That Was The Year That Was…Hello 2013
Well I thought I would put together a review of my year in 2012 – mainly for my benefit to reflect on the things that I have done, and to judge how far I will have progressed when I look back next year. I have been lucky to work with some super talented and creative people in 2012- for that I am forever grateful
This was my first full year as house photographer at Newcastle o2 Academy - during the year I shot over 250 gigs there and at other venues. I have also done an array of music videos and photo shoots. I will try to put some of my highlights below.
The year started with me getting busy finishing the edit of the video for the single Your Melodica by The Union Choir. A year later and I still feel very proud of my first music video. I am looking forward to their album this year
Later in January I took on a commission to film Bridie Jackson and the Arbour album launch at their sold out gig at Gateshead Sage . It was a real test we used five cameras and a load of memory cards. We even filmed the two support acts Matt Stalker and the Fables, and Nathalie Stern. I spent most of January, and February editing this. It was a challenge and has led to more people commissioning my work.
Later in the month I did an impromptu photo shoot with Bird Island
At the end of the month I done the last ( for the moment) of my live acoustic High Bridge sessions with Tusk. Which we filmed in my studio – I love this band. I stopped doing these just because of limited time – I would like to do more of these in 2013
During the month I was busy shooting bands
The Maccabees Newcastle O2 Academy 29 January 2012
February kicked off with Howler at The Cluny – where I got hit by of all things an apple thrown from the stage
Howler Newcastle Cluny 1 February 2012
It was a pleasure to do the first promo shots for Symphonic Pictures. I done the last Detroit Social Club photo shoot with Johnny and Dale, it is nice symmetry that I have done the first photo shoot with their new band. I can’t wait for their new EP later this year – they work so hard and have some fantastic tunes.
The poster below was designed by Paul BurgessGraphic Design
They were also the first band to take part in my AAA project ( more details of this project can be found in a earlier post) – here is an image from the shoot
In February I also started work on the Natasha Haws video for her first single Stepping Stone. It is a beautiful song. It was a real pleasure to work on this
Some of my live shots from February
Those Furious Flames Newcastle Academy 4 February 2012
Shinedown Newcastle Academy 10 February 2012
Blackout Kerrang Tour Newcastle Academy 12 February 2012
Metronomy NME Awards Tour Newcastle Academy 9 February 2012
Brand New Newcastle Academy 16 February 2012
Melanie C Newcastle Academy 26 February 2012
Bridie Jackson and the Arbour Gateshead Central Bar 29 February 2012
Gem Andrews Gateshead Central Bar 29 February 2012
March was a relatively quiet month – I was shooting a load of gigs and editing videos. The highlight being at the end of the month when the summer came to the North East coast and we filmed a live session by Fantasy Rainbow ( I just wish we could have better sound ). We were all blown away by the sheer talent of his performance. All the videos from this session are from one take. Ollie just got out of his car played his songs and left
Some pictures from March
Black Stone Cherry Newcastle Academy 20 March 2012
Killing Joke Newcastle Academy 13 March 2012
Ajimal Newcastle Lit and Phil 19 March 2012
You Me At Six Newcastle Academy 27 March 2012
In April we filmed a gig at historic Morden Tower featuring the mighty Watchers and the Chapman Family. It is great to have had an opportunity to film at a venue that is steeped in history . It was great that two of the best live bands around kept it loud for their sets. I am especially proud that the NME picked up the Watchers video for their powerful song Cut The Ribbon. Looking forward to more great things from them in the coming year.
I also filmed the last song of the night Kids by the Chapman Family
I was also busy with photo shoots with Nadine Shah, Collectors Club, and The Railway Club
Nadine Shah April 2012
Collectors Club Newcastle April 2012
Railway Club Newcastle April 2012
This was also a fun shoot with Darren Hubbard of Distraction Records for Narc magazine. Outside the public toilets on the Bigg Market.
