Blog

Mumford & Sons - On assignment for AJC

I've been a fan of Mumford & Sons since they first began rising in the charts.  I went to a show at the Infinite Energy Center this week to see and photograph Mumford & Sons for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Concert photography can be a challange because of the strict restrictions they put on photographers.  However, it is always fun to capture the fans enjoying the show.  I think it's always a good lesson to sit back and watch the joy fans have of seeing their favorite band.  I believe us photographers can become jaded and we tend to loose the awe of seeing a great band.

Backstage - Macon, Georgia

Guitarist Peter Stroud, right, waits backstage as fans crowd around outside The Crazy Bull music venue in Macon, Ga.  Stroud is Sheryl Crow's guitarist and has played for artist such as Don Henley, Sarah McLachlan, The Dixie Chicks and Shawn Mullins).

There are few times in life where you get to hang out with people who have made an imprint in music history.  My dad and I are filming a documentary on Studio One, a recording studio that once stood in Doraville, Georgia, where numerous legendary hits were recorded and engineered by unsung hero Rodney Mills (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, .38 Special, Atlanta Rhythm Section, The Doobie Brothers, Gregg Allman and more).  For part of the documentary, we made a stop in Macon, Ga., home of Capricorn Records (Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Wet Willie, and more).  After filming a few interviews with PR man Mark Pucci, and Bobby Golden, guitarist for Stillwater, we pushed our way through over a thousand fans cramed into The Crazy Bull music venue.  While we were there, my dad leaned over and said, "That's Jimmy Hall from Wet Willie."  He began to sing they lyrics to "Keep on Smilin," which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Charts in 1974.  When Hall took the stage with Stillwater, you knew why he was a rock star. 

Members of the band Stillwater perform during their annual reunion show in Macon, Ga.

You may remember the movie "Almost Famous" where a young aspiring journalist followed a band called "Stillwater" who were touring and trying to become famous.  Though the movie had no direct relation to the real Stillwater, they really did become almost famous.  They had a song called "Mind bender" that charted in the Billboard Top 100 when they were signed to the famed Capricorn Records.  During the show Jimmy Hall and guitarist Peter Stroud, guitarist for Sheryl Crow, took the stage and performed with Stillwater.

Guitarist Peter Stroud walks backstage at The Crazy Bull music venue in Macon, Ga.  Stroud is Sheryl Crow's guitarist and has played for artist such as Don Henley, Sarah McLachlan, The Dixie Chicks and Shawn Mullins).

Jimmy Hall, of Wet Willie, sits in the green room at The Crazy Bull music venue in Macon, Ga. Wet Willie had a song called "Keep on Smilin," which reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Charts in 1974.  They had numerous other hits that reached the top 100 on music charts.

(L-R) Guitarist Peter Stroud, Jimmy Hall, of Wet Wille, Charles Camp, documentary producer, and Stillwater keyboardist Eddie Long wait backstage during a Stillwater reunion show in Macon, Ga.

Spring is in the air

Kennesaw State University students are taking advantage of the incredible weather these days.  If you walk on campus, you will find students laying in hammocks all over campus.  The trees surrounding the campus green are prime real estate.  Here are a few images I took after my evening class. 

A student relaxes in a hammock on campus at Kennesaw State University, Tuesday, March, 15, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.  Photo by Branden Camp

College students on campus at Kennesaw State University, Tuesday, March, 15, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.  Photo by Branden Camp

Sunny Days in Georgia

 A Kennesaw State University student walks on campus on warm day, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.

 A Kennesaw State University relaxes in a hammock on campus on warm day, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.

 A Kennesaw State University relaxes in a hammock on campus on warm day, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.

 A Kennesaw State University exits a building on campus on warm day, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.

 A Kennesaw State University relaxes in a hammock on campus on warm day, Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Kennesaw, Ga.

Super Tuesday - On Assignment for Getty Images

The hunter/gather in me was in full effect on Super Tuesday.  The goal was to find interesting images of people voting in Georgia.  I did some google searching and found out all the polling places in rural parts of Georgia and visited a few.  I arrived at the first location at 6:30am and stayed for a few hours.  I started in Taylorsville, Georgia, a small little town an hour north of Atlanta.  I then visited a few other polling places and ended at a firehouse in Adairsville, Georgia.

WHITE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  81-year-old Helen Free, left, a polling site assistant manager, takes a lunch break while two Georgia voters fill out voting paper work before casting their ballots on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in White, Georgia. Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

ADAIRSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  A Georgia voter cast his ballot at a fire station on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Adairsville, Georgia. Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

TAYLORSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  Edna Martinez wears a "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker after casting her ballot at Taylorsville Town Hall on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Taylorsville, Georgia.  Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

TAYLORSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  A Georgia voter cast his ballot at Taylorsville Town Hall on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Taylorsville, Georgia. Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

TAYLORSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  Georgia voters cast their ballots at Taylorsville Town Hall on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Taylorsville, Georgia.  Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary.   (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

ADAIRSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  A Georgia voter fills out voting paper work before casting her ballot at a fire station on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Adairsville, Georgia. Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)

TAYLORSVILLE, GA - MARCH 1, 2016:  A Georgia voter fills out voting paper work before casting her ballot at a fire station on Super Tuesday March 1, 2016, in Taylorsville, Georgia. Voters head to the polls to cast their votes on Georgia's presidential primary. (Photo by Branden Camp/Getty Images)