Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Q and A w/ Photographer Dan Ball
Hi all~
I found Dan Ball's photography site via searching for photos of Jeff Buckley.
I added him to my myspace and he answered some questions I had regarding the shoot he did w/ Jeff.
I asked him to do a Q and A w/ me and he agreed!:O)
Here it is along w/ a madlibs he successfully filled out:O)
Hi Dan,thank you very much for agreeing to do this online interview/ Q and A
I will try to keep the questions to topics you are most knowlegable about:O)
Q: When and why do you start photography?(I think I asked this before sorry)
db: I started in college, I was always artistic minded, but I couldn't do anything tangible like painting or sculpture and I was interested in to many different things. Photography was a good way to participate in all of these things and do something creative in my own write. I love the history of Photography which has influenced the way I've gone about developing my concerns... i.e. Spirit Photography, the Avant-Garde movement in the 20's and 30's and the general rise of Pop Culture (1947-1977).
Q: What was the first shot you took and looked at and realized "Yes! I can do this!" or that you were very pleased with?
db: That took a long time. I was very happy with things I did in school but it wasn't until years later that I really felt I'd done something. That being, a series I made of a Gazebo in Overton Park here in Memphis. (They're still posted on my web-page.) I had worked out the idea of doing "light painting", which was based on the techniques of Spirit Photography. This involves long exposures in the dark, during which time I use flashlights, flashes and even zippo lighters to light different parts of the scene. After I saw the results on the chromes, I knew I was going to pursue this technique... and I did. Still am.
Q: What are some of the hardest parts about your occupation?
db: The business end. (period) The rest of it is pure pleasure. It's a tough way to go especially now days. You really have to set yourself apart, because everyone can take good shots with the newer digital cameras. They just don't know what their doing.
Q: What are the best parts?db: Connecting with myself and others. Photography sorta forces you to stop and look at every detail of things. You start to tap into the "collective conscious" of the world and want to contribute to it. Some people don't want to know, but for me, thats where the action is.Q: who are your favorite photographers?
db: Helmar Lerski, Diane Arbus, Man Ray, Melvin Sokolsky, Jan Saudek... to name drop a few. I really love um all... for trying.
Q: what is the most memorable photo you have seen (by someone else) that really stands out?
db: Not sure I can answer that, but Diane Arbus' "Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967" is pretty much the benchmark for me.
Q: You have photographed many musicians. Who was the easiest meaning not a Diva??
db: No Divas, but yes. I sorta fell into it because I had so many friends who where in bands. Some of these bands where very influential (The Grifters, The Oblivians.) and they lead to other bands and so forth. The easiest was Rufus Thomas. He slept through the whole shoot, but smiled every time I told him to. What a pro.
Q: Speaking of musicians you shot some photos of Jeff Buckley in Memphis in 97.What was that like?
db:He didn't understand what I was doing and there were many distractions behind me (i.e. The Grifters). Also, it was a drunkin' night at Barristers (myself included) and the photo shoot was totally spontaneous. Unfortunately, our "real shoot" was planned for the day after he died, as his whole band was just arriving in Memphis on that day. That obviously never happened.He was a skinny guy. Mentally he was fine and seemed to be having a great time here. He just didn't know not to swim in the river. (a traditional killer around here.) He loved the photos and wanted to do more, once he saw the pictures and understood what I was doing (a few days after the shoot). But, he was very and cool about the whole thing. We'd gotten to know each other for a while before I stuck a camera in his face... something I know regret waiting to do.
Q: do you look at those photos now and see them as a piece of musical history?
db: Well, they are, aren't they? If I were simply a fan of Jeff's I would want to see and hear about them. I'm a history buff too... I understand the interest. I'm glad to contribute to the mosiac.
Q: Speaking of music, how has music influenced your photography? Other than that you photograph musicians?
db: Completely. I'm a record store nerd from way back. In fact, I shot the Gazebo piece (which I mentioned earlier) while listening to "Exile on Main Street" on a walkman. Music turns on my buttons. It provides a backdrop and something tangible to hang your ideas on. I even think of myself as a sort of visual musician. It's like I'm always trying to compete with music for the same brain-chemical response, only with a photograph... even if I know it won't happen.
Q: Do you play and music during your shoots if so what kind?
db: Always. What kind of music depends on the subject. In that situation, It's not just about me. I need to please someone else too.
