance.

Who the fuck knew these guys were this good?

Not me.

So with all the action on offer, as stated, it was a hard gig to shoot. Kicked out of the pit within 90 seconds, I found a spot on the side of the stage and stayed there for the majority of the band’s amazing set where I tried as best as I could to get some shots!

A classic gig!

Phew!

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Dark Funeral & Rotting Christ Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

Published on January 5, 2010 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

Dark Funeral & Rotting Christ Live @ Billboard, Melbourne, Australia

With the near-encounter with Rotting Christ yesterday in the streets of Melbourne, seriously – what better way to kick off 2010’s gig photography with a nice touch of Black Metal evilness?

I was scheduled to shoot both Rotting Christ and headliners Dark Funeral at Billboard tonight – one of my fave venues to shoot at by the way – for Heavy Metal website and all round cool dudes, Metal Obsession.

Surprisingly, there were no bouncers in the photo-pit tonight and the show was only being shot by two photographers. Myself and someone else, who’s name I didn’t catch unfortunately. We had plenty of room to move in and I used this opportunity to shoot from both sides of the stage. I have a nasty habit of staying in the one spot during a shoot and not fully utilizing my space to get the artist from all sorts of different angles. What can I tell you, I’m a creature of habit.

And so with the lack of security and tons of space to work with, I endeavored to capture Rotting Christ from as many angles as possible. Certainly was great not to be hampered by a three-song limit so I stayed and shot the band for the majority of their impressive set.

As they hail from Greece, where my heritage is from, it was cool hearing the band members talk in Greek amongst themselves between songs and fully understand what was being said! Ha!

I was pleasantly surprised by the band’s energetic, well received and damn good set. I had a misconception about these guys and always felt they were much, much heavier – but they put in a blistering performance and certainly won me over. Really need to check out some of their discography, because on tonight’s showing, they obliterated!

By the time Dark Funeral hit the stage, all decked out in the Black Metal Satanic corpse-paint and the like, I was feeling a little weary. (And it probably shows in my photos of these guys). I have much respect for band’s that go that extra mile on a visual front – it always makes for more interesting photos, but tonight, I just wasn’t feeling it.

They were super-loud and often times, it all got lost in a blitz of speed and volume. I had my back resting against the P.A. system and all I could hear feel, was a blur of rapid sound rattling my rib-cage. (That was kinda fun!)

I shot as much of the band as I could from the side of the photo-pit and called it a night after that.

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Listen To Your Better Half

Published on January 3, 2010 in Music and My Photography. 3 Comments Tags: .

Rotting Christ

I found out yesterday that I would be shooting Greek Black Metal band Rotting Christ tomorrow night at Melbourne’s Billboard venue. Though I am not too familiar with the band’s repertoire, this was a gig I was keen to get as they are a highly energetic and visual band with all the Metal trimmings. A good ‘visual’ act makes for interesting photos no?

This afternoon whilst in the city, I spot 4 young men with hair down their backs. Dressed in black. Intense in attitude. Kick ass look. Sure enough, it was the band Rotting Christ themselves, doing some shopping along Swanston Street. I told Sam who it was as we walked past them and she says to me we should go and say hello.

She started chasing after them and I called out, "Sam! No! Leave ‘em be!"

I bluntly refused as I didn’t want to bother them and here I sit with such huge regret. It woulda been soooo cool to say hello and take their photo – let alone speak to them in their native tongue Greek (I am Greek, as are they) and let them know that I would be photographing their show tomorrow night.

Alas, I let this golden photo opportunity slip right through my fingers. I shoulda listened to my girlfriend (for once) because the resultant photo and experience – would have been just too cool.

Snuff Film!

Published on December 20, 2009 in Design and My Photography. 0 Comments

Snuff Film!

Having been a professional web-designer since 1997 and basically using Photoshop since its inception – I had made a career out of manipulating images and photos for various web-design projects I had been working on.

