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The Child

March 9th, 2012

Back in December I worked on a music video for a Los Angeles band called The Child (on Manimal Vinyl).  It was a pretty simple concept – high contrast black and white imagery using a couple different light sources (one of which we built specifically for the video).  The video made it’s debut yesterday on L.A. Record and here’s an excerpt from what they had to say:

“…the bright lights and exacting shoulder blades strike a mix of fear and desire in one’s heart, a feeling that doesn’t diminish as more shapes and severe silhouettes beam messages into your eyeballs between flashes of stark optical illusions and girl on girl grabby action.”  If this doesn’t make you want to watch it, I don’t know what will.  Check it out:

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Zombies!

March 8th, 2012

So I’m slowly trying my hand at cinematography/camera operating.  It’s interesting (and sometimes frustrating) going from shooting stills to video.  The first hurdle I had to overcome was my desire to shoot vertically when I saw framing that was screaming to be shot in that manner (I will admit that my first iPhone videos were all shot vertically).  Still photography for me is very intuitive – I didn’t study it in school and I still don’t know every technical term out there – but it’s OK since, for the most part, photography is a very solo thing (in that I’m the director of my models, I set my own lights, and sometimes the creative director of my own shoots as well).  Working on video generally involves more people that you need to be able to communicate with – so not knowing the technical terms can be a problem.  I can look at a scene and visualize how it should be lit but I need to translate my vision into words so that the gaffers can set everything up.  It’s kind of like starting over in a way – which is freeing but a little terrifying at the same time.

Over the weekend I got to try my hand at both DP work and camera operating – on a music video shoot for the band Super Black Market.  My man, Rich Ragsdale, was the director (and he also happens to be the driving force behind me making the transition to working with moving pictures).  The first day we shot at an amazing location in the Angeles National Forest called Singing Springs (check out the photos below).  It’s family-owned and the two couples that live there were amazing! (one of the women even became a featured extra).  The second day we filmed in Venice at an old group of houses on the boardwalk (which was awesome for me since I live right down the street).  I brought my camera as I had planned to take some production stills but I was just way too busy (between helping Rich with the blocking and lighting, camera operating, and putting my no-nonsense attitude to work to keep people on task) – so I had to make due with using my mobile phone to capture some behind-the-scenes photos.

Zombie_location_3
Zombie_location_1
Zombie_location_2

Oh, and did I mention the video involved zombies?  Check out some BTS shots and a small teaser video after the jump.

CONTINUE READING

Me + DPP

November 10th, 2011

I am the “cutting edge of the youth movement”, according to the cover of this month’s Digital Photo Pro.  I was kind of floored when, last December, the editor emailed me telling me they wanted to feature me in the magazine.  I was interviewed by Amanda Quintenz-Fielder, who wrote a really great article (she also writes for Rangefinder which I read all the time).  Good things are happening right now.

Digital Photo Pro - November 2011 - Cover

Digital Photo Pro - interview - page 1

Bellflower

August 10th, 2011

One of things I enjoy about not having a “regular” (as in 9-5) job is that I can go see matinee movies whenever I want.  Today I saw a film called “Bellflower” and it blew me away.  I absolutely love that the filmmakers chose a style and just went with it (not to mention that it was their first film).  Seeing this movie has left me incredibly inspired – I loved everything from the lens choice to the colouring to the music.  Check it out if you get the chance, you won’t be sorry.

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Madeline

July 21st, 2011

My shoot with Madeline marks not only my second attempt at bringing more “lifestyle” into my fashion work, but the first time in years that I’ve photographed a person using film.  I found some LONG expired (think 1996) 120 film and shot a roll of Madeline with my Holga (I also tried using a Diana camera that I found but I prefer the Holga).  I took some “straight” shots and then played around with double exposures a bit.

Madeline on film CONTINUE READING

Hannah

May 18th, 2011

A few images from a (kind of) recent test shoot with Hannah, from Industry models.

Hannah 1 CONTINUE READING

Mini-Golf

April 30th, 2011

A couple months ago, I explored an abandoned mini-golf course in southern California.  It was pretty trashed (generally something I don’t like to photograph) but if you wandered around enough, you discovered little pockets of magic amongst the graffiti and garbage.

Windmill CONTINUE READING

Bill Cunningham New York

April 6th, 2011

“…most of the time I miss it.  But I try.”
- Bill Cunningham (on photographing the clothing that captures his eye – whether on the street or at Paris fashion week)

Over the weekend I went to see a documentary about an 80-yr old street fashion photographer named Bill Cunningham.  Cunningham has worked for major publications and currently contributes to the New York Times Style section.  His work is purely about documenting trends – he doesn’t consider himself an artist.

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No matter what genre of photography you work in, or what discipline of art you practice – I think we can all take a page out of Cunningham’s book.  The pure dedication he has for what he does, the passion he has for clothing is inspirational.  Definitely a film worth checking out.

Quote of the Day

February 15th, 2011

“Image quality is not the product of a machine, but of the person who directs the machine, and there are no limits to imagination and expression.”

- Ansel Adams (1984)

Chanice

December 14th, 2010

I did a quick beauty test last week for a new agency model.  We did a clean beauty shot (which was what her agency needed) and then two more creative looks (which is what I wanted).

chanice1
chanice2
(Make up by Teal Druda)

about me

A Canadian, Angela is a photographer that lives in Venice Beach, California and has driven from one end of the continent to the other three times in one year. She once flipped her car ten times and used to test explosives for the government.

contact info

angela marklew
angela@fstopinertia.com
310.913.5268
venice beach, ca

my work

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