Buddy Miles..

As a concert photographer, sometimes you get the chance to shoot a legend. I've had a couple of those chances. You get the chance to shoot someone who, maybe as a kid, you looked at as a "rock star". I've had a few of these opportunities.

In September of last year, I was fortunate to shoot "Love In", which was held in San Diego. One of the performers was Buddy Miles. Buddy had formed Electric Flag with Mike Bloomfield, and Band of Gypsys with Jimi Hendrix.

He was a big man, but was frail and had been in failing health. Still, when he sang, he sang with a voice that most would sell their soul to have.

Buddy passed away this past Tuesday, at his home in Texas. I consider myself privileged and fortunate to have had the opportunity to shoot, what I believe, was his last performance. I ended up with a plethora of great shots of him, and I'll remember, fondly, having the opportunity to sit and talk with him whenever I look at those photos.

RIP, Buddy...

The Photography I Do...

I am, primarily, a concert photographer.

There's something about a photo of a live concert that hits me. Properly done, you can almost hear the music in the photo. That's what makes a great concert photo.

So, how'd I get into it? Well, I used to play in a band in southern California. Nothing fancy; just your garden-variety classic rock cover band. We played a lot, though, so we made some decent money on the side. After about an eight year run, we packed up our guitars for the last time in July of 2005.

Now, while I didn't mind the fact that I wouldn't have to unload the van at four in the morning anymore, the very stark reality was that the money I made from playing music was now gone. I had to wonder: What else do I enjoy doing that I might be able to make a few bucks on the side with?

Well, there was really only one option: Photography.

When I started out, I should've been arrested for littering. I didn't know it at the time, but my photos were horrible; truly, truly horrible. Anyone with an iota of self-respect would've stopped right there. No, but not me. For some reason I'm still unable to put my finger on, I was able to reach the conclusion that this was something I was really, really good at.

No idea how that happened.

Now, three years later, I think I'm pretty good. Comparing what I shoot these days, compared to what I shot three years ago, is an exercise in self-deprecation. It amazes me that, back then, I decided this was the way to go.

I started out with some "guinea pigs"; bands who would let me shoot them, and I would give them photos for the privilege of allowing me to get some much needed practice. I still shoot these guys from time to time; local bands like The Taylor Harvey Band and FM Revolver, and Manganista.

I have, however, moved on to shooting more well known acts, as well. I've seen acts like The Temptations, Styx, Jason Mraz, and Atlanta Rhythm Section through my viewfinder:

So, you can say I've stepped it up a bit. A few days ago, I spoke with Andy Anderson, lead singer of Atlanta Ryhtm Section, and he invited me out later this summer to shoot them, The Steve Miller Band, and Joe Cocker. Of course, there are a lot of details to work out, but it's nice to know that my work, after what's really been only three short years, is being noticed enough to get an invite like that.

I think, though, that you can hit a point of stagnation with anything you do, and photography is no different. Accordingly, I want to diversify. I want to expand the subjects I shoot. And that brings me to what'll happen in June of this year.

A good friend of mine, named Holt Webb, is spending the next two years driving around the country doing a project he's named Vanishing America (be sure to check out the blog link on that page). He's shooting things around this great country of ours that, sadly, could be only a memory in as little as two or three generations.

Well, in late June of this year, the tentative plan is for me to fly to Virginia and spend a week on the road with him on Assateague Island, in Virginia.

This will be a type of shooting which is almost alien to me. Still, though, I think it's something I need to do if I want to break out of the confines that concert photography imposes. It should be both fun and exciting, and I hoe that it's something that will give me a very different perspective on my work as a photographer than I have right now. When I shoot concerts, I know what I'm doing, and I know I'll come away with good results; dare I say "professional" results. When I try my hand at wildlife and landscape type shooting, though, I tend to come away with, well, snapshots.

I don't have a great deal of interest in taking snapshots.

So this summer will provide me the opportunity to shoot alongside someone who, frankly, has an eye that not too many people have. I hate the word, really, but Holt truly is an "artist". His work, be it of fog-bound fishing boats sitting pierside or wild horses, is amazing, and I consider it a great privilege that he's invited me out for a week.

Next year, if things go well this year, we're headed to Alaska.

I will always do concert photography; it really is what I'm best at. But I've never wanted to be a one-trick pony. I figure if I can't learn and grow as a photographer, then there probably isn't much reason to keep going.

And I definitely want to keep going...