Some of my live shots from April
The Futureheads Gateshead Sage 8 April 2012
Brilliant Mind Newcastle Cluny 6 April 2012
The Watchers RPM Courtyard Newcastle Record Store Day 2012
Architects Newcastle Academy 10 April 2012
May started with a trip to London to shoot the Dan Sartain at The Lexington – which was wow. One of my gigs of the year
Dan Sartain The Lexington London 5 May 2012
I made a video for the Greeting Committee single Show Me The Lights of Home. It was a real fun shoot in adverse conditions – it was a rainy bank holiday weekend when we shot the outdoor footage. We all made the most of it and we made a mad video – of which I am immensely proud. We all put a lot of time and effort in planing and making the video on a very limited budget. I should also thank again Dan Horn for teaching me so much during the location shoot – and doing a great job as the man in the cow suit
A promo shot we took during the second day of the location shoot
I visited paris at the end of the month and got to see and shoot the mighty Howler – I think the shot below my favourite live shot of 2012
Howler Paris Fleche d’Or 26 May 2012
The first weekend of June was the weekend of Evolution Festival on the banks of the Tyne my image of T-E-E-D featured in the NME
- T-E-E-D NME June 2012
Summer is a perfect time for outdoor location shoots – even in the North East of England.
We turned the inside outside with So What Robot to tie in with their single release Work and Play
We also got lucky with some early morning sunshine for a shoot with Tusk who have since signed with local innovative label Tiny Lights
You would think it was sunny on Tyneside during June – this shot is from a sunny June morning with Gem Andrews. I was also privileged to photograph Gem’s debut album Scatter cover in 2011
I also done a shoot with OFF! – it was such a buzz to be in the company of such legends - a little nerve-wracking but mainly very exciting
They also took part in my AAA project
Some Live Shots from June
July was the month I restarted my Instamatic for the People project of casual portraits of individual musicians taken with an instant print camera. One of my favourite bands Howler
relaunched this project .
Brent from Howler, and the rest of the band looking at the Instamatic for the People book
They also were happy to take part in my AAA project – here is the contact sheet
My contact sheet from the shoot with Howler
I also took some shots with Sound of Guns
They also took part in my AAA project
I also done another shoot with So What Robot I love working with these guys – we come up with ideas – then workout how to make it happen. They are always willing to take a risk
Some live shots from July
August was a surprisingly busy month with photo shoots and video making, but not so many live gigs to shoot
The first Sunday of August was spent in an Italian Restaurant doing a location shoot of the band Bison Hunting served up on a plate. It was such a fun shoot . I am so happy that our ideas worked practice as well as in theory here is one:
They also took part in my AAA project
I also done a shoot with The Watchers - we done the shoot at sunrise hoping to catch some golden light – but all we caught was some clouds and rain. However that did not stop us and we got some strong images.
So pleased they have taken part in the AAA project
For the shoot I did with Retriever – we did get that golden sun we were hoping for
They also took part in my AAA project on a different day at their practice room
Ollie Catt or Fantasy Rainbow also took part in my AAA project – he liked the images so much that he used them as his press shots and were featured in magazines and on websites
On the same night I took some shots of the Jacuzzi Boys – who were super friendly and definitely wanted to do some interesting shots. I photographed them for my Inatamatic for the People project and took a band portrait which is one of my favourite shots of the year and when writing four month on they are still using the shot as their Facebook page profile picture
I also done some shots with Franz Nicolay - the last time I saw him was when he was playing with the Hold Steady.
He also took part in my AAA project
I also made two videos in August the first for Sonner for their epic We Go Forth Tonight single – it was great working with them and I hope you like the video we made.
I also made a video with a completely different style and as much fun – super proud of this
Some live shots from August
September was mainly about live gigs and editing videos.
I did take this promo shot of Sonner when we were filming extra footage for their video in early September
Some live shots from September
During October I was busy with photographing and filming gigs.
I took this shot for Narc magazine of Fearbox
I took this shot and others from the Soundcheck before The Union Choirs gig at the Lit and Phil in Newcastle.
