Happy Campers, Pickathon 2013

Every August for the past 15 years a magical event called Pickathon takes place just outside of Portland.  Four days of music, camping, beer drinking and general good times spill out onto Pendarvis farm.  Not only is there amazing music at 6 stages tucked all over the woods but it is also the only large outdoor music festival in the United States to eliminate single use dish ware, cups (thanks to Klean Kanteen) and utensils.  Plastic free since 2010 they also compost and use renewable energy.  I was given the official job of photographic 'roamer' which basically means wander around and shoot whatever makes the event cool. See ya there in 2014.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - The Band Photos

So a couple of years ago I photographed the Jicks for Rolling Stone.  This led to band photo session number one back in 2011 with their release of 'Mirror Traffic.'  And now with 'Wig Out at Jagbags' (side note: Where do musician come up with their album names?) about ready to hit, the label decided it was time for round number two.  I will just go on the record saying that band photos are tricky and can easily veer off into the land of awkward.  Luckily, matching navy turtlenecks saved us from that fate.  Yes, I realize the irony of that statement.

MusicFest NW is Rubbish - Willamette Week Cover

You never exactly know how it is going to go with celebrities.  Perhaps spending your life with people that never tell you no can have a warping effect. Thankfully this diva mentality was delightfully absent from Fred Armisen, of Portlandia fame.  I can never decide if that show is funny or not and if audiences from Mid-Western states would want to hug me or shoot if we were ever to meet. Fred showed up as his alter ego, 70s-era punk rocker Ian Rubbish, for the shoot.  At first I was afraid that he was going to talk in a British accent for the duration.  In which case I'm afraid I would have had a hard time keeping it together, persistent giggles making it difficult to push the shutter.  But no, though dressed as Ian, Fred played himself, a very sweet, laid back guy, who was game for whatever wacky things I could think of.