Aaron is currently the hottest thing in the world of design. You might have seen his book. You've very probably seen some of his work, somewhere. You might even jot notes down in his Field Notes branded notebooks. I've been a big fan of his work for a while now, and when my wife Sara told me she booked him for an appearance at NHIA as part of his cross-country tour, I knew I had to make a portrait of him.
Read MoreThe Square Aesthetic
I love record and album design. Part of what I hope to do as a photographer is make images and help musicians design album covers for their releases. I love the square format of album covers. And nobody has made better album covers than the jazz music label Blue Note Records. There was a period in the 1950's and 1960's where Blue Note was producing what I consider the greatest album design in history. I wanted to share a little bit about it and why I love it so much.
Read MoreThe Flea Market Dance
Hollis Flea Market • Salem Flea • Londonderry Flea Market • Derry Flea Market • Grafton Flea • Reitta Ranch • Brimfield • Raynham Flea
I honestly can't remember a time in my life when I didn't get up early on a Sunday morning and go flea marketing. Some people go to Church. Some people sleep in. Some get the paper and plop down with a cup of coffee and read the news. Some go for a jog. For me, it's always been walking up and down dusty paths and looking over other people's things that they are selling. Rows and rows and boxes and boxes. Thousands of strangers. Haggling on prices. People watching. Fried dough and hot dogs and snow cones. Toys and records and music and comic books and movies and ... everything. I got my first 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System (along with Castlevania) at the Derry Flea Market. I got my friends into buying speakers and speaker boxes and amplifiers for our cars at the Salem Flea Market. I am a product of swap meets and flea markets.
I'm going to delve into my history of Flea Markets and give you a few tips if you haven't been before and how to conduct yourself. More after the cut:
Read MoreWhen the Needle hits the Groove
I’ve recently dug out my old record collection, moved it to the studio, and have been doing something I haven’t done in decades: spin records. Music moves me in a way I can’t explain. I have it playing all the time. I spent my 20’s working in record stores. I love photographing musicians that need images for things like album/cd covers and packaging. After the cut, I’m going to do a bunch of talking about my history with them, their importance to me, and why I won’t ignore my records again
Read MoreTwo Decades to Decorate a Wall
A few years ago I made a post about my love for Japanese arcade posters for Capcom video games. Street Fighter and Rival Schools: United By Fate and, most importantly, Marvel Super Heroes vs Street Fighter. I finally got a few framed and hung in the studio, and I wanted to talk a little about it.
Read MorePodcast 084: Mutual of Omaha Presents
Podcast Episode 082: Meet Photographer Jane Button!
Dave and I chat with Manchester NH based portrait photographer Jane Button while she visited me at the studio a few weeks ago. It gave us a chance to test out a "field kit" version of Dave's podcast equipment. Success!
http://nonazon.com/podcast/2018/02/22/082-meet-photographer-jane-button/
Podcast Episode 081: Toyz!
Roland
Roland found me through Thumbtack, which is something new I'm trying for 2017. He was looking for some clean, crisp portraits of himself before he retired from the Hampton NH police force wearing his dress uniform and before he had to hand it in. I shot him over some example images on white and on black and told him I'd like to shoot him on simple solid-color backgrounds so that you focus on him and not be distracted by elements behind him. He liked my work and we arranged a date in the studio.
I've never had the chance to photograph a police officer before, and it was great afternoon of me asking questions and talking about his service. He took extreme pride in what he does and his uniform, and I really enjoyed getting shots that reflect that.
The above image is one of my favorite. It's so direct. It almost feels confrontational, but I love the slightly upward angle that I shot him at.
A detail shot that I really like. I love the composition and the angle of his shoulder.
To see a few more examples from Roland's session, click here.
Dave & Sid Return!
Some of you might know that Dave Seah and I have been doing a podcast for years. Last year we got sidetracked and only did one podcast, but for 2018 we are hoping to get back on track. SO FAR SO GOOD! Our latest podcast, Episode 79, is up! head on over to the Dave & Sid's Unnamed Podcast page, or if you are on iTunes, search for it there and subscribe!
Make your car-rides home from work more enjoyable! Listen to two geeks talk about making a living in the creative arts and all kinds of other stuff (like toys, and movies, and games!)