Making Merry

And so the holidays have descended on us once more.  Airports are busy with people traveling miles to see their loved ones, stores are packed with last minute shoppers and bargain hunters,  drivers are distracted by the vision of things yet to get done, while others are mixing and basting in their kitchens  that all important Christmas feast.  It is without hesitation we dive into holiday mode wrapping and decorating and jingling all the way, and it is without thought we are programmed to do the things we do each and every year. You can't turn on the TV without seeing commercial after commercial telling us we need to buy our loved ones a Lexus or a Chia pet.  And it is every year this frenzy starts earlier and earlier and doesn't wind down until the wee hours of Christmas eve.  Through each holiday season I have cut back on the stress induced frenzy and hair pulling mayhem of this joyous and happy time.  I scaled down my gifts, giving family gift cards or money, thus avoiding the hot mess called the mall.  Christmas cards went bye-bye and were replaced by e-cards. A decaying tree in my living room no more, but instead a small living one I can transplant after the season.  Sure, I enjoy driving past the homes adorn in lights and looking into the decorated shop windows, but I've reached the age where the holidays are just one predictable cluster and cacophony of sights and sounds. I longed to simplify, de-clutter if you will, so I may perhaps feel that spark, that feeling you had as a child, that wonder of Christmas morning when that last present under the tree signed "from Santa" may have been put there by the jolly old elf himself.  Here's to bringing back the spirit, the wonder and the joy - Happy Holidays.

Walking Worldwide Locally

Okay, so last weekend was the 4th annual Scott Kellby Worldwide Photowalk.  If you're someone who likes exploring new places with the support of few dozens other photographers, then this is the experience for you. In almost all cities in the world, there are a few photowalks set-up by individuals, designed to explore and photograph various locations in their town. This year, the walk I selected, was in downtown Los Angeles Arts District and Little Tokyo, and we had probably 60 participants of all ages.  Besides the standard walkabout, our group leader invited a couple models to spice up our journey and adorn the city's well-defined backdrop.   Here's a few tidbits from the day's journey.

 There is nothing like the LA arts district, complete with art graffiti and postered buildings. 

Our colorful models added another element to the city's backdrop

Beauty shines through her body adornments

Modern Traditions

The amazingly beautiful Sumeer, just turned 16, and wanted photos as a reminder of this special time. We met early on a Saturday morning at beautiful Balboa Lake in Van Nuys, California. 

Sumeer in a traditional Sari, brought from India by her father. 

Melanie @ Griffith Park's Old Zoo

Skeletal remains of decaying cages that once housed lions, tigers and bears, are the only reminders of Griffith Park's old zoo. These cages, built in the 1930s, have been vacant since the 60s when the zoo was moved to its current expanded facility in Griffith Park.

Various cages dot the recreation and picnic areas, making them fun places for children to climb and play, and of course, interesting enough for photo shoots.  The above structure, where my lovely model Melanie is delicately perched, is a barn like building that has seen a little too many partying teens.

Among the graffiti, beer bottles and empty pizza boxes are posters and artwork, creating a unique urban backdrop juxtaposed against the beauty of Griffith Park.

Golden light from the rapidly setting sun

What zoo animal is this?  Zebra-Tiger perhaps?

Melanie stands in front of the Carousel

You Gotta Have a Gimmick

The last time I ventured onto the LA Club Scene was back in the 90s when I worked as a freelance club reviewer for Music Connection Magazine, and before that, in the 80s performing in bands.  And now, in 2011, I'm  back on the horse, only now I'm photographing bands. What a long strange trip it's been. When I left the club scene in the 80s, I was fortunate to have played historical clubs like Madame Wongs, FM Station, The Troubadour, Club 88, and a host of other small venues; most of them no longer standing. This was a time before  Internet. Social media was word-of-mouth, flyers and ads in LA Weekly. People flocked to clubs to hang and see a new band. A&R label reps were out every night scouting for the next huge sensation. Then things started to change.  With the advancement of technology entertainment was now at your fingertips. VCRs ,DVDs and computers, brought the world into our living rooms. The club scene, that once opened the doors for bands like The Motels, Motley Crue, Poison, and Ratt, now languished. So here I am once again, hanging out in clubs, and shooting bands, and seeing what has changed in the 21st century.

8mm performs at Cheetah Club -Bikini bar and venue

AND THE BAND PLAYED ON

When you think of soft rock, ballads, lush chords and poetic lyrics, a few bands or artists come to mind. But none more so than the icon 70's band "America."  Anyone who grew in the 70s remembers classics like "Horse With No Name", "Ventura Highway", and "Sister Golden Hair" playing in full rotation on AM radio, and even if you didn't know the band's name, you knew most or all of the lyrics. Move forward to 2011 and America hasn't skipped a beat. Original members and founders, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, tour around the world over 100 days a year to packed houses of enduring fans.

With a connection to the band via bass player Rich Campbell's wife Glynnis, I was invited down to the Palmdale Amphitheater in Palmdale, California with my camera. After spending a few moments in the tour bus chatting, we headed backstage where the guys were preparing to go on stage.

