Murphys Monday..... six months later

Al Barr of Dropkick Murphys sings while playing at House of Blues as part of their annual St. Patrick's Day Tour on Saturday, March 2, 2013 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Murphys are currently supporting their new album "Signed and Sealed in Blood." (David Manning/DavidManningPhotography.com)

If you've followed this blog for years, you know that I'm a fan of Dropkick Murphys and I've photographed them several times. Through a stroke of luck, I got a last minute photo pass complete with the sarcastic labeling "Out of my way, I have a fancy camera" .... Which aptly describes most concert photographers that I've met in my days.

I meant to share all these months ago but through circumstance, I withheld them until now.  More photos after the jump

Via Con Dios, Snow White

After nearly 40 years, Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is ending "Snow White's Scary Adventures"and closes June 1.  

(This means if you want to ride it, Thursday May 31 is the last day)

One of the original attractions in the park is being replaced by a princess meet-n-greet.

I decided to take a few photos and put them up here.

A little flare

Guests walk in front of Spaceship Earth at Epcot at the Walt Disney World resort on February 8, 2012 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

So I've been on a lens flare kick lately.... which means I'm on a healing brush kick to get all the damn dust out of the photos. However, i happened to like this particular one.   Probably part of a future project.

Back Porch Sessions: The Glorious Dead

Local whiskey bar Blue Sky is starting a series of small, intimate shows on their back porch. The first night featured "The Glorious Dead" and Dustin Gannon. Photos after the jump.....

Sometimes the flash doesnt fire

Athens Academy's Davis Finney, center, puts up a shot between Athens Christian's Garth Brown, left, and Zach Lillie, right, in the fourth quarter as Athens Academy beats Athens Christian in an GHSA Region 8-A boys basketball game on Friday, December 10, 2010 in Watkinsville, Ga.

Prep Basketball: Game 2, Athens Christian vs Athens Academy. Adventures of misbehaving equipment after the jump.

Shitty Candy and the Circus Peanuts at Caledonia (Back-to-School Edition)

My friends in Shitty Candy took to the stage with a smaller lineup, with one guitarist out on maternity, one dancer MIA, and a brand-new bass player. Such an event was not to be missed, even if it happened right after the opening night of high school football.

Jet W. Lee at Caledonia

While i was shooting Thieves Market at Caledonia (almost a month ago!), Jet W. Lee played afterwards.

I just tired to catch their energy. More after the jump

Los Meesfits at Caledonia

An hour after the Flagpole Music Awards, Los Meesfits went to play another show at Caledonia Lounge. I pushed my D700s as far as they would go and got a few decent shots.

For those whom are wondering, Los Meesfits are a Latin Misfits cover band, complete with standup bass, psychobilly style.

Witness the Apotheosis at Tastey World

So within the past month, I caught Athens' only real industrial band, Witness the Apotheosis, as they played Tastey World.

As usual, i aim for something thats a lot different then most concert photographers.

More after the jump

Cloak & Dagger Dating Service at Go Bar

Apparently there's a punk scene here in Athens. Who knew?

I went to Go Bar Friday night to see Thieves Market and Cloak & Dagger Dating Service were headlining. FANTASTIC.
Imagine a melodic Black Flag.

Kayaks!

I was asked to photograph a business assignment on a new, local kayak business.

This is the important part, kids. I saw an opportunity to take a daily assignment and make some neat features out of it. At the end of the day, i still take pictures for me and take photos i like.

Sursievision CD Release Party

Sursievision threw a CD release Party at Tastey World Saturday night.

Good show and fun had by all.

Gerinomo and Peaches at Tastey World

The fun part of learning & following the Athens scene is learning about new bands. Playing with Thieves Market at Tastey World were Gerinomo and Peaches. Or thats what they perfomred as.

As the intensity of the night grew, i kept shooting.

Barefoot Hookers & Adam Payne

Tyrus J. Manning III raises his arm as the Barefoot Hookers play Little Kings Shuffle Club in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010.

Opening before the Shitty Candy show at Little Kings Shuffle Club were Adam Payne and then Barefoot Hookers. (No, I'm not related to them.)

Yes, Athens wins hands down for unique band names.

Hit the jump for more...

Thieves Market!

Last Wednesday my friends in Thieves Market had a show... and naturally i was there.

Its interesting photographing/documenting a band here at the beginning, even if its my friends. The show was good, the music was the best it has sounded yet. The thing with these small venues is that the light is awful. We're talking 6400 ISO 1/30-60th at 2.8 and the lights are generally not even, causing people's faces to be blown out.

In photographing them, i have to consciously remind myself that there are 4 people on the stage and they're all very into it and makes for good pictures. If only every band gave me good photos like this.







The setlist and whiskey. I find that alcohol and photos is generally a bad combination.









The quick aftershow meeting.



I just liked this photo. Its the bassist from one of the opening acts.

Thieves Market at Rialto Room

Amber Emard of Thieves Market.

