mikesaid

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Old Man Creep

It's been a while between shoots but I'm pretty sure you will forgive me when you see it in all it's awesomeness... I have shot a few times with Ben John Smith from Horror Sleaze and Trash - First was Cupcakes, then there was that girl, and then we had Cupcakes again, and then Sharah. But this one takes the cake (so far).

It was a pretty shaky start, there was a little too much input from everyone in the early stages - all ideas were good but there ended up being no clear story line, which I like there to be with the HST shoots. I was also keen for this shoot to have no gore in it, just 100% creep, so once we had that sorted, it mostly fell into place.

We had one SFX guy pull out about 3 days before the shoot and were lucky to be saved by Shona Leach, who did an amazing job at applying the old man makeup to Aerial Manx's face. Stepping in as the young impressionable young lady who has come to dinner to meet her boyfriend's Grandad, is (Manx's actual wife-to-be) Alyssa Warland. Both were stars on the day and their humor and willingness to do anything in front of the camera made this a really easy shoot.

Photos!!! AND a video!


(c) 2013 Michael James Christian / Horror Sleaze and Trash

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Slightly OT

I have dabbled in video a little bit over the last couple of years, then I went cold on it, for whatever reasons (too hard). But a couple of weeks ago I filmed Sylvia Dardha from The Kytchen Wytch Collective making some of her soon to be famous food.

The video has finally been posted today and to say I am happy with the result is an understatement - the feeling that I have captured in this video sums up what it feels like to be part of this household.

You can find The Kytchen Wytch Collective on facebook, wordpress and instagram

Now, the video!

Monday, April 29, 2013

fuKING TUFF

Anyone who is anyone knows that I am a fan of King Tuff, his 2nd album 'King Tuff' is so good - you really have to hear it!

This was their first visit to Australia and we were lucky enough to have them play two shows in Melbourne, one was on a boat (!) the other at The Tote and I saw both, but only photographed one...

I drive in from my new home on Mars so missed a couple of bands, but I got there in time to see ScotDrakula who were great - well worth checking out if you get the chance.

King Tuff were great, and the Tote was nice to be in for a change - it had all the same people, they just wern't as fucked up and annoying!

Photos!

VIDEOS!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Dinosaur Snr

Pirated from Wikipedia...
Dinosaur Jr is an American alternative rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1984, originally called simply Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name.

Founding members were J Mascis, Lou Barlow, and Murph. After three albums on independent labels earned the band a reputation as one of the formative influences on American alternative rock, creative tension led to Mascis firing Barlow, who turned to Sebadoh and Folk Implosion. His replacement, Mike Johnson came aboard for four major-label albums. Murph eventually quit, with Mascis taking over drum duties on the band's albums. Dinosaur Jr. disbanded in 1997, and the original lineup reformed in 2005, releasing three albums as of 2012.

----------------------end piracy---------------

My knowledge of Dinosaur Jr is fairly limited - they had a song (Get Me) on a compilation that was released in New Zealand called The Trip, it was and still is an awesome song.... fast forward to 2011 and J Mascis released a solo album called Several Shades of Why, a very gentle and mellow album - I saw J Mascis perform this at the Toff in Town last year, it was a very cool show. And then in 2012 Dinosaur Jr release I Bet on the Sky - not so mellow, but really nice big riffs and cool melodies.

So it's been hot here in Melbourne, I think we're going into our 500th day above ten million degrees and it was a little bit scary walking into the Corner, but to my delight, it was quite nice. For about 10 minutes.

J Mascis has a lot of amps.

Now some videos because I am nice.

"Watch the Corners" from Dinosaur Jr's latest album I Bet on the Sky

"Is it Done" from J Mascis solo album Several Shades of Why

Monday, March 11, 2013

Garden Party (in a carpark)

I was asked to shoot some promo shots for the Wagons before they played their gig at The Garden Party.

It's really too hot to talk about how hot it was at the Garden Party, but it's fitting I am blogging about it in the heat, because it was hot at the Garden Party... really really hot.

It was Henry Wagons and the Unwelcome Companies last gig for a while - they had been touring on my album cover since it's release in late 2012. As usual, it was a superb show with Henry in fine form and the well polished band were the icing on the cake (if there was icing it would have melted because there was no shade).

photos!

Videos!

Mary Lou Two

Friday, January 11, 2013

2012

Rolling in fashionably late with this 2012 in review but at least you can start sleeping at night again..

See my best of 2011 here.

It's interesting looking back on this year, it started off normally but it's ended with a different mindset. I shoot bands for online publications 95% of the time. I am moving away from that and working at getting any band gigs myself (my first one this year is the Big Day Out!) there won't be any silly amounts of photos that I need to upload... I won't have to worry about who will like the processing I choose to do. I hope to bring more artistic live photos to you instead of the tack-sharp-technically-perfect photos you see on other sites. And also other deviations into the more creepy side of thing! stay tuned! OMG! GIMMENERVES!

January
I had my first ever Bob Log III experience. He had me at 'clap your tits' so I was very keen to shoot this for the AU review. What a performer, I have seen him a couple of times since then and they were just as enjoyable... I am happy he calls Melbourne home for part of the year.

February
I was lucky enough to get into a band and find out they were about to play in Melbourne, which is not usually how it goes. Yuck are awesome, I love these guys - I did not receive a photo pass but I took some shots on my phone and get a couple of crackers... (just a side note, the Bob Log photo was also taken on my phone)

March
Fuck man, I shot some great gigs that month - so yer gona get lots of photos!

I was asked by Jen Cloher to shoot her Northcote Social Gig with the Merri Creek Pickers.


(c) 2012 Michael James Christian

I fell in love with another artist only to find out he was about to tour: Charles Bradley.

I shot The Stiffys, Barbarion AND the Beards on the same night!

And I shot a personal fave of mine: Bonnie Prince Billy.

April
I shot Damn Terran:

twice...

May
For May I thought I'd shoot something a little bit different...

....

June
I did lots of things, but I'm not telling you about any of them.

July
Another gig I got off my own back.. see the pattern developing here? The Black Seeds.

August
Bob Log III again! with the Puta Madre Brothers, another all time fave local band..


(c) 2012 Michael James Christian

September
I did a lot of things in September too.

October
I was asked to shoot a behind the scenes by Jen Cloher for her music video 'Mount Beauty'. It was great too see just how much work goes into shooting a music video...


(c) 2012 Michael James Christian

November
Henry Wagons touring on his album that I shot the cover for!

and the Beards... again!

So thanks to all the artists and management who make it easy for us to shoot them. A massive thanks to any of the artists that paid me for my skills - your love is most appreciated!

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Henry Wagons and the Unwelcome Company

While a large amount of the other humans were out getting plastered on Cup Eve, there were a select few (about 1000) crammed into the Thornbury Theatre to witness Henry Wagons' latest offering Expecting Company.

Expecting Company is an EP/Mini Album that Henry recorded while on hiatus from The Wagons. I was lucky enough to be invited back to take the photos for the artwork so a follow up gig shoot was always on the cards.

A couple of familiar Wagonses make up this 6 piece band which also includes 3 members from another local Melbourne band The Nymphs who duet with Henry in leu of the original musicians who appear on the album: (Alison Mosshart (The Kills/The Dead Weather), Sophia Brous, Gossling, Jen Grant and Patience Hodgson (The Grates). Standing in for Robert Forster was Brian Nankervis from Rockwiz.

As usual it was an awesome performance from Henry, a true showman and all round funny motherfucker...

website
Check out facebook for more pics from the night!

preview the album: