Tag Archives: portrait

Dave, the chicken man

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While waiting for the Metro Gold Line at Union Station, Dave saw my camera in hand and approached me, asking if I wanted to take his photo.

Since I can describe the conversation like a moth in flight, bullet points might make more sense.

  • He explained that he wasn’t mentally right. He was talkative and easy going.
  • “I know the new Incredible Hulk movie. He has a special power,” which he then demonstrated as if he were generating a fireball or something.
  • He talked about his brother who fought in Vietnam, but wasn’t receiving benefits. Somehow, that was a segue into him not getting SSI.
  • “You know the Spiderman song?” *singing the Spiderman theme song* “I’m chicken man. Chicken man, chicken man…”
  • “A girl I know on the subway. She sees me, says, ‘Hey chicken man!’ I give her a hug and kiss.”
  • Lastly, he holds up a circular opaque object. Apparently, it’s a valuable ashtray. I tell him he should try to sell it, but he’d never part with such a priceless object.

Dave's ashtray

When the train finally arrived, I wished him well…and sat half a car away[1. I just wanted to veg. Nothing against Dave!]. I’m pretty sure he struck up a random conversation with someone else.

If you ever meet Dave around LA, talk to him for a bit. (Or, listen to him talk.) It won’t hurt!

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An interview with Jered Scott

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In concert and band photography, Jered Scott is my inspiration. In the past year, he’s hung out and photographed a bunch of bands. (Anberlin, MxPx, and Relient K to name a few.)

I’ve been wanting to talk to Jered and see how he’s been doing. A few weeks ago, I mustered up the guts to ask him out. Yes, a man date, shut up.

After he got back from SxSW — and my Trig test was over with — I called him. (It helped that he sent a Twitter updated of his rough schedule for the week.) So, between his photoshoots, we met at Millie’s Diner in Silverlake for lunch.

For such a mellow guy, he’s very insightful and makes you analyze yourself.

I asked him several questions about his photography career in the music industry, to which I can sum up with this statement in my own words: Be patient, the best at what you, promote others and know the right people.

Patience

For Jered’s first year doing concert photography, he was essentially doing it for free. Well, not exactly free because he was building his portfolio. Once he amassed a portfolio of his best photos, he went full time and needed to start charging.

Some cheapskate bands dropped him, some didn’t. Regardless, he knew how valuable he was to bands and knew that it was more than fair to be compensated.

Jered is now an AP photographer, and then some.

You’re the best…around

Look at Jered’s photos. He strives to capture photos nobody else can get.

Don’t use camera bodies and lenses because everyone else has it. Use the equipment you need that makes your photos different than the others.

Watch, listen, then thank me in three minutes (SFW). I couldn’t help myself.

Promote others

Aim to make everyone else look good. That’s your priority.

Network

This word hurts me because I’m pretty shy around new people. Unfortunately, it’s a requirement. Talk to lots of people in the industry, be confident.

In conclusion / Therefore

In the grand scheme of things, Jered still considers himself an unknown[1. I don't "know" many other concert photographers, but I do follow Nicole Rork and Tasha Schalk (Redwall Photography).]. No matter. He’s one of my industrious heroes.

Thanks for the lunch and advice, Jered! I hope I can be like you someday. :)

You can find Jered at:

About the photo

I was lucky to get a deal for two tickets to Bamboozle Left (Sunday), so James bought the other one and went with me. We ran into Jered that afternoon while wandering around. After Deftones finished their awesome set, Jered sent a Twitter update:

Who wants to eat in n out with me right now? (#)

So, we met up with him in La Mirada and had a grand time. I took his photo again because the one I took of him the week before was terrible.

A skeptic

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I’m taking $1 portraits as long as money permits. (See Thomas Hawk with his $2 portrait project and Justin Korn with his $1 portrait project.)

What’s the premise? I’ll offer $1 to anyone who asks me for money in exchange for their portrait. I’m a shy person, but I’ll do my best to find out a little about the person. You never know if it’ll make someone’s day for at least talking to them a little bit.

While I was on the escalator at Wilshire/Normandie, this man asked me if I had a dollar.

