Pretty Rad Rej: Blog

Team Work Makes The Dream Work

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 16:02:45 GMT

So I came across this blog post today. Copyright violation/misuse of images is something I've spoken on before. I tend to have a different view than the majority on the subject, but that's a post for another day. Anywho, here's the article from an Australian peer, Rohan Anderson. (Rohan is a dope name BTW.)

http://www.rohanandersonphotography.com/red-jumpsuit-apparatus-copyright-violation/

This was a very interesting read. While I feel that his approach was a little aggressive, he's within his rights. If this was me though? I wouldn't keep mentioning the lawyer. They (the violators) would just get hit with the papers. Don't talk about it, be about it.

I've yet to have a negative experience with a band/performer and I like to think that's due to the personal relationships that I have with them. I'm not about being disrespected just for a little bit of shine so I'm pretty choosy about who I shoot. Some others aren't so lucky I guess. Fiending for the flash, they should take another selfie. David Dallas taught me that.

I just try to be rad err day and it's been paying off like gangbusters. (Not sure if I used that correctly, but it sounds good.) It's somewhat flattering for a performer to identify so much with your vision of them. That being said, there needs to be a better line of communication between the parties involved so that negativity doesn't come up like it did in Rohan's case. Musicians/performers and photographers (REAL photographers, not iPhoning pit groupies) should concentrate on being RAD together. I'm not speaking for everybody in the field, but when I shoot a band/performer, I try to make them look as good as they sound. So often, they see the pictures and are amazed at how they look mid-performance. They're in that zone of performance/creativity. I don't take unflattering images. What purpose does that serve? I want us to BOTH look good. It pains me to see the contention between the talent and the photographers. Because of that, there's an army of middle men, just complicating everything. The first step is repairing talent/photographer relations is to abolish that bothersome "First three songs" rule. The good stuff doesn't happen until AFTER those warm-up songs. That's when artists are at their best. Come on guy. I'll have to write about this more later, so keep an eye out for that.

Thanks for being cool and reading this though. As a reward, look at this picture. DJ ETrayn jumping off the DJ booth at The Barbary during D-WHY's set on Huey Mack's Pretending Perfection Tour. You don't get good stuff like that during the first three songs.

D-WHY x DJ ETrayne x The Barbary (Philly)Pretending Perfection Tour 2014

New Developments

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 01:42:14 GMT

Hey whoadies!

I'm sorry it's been so long. I've been a very busy dude, building a rad empire. I'm going to keep this brief and just share the latest development. I'll be back to run down the whole month of March. There was so much accomplished that when I stop to think about it, I get a little impressed.

Anywho, yours truly is now the Photo Ambassador for Philadelphia over at Music Without Labels. That's right. ALL of Philadelphia (and South Jersey). What does this mean you ask? It means that you'll see more rad images of your favorite artists and bands. Because I'll be all up in it to win it. Check my first contribution over at MWL here.

Shoutout to the man @philosofoxthedj for recognizing a whoadie for his talents and bringing me into the MWL/Beat Play family. Making more stupid dope moves than Chuck E. AND Chuck D.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going out to celebrate.

Have this picture of YONAS in the meantime.

YONAS x Up All Night TourVoltage Lounge | Philadelphia, PA

First Blog Post

Sat, 22 Feb 2014 17:30:00 GMT

!!!

Hey. I'm Reji B. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Some of you may know me as: The Bearded Man, Young Peter Fonda, Silver Spoon Cool, or El Diablo Guapo. I answer to all of those names.

This is my first attempt at meaningfully blogging my life as a concert/live music photographer. To celebrate this momentous occasion, please accept this wonderful confetti filled photo of Hoodie Allen from his Philadelphia stop on the Party With Your Friends tour.

Hoodie Allen x The Electric FactoryParty With Your Friends Tour 2013 - Philadelphia

Did you enjoy that? Good. Plenty more where that came from. Bleedat.

I've been meaning to start this for the last two months and today is the day. They say better late than never. But NEVER LATE is better. Drizzy taught me that. But seriously, I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist and agonize over minutiae. Take this blog post for instance. I want it to be great. It's my first impression and I want it to be a great one. You'll never believe how long it took to complete this. Hours son.

I sincerely thank you for taking the time to check this blog and website out. It definitely means a lot to me. Seriously. I really mean it.

I envision the future for us being pretty rad and I hope you do too! I feel we already have a connection, like soul mates. Right? No? We will.

Be on the lookout for more posts and pictures. You won't be disappointed. And if you are? You'll be in the unfortunate minority that is apparently desensitized to "RAD" and can only garner sympathetic glances from the rest of us. So sad.

Shoutout to Just Blaze, The Diplomats, and the fine folks at Roc-A-Fella Records for providing the theme song to the inaugural Reji B. Photography Blog Post!

They don't care though.

So please, leave comments, share, and like my posts as you come across them. I'm looking forward to interacting with all of you!

Until next time, Stay Rad!