Doug And Telisha

Shot Doug and Telisha WIlliams last week. Or I guess the week before. Life’s been crazy. I forget stuff. These guys are from my hometown of Martinsville, VA. They’ve been on the road for about 6 years. Their house is an RV. Needless to say, they couldn’t get any cooler. They were a couple of years older than me, I was actually pretty good friends with Doug’s younger sister before I went all crazy in High School. Which serves to remind me yet again, that there are so many things I missed out on growing up. So many people I alienated myself from. So many experiences that I can’t have anymore. To be cliche, if only I knew then what I knew now.

Anyway this was the first time I got to use my new studio (that I’m splitting with Tim Cofield) on a formal basis. It was fantastic, and there simply isn’t a better place in Chattanooga to sit and have a beer.

Okay now go and check out Doug and Telisha. If the world was a fair place, they’d already be on your radio/iPod, whatever magical device. They have heart and artistic integrity and work ethic and you can feel it when they make their music (magic) happen.

dandtw.com

justinhallphoto.com

Studio, Space and Sunflowers

I’ve rented a bit of studio space, thanks to Tim Cofield. The space is downtown and it’s quite awesome just to be there. Eleventh floor, roof access. Speaking of, there’s a vault in the basement. Surely someone wants to be in a shoot, robbing a bank? I wish I wasn’t as afraid of heights as I was. Whenever I’m near a window that high, I swear it feels like the floor is moving. It calms down once I relax, but it can take quite some time.

I met my brother and dad to play a little golf on Sunday. Nothing is as male bonding as telling your dad “No pressure” when he has a 4 foot putt to win the match. Which of course the old man nails. He’s got ice in his veins. No way he’s going to let his boys win if he sniffs the lead. I understand that. My kids are 7, 6 and 4. I don’t let them win. Ever. At anything. It was huge accomplishment for me to finally beat my dad at basketball. It’ll be the same for my boys and Elise too. It’s one of those moments that stuck with me. My mom might have let me slide, but my dad didn’t. Some people might say that’s too harsh, I disagree. It’s important to have a barometer. It’s helpful to have something to judge yourself against. Otherwise it’s like looking in a fun house mirror to figure out if you look too fat.

PS. On the way back from golf I came across a field of sunflowers. I had never seen an entire field of sunflowers, it was amazing to say the least. They reminded me of radio telescopes, the way they were all pointed the same way. Like they were listening to the universe.

justinhallphoto.com

Both Sides of a Fence

So I took to the streets
as if we had power
i have sought you
you having been desired
must surely think
where has the rage gone
when i peeled back the smoke
led fears
the abruptness of silence
and the stinging beginning
of last words spoken
days have been filled
with years of drought
surging precipice mind fuck
a contradiction of inaction and
reaction bleeding like the words
drop from my head to my arm
that ugly old thing i’ve tossed in the corner
its always the same
the same
the same thing that everyday
awakes and sleeps
that dormant doormat
of my soul
I haven’t heard myself speak
and when i do the bruising
sound my mouth makes
hurts my throat
to grate these words
through a vocal chord
i fear waking
in a bed
you haven’t made

 

 

justinhallphoto.com

The Ladies of Zombi Candi

This is Mom and Pop right?

I spent last night at the grand opening of the new location of Zombi Candi. That’s a rockin’ group of people. They help each other out. They help other people out. Rachelle Harvey has made an awesome, blinged out, eclectic, vibrant store for herself, and managed to take a few friends along for the ride. I know she’s gotten help and been given help. It’s really a great example of a Mom and Pop local store doing well. It might not look like the Mom and Pop’s used to look, but that spirit of community is still there.

The first time I met the Ladies of Zombi Candi, I walked into the store, said “This looks interesting, I’m trying to expand my photography portfolio, maybe we could help each other out.” Well four days later I had a group of 15 people with outfits, sets, props, cars, hair, makeup all ready to have their photo taken. You can’t do that at Forever 21. It’s just got that something that makes it ours, if you haven’t already go check out Zombi Candi. Buy something crazy, or check out the FRED stuff they have. Coolest kitchen stuff ever. Here’s the ladies and a video I shot there during the grand opening. The Chad Von Meyer Band played and I used a song from his old band The Poisonville Rats – Pop the Hood.

Zombi Candi Boutique
3240 Brainerd Rd
Chattanooga – TN
423.475.5536

justinhallphoto.com

The Morning Press

I was on Talk Radio 102.3 this morning. I was entirely too nervous for the little or nothing it was. I’m firmly a behind the scenes kind of guy. For some reason I’m convinced I shouldn’t be allowed to talk, I’m not even that bad at it. I used to act in plays and read my bad poetry without any problem. I don’t know that it’s natural to grow more shy with age.

Anyway Jeff Styles was asking me about shooting video at Riverbend this year. Apparently he knew more than a couple of people in the video. It’s fun that it got any attention at all. Hopefully I can do something else that people want to talk to me about, I got to admit it felt good. I see a documentary in my future… Then we’ll see how deep the rabbit hole is.

and yes I totally went back and added that line just so i could use this photo.

justinhallphoto.com

10 Days at Riverbend

I have to say in years past, I hated working at Riverbend. It was too hot and too crowded and too much. This year was different. I spent the whole time lugging around camera gear, I worked pretty much constantly. I shot everything I could and everyone was nice as could be. Some one gave me a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, I got free drink refills, The Luken crew offered a drink out of their cooler, I ran into 50 people I knew, Jill Clark and Mrs. Luken stopped to give me a cool wrap.  People smiled. The sun was beautiful. I listened to maybe two songs all the way through, but something was just in the air this year for me. It was actually fun for once, and I needed that. Anyway here’s a video of some of the stuff I shot there this year.

justinhallphoto.com

Hello World

I should have done a “hello world.” First. This blog will be a place to deposit some super exciting blurbs about what I’m working on and/or post up cool stuff I learn. Like this week I learned how to deal with a DIY Igus Slider for my 5d. I had a couple of friends at work help me tap it and it’s really pretty sweet. It will certainly do until someone starts paying me enough to get a Kessler Cine Slider. Next up I’m buying a jib.

I’m going to include a photo with every post. It’s what I do. Plus Andrew Morgan (ZomBEAT) in this photo has a very “Hello World” vibe to him.

 

justinhallphoto.com

Andrew Morgan (ZomBEAT), not me.