Someone Else's Camera

This was shot at The Norva while Over the Ocean was playing on Sept. 11, 2009. As I'm walking from one side of the crowd to the other, I see some bloke raising his camera in the air to get a shot of Jesse, and I snipe his shot. Ha ha sucker. It's my photo now. Totally mine.

And yours too. I'm sharing it with you here.

Nate At The Norva

My friends are in a band. That band is called Over The Ocean. They are brilliant.

This is a photo of Nate Crawford slaying people with his rock at the Norva in Norfolk, VA on September 11, 2009.

I had one hot-shoe Nikon SB-28 flash mounted on the balcony camera-right, and had my shutter speed somewhere around 1/30th. I used the 15mm Sigma fisheye lens that I bought specifically for Africa, and waited until the lighting guy gave me some really heavy back-light.

Songs of Water in the Park

This is an odd angle for me. I'm not usually a big fan of dutch tilt. In fact, if you really know me, you know that I have developed a rather strong distaste for it in most situations. However, the moment was too good to pass up, so in this case, I let it past my filter and to the public eye. Emotion trumps technicalities.

The photo you're viewing was taken while I was visiting Winston-Salem, NC on business.

Family

This is Lee Worley playing drums for Jonathan Helser during Two Nights in June at MorningStar.

I'm pretty sure this is his most recent tattoo, and I stumbled upon it by accident. I originally had my 85mm lens outfitted to shoot past Lee to get a shot of Jonathan with some crowd behind him, but I saw Lee's tattoo, so I popped on my 24mm.

I've been asked a lot why I carry around so many lenses, and why I don't just use one zoom lens. I used to own a zoom lens, it was a terrible zoom lens. I think it was some kit lens that came with a camera body. Those are great if you're in need of some glass on a budget and you're not delivering images to clients, but... I'm not, and I am. Camera bodies come and go, but the lens is an investment.

I mostly use Nikkor prime lenses (non-zoom lenses made by Nikon) because, aside from the very evident increase in quality, they force me to be creative. If I want to zoom in on someone's face, I have to either slap on a different lens, or actually walk closer.

The argument can be made that a zoom lens provides you with more flexibility and broader options in order to capture the moment without having to move. Which is why I would highly recommend having a couple zoom lenses to cover most focal lengths if you're an event or wedding photographer. Because I shoot mostly portraits, I have the benefit of composing the shot and having control. However, this is at the top of my wish list: Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8 ED-IF (drool).

Bottom line: You get what you pay for when it comes to the glass.

The Mexican Luke

I can say that because I am 1/4 Mexican. Besides, I can't just call him Luke, because then you might get him confused with the white Luke just one post away. And I can say that because I'm 2/3 white.

Seriously though, I think we all just need to lighten up, stop trying to be "politically correct", and start supporting our local bands.

Luke Ramos here, he's starting a local band. And he's rad. And he is a professional smirker. Yes, he smirks well.

I shot this photo in the B-Room at Bright City Studios in Fort Mill. I took a break from using only one light and I ending up using three strobes for this shot. I used the Alien Bees B800 in a large octabox positioned high and camera-left, and then a Nikon SB-28 speedlight outside shooting through the window, and another SB-28 positioned behind Luke, high, and camera-right. The rim-light behind Luke is my home-made "Lysol Snoot" with a 20 degree grid bungeed to it.

I'm going to post another photo from my session with Luke tomorrow morning to distract you while you're at church. It's a really good one.

Jonathan David Helser

This is Jonathan David Helser in what I like to call, "The heat of battle". This was taken during the "Two Nights in June" event at MorningStar that wrapped up yesterday.

Second Night. In June.

This is a photo I took of John Mark McMillan playing along with Jonathan Helser during "Two Nights in June". It was an awesome weekend of music, conversation, and chilling out. It wasn't churchy, because there wasn't really a sermon, and the music never stopped, so it was pretty much perfect. Of course, they have to start this up right before we move away. :/

Check out Lee Worley's face in the background. Somehow, he knows I'm taking the picture, so he's giving me the "Oh Levi, I don't even have my makeup on" face.

