Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
Showing posts with label baltimore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baltimore. Show all posts
30 March 2011
Backstage at Gutter Magazine Fashion Show
Posting will undoubtly be a little slow and lots more picture heavy as I am starting on this wacky coding endeavor for theunsewn.com, my new blog. You thought this was a special place for ideas well then hold on to your seats! Here are a few behind the scenes of the Fashion Show I was invited to in my home town. They feature Salome Vintage, a vintage shop that I am truly in love with.
24 March 2011
20 March 2011
15 March 2011
Fashion for a Cause: A Night of Victory
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
27 February 2011
28 January 2011
Friend Friday: The Ins and Outs of My Blog
3. What is your process for taking pictures? All of my outfit posts are done with me and my camera as well as the nifty self timer option. I borrowed a remote once and it made me feel even more awkward in front of the camera so I ditched it. All of the party photos are shot by myself. I am hoping to invest in more lenses in the coming months or an adapter. Then the fun really begins.
5. If you could splurge and get one new piece of equipment what would you be buying? This is tough. I would probably get a bunch of lenses for my camera and a better printer/scanner. Definitely a Mac laptop with enough gigs to keep all my photos on it although I wouldn't. Oh, and I would get a couple more external hard drives as I have a lot of video projects coming up and have no place to store them!
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
18 January 2011
Baltimore Favorites: Josh Sisk
Photography isn't new to me but is something I have been recently obsessing about. Being hands on with photography in the last four months has made me respect and appreciate photography more. Details and skill are qualities I notice much more often. There are certain photographers that are the ultimate in inspiration, innovation, and panache. (Panache is something you are born with.) This includes Baltimore photographer Josh Sisk whose work I have been aware of since high school. Since 2005 he has been a sort of authority on nightlife and live performance photography in Baltimore. Everyone knows who he is and his work speaks for itself. He has contributed to magazines and major newspapers such as Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Spin.com, and XLR8R magazine. A few years ago it sued to go without saying that is Mr. Sisk was at a party it was the best party around. But with all eyes on Baltimore how does one choose which event to cover? I was lucky enough to ask Sisk a few questions and to discover the man behind the camera.
1. What influenced you to take photos professionally? I worked my way through college as - among other things - a staff photographer and stringer for various college/local publications, and a darkroom manager and a traditional black and white photo printer. I fell into web development after college, but missed photography, and dabbled here and there, stringing for the Express, doing some headshots, shooting photos of hardcore bands that were on the record label I ran. That got me shooting a lot more. Then I started
shooting more shows and doing club photography for Cullen Stalin and Simon Phoenix, who do Taxlo. At the same time the Baltimore music scenes were getting a lot of national attention, so it was sort of
the right place at the right time.
2. When did you start to enjoy photography and taking photos? Almost as long as I can recall. I started taking photos of my friends and family with one of those old 110 cameras, the long narrow ones with the weird cube flash that rotated. I enjoyed taking snapshots and trying to make them more interesting than just a basic picture, messing with double exposures, weird lighting, stuff like that. Sometime in high school I managed to get a hold of an old Pentax K-1000 film camera and started learning black and white photography techniques, how to print, how to develop film, and so forth. How to make the images look more like what I imagined they could look like. And I was hooked.
3. What is your favorite band, past or present, to photograph? Why? Hard question. Most of the bands/artists I have shot, I have only shot once, but certain artists are always fun due to the wild things that
happen. I would say perhaps either the Death Set or Dan Deacon, because the performances, even when they are large, always have an intimate feeling to them, like the crowd is a part of the performance. And with both, there is the knowledge that any crazy thing could happen. Both also make really great music.
