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.
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.
I shot a bunch of photographs at Zebra and Giraffe’s band practice last week but its been really busy here and I am sick again so I haven’t had time to sort through them. I really like this one a lot so it is the only one I have resized quick so that I can post on it. Alan Shenton is my partner in Melon Videos and probably my favourite guitarist purely because I don’t think anyone else could have his passion and experimental drive. Here he is rocking a John Mayer signature Fender Strat.
The boys from Zebra and Giraffe are busy practicing together so that they can have a super live show ready soon. Its going to so good I tell you. I interrupted their practice last night and they really are working hard. The album has just started hitting shelves so be sure to get yourself a copy. Check out their video blog on YouTube by clicking here.
My buddy Alan is the raddest guitarist I have ever seen. No one could ever be more excited about guitar than he is. Not just about playing a guitar but everything that comes with them and the way that they are made. It’s amazing and I love speaking to him and seeing him so excited when we do chat. Anyway, he has been refurbishing an original 1963 Fender Strat and I went to his place today just to shoot a few photos for him and to see the guitar. Amazing, it’s old and has been used so much that you can just see and feel that it has some amazing stories behind it.
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
I have been friends with Alan for ages and he really is a guy with such an amazing mind way more mature than his age. He plays guitar for Harris Tweed and every other time that he can. I have been wanting to shoot a photo with him for quite some time now and had an idea in my head but we just haven’t got around to actually doing it. They played with Fall Out Boy at the Dome this passed friday and there was this couch in the Band Room so I shot a few just to pass time and although they aren’t what I was wanting to do, I think they show him quite well. Watch out for him, he has more passion than anyone I have ever known.
