Marcus Maschwitz Photography Blog » Documentary

Colin Pollock Poster

Marcus — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:37:46 +0000

Last year I worked with Colin Pollock on a few portraits as well as a few shots of him busy in studio. He’s super talented and I really enjoyed working with him. He’s playing a one-off show at Hoxton Hall that you should definitely check out.

This is the flyer with one of the shots I took in studio.

On tour with We Are The Ocean

Marcus — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:15:18 +0000

I went on tour with the boys from We Are The Ocean for a few days (London, Bristol and Stoke) to promote the release of their latest album and I photographed and video’d the tour as it went on. The guys are super nice and I love working with them so it was a great time together.

This video is just some of that footage.

The album is called GO NOW AND LIVE and track playing through this video is from the album and it is ‘Overtime Is A Crime’. Make sure to get a copy of it … it’s a cracker.

Some of the photos from the tour can be seen HERE.

The Wild Archive Flyers

Marcus — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 23:48:41 +0000

Last year I worked with the guys from The Wild Archive while they were recording and working on their debut album which I love. The guys are really cool and they have just played their first show together which I sadly missed. They used 2 of the photos shot during their recording time to market the show. These are them.

Snowboarding in London

Marcus — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 02:19:16 +0000

We decided to continue enjoying the snow on thursday night after a good previous night and headed out with our snowboards and some lights and set up our own little session near Croydon after midnight and even ended up building a small jump which Jason hit a few times in the complete dark (thanks to me forgetting to charge the lights fully).

It was one of my funnest nights in a while thanks to Jason and Jude and some frozen powdered water.

3:41am in the snow

Marcus — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:52:29 +0000

It snowed quite a bit this week and the first night that it started my friend, Jude, and I went on a late night “fool-around” that started at 1am and saw us skateboarding (without trucks and wheels) down snow covered stairs, throwing snowballs at passing cars, covering each other in snow, attempting to make a snowman, rallying and then shooting photos of the Dodge parked in the snow. I shot the first one in this set at 3:41am with no lights, no tripods and on Iso 800 so although I was pushing the camera it really wasn’t by much. It was SO crazy how light everything was thanks to the pink sky. Never seen anything like it before.

I love the snow.

Halloween Pumpkin Carvings

Marcus — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 23:09:51 +0000

Last night we got together for our annual pumpkin carving (rubbish talking and laughing) session. As always it was classic and I wish I had’ve filmed the whole night. These are the carvings we made.

Happy Halloween everyone. Be safe.

Just Me Again Studio Times

Marcus — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:36:40 +0000

I had a shoot with the boys from Just Me Again a few weeks back in the studio and it was crazy times as always. Love what these boys are doing so just wanted to post this photo up of them while I work on the images from that day.

This is them with their buddy, Jamesy, who is funny as hell.

Back to processing.

Atticus / WATO / Marcus Collab Tee

Marcus — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:54:42 +0000

The guys from Atticus have put together a collaboration tee with We Are The Ocean using three of my photos that I shot with the guys while they were in the recording studio. I love how it looks and it just came out today so Dan sported it at their London show.

It will be available in-store shortly.

We Are The Ocean Website

Marcus — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:44:41 +0000

I work with the guys from We Are The Ocean quite a lot and they have just used a few of my photos as backgrounds of their new website. The shots were taken in the recording studio while they were recording the new tracks for their special edition album release of Cutting Our Teeth.

These are just 3 of the 15 grabs that can be seen on their site.

We Are The Ocean in Studio

Marcus — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:15:19 +0000

The guys from We Are The Ocean went into recording at Stakeout Studios for a week to work on some new tracks for a special edition re-release of their debut album “Cutting Our Teeth” and I joined them for two days to photograph their working process and just document some of their process.

It was incredible to see everything take shape, rattle the guys brains, watch them work and just spend some good quality hang time with them.

I am not an editor and I used my wife’s happy snap camera to film these short clips so don’t expect anything great from this but thought it might be worth sharing anyway.

You can see a few of the photos HERE.

