Layers – Serigraphs by Jake Early from Steven Holmes on Vimeo.

The last couple of times I’ve been at larger shows…fests…there have been a lot of photographers on stage. It’s pretty great, because when I miss those shows I can go find photos of the bands I wanted to see on Flickr, or wherever they get posted. For the most part, I don’t really know the names of any of the photographers, but they usually take a zillion photos, so I find some that I like.

Sometimes folks stay out of the way, sometimes they jump in front of everyone to get a rad shot and be super crazy wild, and sometimes it’s all a part of the show, and sometimes they’re just making it awkward and taking everyone out of the moment. There have been shows where people set up big lighting strobes ( I think ? ) on each side of the stage, and they are triggered by the camera, and I really have never thought it was a positive part of the show at all. I’m pretty sure the photos that come from it, assuming the photographer is on top of their shit, are great, but I’m still watching a band play and feel like I’m having a bit of a seizure. This is not Metallica, I am going to see punk bands because I like the environment of a punk show. I don’t want a spot light and I don’t want to feel like I have epilepsy.

I do know of a rad photographer from ATL that shoots a lot of bands, as well as other things, and I’ve been to a (large) show where he had the large lighting set up. I thought it sort of ruined my experience watching a lot of bands, but I trust that he is grounded in all of this and only went so far because it was a huge show in a huge venue, and believed it would be worthwhile to capture a lot of what was happening.  I think all his photos I saw from that show looked amazing, but the actual experience was dulled because of it.  It’s 2010, I don’t think punk rock shouldn’t be accessible or some shit, I get it.  I just think it would be great if some moments were left for those that were there to experience it.  Otherwise I don’t really feel like it’s worth being there.  I don’t know the guy, but I trust that when there is a house show in Atlanta he doesn’t roll up early and set up strobe lights and blind everyone into misery, I believe there is an intent with what’s happening, and that it all comes from someone that cares about being there, but I don’t think that I always agree with using all the tools available to get a great photograph.

These are a lot of words, and I hate words, but I read an interview with Glen Friedman yesterday and realized I hadn’t read a whole lot from him. I’ve probably looked at too many photographs he took, but that’s not bad. When my folks come to town they don’t get upset that there is a book on my fireplace that says Fuck You Heroes, that has too say something for the importance of this guy. It was awesome to read what he had to say about capturing each moment the way he does, and his feelings on (not) being a documentarian. The interviewer said that he came off kind of bitter, but I was still stoked to read what he had to say about his place in all of this. I’ll post a link to the interview below, but I’m pretty sure the reason I started typing on this thing was to point on that Friedman made a comment about not wanting to use a flash when he photographed music anymore, because it took the attention away from what was really going on and distorted the moment.

This site is really just supposed to be about work, but I care very little about commercial screen printing or business when the creativity is stripped away, so I’m hoping as I continue to post old cartoons and some random jibberish I will continue to get hired for fun projects, which has worked so far.

G. Friedman interview here

Lots of photos (and books of photos) of his all over the place.

The Atlanta Photographer I mentioned is Matt Miller, website here .  The photographs are really great, and are all really varied.  It’s a fun site to check out and keep up with!

David A Smith – Sign Artist from Danny Cooke on Vimeo.

This guy is rad. I feel like I accomplish nothing with my day compared to him.