Alt-J @ Bayfront Park
"Like all good fruit, the balance of life is in the ripe and ruin." ∆
Alt-J came to Miami for the first time Thursday night, October 1, for a show opened by San Fermin at Bayfront Park. I held out on buying tickets for this in hopes I'd be able to cover it, and I was ecstatic when I got the email a week beforehand asking if I was available to shoot.
Both bands sounded incredible live - I really enjoyed the strings in San Fermin - but Bayfront was strict about shooting. Pit access for the first three songs of each artist and no flash is standard, but usually you're allowed to also shoot from farther back after those three songs - they actually made me put my camera away after Alt-J opened. It was so dark when San Fermin played (and in between sets) that I didn't have enough existing light to get any crowd shots, and it was a bummer I couldn't get anything wider of the stage including the crowd after the bands opened - this slideshow feels incomplete, but it was the most I could do and I'm thrilled I got to be there.
Alt-J played the majority of both albums they've put out - An Awesome Wave & This Is All Yours - the latter of which earned them a Grammy nomination last year. It's always refreshing when a group sounds even better live than on the perfectly tuned studio recording. Check out the full review for Miami New Times.
Break
My friend Adam assembled a small photo + video crew to meet in Wynwood on Sunday and shoot a short feature on this kid named Zeku he discovered, a crazy 16 year old local Miami breakdancer. One of the youngest and most talented on the scene, Zeku is skinny, but he's all muscle and bone. He busted ridiculous moves for us straight on the asphalt in the sweltering, late afternoon heat.
Adam set us up about a block over from Wynwood Brewing, just on the other side of I-95 against a wall facing west with a giant boom box painted on it. As the sun started to go down we got beautiful light. Our mutual friend Isaac brought out the Red Epic and a rig to shoot ultra slow-mo video, I hung back and caught some awesome stills.
Fool's Gold Day Off @ Mana Wynwood
Fool's Gold packed Mana Wynwood's outsize plaza Sunday afternoon for their annual Day Off show, this year featuring A-trak, Mannie Fresh, Flosstradamus, Laidback Luke, Alison Wonderland, Vic Mensa, and more.
Despite the scattered thunderstorms and oppressive humidity, this was the most fun I've had shooting an event in a while - Mana drew some crazy characters and everyone went wild for the camera. Slideshow for Miami New Times.
September Art Walk
Miami got a muggy Saturday for September's Art Walk - overcast skies packed in the heat and humidity. I spent the evening in Wynwood people watching between thunderstorms. Slideshow for Miami New Times.
Original Muse
My sophomore year of high school, I took my first black & white film photography class and quickly became obsessed with shooting. I would try and scout interesting, often abandoned locations around Charlotte I could use - and drag a friend I had somehow coerced into modeling for me.
Not much has changed when I go back home. Carolyn Laws was my original muse, and after not seeing her for almost 5 years we caught up over coffee, and had a great time shooting in front of a few of my favorite distressed brick walls off North Davidson street. It felt just like old times.
Mansion Closing Party
When I read earlier this week that Mansion was closing, a part of me felt sad. I'm not a club rat on my nights off, but if I have to be at a club, especially for a job, Mansion's my venue of choice. They're chill about people standing (and dancing) on top of the VIP tables so I can always get a better view of the crowd/DJ, but mostly I'm in awe of the aerialists who work every night. These women are acrobats. Their job may be performing for a mob of oblivious, intoxicated people, but they do it with such poise - it's always impressive to watch. I was excited to be able to cover their last big show.
Mansion packed a full house and a line up Washington Ave. for their closing party Friday night with Dutch DJ/producer Nicky Romero. The aerialists balanced within the frames of suspended black cubes, and Romero played an energized set that bumped late into the morning. The place was so full it was hard to move, but I was able to get booth access inches behind Romero and a standing, table-top view of my favorite dancers. Photos for Miami New Times.
