BenMeadors.com

Religious Theatre

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:44:32 +0000

Had the opportunity last week to shoot “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot”. It’s a play that challenges and examines views on Christianity and morality while the plot follows a trial of Judas. It was very well directed and well-cast. Kudos to the director and cast. The coolest thing about this production was that it was put on in a 100 year-old church. The pulpit was the judges seat and the audience sat in the pews. It created the perfect atmosphere for the material of the play. Just a few shots from the show below. There was hardly any light from a photographic standpoint. I really need to get a fast telephoto lens.

Good Music Times – Tokyo Police Club

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:04:54 +0000

I had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite bands of all time, Tokyo Police Club, yesterday for the radio station I work for. Thanks to Dane and Joel for their help in setting up and running things while I conducted the interview! You can give it a listen below:

Dave and Graham were really nice guys and the band had a great show at the Grog Shop that night. Freelance Whales opened for them, whom I had never heard of but they were amazing! Check them out as well.

Ben Meadors Sessions – Joel Murray Music

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 04:35:05 +0000

A while back I recorded/mixed some tracks for my good friend Joel. I’ll let him explain:

These are songs I recorded with my friend Ben Meadors early this year. It was some long weekend we had off from college; we recorded on the Monday before returning to class. I remember it snowed that day. After narrowly escaping the eager jaws of Digby, the resident man-eating dog, we set up shop upstairs in Ben’s house. Some clever cord-threading allowed us to isolate the room; Ben and his computer remained in the basement, with me upstairs. I feel like all this stuff is important to tell you, cause it matches the tone of the songs–the snow, the grim expectation of class the next day, the jaws, the isolation.

It took me a few weeks to decide whether to show these songs to anyone. Well, the songs aren’t the problem really, rather my vocal performance. This experience recording with Ben (my second time recording solo material with an engineer not me) really disheartened me. I am not really completely happy with any of the tracks, save perhaps “Paralyzed,” and even there I kinda botch a harmony or two. I guess I just choke when I record with someone else, when there are other ears listening. When I can’t just bang out take after take after take, get pissed at myself, curse a little–painstakingly hammer out everything until it sounds exactly how I want it. With an engineer I feel the time crunch. I’m outside my comfort zone. I can’t relax and let it happen.

It shows in these three songs (I cut two others whose vocals are so flat I don’t feel comfortable sharing them). My vocals are still a little flat at times in these remaining three, but after a couple listens, I started not minding. The songs just sound so damn lonely, so stripped and naked; it’s almost appropriate for my pitch to falter a little, I hope.

I ended up deciding to release these since 1.) I’m really happy with the songwriting, and 2.) Ben did such a fantastic job of recording, mixing, and mastering the tunes. Thank you so much buddy.

Many things were learned that day about how different people work differently in the studio and how, as the engineer/producer of sorts I should be aware of things. Give the tracks (Old Magazines, Paralyzed, Sinking Ship) a listen and check them at Joel’s myspace page. I love this man and his music. Great guy, heartfelt songs.

Ben Meadors Sessions – Joel Murray’s MySpace Blog .

A quick note on vocal tuning: I don’t use auto-tune. Not everything calls for it and certainly in this style of music it would be out of place. Given more time, Joel and I would have gone back and fixed things, or doubled tracks. But the idea was to do it all in one day and you work with what you get.

A Boy and His Lincoln

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:50:04 +0000

Recently I was asked by a friend to take a few pictures of his car. He was selling it and wanted to remember all the joys that a 1970s Lincoln Town Car could bring. The car was in beautiful shape and I got to try out my new 24″ softbox. Neato.

Wisconsin Again

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:04:38 +0000

A few snaps of Shannon singing at her cabaret night. Nothing fancy here, just a 50mm wide open at F1.8 from the audience. Eying that Sigma f2.8 70-200 all the time…

Travels to Wisconsin and Back

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 02:54:01 +0000

Just a few pictures from travels to Wisconsin and one long exposure shot I was messing around with.

EDIT: Realized people might not know about the Temp and the Receptionist. Check this video

High Speed Sync Shoot

admin — Mon, 31 May 2010 00:17:45 +0000

Still learning how this technique works but it was fun to try out today. I’m creating a series of posters on internet security and privacy practices for my college as part of a student security awareness campaign and I needed a picture of a stalker-ish guy outside a dorm. Decided to make one myself.

And a quick portrait of Owen, for all his help today

Next time I might use a different lens, the details aren’t as sharp as I would like them to be. Good experience all around.

Chess

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:22:29 +0000

A quick promotional shot for Chess, the musical that I just closed downtown at the 14th Street Theatre. I played bass in the pit. This picture was intended to be a promotional shot for the publicity folks. At rehearsal the stage manager noticed how well the stage floor (a chess board) was reflected in one of the ensemble members sunglasses.

Blood Wedding Shoot

admin — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:19:35 +0000

Had the opportunity to shoot a production of “Blood Wedding” at my college a couple weeks back. Amazing costume design by a senior in the theatre department:

All shot with my 50mm 1.8. A couple more shots on my Flickr Page.

Mixing Marimba with Light

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:05:07 +0000

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to photograph my good friend Dane. I helped him create his website and now I am taking pictures of him! I had an idea during a late night to put a flash below his favored instrument, the marimba, and light his body and face through the slats of the keys. In my mind I pictured shafts of light coming out from underneath but as I found out later, this only works if there is something in the air to reflect this light back into the lens. Even though my original idea didn’t turn out like I wanted it to, I am still pretty happy with the results:

I can’t stress this enough: The most important thing besides bringing extra batteries is the ability to talk to the person/people you are shooting. If you can’t, you won’t have any good social interaction, thereby ruining your ability to get the shot that represents that person.