Q: I usually picture a scene out of Austin Powers are your shoots anything like that?
db: I was already out here pre-Austin Powers... so let's say Matt Helm instead. I did grow up in the cold war spy flick era, so I guess it's part of the mix, but only small part. I'm a big fan of 1963-1975 and it shows in my work.
Q: Who would you like to work w/ but haven't?
db: David Bowie.
Q: And lastly any advice for aspiring photographers?
db: Switch to filmmaking. That's the future. If you don't care about the future and are tenacious about being a still photographer... read, watch and study everything and everybody. Learn the history of the medium. Copy everyone for a while, burn the results, then start over using your own insights and instincts. Your personal point of view is all you have to set yourself apart from the herd, so develop it and use it wisely.
Madlibs w/ Dan Ball~
Mad Libs Worksheet
In The Jungle!
I walk through the color jungle. I take out my_magenta___(adjective) canteen.There's a __blue__(adjective) parrot with a ______red_________(adjective) _______blowfish________(noun)in his mouth right in front of me in the_____purple____(adjective) trees! I gaze at his ____alabaster________(adjective) _____belly__________(noun). A sudden sound awakes me from mydaydream! A panther "s" __burn_____________(verb) in front of myhead! I ___check____________(verb) his ____bad___________(adjective)breath. I remember I have a packet of ____gum_________(noun) that makes go into a deep slumber! I _______stash________(verb) itaway in front of the _____beast__________(noun).Yes he's eatingit! I ____eat___________(verb) away through the___chocolate_________(adjective) jungle. I meet my parents at the tent.Phew; Its been an exciting day in the jungle.
To find out more about Dan and his photography you can go to these websites~
Myspace~http://www.myspace.com/fauxtoehead
Facebook~ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1046645747
Official Website~http://www.danball.com/
I found Dan Ball's photography site via searching for photos of Jeff Buckley.
I added him to my myspace and he answered some questions I had regarding the shoot he did w/ Jeff.
I asked him to do a Q and A w/ me and he agreed!:O)
Here it is along w/ a madlibs he successfully filled out:O)
Hi Dan,thank you very much for agreeing to do this online interview/ Q and A
I will try to keep the questions to topics you are most knowlegable about:O)
Q: When and why do you start photography?(I think I asked this before sorry)
db: I started in college, I was always artistic minded, but I couldn't do anything tangible like painting or sculpture and I was interested in to many different things. Photography was a good way to participate in all of these things and do something creative in my own write. I love the history of Photography which has influenced the way I've gone about developing my concerns... i.e. Spirit Photography, the Avant-Garde movement in the 20's and 30's and the general rise of Pop Culture (1947-1977).
Q: What was the first shot you took and looked at and realized "Yes! I can do this!" or that you were very pleased with?
db: That took a long time. I was very happy with things I did in school but it wasn't until years later that I really felt I'd done something. That being, a series I made of a Gazebo in Overton Park here in Memphis. (They're still posted on my web-page.) I had worked out the idea of doing "light painting", which was based on the techniques of Spirit Photography. This involves long exposures in the dark, during which time I use flashlights, flashes and even zippo lighters to light different parts of the scene. After I saw the results on the chromes, I knew I was going to pursue this technique... and I did. Still am.
Q: What are some of the hardest parts about your occupation?
db: The business end. (period) The rest of it is pure pleasure. It's a tough way to go especially now days. You really have to set yourself apart, because everyone can take good shots with the newer digital cameras. They just don't know what their doing.
Q: What are the best parts?db: Connecting with myself and others. Photography sorta forces you to stop and look at every detail of things. You start to tap into the "collective conscious" of the world and want to contribute to it. Some people don't want to know, but for me, thats where the action is.Q: who are your favorite photographers?
db: Helmar Lerski, Diane Arbus, Man Ray, Melvin Sokolsky, Jan Saudek... to name drop a few. I really love um all... for trying.
Q: what is the most memorable photo you have seen (by someone else) that really stands out?
db: Not sure I can answer that, but Diane Arbus' "Identical Twins, Roselle, New Jersey, 1967" is pretty much the benchmark for me.
Q: You have photographed many musicians. Who was the easiest meaning not a Diva??
db: No Divas, but yes. I sorta fell into it because I had so many friends who where in bands. Some of these bands where very influential (The Grifters, The Oblivians.) and they lead to other bands and so forth. The easiest was Rufus Thomas. He slept through the whole shoot, but smiled every time I told him to. What a pro.
