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As brutal as the music business can be how have you remained
so interested in music photography for so many years and what
keeps you motivated?
What keeps me motivated is paying my mortgage... No,
seriously, I enjoy what I do. |
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I, being a photographer, have always had other photographers
around to push me to do better, to look at subject matters
in a different way, to get a different angle to an image and
to push me in general. Have you had anyone around to help you
grow in your photography skills, to push you to do better?
If you didn't do you wish you did?
No one needs to push me to be better.You should always
look to improve what you do. |
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Your diary on your web site is very honest and personal
insight into your day to day life, have you found many artists
to take offense to your posts and as well are you surprised
that it has become as popular as it has?
My diary is very toned down. If it appeared
unedited no one would work with me... And yes it does offend
a lot of band members, especially singers. |
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In your bio you state "Getting the subject matter to
co-operate is ninety percent of the task", which I have
to agree with you. Who have you found to be the no-cooperative
ones, newer bands or older bands?
Non co-operative bands tend to be newer bands who
have become succesful straight away. Creed are a prime example. |
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Unlike most of the bands you have covered in your career
you seem to have survived the lifestyles that have surrounded
you very well, has it been hard to separate work from fun when
being in the middle of such a destructive atmosphere?
Survive the lifestyle? You get older and realise how
stupid you've been. |
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It seems in today's music industry labels are looking for
that instant hit and no longer help artists mature and grow
as they did in the past, has there been any artists lately
that have made a lasting impression as maybe somebody that
may have longevity, say like a Zeppelin or a Black Sabbath?
No new artist has made a lasting impression. Mastadon
aren't bad. There again they're just a heavy version of Rush. |
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In your lengthy career you have photographed some of the
biggest musicians in rock n roll, do you find it funny when
you still run into the egos that are so rampant in this industry
and how are you still able to work in these situations?
Take command of what you're doing. Don’t buy
into the bullshit. |
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It seems that labels/managements/etc are looking for cheap
images not quality images. How has the market, changed or hasn't
changed, from when you started to now, in the sense of price
of an image over quality of the image?
Record companies always want something for nothing.
It's been like that from day one. |
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What has kept you from making the transition from film/slide
over to digital and has digital helped or harmed photography
as an art form?
The reason I haven't made the transition to digital
is because I know nothing about it. There again I know nothing
about photography anyway. And yes I think it has harmed photography
as an art form. |
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With all the contracts and waivers that are involved these
days by artist managements is there any rules/demands that
you have that make your job any easier (time schedule
needed/ amount of live songs needed) to get the job done?
I do not sign contracts or waivers and I do not shoot
three songs. You cannot get anything worhwhile - hire someone
else. |
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What would you like to be remembered for the most when you
decide to hang up the camera as a music photographer if you
ever choose to?
I'd like to be remembered as a kind, well-mannered,
humble man. |
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