Dark Horse Images

As an on-location photographer, I get asked a bit about how I find the locations for my shoots.  It's called hitting the road, people.  Sometimes I scout, just to check out my surroundings for any future gigs (which I need to do more often); other times I'm location scouting for a specific project.  Because each band I work with is different, I prefer their promo pictures be different as well.  Sometimes a band has something in mind, like they would like to find a bulldozer to use in the scene (ahem, Southern Train Gypsy).  So I will set out, sometimes for hours and hours, looking for that perfect spot.  It's all worth it; just look at this gem! 

My last scouting event took me to Deep Ellum.  I thought I'd shoot a bit along the way and document my trip, for no other reason than self-amusement.  Also, for the record, any shots taken from the car are without me looking.  I basically picked up the camera and aimed without looking.  I'm not that kind of asshole driver (I'm just the 'get the hell out of the left lane while only going 70' asshole driver).   (Stupid side note... I am probably going to change my Tumblr theme, although I like how clean it is... but when I want to make a wordy blog post, it only allows for smaller photos.  Bitchass, I want these to be seen with the full 1200pixels wide....OK... /end photographer rant.)

Oh-so-familiar Main St. / Elm St. Exit:  You make me smile every time.  

Here's a spot I found for the Blameshift photos a few months back:

...also the location of my favorite outtake shot...

So I made my way to parking over in Deep Ellum and set off on my search for anything that might strike my fancy.  Before I could even get out of the car, this photo opp happened.  I wish he would have stopped at Reno's or something, because I really wanted to know how the fuck he climbed up there.  If anyone knows this dude, tell him I want to ride his bike.

From there, it's a LOT of walking.  Lots of shooting.  I have a great app on my phone called Map-A-Pic that makes location scouting a lot easier than back in the day when I would take a picture, write it down, and eventually lose the sheet of paper (or the entire notepad) that the location was listed at.  Then I'd visit Google Maps and go cross-eyed trying to find that exact spot.  

Sometimes I find a spot that I maybe wouldn't use for a band, but would be great for my portraiture business.  Tell me this wall isn't adorable.

Then sometimes, even though rain is NOT in the forecast, it freakin' rains.  Evan Andrews (Fox 4), you're about as accurate with the weather predictions as a blind person trying to hit a bulls-eye in darts after 5 too many margaritas.  So guess what I got to do when it rained unexpectedly?  I tucked my camera under my dress and ran to my car (those pictures are NSFW).  Determined to make the best of my situation I continued to shoot in the car...good ole' random shooting from the driver's seat.  

Screw you, rain.

Even did a little slow-shutter speed action.

These guys weren't prepared for the rain, either. It was REALLY cold rain, too, which was weird considering that it was an otherwise nice, warm day.   Again, Evan... bro... you're slipping.

These friendly folks just wanted to see where JFK was shot.   Eh, I'm assuming they're friendly.  They could be total assholes.  Either way, they, too, were not expecting the rain.  Evan, you owe us all an apology.

So with my wet dress & hair, I headed the hell out of Dallas.  If any of you live in DFW, you know that when it rains in North Texas, people automatically become worse drivers.  There is something about these clouds' drops of love that makes everyone drive incredibly slow and ride their breaks.  I understand.. oil...water...slick...but sweet jeebus...

THIS guy...50mph in the left hand lane, brake-riding the entire time, with the next car up about 5 car-lengths in front of him.  He and I could never be friends.