Artist Mixer 2014 - Studio10Two5

I attended the first ArtistsMixer of the year at Jasen Hudson's new location, Studio10Two5.

It always feels great to get out and meet other creatives, absorb some of the energy and get our minds off of this really cold weather we've been having.

 

Saw many familiar faces and usual suspects. Rhym, and photographers Aaron, Joseph Balestra, Samuel Eli, and the rarely seen Ronald Gray.

I had a chance to see Kris Johnson's new video project. I became a fan when  saw his work at the Dreaming Building.

I talked with the beautiful and talented Robin Lynette, whom I have wanted to shoot and work with. One of these days I'll get her to work her magic on my model, and argue to get her in front of my camera.

I managed to drag my road dog, Kharma, with me.

 So much talent in one place it was incredible!

Soup Factory Open House

The studio had its open house a couple days ago. It was really nice to make large prints (11x14 for me) and to be able to hang my work up, something I have never done before.

Unfortunately, the event fell on a day when everyone I knew was busy, away on a trip, or otherwise engaged. Even my own mother was in the hospital! She wanted me to show up and be seen, so I still attended. I saw her afterwards and showed her the photos in my phone.

 The essentials.

 

I got a chance to talk to a few people in "real life" and meet some new faces, like studio mates Nate Middleton and Aaron Stallworth Jr. plus the talented Andrea Harper. Watching Nate retouch in real time was valuable and informative; using some techniques I knew, and some I didn't. Who knew Photoshop's smart sharpen was actually that smart?

Stylist MelSlim Edmond

The most fun was the "unofficial" photographer talk session afterward, where I found out that while our experience and skill levels are different, we are all the same, with the same problems, insecurities, victories and defeats.

We talked gear, lighting, models, business, set backs, guys with cameras, TF, all kinds of stuff.

Times like these are when I am glad that I joined the studio and have a chance to talk with like minded minds, instead of sitting home.

Black Star Film Festival 2013

Over the course of 3 days, I went to the Black Star Film Festival in my home town and was able to see shorts and feature length films made by some of the most talented African American and creative minds of people of color.

I missed it last year when I went to Atlanta, and my girl Andrea designed the logo and signage (go Drea, go!) I was excited to see and participate in discussion panels and just see some works that is different than what I see on tv.

I did some unofficial event photography in order to test out the Canon 60D.

I networked a little with some of the stars and writers.

Stacey Sargeant, (left) write/director of the documentary Though I'm Not Perfect.
Above was the cast/writers of the short Color Me In

See the short here

COLOR ME IN (short film)


The talented director Rashid Zakat

One of the first things I noticed was how much easier it was to capture low light exposures inside when I had more iso settings to choose from. After an hour or so, the new button placement was second nature to me. I loved it.

 I love the natural sistas!

 Marques Green, director of The Bluest Note

The best full length feature I saw was Things Never Said. Dope. Great acting, interesting story, and a little more depth to characters than we normally get in movies. I wish films like this were in national release like Eat Pray Love, and all 12 romantic dramatic comedies that come out every year. I am now a fan of Omari Hardwick. 

More on the important advice he gave to an audience member later.

They Die By Dawn - Black Cowboy Movie

I came across this poster for the upcoming western They Die By Dawn, featuring an all Black cast including actors Micheal K. Williams, Isaiah Washington, Bookem Woodbine, Clifton Powell (who is in every Black movie!)and r&b singer Erykah Badu, and many others.

 Micheal K. Williams interviews

Official Trailer


The title track by Jeymes Samuel AKA The Bullitts (ft. Yasiin Bey, Jay Electronica & Lucy Liu)
https://soundcloud.com/thebullitts/theydiebydawn

Read more at okayplayer.com

Leaked Night At The Five Spot

If you are lucky, there is a creative and fun event, created and maintained by gathering of like minded people going on in your city that all the "in" people know about. It could be focused on politics, food, music, sport etc and the results are amazing. If you are really lucky, you have had the chance to attend or be a part of something like this from beginning, middle or end.

I, however, was not lucky.

The Black Lily open mic night at the Five Spot was an event that I always took for granted because I thought, in my youth as all young people do, that it would last forever. A who's who of neo-soul (or soul) artist from the late 1990's and the early/mid 2000's sang there. When it burned down in 2007, I missed my chance.



The good people at ReelBlack created a documentary called Leaked Night At The Five Spot from the footage of the jam sessions and interviews with the artists. I couldn't attend (damn night job!) but I bought the DVD and I look forward to watching what I missed years ago.

Read more about ReelBlack and purchase the dvd.

Crazy stuff for a Good Cause

Andy Samberg, Aziz Ansari, Bill Hader, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and other comedians recreating some classic Star Wars scenes to help benefit "Stand Up to Cancer".

The Proprpostur Style Book

I came across this video by ProprPostur, featuring a moving fashion lookbook.

Proprpostur Style Book s/s 2011 from Propr Postur on Vimeo.

Seeing a well made video like this makes me want to shoot even more, and makes me wish I had a 7D. Hello? Canon?

A Letter From a 10 year Old Girl

I just read this and I have to share it.

It is an open letter to Lil Wayne from a 10 year old girl in the form of a song asking him to be more socially responsible in his music.

The link is here

Power-featuring Dirk Nowitzki?

Mark Cuban is a genius for making this video for his Dallas Mavericks

Spartacus!!

