Hand in Hand
This is Akron/Kent's indie rock super-group 'drummer'. Every member of the band has been a drummer in a different band - most famously Pat Carney of The Black Keys.
I went over to Pat's studio to snap some promo shots for them on Tuesday at one in the afternoon. While we were waiting for one of the members to turn up I got to hear the mixes of their forthcoming record 'Feel Good Together' (which sounded amazing!) We started to shoot around 1:45 and I took about 90 photos over the course of an hour. When we finished up I was informed that they were trying to e-mail the shots to their publicist by around 4:30. I ran home and picked my ten favorites and did the best quick edit job I could. I returned to the studio with disk in hand - the band was going over their final track order for the album. When they finished they went through the photos - I've posted the four favorites here - the big one seeming to be the consensus pick as the best. The serious looks on their faces combined with the ridiculousness of holding each other's hands really seemed to do it for them. I agreed that it fit the band's personality - which is your favorite?
Although the shoot was a bit rushed it was still fun and I was happy with the results(more importantly the band was too).
Drummer plays Square Record's 6th Anniversary Show at Musica on August 7th and the album is planned for a September release on Pat's Audio Eagle Records.
Drummer plays Square Record's 6th Anniversary Show at Musica on August 7th and the album is planned for a September release on Pat's Audio Eagle Records.
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By TimJayFitz - Thursday, July 02, 2009
13 Comments:
Geez, it helps that their shirts are like a box of Crayola.
The big one you selected is my favorite. It is good because it is so random. The varying heights of the band members works out well in that photo. Nice work.
Jamie Stillman not playing death metal = <3
Clearly the best guitar player in the area (no offense Black Key No. 2).
Please don't think I'm being a prick here, but I'm not getting any visual clues that these guys are musicians.
The background is ambiguous, and the light is very,very safe for a band promo shot. The hand holding is sorta "Promise Keepers" to me.
I think because you know these guys and their backgrounds and personalities, you pick up the irony or humor.
Me as a casual observer.... I'm not getting that from what you're showing. Again I think some pre-shoot concept would help.
I don't think your being a prick - I agree with you about the lighting and background. I'm not at the point yet where when I have limited time I'm going to take a much of a risk with the lighting.
When the promo shots are put with an interview or review I think the irony will be easier to pick up on(wait until you see what the album cover looks like).
I refuse to accept as genuine any Cleveland Indians hat sans the CHIEF
I think they all work, but I like the shot of them lying on the pavement the best I think.
Thanks - I put another one of them laying on the ground on flickr.
Oh yeah - some thanks to Ted Mallison for helping with the lights - my stands would have blown away without his help...
Not that it is right or wrong, but almost all of the band photos, in all of music mags, are done in much the same way. No instruments, no giant treble clef hanging in the back ground, nothing to hint that these guys are musicians - unless of course it is taken on stage, or in action. You assume it is a band since it is a music mag, and the caption says, "So and So Random Band." I'm sure the publicist will make it contextually clear as to who these peeps are.
On a side not. Maybe don't listen to my take on the shot. I didn't notice they were holding hands until I read it.
I'm a huge Wahoo fan, but I like the old school 'C', and the script 'I'. We all know the 'C' came way before Wahoo anyways. Please don't lose 100 games this year.
BenW brings up a good point in that the cut line or article explains to varying degrees the photos they accompany. However, it's the photographer's job first and foremost- to interest the reader enough to take the time to read the article. My point was that there's no real visual clues as to who or what these guys are about..... or why should I read further?
Are these guys musicians or lumberjacks? Do I care?
I realize there can be this sort of laissez faire attitude on both the musician's and photographer's part when it comes to these types of shoots ( yes I'm generalizing).... that we what we get and it's not that important anyway. I think that diminishes the photographer. Call me sensitive.
I did some photos with Troy Smith a couple of years ago and during my time with him, his agent was trying to get him to pick and approve a press release photo (not mine). Troy said, " What difference does it make, a picture is just a picture."
I didn't expect him to really know any better than that, but it is the agent and photographer's job to do their job and get a photo that furthers Troy's goals.
That said Troy, sometimes a fifth round draft pick is just a fifth round draft pick.... unless the Steelers
are picking.
So much is simply a matter of personal taste - the band was very happy with these shots.
Pat said he wanted to do something soon that was more planned and less rushed - so would I.
It is funny to me though because the last band promo shots I posted the band did have instruments and someone criticized that...
Man, the Beacon Journal shot on the cover of the Sunday Preview page has gotst nothin' on these shots. I'm a biased fan of the Journal, but good thing Drummer had Tim do the promos and not the Journal.
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