After doing that for many years, I took up hobby photography in 2003 to teach myself how to capture an image, how to be a photographer. Looking back at my early attempts, the photography was raw and very much naive. I knew that but it didn’t matter. I wanted to let the camera catch an image and I wanted that image to remain untouched. I kept Photoshop and my fledgling photography as two separate entities.

As weird as that may sound, there was a method to my madness. I wanted to learn a new discipline and leave the old discipline behind.

These days, I’m a little more advanced than in 2003 and the two skill-sets often combine, merge and create exciting results.

Whilst most of my Photoshop work on my photos is to color correct and fix stuff in post, I’m starting to try and create some art pieces with my live music photography. It is all purely experimental and at this stage I’m just playing with some textures but so far, some of these are turning out pretty cool!

Check ‘em out!

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Lamb Of God, Devil Driver, Shadow’s Fall Live @ Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia

Published on December 16, 2009 in Gigs, Music and My Photography. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Lamb Of God, Devil Driver, Shadow's Fall Live @ Festival Hall, Melbourne, Australia

After a long tiring day at work, I drove straight to Festival Hall and arrived at 6.30. Waiting half an hour to get my alloted photo pass at the box office, I then made my way round to the rear where I hoped I, and 3 other fellow photogs would be let in to begin shooting. High On Fire hit the stage a little after 7.15 – yet there was no one waiting for us to let us in. We could hear the band playing inside – but we stuck outside. Helpless. Frustrated. And might I say, a little more than just peeved off.

Such a frustrating time standing there – and no one bothering to let us in even if we were all brandishing our photo-passes. I skipped dinner for this?

I also had two free tickets to the show as well, and whilst my buddy was already inside – I couldn’t go in as I had the camera with me. So basically, we were missing the entire thing.

A little aside… a young lad approached us and told us he had met with some of the band’s earlier today, but they didn’t give him a pass. He told us he was from Columbia and a headbanger. His words, not mine. Knowing full well I had tickets on me, I asked him if he would like to go to the show. He looked at me all surprised and I literally saw his gaze become excited. I handed him the ticket and the poor fella was almost in tears. He couldn’t believe it! “This has never happened to me!” he excitedly said! And I replied… “dude, go inside! Enjoy the show!’

Felt good doing that good deed. Made me feel great inside.

Now, back to our dilemma. After pleading with the venue staff stiffs who seemed to utter the words “I know nothing” more than Sgt Schultz of Hogan’s Heroe’s fame – one finally stopped to listen, heard our case and organised for us to go inside.

He said he could take us in for the first three songs of each act, then promptly escort us back out. I tried to tell him that isn’t what the promoter told me would happen tonight. He said we could go put our cameras away and be let in. Sigh! None of us were in the mood to go and pack away our gear 3 times a night, so I think in the end – we were just thankful to be able to do what we were here for… shoot some pics!

Unbelievable. Why do I do this exactly? Isn’t this supposed to be fun?

So routinely after the allotted three songs, we would be escorted back outside.

We could hear the band playing inside, but we just sat there and waited to be let back in.

As stupid, moronic and downright degrading as this was… I did enjoy the company of my fellow photogs. Annie, Viktor & Scott – you guys rock!

Absolute pleasure meeting you all tonight – even if I have seen you all in the traps before – it was great hanging out with ya and trading some war stories!

The bands… well apart from Lamb Of God – who were in absolutely scintillating form and tore Festival Hall a new one (well, what I saw of ‘em in three songs!) – Shadow’s Fall were ok too, but I thought Devil Driver were pretty disappointing to be honest. Certainly a class or two below the performance that Lamb Of God brought to the table.

Anyway. Another gig. Another story to tell. Another slab of photos to share. (after the jump)

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Melbourne, Through My Eyes

Published on December 9, 2009 in My Photography. 0 Comments Tags: .

An attempt to capture the everyday sights and sounds of a city called Melbourne. Finding beauty in all that is, indeed, ugly. Capturing moments that we walk past every single day – yet never stop to appreciate all that they can offer…

Melbourne, through my eyes…

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