the big time...

Last week a very good friend of mine, Muhammad Asranur, a local concert photographer of increasing reknown, asked me if I would like to shoot a concert for Spin Magazine. I knew that he had done this gig for them before and asked why. He said that he was covering the concert for another magazine and that he couldn't submit the same photographs to both. So the door opened for me. I wrote to Spin a couple of months ago asking if I could shoot for them. At that time I didn't realize that they only gave assignments to one photographer in each of the cities that they do their "It Happened Last Night" feature for, and I never heard back from them. That wasn't until last Thursday when I got the following email:

So, this is a perfect example of how "who you know" really works in the world. I met Muhammad at a concert at Slim's last November. We had both won "trivia contest" tickets to see a performer that neither of us were really interested in seeing, other than to have the opportunity to take photos and further develop our craft. Funny, but that was a show where professional cameras were not permitted by the bands. Back then, neither Muhammad or I owned professional cameras. But we bonded and have been friends ever since. I got my professional camera first and only shot one other show with it before I started taking photography classes for the first part of last year. Muhammad got his pro camera shortly after that and has been shooting concerts like a madman all year. Sometimes he shoots 4-5 concerts in one week. Also, he lives in San Francisco so it is easier for him to get to shows than it is for me. He is younger and healthier than I am too!

Anyway, the gig on Tuesday night was soo much fun. I got there about an hour and a half before the doors even opened. Parking in the Divisadero neighborhood of SF is tricky. Gave me time to have a couple of slices of pizza and relax. Met Muhammad in front of The Independent at around 6:30 and we talked till they had the guest passes at the will call window. Oh, and the journalist that Spin had to cover the show, Nicole Beckley, showed up at around 7:00. She had done one show with Muhammad at The Independent the previous week. This was her second show. Her job is to find people in the audience and ask them an interview question relating to the music being performed. I take photos of these people, as well as photos of the bands while they play. She also writes a summary article about the show.

This was such a confidence building experience for me. I truly hope I get the opportunity again. And this may definitely be in the works. Muhammad disclosed to me that he has "big" job offer in the works. He was born in Indonesia and has been contacted by the man who is the main concert promoter there, offering him a job where he would be Indonesia's main concert photographer. Imagine, Muhammad just started shooting concerts a little over a year ago and he has advanced to this level of expertise. If he takes this position, the gig at Spin would be open.

It is not a paying gig, but for right now that is ok with me. It is all part of the network/empire building. I don't know what is happening with me, but each show I have been to lately has shown marked improvement in my skills. The pictures just keep getting easier to shoot and improve in quality. If it is due to the building of my confidence or just practice I don't know. It is very, very fun though and it is something that I have wanted to do for such a long time.