Some live shots from October
November was my busiest month of the year for gigs.
I also managed to do a photo shoot with Hooded Fang
They also took part in my AAA project
Some of my live shots from November
It was great to be busy in the last month of the year – at the time of writing I am still finishing some of the work that I started in December.
I done a brief photo shoot for my AAA project with the Chapman Family
This is a digital shot used to test the lighting ( a modern day Polaroid )
I am also excited by a series of themed portraits that we have done with the super creative Peculiar Disco Moves. Here is one image from the series more will follow in 2013
I also made a video with The Prison Library of their song Certify which is part of their No Fireworks EP release. It was a challenging shoot as it was in a working studio so we were limited with the space and how we could light the room. However I love the energy of the song and the way that we have captured it.
As it was the end of the month it was also the last gig for Sonner . They played a storming set at Plugged Inn in Sunderland. Here is their goodbye picture
In December Rizzle Kicks were kind enough to stop their sold out gig O2 Academy Newcastle while I changed my memory card and pose for some shots… busted. Super cool guys. I never knew that I could still blush
Some live shots from December
Well that is my year in review – certainly fun, and very proud of my work . Thank you to everyone that has helped me out and worked with me throughout the year.
I am working at something I love doing and I hope I can keep moving forward in 2013
David
Reflecting on the Past and Keeping On Moving Forward
For the past 18 months I have had the framed prints from my Instamatic fro the People project in my studio
The other day I was looking at them and reflecting that since I started the project 2 and a half years ago that some of the bands have split up , other bands and musicians are on the verge of greater things ( also many of the people I did not know when I first photographed themand have since become my friends).It is also interesting to see the way some of the locations and people’s styles have changed. So I have decided to put al the images from 2010 onwards on my David Wala Photography Facebook page
Anyhow the links to all the photographs are:
Instamatic for the People 2012-2011
Instamatic for the People 2011-2012
Back in September I was going to do a blog post titled The Things I Did Last Summer – but I will be changing that to The Things I Did Last Summer and Autumn.
I have been busty doing other things apart from Instamatic for the People
Thanks
D
Instamatic for the People 2012 Gallery
I have just made a gallery to show the first bach of images from the Instamatic for the People project. They feature Howler, Collectors Club, The Neat and Sound of Guns. Click on the picture below to visit it:
Instamatic for the People Gallery
Instamatic for the People 2012 – Pictures Can Speak Louder Than Words
After taking a year way from my ongoing Instamatic for the People project I decided to restart it this week by photographing Howler.I have changed this project to include bands from outside of the North East of England - I want to make it inclusive as possible. Local writer Linsey Teggart summed up my project in her article for Narc magazine her article for Narc magazine – this sums up the article. Other information can be found mainly in my 2010 and 2011 posts in this blog.
On Friday while waiting for Howler who were delayed due to mechanical problems – I was wondering if they would have time to do some photographs ( I needn’t have worried they were super cool and very helpful even though they had been on torturous journey on the M1.). To pass some time I flicked through my book from the exhibition and reflected on how much has changed in our local music scene. It is interesting to see how fashions, and locations have changed as well as the people
This picture of Brent below shows rest of Howler engrossed in the book I think sums up their enthusiasm. As their album America Give Up has been the soundtrack of my year I think it is fitting that they are the first band to be photographed for the relaunch of the project. This has given me a real boost.
- Brent from Howler, and the rest of the band looking at the Instamatic fro the People book
I would also love to photograph all the people from the original book next year as part of this ongoing project.
The book is still available to buy from Blurb books click on the image below – all profits go to Teenage Cancer Trust. It is also available for iPad and iPhone as a download
I would once again like to thank everyone that has taken part and to Howler for being the first people of 2012. I am looking forward to see where this project take us – hopefully to another charity opening and gig.
