Marcus Maschwitz Photography Blog » darren leader

Interview in Quint Magazine

Marcus — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:01:31 +0000

A few weeks ago the guys over at Quint Magazine contacted me about featuring my work in their next issue which would be known as their music issue. I flipped through a few copies of the magazine and really liked what they were doing so I agreed and today the magazine hit the shelves. Currently the magazine is only available in Dubai (stocked in all Virgin Megastores) but is also available to read for free online.

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”.

Zebra and Giraffe endorsed by Fender

Marcus — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 09:50:54 +0000

My friends from Zebra and Giraffe are endorsed by Fender and have just become a featured artist on their site. They used a bunch of my photos of the guys and it looks really cool so check it out here.

Photos used for new Zebra and Giraffe EP

Marcus — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:03:15 +0000

At the end of last year I had a photo shoot with the boys of Zebra and Giraffe while I was out in South Africa and it was really good working with them and hearing stories of their progress.

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.

Shooting Zebra and Giraffe

Marcus — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:47:51 +0000

I had a really good photo shoot with the band Zebra and Giraffe during December in South Africa and as always it was a pleasure working with them. We shot at a dam during mid day so the sun was as strong as it could be so thank goodness for sun glasses and Profoto-7b kits to fill in.

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.

Coke Fest Desktop Downloads

Marcus — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:44:35 +0000

My friends Byron contacted me today to tell me that some of my Zebra and Giraffe photographs are available as desktop downloads on the Coke Fest website and I thought that I would post them on here. They are 1280 x 1024 pixels so click on the thumbnail to open up the larger size and then save as you please.

Oxymoron Actual Video

Marcus — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:28:31 +0000

I just arrived back from the Kruger National Park (photographs up shortly) and I had the best time ever with my misses.

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

Zebra and Giraffe Music Video Launch

Marcus — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 06:00:46 +0000

Today is a super exciting day for myself as the music video for Zebra and Giraffes 3rd single, Oxymoron, is released. The video was created by myself, Alan Shenton and Greg (band creator and frontman).

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.

Darren Leader

Marcus — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:40:28 +0000

Wow, I love this photograph. It is one of the 39000+ still photographs that I shot for the Zebra and Giraffe Oxymoron music video. I don’t want to give anything of it away but I love this photo so much. This is of Darren Leader and he is the drummer for the band. He has such a cool style when he plays and is genuinely a super nice humble guy.

Hope you all having a good weekend. M

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

Live in Hatfield

Marcus — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:58:25 +0000

I shot this the other day when the boys from Zebra and Giraffe playing live in Hatfield. The lighting was not so good from a photo point of view and it was starting to rain so I never shot that many but I do like this one because you can see a bit of the crowd.

Listen to these guys, you will love them.

Zebra and Giraffe Band

Marcus — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 17:15:36 +0000

It’s been long since I really blogged properly but I have been super busy with work catching up after a super holiday in Europe with my dad. I played “happy snapper” on holiday and only used my little Lumix camera to shoot photographs which was really strange but fun and relaxing for once.

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

The Harris’s Tweed

Marcus — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 14:10:00 +0000

My friends from Harris Tweed were one of the opening bands for Fall Out Boy at the show on friday evening. As always they were amazing and it seemed as though everyone there thought the same. I really think they are going to go far and make it HUGE soon. Check them out, watch them live, buy their CD or do something to make sure you get to know of them.

Fun Bags

Marcus — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:32:00 +0000

This is Darren from Harris Tweed. He is a proper funny guy and every time I see him, he is happy and laughing. I shot this during their sound check on friday night. I really like this photo a lot and think it shows him the way he is. Fun bags.

The HT’s

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:40:00 +0000

On my last night with the Tweeds in Cape Town, I shot this photo of them all together being funny on a couch outside the Independent Armchair Theatre. It was an amazing show and out of the 60 shots I took of this scene, I think this one works the best. They are an awesome bunch of people.

In the Middle of NO Where

Marcus — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:36:00 +0000

I am trying to sort through some photographs from the last month and two weeks ago today I drove down to Cape Town with my friends from Harris Tweed. We stayed at friends of Darryl’s parents in the middle of the NO where in the Karoo and this photo we shot as we arrived there on monday evening. Darryl guided us on a hike to see some awesome bushman painting’s that we never ever saw. Either way, it really was such an amazing setting. We like …….

It Ain’t Me Babe

Marcus — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 23:53:00 +0000

My friends from Harris Tweed were recording the day before yesterday so I went passed to hang out and just enjoy the studio and their company.

I had 3 ideas of the career I wanted to one day follow and these were photographer, sound engineer and chef. I even job shadowed Darryl for a bit and we were laughing cause if I had’ve carried on with sound engineering, Darryl would’ve been my REAL boss. However, I chose photography and I still have plenty to learn, but I do really enjoy music and the studio so much.

Anyway, I shot a whole bunch of photographs in the studio but for some reason I am having MAJOR problems today trying to convert the raw NEF files and it is going to drive me mad so I am just going to put these ones up for now. Haven’t shown the band yet so hopefully they will like them. I want to be in a band, or play music at least. It really must be the best thing. The Harris Tweed posse really inspires me a lot.

Good friends, good music, good fun, good times and a lot of talent and laughs. Check them out if you haven’t yet.

Tweeds at V & A

Marcus — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 23:03:00 +0000

Cheri and Darryl played a chilled set inside the Mega Musica Store at the V & A waterfront and because they never needed to set up, we shot some mess around photographs just outside the store. Show was a rocker. Coffee, buddies, good music, Alan’s ass, ice tea, Police Academy DVD’s for R49.95, comfy tables and cool gear. Awesome…..