My Profoto Babies

Marcus — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:03:57 +0000

Today is the day. Today is FINALLY here. I have been so excited about it that I have really battled to keep focused on anything else unrelated. For years I have wanted to own my own Profoto kit but have sadly waited it out because there was always something else in the line up waiting for my attention. I have rented these lights on several occasions along with various Elinchrom kits and the Profoto stuff has always won my vote.

As a very greedy Christmas present to myself I purchased myself 2 Profoto kits that after anxious waiting have landed. The guys from Pro Center called this morning to ask if I would be around to accept delivery so here I am waiting for the door bell to ring. AMAZING.

Anyway, I had to share my excitement and mark today as another day for me to step it up a notch. I have never been as excited as I have been about anything regarding photographic equipment except for the arrival of my D3 which was over 2 years ago.

So let me introduce you to my Pro-7b 1200 babies as I welcome them to the family …… names to follow shortly.

(Obviously as they haven’t arrived yet the photo below was pulled from the Profoto catalogue, I’ll try shoot my own one sometime)

Website Launch

Marcus — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:04:12 +0000

So I have been working like crazy lately which is a good thing but I hate that I have so much new work to show and no where to show it. I mean, I really liked the way my old website looked but it really just was too much distraction as apposed to just showing off the photographs. It’s always hard to think of the best way to showcase online because I do not like Flash based websites purely because I have seen so many people having issues using them and in the end I think I wanted to make sure that mine would be as user friendly as possible. The website I had also never allowed me to put the photos up at a decent size so with all this in mind I have created a new one from scratch and although I am still filtering through photographs and updating the content, there is a good amount up so that I can release it.

If you have a chance, make sure to check out www.marcusmaschwitz.co.uk and have a look. As I said I am still busy uploading content so keep checking back.

This is a screen grab of the home page, hope you like.

Shooting with Papa Roach

Marcus — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:41:22 +0000

I shot a few portrait press photographs for Clink Music Magazine with the guys from Papa Roach last month at Oxford Academy and it was super easy to work with them. Honestly not knowing much about their music I decided to stay for the live show which really was one of my favourites this year. The band has an onstage presence that is almost engulfing and they all make you feel like it means the world to them that you are there. It’s weird but in a really cool way.

Anyway, I am telling you all of this because during the time they were being followed around by the guys from Pocket TV filming a tour diary of sorts during their Oxford stay and I just got sent the video which came out really rad. You can see me shooting with the band in the rain on the roof (around 2min35) and then again snippets of me shooting the show during their live set.

If you are at all a PR fan then you should watch the video so you can get to know them a little bit more and if you aren’t you should watch it anyway and see me hard at work, I think the video will interest you enough to want to give them a listen which will be worth it in the end. Some people say they are arrogant but I never saw this during the time we spent with them. It wasn’t long but don’t always believe what you read.

This is one of the portrait shots (see more here) that I shot and below is one of the live shots (see more here). You really need to see the portraits high resolution to appreciate them because it was raining quite hard and you can see each of the drops. If you care to see a higher res image, contact me and I will send it on to you.

Young Guns on Front Army

Marcus — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:51:23 +0000

Haha, I just saw this video interview of The Young Guns that was done by Front Magazine on the day that I photographed them and you can see a little bit of the shoot taking place with me hard at work. It’s quite weird to see myself working because I never have. This was a really fun shoot to work on and I really enjoyed working with these guys and look forward to shooting with them more again in the future.

Our Car in Snow

Marcus — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:37:07 +0000

We bought ourselves a car this week and it’s really cool. It’s a black Ford Focus and I shot this photograph of it now in the drive way while it is snowing. It’s the middle of the night and the sky is so bright and yellow and I shot this freehand with only natural light. It isn’t the most amazing photograph but I am really excited by it.

Identity and Business Cards

Marcus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:29:02 +0000

I have just moved to the UK and wanted to step it up a notch and really try concentrate on myself and my photography work for a while. That is the plan for a while and I have some projects in my head that I want to work on in my free time and really push myself to move up to a new level and work on projects that I really love and have interest in.