David
x
PS I will be putting up an online gallery soon of all the images as I take them – I have more to add from some amazing people which will be added soon
A New Analog Project and Resuming Another Project
Nearly every day I use my digital camera. So I am excited about starting a new film based project – I have already started this and I can’t wait to put some of the images online ( this should be next week) .
I am also firing up my Instax camera to do some more images from my Instamatic for the People project – more details will also follow for this.
This is a personal project and I am looking forward to new adventures ahead
Can’t wait to use this film
Instamatic for the People Book Now Available For iPad and iPhone
The Instamatic for the People book is now also available as a download for iPad and iPhone – it is priced at £4.99 plus £0.99p tax added at the checkout, and from this £2.00 from each sale will be donated to Teenage Cancer Trust. It is available from Blurb here
It features over 220 portraits of musicians from the North East of England as part of my ongoing project.
This follows on from the Instamatic for the People exhibition that ran all summer at The Cluny – all the images from the exhibition are featured in the book.
You can read more about my project in my earlier posts in this blog.
Instamatic for the People Book - available exclusively from Blurb
Some Publicity About My Instamatic for the People Book for Charity
So happy to get some recognition from a photography website about my Instamtic for the People book and project.
I have dedicated so much time and effort to this project because I believed in it ,and in the process overcoming and deflecting doubts. It was heartwarming to get so much positive feedback since the exhibition.
Every penny of profit goes to Teenage Cancer Trust – and even better for me all the order fulfilment is done by the printers and all the money goes direct to the charity….. I am relieved my work on this book is done
To read the article visit Choose Film
Instamatic for the People Book - All profits to Teenage Cancer Trust
The link to the book
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2204947?SSAID=314743
Instamatic for the People Exhibition Extended and Other News
It seems ages since I updated this blog as I have been so busy – I will try harder to update it more often.
The Instamatic for the People exhibition at The Cluny in Newcastle has been extended until the end of August – if you haven’t been there is still time.
Also The Cluny are featuring some of my images in their gallery it can be viewed here: The Cluny Gallery
It is always a buzz when some of my photographs are featured by an artist that I am a big fan – so I was delighted when his record label One Little Indian linked up to the gallery of some images from his gig in May at The Cluny
Dan Sartain Newcastle Cluny by David Wala
I have been busy with photo shoots over the past few weeks and will be posting information about these soon
For anyone that came to my exhibition and gig were surely blown away by Symphonic Pictures , this week I am going to see Symphonic Pictures play an intimate gig at La Bocca cafe for more details please follow the link. They are also playing at the Other Rooms on 1 August.
Also my friend Paul Rose is playing a gig in Nashville next week and it looks like exciting times ahead for him sending him positive vibes. I have so many happy memories of touring around Germany with him – coincidentally it is my photograph on his home page 
Anyhow you might find this surprising but I find it uncomfortable talking about my work so I am going for a coffee. I will write more soon
D
x
Total Money Raised for Teenage Cancer Trust
I have just recieved the total raised at Wednesdays Instamatic for the People exhibition opening and gig – it is £420.43p – thank you to everyone involved and who contributed I am so proud we managed to do this. People can still give directly to Teenage Cancer Trust. The book of the exhibition is also available to buy from Blurb with all profits going to Teenage Cancer Trust – the details are in a post from last week.
Below is a link to a video of the exhibition
http://www.facebook.com/v/10150605702535462
The entire night in 2 minutes of video it is by the super talented Morris Ford ,with music by my equally talented friends Brilliant Mind – Leave Your Friends behind which they also performed on the night
Just wanted to get the news of the monies raised as quickly as possible. Since the exhibition I have shot gigs by Duke Special, Evolution Emerging including the Chapman Family and Lanterns on the Lake, Evolution Festival all day Saturday and Sunday. Tonight I have another shoot with a fantastic local band and possible Mountain Goats at The Cluny.
