Animal Eyes at the Marlin

Music, Photography

My annual summer hiatus from blogging is nearing an end. Though with the record-setting rain Fairbanks had this summer, as reported by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, I easily could have found more time for blogging. Thanks to all those who continued to visit.

Animal Eyes is a Portland-based band comprised entirely of members from Alaska, who all met in Portland. It’s a small world. They rocked hard and long, during this June 31 concert at local dive bar The Marlin.

Animal Eyes performs at The Marlin on June 31, 2014.

Lights strung around The Marline during an Animal Eyes concert.

Lights strung around The Marlin during an Animal Eyes concert.

Music Monday: Thought Trade on Alaska Live

Black & White, Music, Photography, Portraits

Above: Thought Trade warms up for their performance on Alaska Live in the KUAC studios. Left to right: Daniel Opgenorth, Casey Smith, Travis Burrows, Sabe Flores, and Patrick Mailloux.

Fairbanks band Thought Trade was featured on locally produced Alaska Live on June 26, 2013.Given the right mood their fluid, rhythmic, stream-of-conscinouse style of playing can put one into a trance. Listen for yourself to the Alaska Live podcast, or check out their blog with interesting insight and links to more music.

Thought Trade sound check. Nine people and lots of gear in a petite room.

Palace at Versailles – Grand Finale!

Abstract, Landscapes, Music, Photography, Travel

The two-hour fountain and fireworks show started at sunset and lasted well into dark. Symphony music streamed out from speakers hidden in hedges while water jets fired in sequence. The special event is held only a few times a year, and being in Versailles the weekend before Bastille Day it was performed twice.

To me it felt gimmicky. The water patterns flat and repetitive and the music too loud. The setting in the gardens was incredibly gorgeous, and was fun to photograph. Most disappointing was how far back spectators must retreat before the fireworks. I’m spoiled – in Fairbanks we can sit as close as we want to most fireworks shows.

The start of the show coincided with sunset.

A crescent moon begins to rise over the fountain.

Long exposure of the fountains.

People, fireworks and fountains during the grand finale.

WPC: Costumed Community of Music Lovers

Alaska, Music, Photography, Portraits

The photos are dated, but the weekly photo challenge of “community” is a good opportunity to post them.

A costumed community of musicians and dancers joined together the Saturday after halloween for some dancing to Steve Brown and the Bailers. These like-minded people – in spirit, enthusiasm and search of enjoyment – joined together for the night to make a very welcoming community.

Hope my fellow wordpress community and beyond enjoy!

Smiles and spins for the honky-tonk rhythms.

From left to right: a monk, skeleton, witch and vampire don’t often form a community.

Music and costumes

This prisión mandolin player is part of a community I wouldn’t want to be.

A furloughed fed and Inspector Gadget come together to have a good time.

Concert In the Garden: Susan Grace

Alaska, Music, Photography

Once again from UAF Summer Sessions, Concert in the Garden performance by Susan Grace, Alaskan troubadour, singer and songwriter. Her songs analyzing the effect humans have on the planet were made more poignant by the smoke blowing in from a nearby wildfire. It wasn’t enough to deter people from enjoying the music. The concert took place June 17, 2013 at the Georgeson Botanical Gardens.

Sun rays streak through smoke.

Flags fly at UAF’s Georgeson Botanical Garden.

Concert in the Garden was a fantastic event to photograph. So much is happening in a very compact area, allowing for photographs with many different elements.

Checking out the train.

Work for some, play for others.

People gladly support the gardens during the free concerts.

Can’t have a post about music without the standard close up of the musician!

Susan Grace taps her guitar and sings, June 27, 2013.

Concert In the Garden: Will Putnam and Trudy Heffernen.

Alaska, Music, Photography, Portraits

I recently took a short, part-time job for UAF Summer Sessions photographing classes and events. Included in those events was concert in the garden, a weekly, outdoor concert held in UAF’s Georgeson Botanical Gardens. The lovely settings, typically great weather and lively music drew large, energetic crowds. On June 20, 2013, Will Putnam and Trudy Heffernen delighted the audience with their country-bluegrass rock.

Alaska Railroad doesn't may make music harder to hear, but adds fun picture elements.

Alaska Railroad trains may make music harder to hear, but add fun picture elements.

Playing and laying.

Always working: Josh Bennett, of Sound Reinforcement Systems, mixes the music.

Roses in the foreground, musicians in the background.

More excited exploration.

Cellist Patrick Hopkins on Alaska Live

Alaska, Music, Photography, Portraits

I recently wrapped up my professional media internship for my undergraduate degree at UAF. I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity then working with Lori Neufeld and KUAC. I got to help with the live-radio program Alaska Live, be an on-air host for all the fantastic NPR shows, and even host my own music programs. My audio skill set has grown dramatically.

One of the last projects I worked on was an Alaska Live with Fairbanks-raised cellist Patrick Hopkins, who recently graduated from Juilliard Music School. Check out the podcast with music and conversation on KUAC’s website.

One of my favorite music images came form this shoot. It has more layers then a standard shot, and includes my work station.

Recording levels, wavelengths and board lights in the foreground, cello playing in the background.

Patrick Hopkins concentrates on the music.

Music Monday: Bruce Adolphe

Alaska, Black & White, Music, Photography, Portraits

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: raw files are superior to jpeg. It is rather disappointing to be photographing and realize the camera is only recoding jpegs. That is what happened during this shoot. Enough on that.

Perhaps best known for his weekly Pianno Puzzlers segment on NPR’s Performance Today, Bruce Adolphe recently played in Fairbanks. Piano Puzzlers, as his website describe, “…Adolphe at the piano, playing folk tunes and popular songs in the styles of famous Classical composers,” was played with live contestants in the studio for the first time ever on Alaska Live, at KUAC.

All three contestants got the answers right, check out the puzzlers, fun conversations, and great piano playing in a series of two podcasts.

Bruce Adolphe, host of Piano Puzzler, warms up before playing for conetestants.

Bruce Adolphe plays a Piano Puzzler for contestant April Jaillet.

: Left to right: Maryanne Babij, April Jaillet, Jeff Iverson, Bruce Adolphe and host Lori Neufeld.

Music Monday: Steve Brown and the Bailers, Howling Dog performance

Alaska, Music, Photography, Portraits

Any regular followers may have noticed a lack of posts the last seven days. It was my final week of undergrad, and wanted to make sure I finished everything I needed to graduate. Now that school’s over, it’s time to get back in the postings. Today will be a brief post of my favorite local band, Steve Brown and the Bailers, who were recently featured in UAF’s bi-yearly publication Aurora. The Spring 2013 printing also features a good article about the state of journalism in Alaska, a fun info sheet about the Equinox Marathon, and a two-page spread with my photo of UAF’s Research Vessel Sikuliaq.

The article about Steve Brown and the Bailers highlights their national successes, and offers a little insight into how their name came about. Hint: it had to do with unreliable band members.

The following photos are from a performance they gave July 28, 2012, at the uniquely-Alaskan Howling Dog Saloon. Photographically, one of the best things about the Howling Dog is the plethora of memorabilia plastered on walls.