It’s been a minute since I’ve updated this site and a bit longer since I could figure out what to write about. I’ve been thinking a lot about my use of Instagram and how it’s made me pretty lazy when it comes to curating my work here on my website. The instantaneous feedback from Instagram can lull you into a sense of completion that doesn’t really exist - especially if you actually value seeing your work together in one space, unpunctuated by ads, like I do. I’m certainly not the only photographer who has fallen prey to this lulling, nor am I the first one to wake up and realize I need to do some housecleaning on the ol portfolio. I love Instagram for so many reasons but simply, if people know me as a music photographer there but there’s no music on my website, well, that’s problematic.
So! That’s a long way of saying that I took a very small break from IG to go through 15 years of my live music photography and I’ve finally got a few collections up for viewing. It’s by no means exhaustive but it’s a good start. And I will be adding more in the coming months: stuff from the road, behind the scenes, etc. etc. My work with Death Cab for Cutie is barely represented here because I have a bigger project in mind for that body of work. I’ll keep you updated on that.
A few more highlights from the previous year:
• My photo of Charly Bliss was a winning shot in PDN’s 2019 Ultimate Music Moment. It was published in their May/June 2019 issue. Sometimes it’s nice to see/hear that other people like my work as much I do. It’s easy to forget when you’re in your creative pit built for one.
• I did an interview in early-2019 with Montse Andrée for her podcast, Musings of the Artist, in which I talk about relating, anxiety and a bunch of other real life stuff. Montse is also just a lovely, earnest soul. If you care to listen, you can find that episode HERE or by clicking the link in the INTERVIEWS sidebar.
• I purchased a large-format printer in 2019 and have been working diligently on creating prints I am proud of. It is unbelievably satisfying to have control of one’s photographic process all the way from inception to printed matter. Printing my own work has opened up new possibilities for creating a more physical interaction with my work. Maybe books, zines, etc.? I still have prints up in my store and aim to add more in the coming months. Also, note that I am always accepting commissions for work not shown on the PRINTS page.
• In September 2019, my dear friend, Eric Anderson (Cataldo) released his most recent record and my photographs make up the bulk of the design. It’s my first record and, goddamn, it feels so good to see my work in a format that I have been admiring and engaging with since I was a child. I was hired to document his recording process so aside from the three images included in the LP, there are plenty more that I can’t wait to share. You can find images I shot of the LP here.
• In June 2019, I jumped in the van with my friends, Pure Bathing Culture, and documented 4 days in the van going up the west coast. After a year of minimal touring, it felt really good to be back shooting, staring into the middle distance and drinking more coffee than my nervous system can reasonably handle. Aside from my work with Death Cab, I haven’t had much time to tour with other bands lately and I aim to change that in 2020. The images from my tour with PBC will be up at some point, but a few of the live shots are up on my MUSIC page.
Those are all the highlights I can remember at the moment. I started school again this winter (which is quite the time suck but also super inspiring) and I also haven’t had lunch yet, so I gotta go. Thanks for visiting me here.
xo
Rachel