News

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxRRaRaN4FQ

Johnny,Me,David,Dale

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

Instamatic for the People Business Cards

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

Instamatic for the People Gig Poster

I am also pleased with the article in the May issue of Narc magazine they really understand what this project is about

Narc May 2011 Article

Instamtic for the People Poster

Instamatic for the People Exhibition & Gig

Instamtic for the People Poster

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

Prison Library Photo Shoot

In February  I was excited to be asked to do the first press shots for the Prison Library. I knew some of the band from a few years ago when they were Spies in Limbo – we had worked together on a studio shoot. I feel I have learned so much since then.

It helped that the band had some ideas and I wanted to create a certain atmosphere and style with location and lighting. Therefore,before the shoot I sent the band location and lighting test shots, so I was sure that I was heading in the right direction. It is important that the style of the image fits with the style of the band. I even bought a second-hand pub seat that would fit four or five people – it will be great prop for future shoots.

On the day of the shoot I did a run through of the lighting set ups which saved time later on.

 

I still use a light meter to do my light readings

 

Lighting test before the shoot

 

 

Behind the scenes shot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shots on the sofa were done using two separate exposures and merging them in Photoshop. I took one frame of the band with flash, and for the other shot I made a long exposure to accentuate the ambient lighting.I used a combination of Elinchrom flash heads with umbrellas,softboxes, and grids, for the three different shots. For my next shoot I will remember to get some behind the scenes footage.

More of my photographs can be found on my website

 

This shot was created using two exposures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was pleased with results, and more importantly the band liked them too – you can see them on their website here  http://www.theprisonlibrary.com/

 

Prison Library Homepage

 

Rather Be Doing Stuff Than Regret Not Doing It – Detroit Social Club Water Rats London

On the spur of the moment last Friday night I decided that I would go and see Detroit Social Club on the following night in London – it is always great to see a band based in Newcastle playing in London.

This was not a commission by anyone just done it for fun and to see a band that I had recently worked with play a gig in London. It was one of the best gigs that I have seen –  it was a night when the stars were aligned to create a really special  gig the band, music, audience, and the venue were all in the zone.

It pays to be spontaneous and do things just because it is good for the soul.. no other reason needed.

David Burn Detroit Social Club Water Rats 5 March 2011

David Burn and fan Water Rats London

David Burn Detroit Social Club Water Rats 5 March 2011

David Burn Detroit Social Club Water Rats London in London

Studio Now Open And Equipped

It has been a busy month equipping my studio and planning for the future – it is a daunting time but I am chasing my dream. Pictures to follow in a later blog.

In January I done a shoot with a high profile band and look forward to unveiling the results from the shoot soon – I am sure  there will be more shoots to follow in my studio. If you want to do a shoot drop me a line david@davidwala.com.

My Instamatic for the People project is progressing – I have made a decision to draw a line under this project with an exhibition in May – as soon as I have confirmed a venue I will post the information on here.

I did not shoot as many gigs I would have liked in January but the highlight was Pulled Apart by Horses at The Cluny in Newcastle some of the images are on my website

Anyhow I am keeping this short but from the heart – rather than rambling on like some type of infomercial

x

Thank You 2010 & Now Here’s To 2011

A big thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped me in 2010 with my photography or for just being a friend

See you all in 2011

Much Love

David

x

http://davidwala.photoshelter.com/gallery/Live-Music-Portfolio/G0000S1SpB5dSq3w

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.

        David 

Mark

James

 

Rob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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/

Updates to Published Work and Portraits

I have finally got round to updating the published work section since my last update I have had work published in print, online, and on a CD cover. See my published work  section for all the details.

It was a real honour that Paul Rose selected my photographs for his cover and CD booklet

Paul Rose Ten CD Cover and Disc

 The CD is available to buy from his website www.paulrose.co.uk and on I tunes.

I have done more portraits lately and my images of  Holy Mammoth featured in the November issue of Narc. We don an outdoor shoot on a cold windy night in The Ouseburn. They were great to work with and appreciate their patience during the shoot especially considering I did not have an assistant on the night. Some of the images are in my Portraits section.

It has been  a long time I am still trying to organise a new website I think I am going to go with Photoshelter and plan to launch it sometime soon – I am lucky that I have been too busy taking photographs to arrange this.

Here is a link to a slide show on my fortcoming site:

http://davidwala.photoshelter.com/gallery/Live-Music-Portfolio/G0000S1SpB5dSq3w