The art has been submitted and the jury has judged.

One of my favorite pieces is by an extremely talented artist currently living in Keizer, Elizabeth Baumann (website, blog) “Bound by the necessities of life”:

Look for more information next week for the upcoming Mayor’s Gala, Winter Art Solstice, taking place on January 29th, 6-9 pm.

( Tickets in advance: $10, night of the event $15. You can register here. And more information at the Keizer Art Association website.)

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Merry Christmas from me, Jeani, & Liam! (He’s so excited about Santa Claus coming tonight.)

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Tim’s friend, John Doe, came up to celebrate Tim’s birthday along with other musicians & friends.

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Tags: birthday, event photography, Guitar Castle, John Doe, portrait, Tim Knight.

Tags: Cherry City Deadbeats, live music, nightscape, Office Diving, old school, outside, Rockin', Salem, The Nettles.

How absolutely cool and scrumptious is this?!?

Many of you will recognize this shot from an earlier post, but it’s totally worth a post of its own.

From the Itsy Bitsy Bakeshop’s website:

The Itsy Bitsy Bakeshop is a domestic bakery baking delicious gourmet cupcakes in Salem, Oregon. We use only fresh, natural ingredients in our cupcakes- no mixes here! Our cupcakes taste homemade because they are homemade. Our kitchen is inspected and licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Amy Barr is a fabulous person and maker of cupcakes. Yummy, beautiful cupcakes! Right here in Salem. You can be guaranteed I will be using any excuse to order many, many cupcakes.

Tags: Amy Barr, cupcakes, food photography, Itsy Bitsy Bakeshop, Salem.

Tags: auction night, CCDG, Cherry City Derby Girls, Roller Derby, Roller Derby Girls.

Tags: Oregon State Fair, photos.

Tags: b&w, live music, Oregon, portrait, Salem, Summer in the City.

I’m often asked if I shoot weddings.

I don’t advertise I do weddings. (this post excepted)

The answer is more complicated than it should be. But the quick and easy answer is yes, I do shoot weddings.

To briefly elaborate, I think it’s fairly important that you like and respect your photographer to get the results you desire. As I feel strongly about this, I don’t just accept any job, especially weddings, unless we meet first and decide if we are a ‘fit’ for one another.

This is a (severely) abridged example of a wedding I shot recently in Forest Grove, Oregon:

Just a few more examples:

Tags: Oregon, Salem, Wedding Photographer, wedding photography.

I could not be more proud.

Tags: Class of 2009, Willamette Academy.

Shooting bands live is something I love. Trying to capture some of the dynamic energy in a static image is a challenge that I relish. But getting a photo during a live show that captures all the members in a way that can be used for band promotion is not always easy.

Ladies & Gentlemen, the Hundred Dollar Jayhawks!

Tags: band promo shots, Hundred Dollar Jayhawks, live music, Rock & Roll.

Live at the Someday Lounge in Portland, Oregon:

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Come on. You know you rock, and you need to hire me.

Tags: band photos, Hundred Dollar Jayhawks, live music, someday lounge.

While at the Someday Lounge last night to catch the Hundred Dollar Jayhawks show, turned out that Rob Walmart (myspace, Rob Walmart site) was playing across the street. Popped out and caught a bit of the show and captured some photos (obvs). I’ll have photos of the Hundred Dollar Jayhawks, and the band Arizona up soon.

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Tags: Arizona, Rob Walmart.

Frank Black’s newest project, Grand Duchy. Grand Duchy kicked off their new tour with this first, secret^*, show at The Space in Salem, Oregon. Sold out, turning away people at the door, absolutely brilliant show. Local band, Le Nunes, also rocked!

^* As secret as a show can be that is highlighted in the local newspaper the day before, and tickets were sold.

Tags: Charles Thompson, Frank Black, Grand Duchy, The Space.

Tags: debate, event, IDEA, portrait, Willamette Academy.

So Art Brut just posted two YouTube vids of their time in Salem, recording with Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black). So while I get jealous of Kyle Gustafson’s opportunities to take his brilliant photos in well lit venues, the second video from Art Brut highlights my predicament – shooting in the dark. As you can see in this, the second video, this is the show at which I shot. Such great light to shoot with (/sarcasm).

Final note: Ran into Charles Thompson yesterday, and he told me the current artists he’s recording will be playing at The Space sometime soon.

Tags: Art Brut, Art Brut vs. Salem, Charles Thompson, concert photographer, Frank Black, live music, shooting in the dark.