4. In 2010 you put together a book called Under the Strobe Light. Why was it important to put a book together? What was the selecting process like? With that book, I wanted to put together a document of the work I had been doing over the last 4-5 years, shooting in nightclubs in Baltimore, documenting the Baltimore dance music scene. I still do this, but a much larger part of my shooting life in those years was in those clubs, so i thought it was time to assemble a body of work. I tried to create a cross section of the people and artists - and places- that felt like a good picture of the scene to me at that time. Not
just the DJs and producers, but the kids too. That book was more of a first shot at it, I am going to be doing an expanded version that will be out late spring/early summer, with extra photos and a better layout. I did the design on the first edition myself, but this time a real designer will be laying it out, thankfully.
5. If you were not a photographer what would you be doing?Not sure. I've always had an interest in film/video. Perhaps I would be a cinematographer, but that's a related field so that's probably cheating to say that! I studied painting in college; maybe that? Or perhaps I would doing a lot more web/interactive projects.
6. You are best known for shooting live performances, do you shoot other subjects?Most of what I do is music-oriented - I shoot a lot of album photos, album covers, promo photos. But I also do studio portraits and I love to shoot landscapes. I have an ongoing body of work that is photographs taken in the small North Dakota towns where my father's side of the family is from.
7. What is your favorite part about Baltimore and why? The people, the atmosphere. It's a crazy place, but it seems a lot more of a whole package than some other cities that are more
metropolitan. I like that there is a whole range of experiences, culture, and people here. And a wide range of artistic projects and endeavors. I grew up in a fairly culturally devoid place, and my family currently lives in a very isolated rural community, so living here always feels like something new and interesting is going on.
8. In 2011 what are you looking forward to? Do you have any new endeavors? Every year I try to focus on one area of my work and improve on it. Last year I was really focused on bringing the quality of my live concert work to a higher level. I think I came a long way, and am a lot more happy with what I'm doing with that sort of work now. This year, I want to focus on portraits and I have a few bodies of work in this area I want to develop. I also want to focus more on my web sites and other things. I will
be making my online portfolio and site a bit more in-depth than just
the photoblog and basic portfolio I have now. Learning to get myself
out there more.
9. This is the age old question, how do you stay focused at performances? Hard to really explain this one. It's all instinct. I can't really help but not stay focused. When I am at a show without my camera, I am constantly thinking about composition and exposures and framing anyway. It's not hard to stay in focus, it's harder not to.
Dan Deacon
1. What influenced you to take photos professionally? I worked my way through college as - among other things - a staff photographer and stringer for various college/local publications, and a darkroom manager and a traditional black and white photo printer. I fell into web development after college, but missed photography, and dabbled here and there, stringing for the Express, doing some headshots, shooting photos of hardcore bands that were on the record label I ran. That got me shooting a lot more. Then I started
shooting more shows and doing club photography for Cullen Stalin and Simon Phoenix, who do Taxlo. At the same time the Baltimore music scenes were getting a lot of national attention, so it was sort of
the right place at the right time.
2. When did you start to enjoy photography and taking photos? Almost as long as I can recall. I started taking photos of my friends and family with one of those old 110 cameras, the long narrow ones with the weird cube flash that rotated. I enjoyed taking snapshots and trying to make them more interesting than just a basic picture, messing with double exposures, weird lighting, stuff like that. Sometime in high school I managed to get a hold of an old Pentax K-1000 film camera and started learning black and white photography techniques, how to print, how to develop film, and so forth. How to make the images look more like what I imagined they could look like. And I was hooked.
3. What is your favorite band, past or present, to photograph? Why? Hard question. Most of the bands/artists I have shot, I have only shot once, but certain artists are always fun due to the wild things that
happen. I would say perhaps either the Death Set or Dan Deacon, because the performances, even when they are large, always have an intimate feeling to them, like the crowd is a part of the performance. And with both, there is the knowledge that any crazy thing could happen. Both also make really great music.
