I’ve been taking pictures professionally since 2006 and yet some of my favorite photos are still what I would consider happy accidents. This portrait of actor/stuntman Mark Smolinski was actually taken at a makeshift photo booth I’d set up at a friend’s wedding. Most of the photos I took that night are of the “I’m drunk and uninhibited” ilk, but Mark inspired something different when I looked through the viewfinder.
Strobist: Dynalite 2050 head with 30 degree grid above camera. SB-900 through the doorway camera right. SB-900 through curtains behing the band.
Even though I’d done several sets of promotional portraits for the New York metal band The Things They Carried. It wasn’t until last week that I got to see them perform live. Here are a few of my favorites from their show at Mercury lounge and a few portraits for good measure. Continue reading
My client, the beautiful and talented Molly Coogan, is making a music video for her new song “It Could Be.” She needs a little community help to get it done. I don’t always promote on behalf of my clients, but Molly’s idea of getting an old theater, dancers and shooting the entire thing in one continuous shot, is something I’d really like to see.
If you’re in a giving and curious mood, watch her pitch video and consider helping her bring it to life. Continue reading
I had the distinct pleasure of photographing Adele on the eve of the US release of her second album 21, which if you haven’t already, you should run out and buy right now
f/3.2 and 1/320 at ISO 400. Nikon D3 with Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II
I had the pleasure of doing a series of natural light portraits with the lovely and talented Molly Anne Coogan. Molly is a New York based actor, writer and a singer and musician with the Rooftops band. All of these photos were taken with the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II at between f/2.8 and f/4.0. Read on for more photos from the shoot and 100% crops. Continue reading
When Todd and I work a promotional shoot for a band, we typically take turns shooting while the other keeps an eye on the overall composition and makes sure we get everything we can out of the band and the setup. Occasionally, one of us will leave to prep the next look while the other continues to shoot with the band - a “leap frog” technique that works very well when the situation demands working on-the-fly. Todd’s sunset gig with Brit-rockers Deluka provided the perfect opportunity for this style of tag team shooting. Continue reading
a behind the scenes look at Todd Owyoung's promotional photoshoot with DELUKA
Just a quick behind the scenes look at my brother, professional music photographer Todd Owyoung during his recent photoshoot with U.K. electro rockers DELUKA. His shot was lit by a 90cm octabox camera-left and a large reflector camera-right for fill. Todd can be seen shooting with the Nikon D3 and 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.
If you’re wondering about the photo above, it was taken with a Contax 645 on Fuji Pro 800Z film and more notably, it was one of the first exposures I’ve ever taken using film. Stay tuned for a few of my portraits of the band as well as my thoughts on using medium format and film for the first time.
A little behind the scenes music photography from a new shoot. (photo by matt eisman)
Just a quick behind-the-scenes shot from an album cover I’m working on. The all-day photoshoot was complete with ray guns, akimbo air horns, homemade hot sauce, and one massive parabolic umbrella from Paul C. Buff. The photo is courtesy of fellow concert photographer Matt Eisman who was kind enough to assist me. I’ll be able to share more once the finished product is released.
I had the honor of spending the day with the guys from My Silent Bravery in their home town of Worcester, Massachusetts. Despite freezing temperatures, we executed a 5 hour shoot to create the imagery needed to support the band’s new album Are You Prepared? which is set for release in Boston on March 27. Here are a few photos from the project. Continue reading
Here is a quick studio portrait (view larger) lit by my new “Chinatown Special” DIY beauty dish and taken with the Nikon D3 and the new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII (my review).
The “Chinatown Special” is a new DIY speedlight beauty dish design by Todd Owyoung. As you can guess from the name, the majority of the parts came from a Chinatown restaurant supply warehouse. 100% crop, strobist info and shooting notes after the jump. Continue reading
Benjamin Burnley and Aaron Fink of the band Breaking Benjamin. Photographed for Guitar Edge magazine. (photos by Chris Owyoung)
What better way to kick off 2010 than shooting a feature with Benjamin Burnley and Aaron Fink of the multi-platinum selling rock outfit Breaking Benjamin. I caught up with Ben and Aaron on-location in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania for the January cover of Guitar Edge magazine.
More photos from the article and all of the the how-to goodies are just a click away. Continue reading
Chris Culgin and Benj Rowland of County Boys photographed at the Raab Ranch, Millbrook Ontario
The overwhelming urge to shoot band portraits can strike anywhere at any time; even at a friend’s wedding in Canadian farm-country.
I caught up with Chris Culgin and Benj Rowland (a.k.a. Tin Can Chris and Banjo Benj) in the small town of Millbrook an hour east of Toronto. The duo was playing old country and bluegrass at a friend’s wedding.
When they broke for a drink, I seized the opportunity for a few portraits. As it turns out, the farmhouse setting was a perfect match for their vibe. Photos and shooting notes are just a click away. Continue reading
Band portrait - August Burns Red - Nikon D3, 14-24mm. ISO200 at f/10 and 1/50
Hot off our series of band portraits at Vans Warped Tour, Todd and I caught up with metalcore savants August Burns Red for a quick shoot on-location. Shooting notes after the jump. Continue reading
Jake Reed of TAT shows me his pearly whites.
One of my favorite aspects of music photography is photographing individual artists. Don’t get me wrong, photographing entire bands is awesome, but whether you’re trying to properly position the founding members of the group or make sure to photograph the drummer from his good side, band shoots often governed by rules and roles to play. On the other hand, individual portraits leave a lot of room to either get very serious or have a lot of fun. The BrOwyoungs did a little of both on our visit to Warped Tour. All of the good stuff after the jump! Continue reading
After Midnight Project photographed backstage at Warped Tour, 2009
So you’re standing backstage at an all day music festival with a bucket full of Nikon speedlights, a brother who happens to be one of the premier music photographers in the world and a few hours to kill – what would you do?
If you answered correctly, you’d shoot the hell out of whatever band was in front of you and lather, rinse and repeat until you find yourself slumped over your plate of shoestring cheese fries in a suburban Steak ‘n’ Shake at 1:00am. Continue reading
June 10, 2009 – Brooklyn singer/songwriter Joanna Levine commissioned me to shoot a series of portraits for her new promotional materials. Her shoot is a perfect example of the variety I try to achieve in my band photography sessions. Continue reading
March 28, 2009 – Last month, The Owyoung Brothers caught up with the guys from The Energy for a run-and-gun portrait session right before their sold-out show at The Fillmore at Irving Plaza. Here are some of the shots. Continue reading
I caught up with Brooklyn singer/songwriter Joanna Levine to create a series of images for her band’s new press kit. The shoot was completed over a period of two days and featured a variety of looks and different locations in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Stay tuned for the full set with extensive shooting notes.
When I’m not furiously editing live shots from last night’s gig, I’m eating, sleeping and setting up promotional shoots for sickeningly talented individuals like Arthur Lewis. Continue reading