Over the last few months I have helped out with some shoots with my girlfriend Jess. One was a wedding and the other was a shoot for a side project she has been working on called Show us ya growler, which is all about dogs and their owners.

First up, the wedding. I had never shot a wedding before so it was an interesting experience. We rented another 5DMkII and borrowed a 24-70 f2.8 (Sigma version) off a friend. I did all the editing and slideshow so it was interesting to see that you could really tell the difference between the Canon and Sigma lenses... I had been thinking about buying that or the Canon lens for some time and this helped me make the decision to buy the Canon version (about $600 more expensive, but worth it from what I saw on the photos)

I give you Nic and Helen....



Next was a shoot for Show us ya growler. I had been working with Henry from The Wagons for a good year now and had asked Henry a while back if he was interested in doing a shoot with him and the dogs (anyone who follows Henry knows what the answer to that would have been!). It was just a matter of getting a free weekend. Shoot went well and here are some of the photos

Marnie Stern + Pearls

My week long orgy of sound concluded with Marnie Stern at the Northcote Social Club. 

I got there in time to catch the end of one of the 3 supports - can't remember your name but lyric of the evening goes to you: "You treat me like a gymnast so I'll treat you like a jungle gym"

Nice.

On next were Pearls, who were pretty fucking good and people need to listen to them - good luck finding them on You Tube though - Pearl Jam have pretty much put paid to that. I did find them on Soundcloud and also facebook though, so you don't have to.

Marnie Stern has been hailed as some sort of guitar shredder insane-o. The band play some sort of spastic pop tunes being raped backwards by something really strange with only one eye with an eye patch and funny ears... made for great listening but due to the static lights and them being a three piece with not a lot of stage presence (probably focusing on playing what I described above) my photos were doomed to fail - I really do hate when I'm shafted by the lightshow.

There were about 50 people there too - maybe this was too much to take in for the hipsters? too much substance and not enough art? 

Anyway, moral of the story is that if you live in Melbourne you really need to check out Pearls live some time. I will be.

Shot for the AU review - just in case you thought they stole 'em.

See more here.

Wait for me to put my foot in my mouth on twitter.

You are here.

Pearls (c) Michael Christian 2011

Pearls (c) Michael Christian 2011

Marnie Stern (c) Michael Christian 2011

Marnie Stern (c) Michael Christian 2011

Marnie Stern (c) Michael Christian 2011

Couplea songs for youse!

  Oh Jeffery by Pearls.


  Marnie Stern - For Ash by souterraintransmissions

Kate Vigo + Georgia Fields = Good

It's been a monster week for this old bastard - band practice on Tuesday, Kasabian gig on Wednesday, Kate Vigo and Georgia Fields on Thursday and another photo gig tonight for the AU Review! 

I have photographed Georgia a couple of times, one had awesome results and the other produced pictures that you will never ever see (sounds kinda porny, but I assure, I had just totally lost my phojo that night - I blamed the lights) and the last couple of times I have photographed her, she has had really shit days running up to the gig. So I made her promise that I would only come along if she was going to have a good day. Promises made, I was going to the gig. 

Georgia came on to a fairly empty room, which impressed me because I thought it was only my band that plays to empty pubs in Melbourne. It filled up a bit during her set but 4,077,015 people in Melbourne missed out on some great tunes - shame on you, and you, and you, and you and you...

Kate and her band were releasing their single 'Wana Run' which included a video before the show. A great set too - a great night put on by a couple of girls that a lot of people missed out on, a shame really.

Photos!

See more here!

Kate Vigo (c) Michael Christian 2011

Kate Vigo (c) Michael Christian 2011

Georgia Fields (c) Michael Christian 2011

Georgia Fields (c) Michael Christian 2011

And because I didn't give that man any money who cleaned my car window on the way to the gig (I didn't have any coins, honestly!) I have included a couple of videos from the ladies above!

Why?

That's just the kind of mother fucker I am...