I was recently asked by a journalist to give some input into the New Orleans night life for Modern Luxury Magazine. They wanted to know spots where "young locals involved in the art scene" would like to go. Then the email said since the magazines demographics were 20-30 luxury jetsetter that I shouldn't mention any hole in the walls... after all, where do they think New Orleans artists types hang out? After reading this I did not want to take part but I had already agreed with the writer and she was on a deadline. So, I followed through. Not with my favorite places, but of places I thought the "jetsetters" would feel cool hanging out.
I thought it would be good publicity to take part in such silly little articles. I thought they'd publish my website along with my name and maybe I'd see a spike in my web hits. Well, all I got was a label...
"Hipster photographer Leonard Lopp"
I don't quite know how to take that. Does that imply that I only photograph hipsters? That I hide out in the local hole in the wall, camera in tow, waiting for a twenty something in tight pants to order a PBR? Or, worse yet, am I the Hipster? Toting my polaroid camera from one Mod dance party to the next?
THe writer apologized to me. Apparently the editor took some liberty with the article. I thought for a minute about writing a letter to the editor but I came down with a vomiting spell that lasted 24 hours (which I think was from a vegie burger and not the hipster label).
So here's one from the hipster archive:
Thursday, January 15, 2009
no frills
Friday, January 2, 2009
rambling
Happy Holidays! Happy New Year and all that! It's been a while since I've posted. Sometimes it feels futile to bother posting but I do know there are a few out there who read this. I spent the holidays in Detroit, and yes, things are as bad as you hear. My father has basically been laid off for a full year. He turned 57 while I was home. I feel for him. To have worked so hard your entire life and be this close to retirement and see everything just crumble must be a little disheartening. He'll be ok though, my pops is a trooper. While I was home I wanted to do some quality portraits of my family. I guess I kinda chickened out. I didn't want to bother trying to get all my equipment past security and the airport and I didn't really have a good idea of how I wanted to shoot everyone. So I thought I'd save it for the summertime when the weather is nice. That way I could get em' all outside and shoot in the style I've been shooting.
Afer the jump... a new shoot with Adem (+ Ginny), nolarhythm.com, and what 2009 holds.
I arrived back in New Orleans on December 29th. It's always good to get back into New Orleans. I miss this place even after a couple of days. I'm glad the holidays are done with. It's time to settle down and get back to work. There has been quite a bit of goings on with myself and my work.
I may have mentioned a site called Nolarhythm.com before in the blog. It's still in Beta form so there's not much happening at the site itself. Behind the scenes... things are stirring. I keep a myspace account for it with a blog to keep people posted so if you want some details PLEASE check it out. December involved two meetings with a local radio station hashing out some of the details. They are excited about the idea and want to help. Now it's just a matter of convincing all the "higher ups" that this is a viable thing.
Early December I quit assisting a local photographer whom I had spent the previous 4 months with. It was quite a learning experience, for mostly all the wrong reasons. The idea of assisting is to learn. To learn photography and to learn the business side of photography. I was learning neither. It feels good to walk away from it, but the extra money was really nice. A little advice though to others who are starting to assist. Don't waste your time with photographers that you will not learn from (unless the pay is OUTRAGEOUS). You do not want to learn from someone who is unprofessional and you do not want to be associated with someone like that either. You want to learn the profession in the proper manner. So, if a situation is wrong just walk away from it and find someone else. Or focus on your work, you'll be much happier.
So, I've been thinking about producing my first "mailer" to send out to magazines. After reading about how to market yourself on sites like APhotoEditor and reading PDN I think I am starting to figure out what I want. Now, I am not out to land major gigs. I'm keeping it local for now, targeting the few local magazines we have in New Orleans. I hope to have the mailer finished by the end of Jan. and to mail them out early Fed. I have a few shoots this month that I think will add to my portfolio very nicely.
As for the rest of 2009 I have high hopes. There is still a desire for a grand adventure across america. It may happen but for now I must maintain my focus on nolarhythm, my portfolio and my photography projects involving New Orleans.
Finally I'll leave you with a couple of shots from a recent shoot with my friend Adem. It was spur of the moment but all sorts of fun. His roommate Ginny came home halfway through the shoot so we made her take part against her will. Everyone wants it in my portfolio but I think I probably have enough oddball stuff in there already. Enjoy.
ll
