charles long photography

Just semi-rediscovered local photographer Charles Long. In the shots I like of his, I really like. Two places I already support, Cogan's Pizza and Studio Evolve Tattoo, have been the subjects of his inaugural surrealism-meets-opioid comic photo shoots. Here's what Julie Alvarado said about him on AltDaily a while back.

I like his concepts. He starts with a standard picture, then, in post, he gives it a peppering of funhouse. He only started shooting in 2009, though, so has some technique skills to work on (as do I, believe me). I'm going to keep checking his work, though, from a novice learner's perspective, and because I'm excited where his imagination could take him.

First Listen: Brenn

pic: band's Facebook

They're coming to HK on Jan 11 and were recommended to me by Today the Moon Tomorrow the Sun's Facebook. I love TTMTTS to bits and took a listen.

They're a little Cure-y, a little a-Ha, a little Coldplay. Definitely Britpop-via-Nashville (where they live). The song on their homepage is 4:08 minutes. Whew!

Their Myspace was a little more expansive. I got a little bit of a Delegate vibe (if you remember them from 5-years ago RVA, they ruled).

HK will be a sweet place to introduce Norfolk to a new indie band. I'll be there, for sure. Hopefully some leggings and glasses and chucks and blazers (and ponytails) will show up.

I hope to take pictures.

Art and Soul

sculpture: Andrew Livingston & George Morris

Just read No Place Like Home: A Memoir in 39 Apartments. 

It's an easy read, even a bit boring in places with the plot line repeating like a record player stuck in endless spin. Brooke moves into a sublet in New York, she tries to make it at writing and has to supplement income with jobs she doesn't like. She has trouble with a relationship. She has to move. Repeat. 

Repeat 39 times. 

The value of the repetition is the direct and unglamourous way in which it refuses to allow the reader to escape the unyielding, mundane existence of the "starving artist" lifestyle. Fantasizing about a career in the arts and pursuing one are not the same thing. Brooke can't escape some pretty brutal realities and she's not going to sugarcoat for us. 

She's not going to be overly dramatic either, which I appreciate. She experiences trials throughout the book (rape, identity theft, death, heartbreak, empty bank accounts) and she writes about them directly and succinctly and without dwelling on negatives or overemphasizing how any of these secondary themes might steer her story toward the next abode.


Simple words, not flowery or flowy or Lilith Fair-ey. I haven't (at least, that I know of) read any of her many award-winning plays but know I will like them based on the distinct tone and pace of this novel. She has a humorous self-depreciation/work ethic/art soul combo I relate to. I (based on my age, if not social and career situation to boot) like that it took Brooke twenty years to feel like she was settled. I like she had many mini-triumphs along the way. I like she is over 30.


The "point" of this, of course, is to say you're home is where you lay your head, or some variation of that euphemism (the title is No Place Like Home for goodness sake). But, for me, the point was more about the perseverance of a successful artist, how sacrifices are pre-requisites and how "home" isn't an apartment or person (with the rare exception of co-dependent/cosmic muse situations) but ones art and soul itself.

Needles and Shots

Listening to my brand new record player for the first time. Haven't had one in years and am loving this. 

I began to learn photography this year, and decided to listen to some tunes and compile some of my favorites (and see if I'd gotten anywhere from this time a year ago)... 

The first pic I took last year (from an iPhone), of our party guests' resolutions. Fitting because something I really wanted to do take the first few steps towards calling myself a photographer.  

2011 will be for the next few steps...

Here we go. Feedback is appreciated, especially if you know something about taking pictures or Photoshop or whatnot....or if you're around my scene and want to go shoot around sometime. Here's what I did in 2010:

Musicians

Adam playing at the NorVa sometime last winter...the beginning of the end...of my point-and-shoot. 

I could shoot Courtney Love all day every day. Never a dull moment to click (Shot at NorVa).

Last three shot at Emmypalooza at Pepper's,  Berwick, PA. Bands are Clove, Lifer, and The Red Line.

The last few are from SPIN, who will be a big focus for me in 2011. Busk or die.

Last three taken at The Rise Up! at Attucks Theater, Norfolk, VA. Bands are Long Division, 1888, and Phil Roebuck.

Experimental

A photo I took of Rigby (again from my iPhone) and morphed into a painting I found online.  Mainly this was an exercise in Photoshop and color melding.

Flies With Honey poster I made from photographs I took during a recording session (taken with my point and shoot).

Faces 

Matt on a smoke break during a Flies With Honey recording session. The last day of point-and-click misery.

Bodies

Rigby and Malcolm sunbathing.

Not Halloween.

Randoms I like.

I think this may be my personal favorite this year.  I know it's nothing special and overly sharp. But I love it.

This is the sky and a pavilion tent at an outdoor concert. I like that you can't really tell.

The last few were shot in various parts of Costa Rica in November 2010.

Fashion

The last several were my first time dabbling in fashion photography. Shot at penthouse space of The Madison, Granby St. (downtown Norfolk). Clothes from The Style Shoppe, Ghent, Norfolk.

Foovana

pic: Seattle Weekly

As I mentally squealed a couple of months ago, the closest thing any of us will get to a Nirvana reunion will be happening in 2011 with the Foo Fighters newest album (produced by Butch Vig/featuring guest appearance by Krist Novoselic).

Now SPIN has reported they all played live together last Tuesday. I would have given up Christmas to be there. Seriously?!?! I cannot wait for this. Cannot. Cannot. Cannot.

Grohl says there is not one acoustic guitar on the entire record and he feels he's written the best song of his life Words like that from a legend like that aren't to be taken lightly. Dude. Can someone make sure this gig becomes a tour? Please?

gutfiddle

is a great word. i googled it and now it's mine. what, oh what, shall i do with it?

El Dresses

Some more shots from the fashion shoot from earlier this month. I did some photoshop homework while home for Xmas. I'm still light years from knowing fractions about all this, but feel better than I did a week ago regarding it all.