Q: Speaking of musicians you shot some photos of Jeff Buckley in Memphis in 97.What was that like?
db:He didn't understand what I was doing and there were many distractions behind me (i.e. The Grifters). Also, it was a drunkin' night at Barristers (myself included) and the photo shoot was totally spontaneous. Unfortunately, our "real shoot" was planned for the day after he died, as his whole band was just arriving in Memphis on that day. That obviously never happened.He was a skinny guy. Mentally he was fine and seemed to be having a great time here. He just didn't know not to swim in the river. (a traditional killer around here.) He loved the photos and wanted to do more, once he saw the pictures and understood what I was doing (a few days after the shoot). But, he was very and cool about the whole thing. We'd gotten to know each other for a while before I stuck a camera in his face... something I know regret waiting to do.
Q: do you look at those photos now and see them as a piece of musical history?
db: Well, they are, aren't they? If I were simply a fan of Jeff's I would want to see and hear about them. I'm a history buff too... I understand the interest. I'm glad to contribute to the mosiac.
Q: Speaking of music, how has music influenced your photography? Other than that you photograph musicians?
db: Completely. I'm a record store nerd from way back. In fact, I shot the Gazebo piece (which I mentioned earlier) while listening to "Exile on Main Street" on a walkman. Music turns on my buttons. It provides a backdrop and something tangible to hang your ideas on. I even think of myself as a sort of visual musician. It's like I'm always trying to compete with music for the same brain-chemical response, only with a photograph... even if I know it won't happen.
Q: Do you play and music during your shoots if so what kind?
db: Always. What kind of music depends on the subject. In that situation, It's not just about me. I need to please someone else too.
Q: I usually picture a scene out of Austin Powers are your shoots anything like that?
db: I was already out here pre-Austin Powers... so let's say Matt Helm instead. I did grow up in the cold war spy flick era, so I guess it's part of the mix, but only small part. I'm a big fan of 1963-1975 and it shows in my work.
Q: Who would you like to work w/ but haven't?
db: David Bowie.
Q: And lastly any advice for aspiring photographers?
db: Switch to filmmaking. That's the future. If you don't care about the future and are tenacious about being a still photographer... read, watch and study everything and everybody. Learn the history of the medium. Copy everyone for a while, burn the results, then start over using your own insights and instincts. Your personal point of view is all you have to set yourself apart from the herd, so develop it and use it wisely.
Madlibs w/ Dan Ball~
Mad Libs Worksheet
In The Jungle!
I walk through the color jungle. I take out my_magenta___(adjective) canteen.There's a __blue__(adjective) parrot with a ______red_________(adjective) _______blowfish________(noun)in his mouth right in front of me in the_____purple____(adjective) trees! I gaze at his ____alabaster________(adjective) _____belly__________(noun). A sudden sound awakes me from mydaydream! A panther "s" __burn_____________(verb) in front of myhead! I ___check____________(verb) his ____bad___________(adjective)breath. I remember I have a packet of ____gum_________(noun) that makes go into a deep slumber! I _______stash________(verb) itaway in front of the _____beast__________(noun).Yes he's eatingit! I ____eat___________(verb) away through the___chocolate_________(adjective) jungle. I meet my parents at the tent.Phew; Its been an exciting day in the jungle.
To find out more about Dan and his photography you can go to these websites~
Myspace~http://www.myspace.com/fauxtoehead
Facebook~ http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1046645747
Official Website~http://www.danball.com/
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Road Recovery 2009
Earlier this month a foundation called Road Recovery held a concert to honor the legendary Wayne Cramer from MC5 if you don't know who they are check them out!
Here are some clips from the show from this year enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8H6iO4Jto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ6pNuZ0css
I apologize this is only a portion of Iggy's performance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9GSIvtRF8
If you'd like more info about this amazing foundation please go to ~
http://www.myspace.com/roadrecovery
http://www.roadrecovery.org/news.html
http://www.youtube.com/RoadRec2008
Here are some clips from the show from this year enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ8H6iO4Jto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ6pNuZ0css
I apologize this is only a portion of Iggy's performance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9GSIvtRF8
If you'd like more info about this amazing foundation please go to ~
http://www.myspace.com/roadrecovery
http://www.roadrecovery.org/news.html
http://www.youtube.com/RoadRec2008
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Never Ending Blood Bath
WOW! My life sucks rightnow and has been for the past two months as I have been having
my fucking period for two months yeah!!!
my fucking period for two months yeah!!!
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