Last September I got a call from my good friends Waylon Speed to shoot some promo shots for an album (to be released in April) they were recording at The Magic Shop in NYC produced by Son Volt's Mark Spencer and Grammy award-winning sound engineer Brian Thorn.
We did the photo shoot in their practice space (an appliance repair warehouse) and I didn't really have a plan going into it. I figured we would roll with what came to us in the spur of the moment. We did some standard group shots and then I saw the huge checkered flag boards the band used for their album Horseshoes and Hand Grenades CD release party at Nectar's. I've had the idea of the checkered flag reflection in glasses for a photo of these guys and this was the perfect time to try it out. The flags were two large pieces of plywood painted like a checkered flag with a horseshoe on one and a hand grenade on the other. I set the two boards in front of the band and pointed some lights at them. It took a little bit to figure out the right angles to get the reflection right. It worked out that I had to shoot through the two boards. The guys stood in front of the boards and Noah put on his blue blockers. I used some video hot lights to light the checkered flags and a couple studio lights on either side to light up the guys.
Testing the reflection in the glasses featuring Noah Crowther
The Waylon Speed boys are a great bunch of guys, easy to work with and are open to just about anything. I've done many promo photos for the band over the last few years and the shoots are always a blast.
Waylon Speed is a great band from right here in Burlington, Vermont and if you get a chance make sure you catch them live. You won't be disappointed!
The new album entitled "Kin" will be released in April and the band will tour extensively in support of the new album.
www.waylonspeed.com
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC
The Magic Shop in NYC