The Death Set
4. In 2010 you put together a book called Under the Strobe Light. Why was it important to put a book together? What was the selecting process like? With that book, I wanted to put together a document of the work I had been doing over the last 4-5 years, shooting in nightclubs in Baltimore, documenting the Baltimore dance music scene. I still do this, but a much larger part of my shooting life in those years was in those clubs, so i thought it was time to assemble a body of work. I tried to create a cross section of the people and artists - and places- that felt like a good picture of the scene to me at that time. Not
just the DJs and producers, but the kids too. That book was more of a first shot at it, I am going to be doing an expanded version that will be out late spring/early summer, with extra photos and a better layout. I did the design on the first edition myself, but this time a real designer will be laying it out, thankfully.
5. If you were not a photographer what would you be doing?Not sure. I've always had an interest in film/video. Perhaps I would be a cinematographer, but that's a related field so that's probably cheating to say that! I studied painting in college; maybe that? Or perhaps I would doing a lot more web/interactive projects.
Portrait of Jimmy Joe Roche
6. You are best known for shooting live performances, do you shoot other subjects?Most of what I do is music-oriented - I shoot a lot of album photos, album covers, promo photos. But I also do studio portraits and I love to shoot landscapes. I have an ongoing body of work that is photographs taken in the small North Dakota towns where my father's side of the family is from.
7. What is your favorite part about Baltimore and why? The people, the atmosphere. It's a crazy place, but it seems a lot more of a whole package than some other cities that are more
metropolitan. I like that there is a whole range of experiences, culture, and people here. And a wide range of artistic projects and endeavors. I grew up in a fairly culturally devoid place, and my family currently lives in a very isolated rural community, so living here always feels like something new and interesting is going on.
Dj Scottie B
be making my online portfolio and site a bit more in-depth than just
the photoblog and basic portfolio I have now. Learning to get myself
out there more.
9. This is the age old question, how do you stay focused at performances? Hard to really explain this one. It's all instinct. I can't really help but not stay focused. When I am at a show without my camera, I am constantly thinking about composition and exposures and framing anyway. It's not hard to stay in focus, it's harder not to.
Sisk hopes to have his new book, which will focus on live music photography, and the second edition of his first book both available in April. Also in April he hopes to have a gallery show in Baltimore or DC. More news to come! If you would liek to see more of Josh Sisk's work check out his Flickr. If you would like to hire Josh Sisk for your next event or purchase some prints check out is website: joshsisk.com.
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
11 December 2010
Baltimore Favorites: Cult Baltimore
As I reflect on where my life is going at the moment I realize there is a constant urge to do more. That is because I am constantly pushed by the creatives in my town. Along with my friends this town manages to ground me somehow so why not show off the town that has birthed Billie Holiday, Beach House, and Frank Zappa. This is a spotlight on some of the fun things about Baltimore ,a place I have grown to love. A little while ago I interviewed JP, the owner of Cult: a store with an amazing selection of garments.
Why did you open Cult?I like denim, vintage sneakers and leather jacket. There is no real place to really buy them. I thought if we [Baltimore] had a shop that we curated ourselves, with no flares or butterfly collars, that focused on sharp and angular vintage it would be a fun place to go.
Did you have any inspiration for opening the shop? No people really, more so music. Around the late 70s early 80s. There was a strong aesthetic and DIY scene going on. And I have always been drawn to it.
How did you decide the location for Cult?Well when we first got the building it was kind of shabby but we lucked out. I live in Mt. Vernon and it is a part of Baltimore that I most appreciate.
Where do you like to shop? I don't know where my clothes come from. Because I sell so much high quality items that I usually fall by the waist side. I just throw on whatever and go to work. I don't really shop much but I collect sneakers. A lot of things I stumble upon. Maybe not good denim, because they are so hard to find. Mostly, I find old things and chop it up to fit.
How much of you is in the shop? Well, you get inspired by different things at all times of the day. Even when I am sleeping I think about the shop.
To purchase or inquire about anything CULT....
salutcult.bigcartel.com
http://deathcultbaltimore.wordpress.com/
Did you have any inspiration for opening the shop? No people really, more so music. Around the late 70s early 80s. There was a strong aesthetic and DIY scene going on. And I have always been drawn to it.
