As Though I Had Forgotten To Wake Up

'If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up.' -- Robert Mapplethorpe

Athena's Gig, London

Athena © Michael Robert Williams

Now I'm back in London it's all work again. I had a few meetings this week and a shoot, and had to make plans for next weeks shoot with a band. I did take Thursday evening off and I went to see my friend Athena play an outdoor show at the National Theatre on London's South Bank. I've worked with Athena for years, shooting press portraits etc. She's such a great person to work with and a great musician with a fantastic voice. She's had a busy year so far as her recent album really started to take off.
I had a camera with me at the gig so I took a few photos of Athena's show, one of which is above.

Recent Work; 'The Subways' Shoot.

The Subways © Michael Robert Williams

This is one of the portraits from my recent shoot with 'The Subways'. Others will be posted up once they have run in the US. Most of the portraits were shot with the band wearing specific clothing for a US clothing label, these are not up yet, this was one of the reasons why I decided the shoot was in studio and lit this way.

Back In London.

I'm finally back in London after time away visiting family and friends. It was good to have some time away. Went out a lot, ate too much & drank too. The big family news was my sister just getting engaged - congratulations again you two :)

Arrived back to go and see a band I'll be photographing soon. I'm also starting to lay out a book of my music & portrait work, possibly via the Blurb Online bookstore at first (I love any kind of self-publishing), so if you're interested in purchasing a copy when its ready send me an email and I'll let you know all the details.

Personal Photograph, Boston.

Boston, MA © Michael Robert Williams

Posting the portraits of Joshua Rifkin yesterday reminded I had this photograph that I took while in Boston too. I think it was the day after I did the Rifkin portrait shoot, I was just walking down by the river. I guess I just liked the scene. I always take a few photographs of the city I'm in if I'm away working, I'll try to stay an extra day if there is time. These are the photographs that usually make up the 'Personal' section on my portfolio site, photographs grabbed quickly while I'm away.

Joshua Rifkin Portraits.

Joshua Rifkin, Boston, MA © Michael Robert Williams

These are four of the portraits I shot in Boston of the American conductor, keyboard player, and musicologist Joshua Rifkin. I've mentioned the shoot in a previous post but this is the first time I could put the portraits up as I had to wait for them to run in a magazine in Spain. I think the second and third ran in the magazine feature along with a couple of others. The first and fourth are two from the shoot that I really like. This shoot was also digital, I'm used to it now and happy to use it. Seems I've got over my early issues, mainly involving colour on digital. The portraits were taken at Joshua's home in Boston, and another place nearby. The feature ran in black & white but I personally really like this first colour portrait.

Joshua Rifkin, Boston, MA

Joshua Rifkin, Boston, MA

Joshua Rifkin, Boston, MA © Michael Robert Williams

'Gee, I Don’t Know.'

Maybe because he often didn't seem to say very much people don't often comment on Andy Warhol's humour but he had a great dry sense of humour. These are two of his comments on photography;

'Photographers feel guilty that all they do for a living is press a button.'
-- Andy Warhol
'My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person.'
-- Andy Warhol