Rock and roll looks a certain way, i've said that before with my DKM photos. Rock and roll is not glamorous, nor is it pretty. Its RAW and its about emotion and the music. I want my photos to convey that and more. Trying to get something more creative then singer+microphone at 200mm is the challenge. I want to apply what I've learned about photography in all these contexts and to really make something creative out of it. ANYONE can get a photo with a point and shoot from the edge of the stage. I want something more. Context is the biggest part of photography where i think I'm failing. I want the viewer to understand what the hell

So my friends Thieves Market told me they were playing a benefit show at the new swanky Rialto Room here in town. Its a great room, good acoustics and great light. However with it being a subdued room and a small backstage area and no side of stage area, I couldn't get 1/2 of what i wanted to do.



Racking the zoom of the lens to try and streak the scene.





Side of stage. Daniel playing bass.



Post-concert sillyness and band photo. (l-r) Brett, Daniel, Amber and Ryan.



Every once and awhile, people notice me. Makes me laugh.

Rock Wall

Students climb the rock wall at the Ramsey Center on Thursday, November 12, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

I saw this while walking to another assignment. I just liked the contrast and the lighting. Didnt get exactly what i wanted tho.

Bicycle Ride Across Georgia

Cyclist Diane Crenshaw, center, is photographed by her friend Adam Shumaker, left, at Watson Mill State Park in Comer as riders with the 2009 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia leave the Athens area as part of their 381-mile trek across the state on Thursday, June 11, 2009.

Well since Le Tour isn't hiring me anytime soon, I spend 2 of the past 3 days photographing the Bicycle Ride Across Georgia since it passed through town. Its an interesting eclectic mix of casual and professional riders all mixed into one big pot of 1400 riders.

Its a lot of fun but I understand why cycling photographer work off on motorcycles.

I tried mainly to work on features and just aim for pretty pictures. All in all, a fun time had by all.








Blair Farley of Brimingham, Ala., sleeps on the bleachers of Clarke Middle School after cycling 65 miles from Mt. Airy as the 2009 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia comes through Athens on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Athens, Ga. The 381-mile ride started in Hiawassee and ends at Clarks Hill Lake on Saturday June 13th.





Cary Cupkan, of Greenville, SC., stops to help fix the seat of a fellow rider along Jefferson River Road as the 2009 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia comes through Athens on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 in Athens, Ga. The 381-mile ride started in Hiawassee and ends at Clarks Hill Lake on Saturday June 13th.

End of Month Post: Heading to Vacation

Katie Jones, mother of Judge Steve C. Jones, lays a flower on the casket of retired firefighter Louis Ford, Jr., at Athens Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Ford was the first black firefighter in Athens.

I'm going on a much-earned, much-deserved vacation.

So here's some recent stuff. I'm tired, I'm burned out, i have no idea how the rest of this year is going to go. I don't know how we're going to manage with our current staffing levels. I was listening to a sports-radio guy today who was talking about leaving his present job because he knew where he wanted to go and he couldn't handle having to do everything himself or basically knowing that he wanted to work with more people to get the help you need to reach the goals you want.

He's got a valid point. Beancounter cuts (you never see them taking cuts or putting that in a S.E.C. filing) have gotten us to the point where it endangers the quality of work thats being performed. I'm just tired of having it seem like i have to do it all myself due to disorganization and people constantly doing the jobs of two-or-three people when they get their rock-bottom pay cut.

Anyways, photos.



Jessica Miller has her wedding photos taken at the Arch on the campus of the University of Georgia on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 in Athens, Ga. Miller received both her undergraduate and graduate degress from Georgia.



ATHENS, GA. -- Alisa Goler (15), Jennie Auger (12) and Brianna Henson (8) celebrate as the #6 Georgia Bulldogs beat the #11 Ohio State Buckeyes 7-6 in the championship game of the NCAA Super Regional Softball Championships to advance to the Women's College World Series on Friday, May 22, 2009 in Athens, Ga.

Sixth-grader Malik Freeman slides down a water-slide during Madison County Middle School's attendance extravaganza on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 in Daniellsville, Ga. The day of fun and games was a reward for students who missed less than 10 days of school all year.

Tilt/Shift Baseball

Trevor Holder dodges a line-drive up the middle.

I wanted to post a compilation of some of the better T/S shots i got from earlier this season. I had a lot of fun doing it and learned a lot about photography and what i do for a living in the process.

It looks like I'm done shooting baseball for the year. Six weeks ago, Georgia looked like they were going to stomp their way into a National Seed and back to Omaha. I figured today I'd be at the SEC Tourney in Hoover, Alabama. (Florida would be a much nicer venue, IMO). That seems like a lifetime ago with it being 3 murders, manhunts and 6 car accidents ago.

I accomplished only 2 of my goals for baseball this season. Doing the tilt/shift thing and to get a HR robbing shot from Matt Cerione. Beyond that I never made it to any of the games i wanted to in April and the baseball gods have been particularly cruel to Georgia of late.



Colby May fouls off a pitch. (Which came way too close to my head)



Left fielder Johnathan Taylor. (First day of using that lens)



A pitcher warming up pregame. (Its the "Chris Detrick" shot!)




Will Harvil goofs off with a baseball.



More pregame.



Trevor Holder stretches.



Thats the Athens Academy coach laying out the batters boxes pregame with the help of their catcher.




Chase Davidson catches a fly ball.