My friend Jon helped me create a bit of an identity and I love the work that he did for me. He designed a logo for me as well as business cards that I have just actually had delivered and I love them. This is the front and the back of the card and I have a bunch of really other amazing elements that I am working on that will be out in a while. I just wanted to show you my card.

I hope you are all well. Chat soon, Marcus

Excited and Inspired

Marcus — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 22:07:59 +0000

I spent a few hours today at the Annie Leibovitz exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery and it was really exciting and inspiring for me. I felt this even more than when I watch her documentary a few months back. The thing is that for some reason her work REALLY gets me thinking and I love her for that. The exhibition was really cool because it included some of her best and strongest works as well as some of her personal collection of images that she has taken of family and friends at home and on holiday and I love that they did it this way.

Annie makes use of HUGE budgets when shooting commissioned works and then very little when just shooting on her own steam and I cannot say which I preferred. All I do know is that she makes me want to rethink about everything again and try to not just think of big scenes that we can create in a studio like environment, but to also remember to just document and capture what is really going on. Big budgets aren’t always necessary although we do know that they are fun. Haha.

Anyway, I wasn’t obviously allowed to shoot in the exhibition so I tried to be sneaky and just get a shot for my collection so one day I will remember I made the show. This is that shot, it’s nothing great but it has a good memory for me.

I hope you are all well and getting back into the working way of things.

Regards as always, Marcus

Sunset Construction

Marcus — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 07:41:41 +0000

There is a photograph that I have been wanting to shoot for months now but every single time that I go to shoot it, there are a bunch of drunk trouble makers that really do not want me to be there so I end up leaving with no photo at all (one of the joys of living in South Africa). Yesterday I tried to go back and the same thing happened so I ended up driving to a construction site nearby to shoot some photographs of the sunset because it really was so beautiful and weird.

I have 4 sunsets left in South Africa before we make our move to the UK and I am really hoping that I will be able to get the shot before I leave so hold thumbs.

Other than that, I hope that all of you have had a good Christmas with your loved ones and that you are all getting some rest.

Chat soon, Marcus

Happy Christmas

Marcus — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:50:00 +0000

This is pretty self explanatory and is just to wish all of my clients, and friends, all the best over this festive season. Thank you for your invaluable support, be safe and see you next year.

Melon Graphics South Africa
Studio Melon Ltd
Melon Videos
Melon Invites

Homeless Man

Marcus — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:31:57 +0000

In 2001 during my photography studies, I was working on my portfolio and I remember clearly wanting to photograph this man because of his unique features. He was a homeless man that walked by my fathers work every day completely drunk and saying the funniest things ever. He had a trolley (shopping cart) with all his belongings in and he always carried around a bottle of metholated spirits which he either used to sniff or drink. Anyway, in May 2001, I had the chance to photograph with him and chat with him for a bit and he just kept mumbling the funniest things and laughing and even though I felt really awkward, it went well. I was shooting then with my Nikon F90X camera (amazing) and I had no idea if I was shooting rubbish and I only had one roll of film with me that I had hand loaded so I was really hoping for the best. I went right home to process my negatives to make sure they were alright and this frame explained it all. Sadly, my dad called me the next day to say that the guy fell down just across from his shop and that after a few hours an ambulance came and took him away and we never saw him again. I presume that he passed away that day and I am sure that I was the last person to photograph him. I thought I would share.

Enjoy life, it goes by quicker than you think.

Hope you all having a good week. Marcus

Crazy Sunset

Marcus — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:54:02 +0000

As anyone who follows my work will know, I have a thing for sunsets and they sky and clouds. I nag my poor wife everyday to look at the sky and I can see her expression everytime. Today though, I felt like I should really make sure she looks and she agreed, it really was one of the best skies I have ever seen before. If only we were in the bush or something. Anyway, I shot these 4 photographs of the sunset as well as a super cool panoramic which I will post when I have stitched it.