Yesterday proved to be a very interesting day. I had to go to Portland for a visit to a neurologist (no new negative info for which I’m quite happy, but also no miracles either. Some new meds, though.) So as I was in Portland, I headed to Higgin’s for a quick bite for dinner, then headed over to the Portland Art museum to catch the portfolio walk of this year’s Photolucida.

I was lucky enough to meet Lane Collins and experience her images as prints rather than just online. Quite beautiful. The portfolio walk was extremely well attended making wandering around an exercise in human bumper cars. Everyone was polite, but it didn’t allow me the time I would have liked to spend examining a few photographers’ prints. But I’m sure that the event being so well attended was welcomed by the individual photographers.

I also got in touch with my friends Molly & Josh to see if we could get together. And Josh had the most wonderful news. Stovokor would be playing at the Mission. Stovokor is a death metal band from Portland, Oregon. But not just any death metal band, Stovokor is the KLINGON death metal band. The band insist they are Klingons, refuse to make appearances out of costume, and sing in Klingon. I had not planned to take any photos, so these are very much off the cuff, but I couldn’t NOT take some:

So there you go. Neurology, Higgins, Photolucida, and Stovokor! It was alot of fun. I can definitely recommend checking Stovokor out if you get the chance.

Tags: Death Metal, Klingon, Photolucida, Stovokor.

The Phantom, Ike Box, Salem, Oregon

Tags: b&w, exhortation, Ike Box, live music, Oregon, Salem, The Phantom.

Jeff and Rita held their wedding a couple of weeks ago. I was lucky enough to be able to shoot it for them. Jeff was willing/wanting to have a Las Vegas wedding, while Rita was more inclined to have a wedding where more friends and family would be able to celebrate the special occasion with them. Though it is widely known, it still must be stated, Rita is one very cool lady. Knowing Jeff’s affinity for Elvis (sidenote: Both Jeff & I prefer the old fat Elvis), and his interest in having Elvis preside over a Las Vegas wedding, she did the next best thing.

She had Steven, who would be presiding, fake a reason to leave just as the ceremony was beginning and leave Jeff standing at the altar. The procession begins and still no Steve. You can just see the confusion and frustration mounting on Jeff’s visage, when finally, here comes Steve – dressed as Elvis!. How much does Rita Rock?!?

Click on the photo for a slightly larger version.

Tags: Elvis, Oregon, Salem, wedding, wedding photography.

Tags: Caleb, environmental portrait, portraits, recent work, The Salem Project.

Art Brut is in town cutting an album with Charles Thompson (aka Frank Black). I ran into them last week at the Coffee House Cafe and told them about The Space. A couple of them came out to a show last week, and the decision was made to play a set on Saturday night. This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time – great music and incredible energy. Anyways some photos from the show:

Tags: Art Brut, Eddie Argos, live music, The Space.

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We got back early Saturday afternoon. The trip was a complete blast. Jim Normandy rocks! The club was great. The band was great. Lighting was a bitch, but I got some good shots. While it’s all rock and roll, it’s not always glamorous. The drive was long. We ate fast food and drank bad coffee, and got stuck in horrendous traffic both ways. And one of my favorite shots of the night came when Jim was doing business in his “office”.

(Yup, in the truck in the back parking lot. You do what you gotta do.)

More shots after the jump.

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Tags: Duff McKagan, guitars, Jim Normandy, Loaded, Normandy guitars.

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While some may wish that Salem was more like other places, Salem actually has a lot going on. One very recent example occurred on Wednesday night at The Space. It was their second Songwriter’s Night. This night featured Mark Lemhouse (Yes, THAT Mark Lemhouse), Nate Hagen & his Harp Guitar (you really need to see him play this thing), Peter the Great of The Worrynauts, The Smiles, & Seahorse. Oh yeah, it was FREE!. And then last night The Funhouse Strippers and The Falcon played downtown, and, get this, it was also Free. Salem has a great local music scene, and some very talented artists. There is more and more venues exhibiting art and hosting live shows. You really gotta check it out.

Some photos from Wednesday night’s event:

Mark Lemhouse

Nate Hagen

Peter the Great

The Smiles

Seahorse

(click on photos to see more)

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(Please click on photos to be brought to full set)

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(Please click on photos to be brought to full set)

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The Space, Salem, Oregon.
(Click on Photo for more)

I know that The Space has been open for a bit now, but I think many of us (as well as the owners) viewed Saturday night as the true opening night. The Space has finally received its liquor license and celebrated with many, many people by hosting Office Diving and The Falcon. Needless to say, it rocked, and you’d be crazy not to check out the Space in the future!

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