Dewey Bunnell & Gerry Beckley hang out backstage before the show

Michael Woods - Guitarist

Rich Campbell - Bassist

For 40 years "America" has been consistently touring and recording and are probably one of the hardest working bands in show business. Guitarist Michael Woods and  drummer Willie Leacox, have been venerable mainstays, both playing with the band for nearly 30-years and newcomer, bassist, Rich Campbell, has been performing with the guys for 11-years.


The band played a 90-minute set of their classic hits as well as works from music's elite artists Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills and Nash.For an encore the band returned to play their number 1 hit song and probably the song most associated with America, "A Horse With No Name."  The crowd on their feet, swaying and singing along, as the Grammy winning duo performed.

America plays worldwide for packed theaters of adoring fans.

Bonnie & Donna : A Mother and Daughter Photoshoot

My friend Donna came to me with a request.  She wanted to give her mom something special for Mother's Day. She wanted to give her something she could cherish forever. A mini mother & daughter photoshoot. I was flattered she wanted me to document and photograph this special day.

It was a late July afternoon when Donna and her mom, Bonnie, came to my office.  This was my first time meeting Bonnie and I was instantly won over by her warmth and genuineness. Everyone's a little nervous before a shoot, so it's my job to keep everything light and relaxed. I knew Donna had been looking forward to this day and I knew how much it meant to her, so I wanted to make sure everything was perfect.


Together, we walked over to a local park in Burbank.  It was an extraordinarily beautiful summer day. I started with Bonnie, taking a few portraits so she could relax and get comfortable with the process. Then we moved into the mother and daughter session.

During the mother and daughter session I could see the genuine bond between these two. Mom at one point,  gently pushed the hair from her daughter's shoulders, just as she probably did years ago. It was touching. We got some incredible shots that day, but most of all, Donna has something personal she can give to her mom, something she can cherish and look at forever.  ~Renee Silverman~

It's Still Rock 'n Roll To Me

I had the opportunity to shoot two bands this week at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California.  8mm, a pop-rock indie band, fronted by chanteuse Juliette Beavan, who captivated the crowds in her skin tight red dress with a Marilyn Monroe-esque appeal. 

Juliette shares her life on and off stage with her guitarist / husband, Sean Beavan, who's  worked with such bands as Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. When these two get together you can feel the sexual energy exude from the stage.  

The house was packed for this shared bill with Kidney Thieves, another female fronted band. Free Dominquez, lead vocalist of this Industrial/alternative rock band, is a powerhouse, commanding the stage as she ripped through the tunes.

Kidney Thieves had a film crew shooting a video on this night, so the band and the crowd were really pumped. Their use of risers and lighting added another level of dynamics to their performance.

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These Boots Were Made For Walkin'

To walk in someone else's shoes. But what if those shoes didn't fit or hurt your feet?  Would you endure the pain just to see what it was like?  Our jealousy, admiration, and curiosity of others and how they live sometimes prompts us to imagine what it would be like to be rich,  famous, wildly successful, or extraordinarily beautiful. And given a chance, would you trace their footpaths just to see what it would be like? Of course, this is only imagination, and something out of movies -- swapping bodies and lives. Instead of focusing on others and what they have, why not invest in your own talents, skills, assets, and desires, and take a long walk in your own shoes.

Childrens' Day is Every Day.

It's that time of year when we honor our mothers for putting up with the pains and tribulations of family life.  If your mother was anything like mine, she had to endure runny noses, trips to the emergency room, crying, whining, and those were just the teen years. For me, I grew up with two female role models, my mother and my grandmother, who lived with us until I was sixteen. Both these women watched me grow from a baby into a woman, and each one had their own special role in my life. I could go to my grandmother when I needed comfort and a monetary hand out. With my mother, I could laugh and tell her all about my day at school. In a time when most moms stayed home, I always knew I could count on mine to pick me up from school, take me to ballet or help me gather materials for a school project. Thus is the, sometimes, thankless job of motherhood.  It isn't until we get older that we look back and see how important our moms were in our lives and how much we, although we try hard not to, find ourselves being more like them. I remember one Mothers' Day, when  I was very young, asking my mom, "When is children's day?"  She answered, "Childrens' day is every day."  Happy Mothers' Day.

{photo model: Maya Real - 15 months}

Lights. Cameras. Action

 

What does it take to pack up your belongings and move to Los Angeles to pursue a dream? It takes tenacity, passion and a strong belief in yourself. Mary Bonney, a fresh-faced 23-year old actress, packed up her car with whatever it could hold and drove from her home in Virginia to do just that – pursue a dream. When I met Mary I was struck first by her natural beauty but also her self confidence. Having been in town for only three weeks, she’s already participating in actor's workshops and working during the day at Paramount Studios. Mary struck me as someone who hits the ground running, has a strong sense of self, but maybe isn't quite aware of her strikingly beautiful looks.  Our photo shoot was awesome, filled with lots of laughs and stories. Mary told me she's going to have a hard time picking her favorites from the shoot because there are so many amazing ones to choose from.