I am so pleased to be busy but may not be blogging for a few days
Thank you again
Exhibition Set Up
Special thank you to Allan and Jill what a team – thanks for hanging all the frames. Also to my friend Mark at
http://www.tynemouthstationframes.com/
for putting up with all the last minute shenanigans
Special Performance at Tonight’s Instamatic for the People Gig and Exhibition.
It’s funny how things work out.
Back in January I met David, Johnny and Dale for the first time when I did a photo shoot with Detroit Social Club, and tonight they are all supporting my exhibition. I feel lucky to know them
David Burn is doing a DJ set and will keep the tunes coming through the evening.
Johnny Bond and Dale Knight will be unveiling with their new band Symphonic Pictures in their first public performance – it is an honour and a privilege that their first gig will be at the Instamatic for the People gig at The Cluny
Let the music and video do the talking – check out the video out on You Tube preparing for the gig on Wednesday 25 May
All of these people with me are helping with my exhibition and gig - Thank you Photo: Jill O'Donnell
Last Call for Participants for Instamatic for the People
Most of the photographs are framed but there is still time if any local musicians want to get involved with the project. Please get in touch and I can take the photographs and have them in the exhibition on Wednesday. I am running this down to the wire but if anyone wants to get involved the earlier that you can get in touch the better. It is open to any musicians in the North East of England
Please see my new business cards for contact details
Posters and Publicity for Instamatic for the People
Paul Burgess has helped me out with some design work for the forthcoming exhibition – I love the posters that he designed. Could not recommend him more highly. If you get a chance check out Paul Burgess Graphic Design website
I am also pleased with the article in the May issue of Narc magazine they really understand what this project is about
Instamatic for the People Exhibition & Gig
At last ,I am pleased to announce that my Instamatic for the People exhibition will be at The Cluny in Newcastle. There is an opening on Wednesday 25 May between 6pm and 7:30pm with a gig from 8pm in The Cluny. In the spirit of the exhibition everybody is welcome, it is a free concert but there will be collections for Teenage Cancer Trust – please give generously.
The project has been about the musicians of the North East and is a way to document how our music scene is in 2010/2011, I hope to revisit the project in a few years to see how everyone has progressed. It has been interesting looking at the images and seeing the seasons change some pictures in the sunshine at Narc fest in The Ouseburn in July with people in t-shirts and others taken on snowy December night in Sunderland.
This is a totally democratic project where everybody has the same status – all bands are featured equally and all members of the band are featured equally. For the exhibition each image will be drawn at random and displayed in the order they are drawn.
I spend a lot of time at The Cluny and it is an honour to have an exhibition at the venue where I regularly photograph gigs, and where many of the images from the exhibition were taken.
There will be a book featuring the images from the exhibition available to buy online with all proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust.
The opening night gig will feature bands that have taken part in the exhibition
I am so proud that The Greeting Committee, Brilliant Mind, and Gem Andrews have offered to play the gig. They are all acts that I love and their musical styles are quite different – it will be a fun night.
Simon Donald is someone who I have known for years and it is an honour that he is going to host the night in his own inimitable style. He is a long time supporter of Teenage Cancer Trust.
David Burn from Detroit Social Club is doing a DJ set -I am grateful he has taken time to support this charity event even though Detroit Social Club will be playing at Evolution Festival a few days later.
The line up for the gig is:
The Greeting Committee
Brilliant Mind ( acoustic )
Gem Andrews
and Special Guests
Compere Simon Donald (Viz)
DJ Set by David Burn ( Detroit Social Cub)
This whole project has been entirely self funded and is a labour of love – but I have to thank all the wonderful people who have taken part and encouraged and helped me with it throughout the year.
The exhibition will run throughout June .
There is also a Facebook event
New Instamatic For The People Images & New Website Underway
I have just added over 20 new images to my Instamatic for the People gallery. The latest local bands to take part include, Coal Train, Frankie & The Heartstrings, Grandfather Birds, Let’s Buy Happiness, and Polarsets.