“What do you need it for?”

“I’m need to get a ticket for the bus, man.”

I awkwardly told him about my $1 portrait project. At first, he hesitated. I reassured him that it was only a photography project, allowing me to interact with people.

I noticed his eyes were slightly yellow. Jaundice? Sad.

At the top of the escalator, he finally agreed. He walked to a spot away from foot traffic, then I snapped his portrait.

“Where you off to now?”

“I gotta get some food, man. I’m hungry,” walking in the direction of the bus stop.

“Alright, take care.”

I never did get his name.

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Rick

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I’m taking $1 portraits as long as money permits. (See Thomas Hawk with his $2 portrait project and Justin Korn with his $1 portrait project.)

What’s the premise? I’ll offer $1 to anyone who asks me for money in exchange for their portrait. I’m a shy person, but I’ll do my best to find out a little about the person. You never know if it’ll make someone’s day for at least talking to them a little bit.

—–

Rick stopped “briefly” talk to me while I was waiting outside Regent China Inn. He told me that someone took his photo a few days ago, even though he didn’t give him permission.

Trying to decipher a myriad of his tangents (over the course of 10 minutes), I learned that he was from Culver City.

  • A Metro bus driver refused to honor a monthly pass he just purchased. (No idea how long ago that way.)
  • He had $2,000 while in Glendale. Down the street was a Shakey’s, but he told some guy that he wanted to go to the one closer to home.
  • Save that card from Surf City because you can get a free smoothie.

Rick was on his way to a facility down the street to see if they were giving out food.

He never did ask me for money, but I offered him a couple bucks anyway because he seemed pretty nice. Other than that, I didn’t really get a chance to get a sentence in. He was a talker.

Before we parted ways, I asked him if I could take his photo. He positioned himself in a better light – and away from the front of Phillipe’s – but the bill of his hat blocked most of it. Oh well.

Sidenote: My cousin, Cheryl, is a psychology major. She suggested that he could have a mild case of schizophrenia.

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Ernesto and Alex

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I went to No Future Café last night because I’ve been feeling horrible the past couple days.

I overheard Ernesto and Alex talking about finding a drummer. They’re in a band and still in high school. (Ugh, that made me feel old. Whatev.)

We talked throughout the show about music and being in a band. They told me about their musical background, plus they play an acoustic set once a week locally.

I made sure to give them our demo and my card.

Very cool guys. I hope to see them perform live sometime soon — as long as they get back to me!

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Cup of coffee and a lens hood, please

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Bryan and the DIY lens hood

Need a lens hood for your inexpensive 50mm f/1.8? Try using the paper sleeve from your cup of coffee or espresso!

For the Canon lens, it’s barely large enough to sit on the rotating part of the lens. You’d need to unravel it so its diameter is wide enough, then tape it.

If you don’t mind looking slightly foolish, it’s better than nothing!

Credit goes to Silas Perez for the idea and photo of me — we were hanging out at Starbucks the other day.

Edgar

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Edgar

While on the way to work using the Metro Gold Line, a several young girls and their teachers boarded the train. It must’ve been a field trip. The only open seats were around one man, all alone. He looked miserable. I waited until he had a solemn face, then snapped a photo.

The man sitting next to me chuckled at the girls and their conversations. He laughed after I took the photo.

“He looks so miserable, I couldn’t help myself,” I whispered, snickering quietly.

We talked between Lincoln/Cypress station and Union Station. He asked me if photography was my career (not yet). His roommate, Travis Tanner, is a photographer.

“Where is your accent from?”

“Columbia Colombia, South America,” he told me. “What about you?”

“I’m from here.” I knew he meant my ethnicity.

“Where are you parents from?”

“They’re from the Philippines, but I was born and raised here.”

Edgar was between jobs. He’s been working in television production for the past ten years, but was let go. They were all with Spanish language television channels — I forget which ones specifically. He said he was going to apply for jobs with other networks, like CBS and NBC.

Before the train stopped at Union Station, I asked him if I could take his portrait. Since we were inches away, I used my 18-55mm lens.

Good luck finding your next job, Edgar.

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