What are some of your favorite pieces in the shop? There is a Helmut Lang dress from the runway. It is quintessential Helmut Lang from around 1998/1999. When we first opened we had a lot of Ksubi, my favorite was the best dressed vest. Also there was a Ralph Lauren sweater called a “Picture's knit”. It had a lot of Ralph Lauren iconography pieced together, highly collectable. And those are just the ones that pop through my head immediately.
How did you decide the location for Cult?Well when we first got the building it was kind of shabby but we lucked out. I live in Mt. Vernon and it is a part of Baltimore that I most appreciate.
Who designs for Cult? Myself, Arthur, Eliot, and a bunch of others that form a design collective. Eliot has a line called Gan Banthat has a similar aesthetic. Holden takes very good pictures and has a good eye. He is able to work with me sporadically and organically.
Where do you like to shop? I don't know where my clothes come from. Because I sell so much high quality items that I usually fall by the waist side. I just throw on whatever and go to work. I don't really shop much but I collect sneakers. A lot of things I stumble upon. Maybe not good denim, because they are so hard to find. Mostly, I find old things and chop it up to fit.
How much of you is in the shop? Well, you get inspired by different things at all times of the day. Even when I am sleeping I think about the shop.
To purchase or inquire about anything CULT....
salutcult.bigcartel.com
http://deathcultbaltimore.wordpress.com/
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D
06 December 2010
My weekend in a nutshell
A diary of sorts. And no, I didn't get to Art Basel.....
Friday: PICTURE TIME
I went to Deep in the Game with guest performer Sewn Leather. Two of my friend's had birthdays. I do remember a toasting to being old (i.e. 22) with my pals Sharela, Dain, and Anna.
Goodtimes were had and I really enjoyed myself. And I totally got a free sub at the end of night, thanks to some mystery guy.
Saturday: Totally exhausted. A bunch of kids stampeded my job, we got it under control in a matter of minutes. I felt like a super hero but was too tired to go out. Super heroes need rest too....
Sunday: Yesterday was a blue-collar day in every sense of the word. I worked 9 hours and came home to the football game. Although the team I was rooting for lost I was consoled by the fact that it was a good day all in all.
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
15 November 2010
I could have danced all night: music and photography from da club (picture heavy)
The Outfit
This leopard coat has been a continuous lifesaver although it makes me look like a bear. Thank you to everyone for being swell the past week! I have enjoyed your comments of encouragement. Stay tuned for some great things including me implementing some of your ideas!
Life is beautiful, let's share a little.
Joy D.
29 September 2010
A night to remember: A benefit show (Picture heavy)
I am impressed with the power of love and understanding. This particular event gave me an opportunity to witness it. (Although to look back on it now seems morbid) A little over a month ago my friend DJ was attacked and received a lot of injuries. His close friends got a benefit show together for him at the Floristree. It was a great experience to see people opening their wallets to someone they really cherish as a person. And they raised quite a bit of funds.
EDIT: No one fucked with the cats. They have been used to shows for over 3 years.
Life is beautiful, let's share a little. Joy D.
This is Sam. He is in a band called Future Islands. He never has a "normal" picture.
Kendall doing her thing.
I decided to lend a hand at the door. Kendall was the best!
Oh Risa and Amelia, you guys are the best for chit chat at shows!
Shannon is my friend from way back. That is why I can take weird pictures of her.
Me, Becca and John (old roommates). I miss them a bit although they only moved one floor down.
[hat: vintage Baltimore hat company/ shirt: Pierre Cardin vintag/ jeans: old navy]
I don't know this guy but he was wearing Dj's band's tee. Teenage Souls dude!
Jaynell and Becca, the happiest people, EVER. lol
Denny and William look like they are about to engage in battle. Did I mention how sweaty this place can get?
And this is why: ALL THE PEOPLE!
Hey Chris aka crazy eyes
Oh no Craig!
We danced....
Really hard.