This whole month I have been doing the Spartacus: Blood and Sand workout, developed by Men's Health Magazine for the actors who need to get in shape for their roles as gladiators on the Starz series.



Me and co worker James have been at it and we feel great, until we do the exercises! We thought we were relatively in shape until we tried this workout. The first day we were rolling on the floor in pain.

A few others have tried with us and dropped out. They are unworthy!

We are going to try to keep this going until summer. I have been 20lbs+ overweight for like, 3 years and its time to put a stop to it, Spartacus!!



Read more about this god forsaken workout here.

Photographer Chase Jarvis + Nikon D7000

This talented photographer/director tested Nikon's 16megapixel, 1080HD video features in the most fun way: traveling and running around with friends, and shooting a graffiti short.



The images show off the camera's clear HD resolution. Changing lenses allows for incredible depth of field and light handling capabilities. Chase's edits and quick cuts draw me in and make me want to see more. He creates an environment of fun that I wish I was a part of.

Where are my friends that frolic like that?

I have to give props (I'm a Canon man) to the D7000. Read more nikon.com

See more of this work and inspirations at Chase jarvis.

Anthony Winters-" Couple’s Story”

A behind the scenes video by photographer Anthony Winters. I love the unseen work that goes into a successful shoot. I'll do one soon.



I became a fan of his work because it reminds me of my own; photography set in an outside environment. He makes the background interesting, but not too much...I'll post more about him and his work that I like later.

Shout out to original posters alleyesonwho.com Check them out for more info

A Cool MotherF@#r-Machete's Danny Trejo

I have enjoyed his menacing presence in numerous films and I smile whenever he lands a "good guy" role, like in Anchorman. The love for Danny by his fans is evident in how a fake trainer has now become a full length movie Machete this month. He is very high on my "People I Would Love to Shoot With" list. I love the character lines in this guys face!

Check out a short documentary on Mr. Trejo I found on ballerstatus.com created by one of my photographic heroes, now turned director, Mr. Estevan Oriol. His black and white film aesthetic translates very well to video.

Banksy: Exit Through The Gift Shop

My co worker James told me about this guy Banksy and his street art. I got off from work and looked him up and I love it!

The subject matter in Banksy's illustrations vary, social commentary (seems like his favorite) to just plain fun. The locations where he chooes to feature his work are amazingly open where everyone can see them.






I'm going to have to make time to see his new film Exit Through The Gift Shop.

Its a shame I've never been good at tagging or graf writing.



See more about the film at banksy.co.uk

Erykah Badu is Back! Or, Erykah Badus' Back...

My friend Andrea just sent me a video for Erykah Badu's new single I love called "Window Seat" , and like almost everything she does, it was unusual yet familiar, creative, surprising, and a little crazy at the same time.

While giving props to Matt and Kim, the originators of the concept, my girl Badu walks and strips naked. Why am I talking about it when you can see for yourself.



The guy in me must say, I now literally know what she meant when she sang the line "This year I turn 36, never knew it'd come so quick...my ass and legs have gotten thick, but its all me..." from the song called "Me"on The New Amerikkka CD. That is a beautiful women.

I wonder what people will be saying about this by the end of the week? Will I be able to see the vid on VH1 Soul or Centric? I'm excited to hear this album when it drops.

Matt and Kim

Current tv....

My friend Bruce put me on to the network I'm sure all of you already knew about. One of the best things about Current is their viewer created content show called Vanguard. After watching a few segments about prostitution around the world, contraband in prison, and encountering Silverback Gorillas, I was hooked.

Current shows InfoMania and Supernews are hilarious takes on pop culture and animated shorts.

Current tv is like early Mtv's younger, more responsible, slightly high brother, who teaches you stuff and makes you laugh at the same time. It like Mtv, the Daily Show, Cnn and a local college channel all rolled into one

Watch some of it here, on you local cable channel, and on Hula

I love how they have embraced tv on the internet and partnered with Hula so you don't miss a thing

"If you're nappy, you ain't happy..."

I already can't wait to see this documentary. I think Chris Rock (or Dave Chappelle) is the perfect one to bring us the truth + funny about our hair, products, customs and insecurities



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A68UVn0nMvo

Paul Mooney kills me

June 25th, 2009

I had just heard about the death of Farrah Fawcett today, and I thought about watching Charlie's Angels as a kid and loving Blondes back in those not-that-many-Blacks-on-tv days. I remembered her excellent performance in the 1986 movie Extremities and the 1st time I took her seriously as an actress (along with a young Alfrie Woodard).

I knew she had cancer and I felt sorry for her struggles, but I was glad that her suffering and pain were over. RIP.

I laid down to take a nap after work at 4pm and when I awoke at 6:30pm I found that things were much worse.



RIP

Typefaces: Helvetica

When I started design school, I was initially attracted to the crazy tv show, movie title fonts, or those silly use em only once in a while faces, but that was only lust. My love is truly for the king of the san-serif, Helvetica. Once thought of as the most boring and basic of typefaces, it is now one of my favorites.



I'm going to find the movie of the same name, Helvetica. I just missed a screening last night. Aarrgghh!

Many design heavyweights all speak on the history of Helvetica, as well as graphic design. I've been much more involved in photography than design lately; I need to get back to my roots.

Helvetica is all around us...


Frankfurt


Amsterdam


New York