Over The Ocean 2 of 2

I was playing around with two off-camera strobes, with slow shutter speeds. The venue was unique in that the only significant lighting on stage was LED lights, so the colors were super vibrant and changed instantly.

Over The Ocean 1 of 2

I was playing around with two off-camera strobes, with slow shutter speeds. These are some of my best friends in Virginia. I really miss being around them. They sounded great, looked awesome, and smelled even better.

Colour Academy 4 of 4

I ran lights for Public Radio the other night at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte. One of the opening bands was Colour Academy, and since I had nothing to do, I clamped a remote flash to a light bar and tried my hand at a few 'one light' live shots.

This is shot 4 of 4 in this 'series'.

Colour Academy 3 of 4

I ran lights for Public Radio the other night at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte. One of the opening bands was Colour Academy, and since I had nothing to do, I clamped a remote flash to a light bar and tried my hand at a few 'one light' live shots.

This is shot 3 of 4 in this 'series'.

Colour Academy 2 of 4

I ran lights for Public Radio the other night at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte. One of the opening bands was Colour Academy, and since I had nothing to do, I clamped a remote flash to a light bar and tried my hand at a few 'one light' live shots.

This is shot 2 of 4 in this 'series'.

Colour Academy 1 of 4

I ran lights for Public Radio the other night at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte. One of the opening bands was Colour Academy, and since I had nothing to do, I clamped a remote flash to a light bar and tried my hand at a few 'one light' live shots.

This is shot 1 of 4 in this 'series'.

This Is Key

This is a new addition to the B-Room here at Bright City Studios in Fort Mill, SC.

I used to take piano lessons in school, but I was never disciplined enough to really focus on reading music. I could play tunes and memorize finger positions really well, and I had a desire to play, but when I hit a wall, I never really pushed through it. I'm actually grateful to my parents for encouraging me, but not forcing me to practice and study. No doubt, they made me finish my commitment, but when the time came for me to make a decision whether I was going to give up or continue, my parents let me make that decision.

I still have a desire to play music, and I still do, whether it be a solo guitar on the back porch, or an electronic, multi-layered synth sequence on the computer, I love creating tunes. However, even though it's a passion of mine, it's not a priority. I can't take credit for this, but I read somewhere that "Priorities are like arms. If you say you have more than a couple, you're lying or you're crazy". My priority is to provide and care for my family. The fact that I'm able to do that by pushing buttons, aiming cameras and typing on a keyboard, is outstanding to me.

I'm not going to give up my love for music, rather I'm going to take my love for music, art, movies and writing, and I'm going to invest that in my family. I can't give it up, but I can save it for a better time.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of this piece of history. It would also make a great prop or set piece for a portrait. In fact, I'm going to go shoot some right now. I'll see if I can find a willing subject.

Dance It Up

This photo was taken at the Dugg Dugg opening afterparty.

I like taking photos of other photographers as they take photos of people posing for their photo.

Sarah Stephens and Her Cello

Sarah Stephens came into Bright City Studios today to track a few of her songs. She is an amazing cellist and very artsy person, who always looks like she belongs in a fairy tale or an Art Forum magazine. Today was no exception, so Joel thought it would be a good idea to snap some photos. I grabbed a light, found a brick wall, and you can see the whole set here, on Flickr.

The Visulite

Last night I ran lights for Public Radio and John Mark McMillan at the Visulite Theater in Charlotte, NC. Naturally, I brought my Nikon and snapped a few photos before and after the show, but during the show my fingers were preoccupied with making the stage look like a rock show. After the bands got off the stage, and the crowds split up into their cliques, I went out back and looked at the Queen City skyline. There is a great view of the towers from behind the Visulite, but I've never really been impressed with our skyline. I turned around and snapped this photo of the corner of two building jutting up against one another. I enjoy this kind of texture and mood for Charlotte more than the shiny skyscrapers and the clean sidewalks. These two buildings, clearly not put up together, but slowly built upon, tells me more about a city than anything else.