2015 In Review
The road to Bend, Oregon.
So 2015 was quite the year. Enough of a year that it’s now the end of January, and I meant to do this round-up blog post back in December. But so it goes…
I wanted to do this post because I’ve just finished creating my first real portfolio of the work I think represents what I do. This was a painstaking process for me. I have a hard enough time picking shots I think are really top-notch, and then the pressure of calling it a portfolio and agonizing over which photo belonged where… I have no idea if other photographers feel this way, but it nearly put me over the edge.
Between heart attacks, though, I got to look back over this past year in a kind of cool way.
Good year, new friends and good shoots... Otherkin photo shoot.
This year I started doing more press shoots with bands way more than I had ever done. I shot Otherkin and those photos have been used all over the place as they’ve started making a name for themselves over in Ireland and the UK. I was commissioned to do a photoshoot with The Moth and the Flame, who I had never worked with before and who I had a great time with. And I did shoots with Circa Waves and Grizfolk—both headshots and full band. I’ve got to say, I’m quite enjoying this work and the different kind of planning and eye it requires.
Moth & The Flame on some really hot hill in California in July.
On that note, I never imagined I’d be photographing the key art for a video game, with the whole scene designed for me to get “the shot.” Quite the bizarre experience, but a pretty cool final piece if I say so myself.
Key artwork for ROCKBAND 4.
And while we’re talking about key art, an awesome artist called Rationale has used some landscape composites I was playing with as they key art for his work—singles cover and music video.
Rationale artwork-one of multiple key art pieces
This one is way more a friend’s accomplishment than my own, but Frank Turner released a memoir, which is incredible. And I’m honored beyond words to have one of my photos appear on the cover.
OK this next one is something I will just come out and say makes me really, really proud. Together with Katie Dwyer, I have started a nonprofit that provides photography and storytelling services to nonprofits and direct service providers. This project is taking me in directions I never would have imagined—into prisons, food banks, low-income neighborhood schools, and so much more. I’m using my photography in a completely new way. It’s bringing new depth to how I think about my work, and how I understand what I can do to help people tell really important stories. It would mean a lot if you checked out my work on this one.
2015 was also a year of road trips. And man oh man, do you get some remarkable shots if you get out in the middle of nowhere and then just take some time.
The Grand Tetons in Wyoming.
When I wasn’t wandering wilderness back roads, I did make it out on a couple of tours this year, including a long US jaunt with Grizfolk, a pretty epic trip to Brazil with Bastille, as well as a shorter US run. Both groups are up to some exciting work, and it was great to be on the road with them again.
I guess I must be doing something right, because Electric Picnic festival in Ireland keeps having me back. I was delighted to add Reading Festival to the list this year.
As a final 2015 highlight, if you’d believe it I launched my store less than a year ago. I got to achieve something I’ve wanted for years—to know that my work is hanging in homes, and that some of my images have touched people enough that they’ve wanted to spend money to have them. I’ve had ups and downs with the store, and have started looking at my photography in yet-another way. I can’t begin to say how flattered I am when my work sells. And beyond that, you’ve given me amazing feedback and encouragement and energy. So I’m truly grateful.
Not a bad year, right? Here’s to 2015 gone by, and 2016 ahead.
