Cypress Hill behind the scenes

Here's a short behind the scenes video from my Cypress Hill shoot for LA Weekly. I had an hour with them and this is from the beginning of the shoot, the "getting to know them" and the first few min of shooting. This is the first location out of two. These guys are still rad and I really dig their new song Get it Anyway. Check it out! as well as the cover, out Thursday. Art Direction- Darrick Rainey

click for video

Nathan Apffel

I photographed Nathan Apffel last week for the OC Weekly. He directed Lost Prophets "—Search for the Collective is among the most beautifully shot, well-edited and fully realized movies in this year’s festival, let alone the Action Sports category. It follows eight surfers scattered all over the world, but several Orange Countians are involved in the project. And the waters off Newport Beach inspired the documentary’s director." It will be in the Newport Beach Film Festival running through April 29th.

I met Nathan at Manhattan Beach to shoot a portrait. The only time he could shoot was from 10-noon which is always the worst part of day to shoot, yet alone at the beach with the glaring sun! I went into it with doubts but came out happy getting these shots. I blew out some of the background and whites to focus on him. I wanted to get some more personality/fun shots of him so he did a belly flop into the waves. So rad!

photos for LA Marathon

I know its been a while since I've posted here..I've been super busy with work and moving into my new Loft in Downtown LA! (photos to come)
I was hired last weekend to shoot creative, city "POV" shots for LA Marathon. It wasn't my "normal" type of gig but it was exciting none the less. At one point, I was riding my bike up hill with the runners! I probably should of trained for that since my bicycle is a free spirit.. :)
We started shooting at 6:45 am and earlier, and got the whole race and in between moments. I'm posting a few of my over 500 shots here.

Debi Purcell on Celebrity Fit Club tonight

I photographed Debi a few years ago. She's a beautiful strong lady. Here's a few photos from our shoot, I don't know why I never posted these!

Fighter Girls is proud to announce that Debi Purcell, MMA fighter and owner of the popular women's MMA Website, will be on "Celebrity Fit Club" tonight Feb. 22 on VH1. Purcell is a highly rated fighter and grappler who has been on shows such as "Warrior Nation" on MSNBC, "Montel", and just recently in the BBC documentary: "Cage Fighting Women".
Purcell will teach celebrities Bobby Brown, Sebatian Bach from the rock group "Skid Row",Kevin Federline, Shar Jackson, and others some MMA techniques to help them lose weight. Her line of Fighter Girls clothing will also be featured on the show.
 "Celebrity Fit Club" videos can be found at http://celebrityfitclub.vh1.com and the full episode will be online after Feb. 22 airing for those unable to see it on VH1 and people overseas.
 Also see www.fightergirls.com for more info.To buy the looks that Debi wears on the show checkout shop.fightergirls.com

IAMSOUND for LA Weekly

I had fun with tungsten lights and gels the other day shooting Niki Robertson and Paul Tao from IAMSOUND records in Los Angeles. My idea was to stage it like a live show.
article here

Music Man for LA Weekly

I photographed Don Flaherty for LA Weekly last week. My friend Janet is in town from Philly so she came along and I did some tests on her and like this shot. Hope everyone had a nice Christmas! I did and now I'm ready to get back to work!

Recent work

I shot this week's cover and feature story for The District Weekly

Delilah and Nicole are putting on an Indie Arts & Crafts Festival this Sunday in Long Beach. If I were you and looking for cool gifts for the holidays, I'd go here and ditch the Black Friday madness (just a thought)

Cover for The District

I shot this week's cover and feature story for The District Weekly. Markus, Albert and Mark are reinventing LB Basement Lounge and kickin it off with party weirdo this saturday. Check it out if you can!

Cover and new portraits for The Best of LB

I shot this week's cover for The District Weekly Best of LB issue. Crystal Antlers and I went over to the pumpkin patch on PCH and got this shot of them jumping on the bouncy castle. This was harder than  it looks and I only got 2 decent shots. You can't get much 'air' on those things! I got on and jumped as well while trying to take some shots. It was super funny and I think my camera hit me in the head a few times. view my website for more crystal antlers photos

I also shot portraits of Paper Planes, Reid, Diane Ripley and Liza of Phantom Gallery.

Allee Willis for LA Weekly

Allee Willis is a super talented songwriter, artist, art collector, prop stylist and Kitsch collector. I photographed her in her North Hollywood home for LA Weekly.

Fandango!

I shot this week's cover and feature story on son jarocho, the Afro-Mestizo music of Mexico's Gulf Coast. this music will make the hairs on your arms stand up! It's so beautiful, and was a great experience to photograph the group practicing at the Centro Cultural de Mexico in Santa Ana last week. Story here.

Vegetarian Times spread

Vegetarian Times Magazine Sept issue, on stands now. I got to work with art director Daphna Shalev and shoot people for this issue. Vegan Donuts receipe...ummm. This is the first spread the magazine has done like this and I guess its pretty 'edgy' for them. I'm glad I got to work on this, it was a lot of fun.

Jerkin' Cover

I shot this week's LA Weekly cover story on Jerkin'. Art Direction and design by Darrick Rainey. If you've never heard of Jerkin', look up New Boyz, Pink Dollaz, and Jinc. This was a really fun shoot- these kids are amazing. I got a few "Jerkin" lessions. I'm attaching a shot of me with the New Boyz, and a behind the scenes shot with Jinc.

oc weekly cover

I did a photo essay on this year's fair for oc weekly. I hadn't been to the fair in a really long time. It was fun walking around and shooting, people examining, eating the enormous food, and then riding enormous rides. Not so fun seeing the cattle that would later be auctioned off to butchers and then made into beef briskets.

Buddyhead and Dios

I shot Travis Keller of the infamous Buddyhead.com music gossip site last week for LA Weekly. Issue is out this week.

Dios is one of the first bands on the new Buddyhead label. It was fun shooting them cause I've know Patrick Butterworth for years and used to go see his old band Shoegazer play. Good ol' days..
I'll be posting the tears on my site soon.