I answered a few questions about what it is like working as a music photographer here in London and you can read all about it from page 56 of issue 12. Read it for free here. The rest of the magazine is very cool too so give it a full read. I feel really grateful for this so “thanks guys”.

They have just had 5 of their tracks remixed by Cenzo Townshend which they are currently releasing as an EP in the USA and the UK. Check these guys out, they are one of the most exciting bands I know because they are so dedicated and I’ve heard a few of the demo’s they are working on for their next album and its going to be a killer one.

They used a few photos for the EP and the marketing of it.

I was assisted by my buddy Ravi Panchia who’s work is definitely worth checking out and my dad came and joined in to take some behind the scene shots (“Thanks dad”) so I thought I would get a few of these up as well as a photo or two from the shoot. You can see more of these on my music photography blog.

We have received some amazing feedback for the Zebra and Giraffe – Oxymoron music video that we created and I thought that I would post the video up for you have a look at. The quality is really not that good on this version so if you have DSL, please follow THIS LINK and then click to see the high quality version (bottom right of video).

Have a super day as always, Marcus

Basically the video was photographed by myself at 5 and 10 frames per second using the Nikon D3 DSLR and then the 39 000+ photographs were narrowed down and about 15 000 of them were individually graded and then edited at Melon Videos resulting in a FULL HD music video with a “jolty” feel to match the song (which I have to admit has grown on me more and more even though I was already a fan).

The press release as well as the music video itself is available to view on the Zebra and Giraffe website so PLEASE do yourself a favour and check it out and let us know what you think.

Produced by: Melon Videos / Studio Melon Ltd
Directed by: Alan Shenton
Co-directed by: Marcus Maschwitz / Greg Carlin
D.O.P: Marcus Maschwitz
Art direction by: Alan Shenton / Greg Carlin
Edited by: Alan Shenton
Grading by: Sarah Shenton / Marcus Maschwitz
Makeup by: Talana Torre

I cannot wait for this to hit television. For now, I have added a few photographs below from the videos itself. I will be enjoying shooting photographs in the bush so I apologize if I am quiet during this week.

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

Listen to these guys, you will love them.

Anyway, the show was really cool and I have to admit that I think I am going to become a Zebra and Giraffegroupie, not only cause they are friends but because they really are good at what they do. I think the album is good but I think their live show kills that album and makes it looks small. It just puts things into perspective for me and makes me want to listen to the album more and more so that I can sing along at their next show.

I really had fun shooting photographs by moving the smoke machine and getting in everyone’s face and just actually taking over the stage. The pics came out really good I think so that’s always exciting for me. These are just a few of them. Please let me know what you think.

Do yourself a favour and go watch them. I know you will enjoy it.

Hope you are all well. Have a good week. Marcus

Shot these with Alan, Andrew and Jane from Cassette on the roof of SABC during sunset last night. Was super hard to get up there so props to Grant for making a plan.

Hope you are all having a good day, Marcus

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.

Anyway, I shot some photographs with the guys from Zebra and Giraffe last night. They are just about to launch their live act as a band and it’s starting to get exciting. I had an idea while on the plane back from the UK of a photo that I wanted to shoot and the guys agreed to let me give it a try. The only problem was that it was SUPER dark and SUPER cold last night so it was a LOT harder to shoot than I had thought. I couldn’t see what I had in my frame and I couldn’t see if the flash units were set at the right setting and so on. I got a few really cool shots though so I guess it was a success. Next time I won’t care about the people sleeping nearby and rather take my generator along to give us some light.

Check out Zebra and Giraffe if you haven’t yet.

Hope you all well, M

While I am writing about Alan, I thought I would mention that the two of us have started a sideline motion photography (video) company together and although we are still working on the marketing and stuff, feel free to have a look at the website and wish us good luck. The link is www.melonvideos.co.za

I hope the festive season is already getting you excited and that you are all well. Chat soon, Marcus

Then this photo, I shot on the way home from their house. Alan drove me there and on the way back the lights of the freeway were looking pretty crazy so I shot one freehand shot quick and then was over it. It came out pretty good though. That’s all for now.