Blank Line Studios

I’ve had the privilege of being able to photograph emerging metal band In Deeper Oceans.  They are a great group of guys who always put on a good show.  They joined other local metal bands for a Zumiez benefit show at The Knitting Factory last Thursday.  It was, in my opinion, their best show yet.

I love to shoot live music.  I especially love to shoot metal and punk shows.  The audiences are livelier and there is always something to cover on stage.

I also like these shows because the grittier aesthetic I like fits so much better.  I grew up looking at the photos of my favorite punk/metal/grunge bands taken in dark bars and what looked like cellars.  Lots of grain, usually black and white, and huge variances between light and dark.  Digital noise is not film grain, but I really think it works with these images.

Well, it seems perhaps a bit redundant to post this if you got here from my homepage because you probably saw the Gallery link already.  But, for those of you who wait with bated breath to see a Facebook fan page update (you know who you are…mom) here are my new galleries.

There are two sets.  One for my portrait work and one for musicians.

Enjoy!

First, watch this video if you haven’t already seen it.

Honestly, the actions by the photographer and not the officer are what made me uncomfortable while watching this.

First of all, the photographer seemed to be provoking the officer for a desired reaction.  Secondly, the photographer doesn’t seem to be fully aware of the law he’s trying so nobly to uphold.

If you want to take a picture of people outside, you are free to do so.  If they ask you to stop, and you continue to do so, you’re in a gray area.  It could be considered harassment.  Oh, and it’s impolite, too.  Just because you have a camera in your hand does not guarantee you a special set of laws.  When I go out for street photos, I have a set of guidelines set up for myself.  Things I wouldn’t want other people to do to me.  One of those is I don’t take a picture of someone if they ask me not to.  Candids are one thing, but to be expressly told to stop is another.  The person wants their privacy…I want mine.  It’s a sign of respect.  I can always get a picture of someone else.  The ‘decisive moment’ is not a reason to be a jerk.

Now, when it comes to police, and in this situation specifically, I feel the photographer was way out of line.  For starters, he just rolled up to him during a traffic stop.  Those can be tense situations and the last thing  an officer needs is to have someone distracting him while he’s working.  If it had been a firefighter, and the photographer jumped in front of him while he was running back into the building would we be having this same discussion?  I doubt it.

Police officers get a lot of flack from photographers for “not knowing the laws” and arresting or detaining people unlawfully.  Yes, that happens.  Not nearly as much as some groups (like the one that made this video) would have you believe.  I will guarantee you that not every photographer knows those laws either.  There are times when it gets a bit ridiculous (like the guy who was arrested for photographing Amtrak trains…for an Amtrak contest), but common sense on both sides should still prevail.  Pick your battles.  And don’t start one just so you can be internet famous.

Last Friday, we all braved the growing Bloomsday crowds and interesting weather patterns to get some family portraits for Chad, Katie and their adorable son Thor. It was a lot of fun to work with them.

My grandparents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. My mom looked high and low for a legitimate photographer, but eventually she settled for me.

It wasn’t a question of if we would have a portrait of my grandfather in his hat…only when.

…but it does help.

Ever since I was introduced to them at a local photography group meeting (and then seeing one used by Zack Arias) I knew I had to have a Westcott Umbrella Softbox. I was finally able to order one the other day, and it just arrived.

The light it creates is…amazing. I can’t wait to use it out in the field.

Blank Line Studios would like to help you usher in this new season with a fresh new set of family portraits! If you sign up for a portrait session with us from now until the end of May, you will receive a free 8×10!

Also, if you refer your friends or family to us, you will receive a $10 gift card to Starbucks!

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help preserve your family memories.

This is a rack card I designed. I’m not sure when I’ll get them printed, but I guess that’s what the internet is good for.

Lacking a creative title, granted, but look! My blog is now separate from my main site. I did that for two reasons…

a) Control. The theme I’m using for my gallery doesn’t allow for widgets and that is very unblog like behavior. This will also help if/when I need to upgrade my site.

b) Because.

I don’t know what will happen with my old posts. You can still get to them through the Blank Line Studios fanpage on Facebook. I might move them over to my RiverSpeak blog for posterity.

I’m still in process, so expect some updates and whatnot along the way.

I’ve tried several times to fake a seamless. I would put a piece of foamcore upright behind another piece of foamcore laying on a table. There was obviously a seam, and trying to edit it out was a pain.

Then a Batman poster (one of three I have) fell off my wall. So I reversed it and taped it to the pieces of foam core.

Shazam! Mini seamless. It won’t work for models, but for product shots it’s perfect.