It has interested me to see the change of seasons since May when people were wearing t-shirts to the recent snowbound conditions in Sunderland where I photographed Coal Train and Let’s Buy Happiness.
My new website is under construction and I hope for it to be finished soon. It can be viewed here:
http://www.davidwala.com/
Some Publicity For My Instamatic For The People Project
The people at ChooseFilm have written an article about my ongoing Instamatic for the People project – whch is taking shape I will be adding yet more scans to the gallery soon. THis project is being shot exclusively on Fuji Instax film.
The article can be found here:
http://choosefilm.com/features/instax-for-the-people/
In the meantime I will be updating this blog soon I have been busy settling into my new studio and organising a new website. As well as doing the thing I love taking photographs I have been busy doing some location shoots and some live gigs which I will write further in my next update.
Instax For The People Project 100 People Served And Counting
A big thank you to everybody that has so far supported my instant photography project.
This weekend as well as photographing the New York Dolls at The Cluny I was also at the Transmission New Wave event in the splendour of the Grand Room of the Discovery Museum. I will be adding photographs from the event soon to my Flickr site.
This gave me the opportunity to photograph some more musicians for my Instax For The people project. I am so happy that people seem enthusiastic to participate in this project – I still marvel at the way the image appears on the paper it is a little bit of magic .
Please see my Instax For The People Gallery
Tom Robinson has a done so much to encourage local music talent ,and he was on the panel at the event. I told him about my project and he was happy that he agreed to pose for this project
Here’s to serving at least another 100 people and an exhibition in early. 2011.
Rebellion Festival, NSE Weekender, Portraits, and Published Work
It was so good to be able to photograph at Rebellion Festival. It was an intense day I worked none stop from 1pm until the New York Dolls wrapped up the day at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning – it was intense but so much fun I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It was all things punk including sticks of Blackpool punk rock – I hope to be there next year.
I have put some of the photographs of New York Dolls, Penetration, and UK Subs in their appropriate gallery. I will be uploading images of other bands soon.
Ever Since The lake Caught Fire National Society For Epilepsy Weekender Newcastle Cluny 8 August
I done a photo shoot with Union Choir for Narc magazine which proved to be fun. It was outdoors on a typical rainy summer’s evening in South Shields. The first location had to be abandoned because of too many chavs hanging around the bandstand. We then ended up in another nearby park.
The band were really co-operative and it was easy to work with them they seemed on the whole to be relaxed in front of the camera – I was expecting five members but there was actually eight. Overall I am pleased with the shots and have put some of them in the Portrait Gallery. Check out the band at the Union Choir Myspace.
I have also updated my published work section including recent shots of Carl Barat, Adam, Green, and Jesse Malin. I am also pleased that The Doors Alive are using my photographs from Newcastle Academy from back in January to promote their forthcoming tour. I also please to see my Evolution images used by Culture Deluxe magazine
My photographs from Evolution Festival published by Culture Deluxe Magazine
My Instax For The people has gone quiet this month I have added a few images to the gallery but I need more people so if you see me with my Instax camera you know I could be looking for you to participate in my project.
Instamatic For The People Images Gallery
I have added the images from my Instamatic For The People project. This still has a long way to go before it is finished I feel for this to be a succwess I need to include as many musicians as possible.
This is just the start please see some of my images so far at the link below:
http://davidwala.net/gallery-3/instamatic-for-the-people/
This is just the start …
Instamatic For The People Project
Some of you may know that I have been taking instamatic images with my Fujifilm Instax camera for the past few months. I aim to document primarily local musicians in 2010 and have an exhibition towards the end of the year or in 2011. It will be interesting to reflect on our vibrant local music scene in years to come ,and all being well I plan to make this a yearly project.
I do not direct anyone for these images in the way they pose I just want to document people as they want to be represented in 2010
A big thank you to everyone that has participated so far.
I will be putting the images in the gallery very soon
So far I have over forty participants, but will be adding to this in the coming months.
Ross Mansfield Holiday
