websites …

2 things I hope you’ll check out.
1. I was very surprised and excited to be asked to participate in Swimmingly’s 2013 year end round up of music and food. I can’t tell you how many times I wrote and re-wrote my answers … I tried to edit and shorten each time and I still think its a little long, but I’m happy with it … And my bio line, holy crap, Swimmingly makes me sound so tenured! Here’s the site, check it out, let me know what you think.
“Swimmingly”

2. I’ve also secured a domain. Finally! I struggled with getting a domain for a while. I bought a few and didn’t care for them … ribshots.com is taken by someone just sitting on it thinking that a BBQ Rib restaurant is going to buy it from them. Bastards. I’ve watched their asking price go from $1500 to $800 to now $2600. I offered them $100 and they said I was too far off the asking price to be considered. I hope they end up getting nothing for it. So, I decided upon http://www.ribshots43.com … Just to explain: I have an old nickname of Ribeye who’s origins I will not go into, but that nickname is still with me, with some people, so I grabbed “rib” from there. “Shots” I used because you take “shots” when you take pictures … Plus I like the ambiguity … ribshots could almost be a boxing term for getting hit in the ribs … And 43. 43 was my football number in high school, but it’s a number that seems to appear in my life and almost follow me around, plus I like the number, so I added it to ribshots. So that’s the story. http://www.ribshots43.com will simply bring you to this site, but it looks cooler than having a “wordpress” address on my business card …

I forgot to mention that I updated the bands section with a few new photos. If you go to “IMAGES” you’ll see “bands” under that – The bands are listed by name.

top ten of 2013

I was reading a post by fellow photographer Michael Ares and he did a year end, “top ten” list of his favorite shots of 2013. After reading his post, I thought it was a great idea. A great way to look through your work throughout the year and see how your are improving or if you’re stuck in a rut … So I decided to copy him, I hope he doesn’t mind … I wonder if he even knows that I have a blog …

In 2012, I was really focused on Street Photography. I was taking workshops, participating in “meet-ups” and just shooting in general. This continued into early 2013, when things changed with a simple phone call from a friend asking if I wanted to shoot stills on a set of a video interview show that he was starting … That lead to shooting in recording studios, portraits, live music and very little street photography. I guess 2013 was the year of expansion and learning … Here are a few that I like:

First, honorable mentions:

Iggy and the Stooges at Ink and Iron Festival in Long Beach. I printed an edition of 43 of this shot (plus 7 APs). I have a few left, but it was a good experiment and learning experience for me … 99% of the people who bought them were friends …

Next honorable mention: Rocket From the Crypt secret show at Bar Pink, San Diego, Easter Night. This was a weird show for me. I was really uncomfortable as I was right up in front, right in John’s face … I’m usually in the back or on the side of the stage when Rocket plays … but not this time

Riot Fest, Denver, CO audience shot with my wife and friends … I love the focus on Matt …

One of the best shows I attended this year: Dragon Smoke at The Mint in Los Angeles.

Now the top ten …

10. Shot during a one on one class with Rinzi Ruiz. “Mischief Alley” Downtown, Los Angeles.

9. Rocket From The Crypt at the Del Mar Race track. I love the look on Pete’s face and the giant crowd behind him

8. A portrait I shot for a salon’s website … I love the eyebrow, the attitude and the LensBaby blur.

7. Shoot I did for a messenger bag / back pack line … The boss didn’t like this one, but it’s the “pick of the litter” in my opinion.

6. Portrait of one of my childhood heroes. Lee Ving.

5. Shot on the set of “Death or Glory,” the host and creator. He was going over his lines in his head …

4. The Holi Festival of Color. This was a fun shoot. I had multi-colored boogers for weeks after.

3. Foo Fighters secret show at Rock & Roll Pizza in Moorpark, CA. This image brings me right back to the show. I feel like I’m right there, in the middle of the energy. And yes. next time I’ll tell you when i get tipped off to a secret show (maybe). I want to blow this one up – I think it needs to be BIGGER!

2. Sean Wheeler (of Throw Rag and Sean and Zander) on the set of Death or Glory II.

1. And my favorite of 2013. I seriously laughed out loud right when I got this shot. I saw it in my head and was able to get it! Mac from Superchunk at Riot Fest Denver. I love the point of view of this one. Being on the stage shooting out toward the crowd and having Mac jump facing me … Very different point of view … Lucky to have stage access for this one!

Surprise show at Bar Pink

As some of you know, Rocket From The Crypt (RFTC) waited until 5:30pm on Sunday, March 31, 2013 (Easter) to announce a show at Bar Pink at 6:30pm the same night. Some of my friends, knowing my history with the band, assumed I knew earlier and even accused me of withholding information. I swear I didn’t know. The Weave and I had planned to spend the weekend in San Diego, hang with her parents and some of our friends. That’s why we were in town.

A few weeks earlier, as the information and promotion of RFTC’s reunion shows in Europe started to emerge, I mentioned to the guys that they needed a current photo and offered to take it for them. They agreed. When I told them I was going to be in SD over Easter weekend they simply told me that I should come to their practice at 6:00 pm on Sunday, location TBA. As Sunday rolled around, I sent John a text asking if we were still on … He said “Totally” and that he’d get me the address later. He finally ‘fessed up around 5:30 with a group text to 6 people. “Howdy friends! Happy Easter eggs! RFTC is gonna play a last minute warm up at bar pink today at 6:30. Please don’t post it anywhere …. ” It makes sense that they would want to play live before jumping on a plane and heading to Europe the next day for their first official reunion shows. I’m not sure why it took me so long to put it together.

We got there early-ish, I got a spot right in the front. I’ve never been that close at a Rocket show. I’m usually side stage or back farther. Honestly, it was a little uncomfortable to be right in their faces, but I wanted the opportunity to shoot some pictures, assuming at this point that the “promo photo session” was not going to happen.

I’m not going to give you a show review, you can find several on line. If any of them say anything but that they KICKED ASS, they are wrong. I don’t think there are too many people who have seen that band more times than I have, and I thought they were AMAZING. One review I can recommend is one from my friend Ryan Ritchie on Rolling Stone dot com. I am bummed about one thing in that review is and that is I didn’t get my photos uploaded and processed quickly enough to be considered. I saw Ryan before the show, he saw my camera(s) and said, “I’m going to review the show, maybe I can use some of your pictures.” I agreed right away. I woke up Monday morning, still in San Diego (and far from my computer) and Ryan’s review was already on Rolling Stone. I’m stoked for Ryan but bummed at my missed opportunity. Selfish? Perhaps, but its Rolling f’ing Stone!

So here are some of the photos I would have sent to Ryan hoping they’d be considered for his review.

Speedo with Crowd

If you Count Ruby Mars’ hand, they’re all in there

Black and White From The Crypt

Speedo and Crowd 2

Happy Speedo

ND and Speedo

Speedo pointing with ND

Finally, here at the bottom of one of my longest posts ever – I did get a chance to do a quick photo session with the band after the show. I think they turned out great – I’m really happy with them and dying to share them, but I need to let the guys see them first. Once the band sees the pictures, I’ll post a few and, happily, they’ll have some current pictures to choose from when they need ’em.