Have a super week, Marcus

Zebra and Giraffe Video Shoot

Marcus — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:51:22 +0000

Yesterday I worked as the DOP (Director of Photography) for the new Zebra and Giraffe music video for their song Oxymoron. I think the stuff we did really is amazing and think that it will look incredible when it’s finished but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to get it done.

Anyway, I shot some still portraits of each of the band members during scene change and think that they came out really awesome. They are super different and dirty but that is how I wanted them to be.

Hope you well and all having a good week. I am feeling sick with flu so I am going to sleep now.

Chat soon, Marcus

Chopping Alice

Marcus — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 21:49:32 +0000

My friend Alice has had dreadlocks for over 4 years now and she has been dying to cut it so that she can start a fresh. She asked me if I could maybe shoot a photograph of her with her hair before she cuts it so we got together on saturday night and I photographed the process for the hell of it and it was super fun. I think she looks super cool with the new hair. Below are 2 photographs of her just before the cut and then a series of photos during the cut. There are plenty more but I want to go to bed now. Haha.

Have a good week everyone. M

Jon Savage in Writing

Marcus — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:04:44 +0000

I shot some photographs for the Cassette crew a few weeks back during the recording of their new album, which sounds amazing by the way, and I haven’t really had any time to look through them yet until now and there are some amazing shots. I love these two of frontman Jon busy writing some stuff in deep thought while Nathan was recording some bass lines. I really love being in studio and really love being involved in the music scene so much. Look out for the next Cassette album, it’s going to definitely be a good one.

iPhone Test

Marcus — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:54:30 +0000

Alan and I are such dorks and have just downloaded the WordPress application for our iPhones and this is my first post to test it out. It seems a bit glitchy but for now it will be alright.

My Hospital Girl

Marcus — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:45:58 +0000

My little girl was in hospital late last week and I got to hang out with her in the recovery room and it really was so scary. She is alright now but I really don’t like ever being in hospital for any reason at all. I was stressing out so much but she did help a bit when she started swearing and being super funny while coming out of the theatre still asleep.

I love you my girl. Get better so soon. x

Windy Drying

Marcus — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:02:11 +0000

Another scene on our ride to the dam. I loved this and really wanted to shoot a bunch more photographs of it but I ALWAYS feel so bad shooting photographs of people in their daily routine because I don’t want them to think that I am thinking I am better than them. Not sure if that makes sense.

Anyway, have a super week. Marcus

The New Lada

Marcus — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:13:09 +0000

Uncle Rudi finally upgraded from the old Lada and his new car rips. I tried to shoot a photograph of it yesterday after I killed myself skating but the light changed so the photo is not nearly as cool as I wanted it to be but with the little gear I had there, this will have to do. I thought I would post it just because I haven’t blogged in a while and to wish Rudi good journeys with his new baby.

Have a good weekend all. M

In a Dungeon

Marcus — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:18:33 +0000

I watched Life Through A Lens (about Annie Leibovitz) about a month ago and it really is inspirational. I found myself rethinking so many of the shoots I have done in the passed and wondering how I could have shot them differently. I got married almost 3 weeks ago and decided to take a break away from shooting photographs while we were on honeymoon. At the time I cannot say that I was happy cause I saw SO much stuff that I could have photographed but I did a lot of thinking while we were away and now that I am back I am SUPER excited to photograph more and just put some of my ideas into action. One of the most important things I realized is that I don’t always need huge budget and crazy lighting and props to make a good photograph but rather just my camera and the will to shoot.

This is all a really long story but basically yesterday I went to shoot the guys (and a girl) from the band Cassette as they are recording in studio. I shot everything with just my camera and lens. I tried to capture what it was like there and how it was all going on in a documentary type of way as apposed to trying to create shots that aren’t really real if that makes sense.

I am not going to post any of those shots now as I want to give them to the band first before I do. I am going to post these though cause I really like them. Alan is playing for Cassette and during the recording yesterday we decided to venture into the underground areas at SABC and shoot some stuff in there. This is them.

My New Baby

Marcus — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:09:47 +0000

I got myself the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8 lens yesterday and am SO excited to shoot with it. It was voted the best lens of 2008 and will go perfect with my D3. Watch this space.