Interview

ADAM ELMAKIAS

Lundi 25 juin 2012

Hi Adam, could you please tell us how you got interested in photography ? How did you become so close to the punk hardcore scene ? Was you already into this all before shooting all these bands ?

I started going to shows/ concerts when I was about 14-15, then got a camera by the time I was 16 and started bringing it with me to shows. I did go to a ton of hardcore shows, we had a pretty good scene in the midwest area of the states - Wisconsin specifically. You can actually see all of my old images right here. http://prints.adamelmakias.com/Other. So many shows! But yea, that is how I got started. I can't believe its been over five years now, but man I have been shooting' band junk for awhile. I got into shooting the bands well, to be honest- because I wanted to be in a band. I couldn't do anything musical of any sort, so I tried to start working in the scene, and photography became my craft. At first I had a just shot for fun, but every year it keeps growing into more and more of a passion. Over the past year I haven't shot much of my press work, mostly just candid on the road junk, that is my favorite.

On several portraits we can feel some kind of complicity between the model and you, and even some friendship in their eyes. Do you get to personally know each and every person you shoot prior to the actual shooting ?

For the most part, yes. there are a few exceptions, like maybe the shot of Steve Aoki or of Tiesto- I didn't know Tiesto very well and Steve I literally just met for a few minutes. But all the others are mostly people I have known for a few years. Most are done with natural light on the fly, then a few are with a speedlite or an alien bee set up backstage. Then when the artist has a free moment I pull em aside and grab a few pics. If I didn't know them at all then I would probably not get such serious images with them. I find that artists who I don't know often make funny/ goofy faces when i ask for an image. Mostly because they might feel a bit awkward, or not know what I am going for. It helps if people know you work before you shoot them. Its like going to a concert of a band you know and knowing all the words. You just connect with the artist so much more, it works the other way as well.

Some photo series are with a very specific thema, like the A Day To Remember

A Day To Remember

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you made in a zoo / vivarium. In these cases, who choses the themas ?

In this case the label hit me up with some ideas. They wanted a concept that portrayed the band home state - Florida. I came up with an orange juice stand, and then the day before the shoot they called me and said "alligator farm" - I honestly hadn't even heard of an alligator farm. I am from Wisconsin, it has cows, no gators. I said, cool, called a few places and eventually one got back to me and said sure! This is how it usually works, the client will give me a few ideas. Then it is my job to build off of those and see what we can make happen. That being said, almost every single shoot I have ever done has been last minute and rushed- its just how this industry is. So we don't get to do as many badass setups as I would like. The directions I am given usually aren't "Alligator Farm", but something more along the lines of "City like, no beaches, vertical and dark". Thats just because most of the jobs are quick and dirty. However when I do get a conceptual shoot, I love it. I wish I could do more! Hopefully soon.

If you could just pick one camera with one lens to a show, what do you chose ?

Man, well camera wise, I think it would just be awesome to get one that handles noise better than my current body. I have a Canon 5d right now and I am we overdue for an upgrade- honestly almost anything is better at this point. Lens…. man I love the Canon 24-70 2.8. But I think I like shooting shows with the Canon 35mm 1.4 the most. Wide, sharp, quick and simple. The downside is its a prime so I would have to be really close to the band… but I will just take that as challenge to scurry my ass right up next to my subject until i get my show.

You have an intense lot of tour dates, just like many bands (and even more than some of them). Who hires you ? Bands themselves or labels or Tour Managers ?

I get asked this questions a lot. The truth is I hire myself pretty much. Almost every tour I have done, with the exception of two- I have not been paid up front for. I rely heavily on my network of magazines and online following to help me make a living. I have a blast on the road, but I don't technically get hired by anyone. Who gives the okay? The bands, I would not be on any of these tours if the bands themselves did not enjoy my company. We get along pretty well and for the most part we are all the same age, so that really helps. Pierce The Veil

Pierce The Veil

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, A Day To Remember

A Day To Remember

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, Of Mice & Men

Of Mice & Men

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, Asking Alexandria

Asking Alexandria

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, and Breathe Carolina are the main bands I have toured with. I have also traveled with Whitechapel

Whitechapel

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, Bring Me The Horizon

Bring Me The Horizon

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, The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada

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and a few others. Everyone rules .

Personally, what are the bands you really dig ?

Well, I love all the bands I travel with because they are friends. Its like going to your sons soccer game (football in Germany? I am not sure, we have shit backwards here) I am just proud of them for doing well. Musically, my favorite bands/ artists at the moment are Bon Iver

Bon Iver

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, Macklemore, Drake and City and Color. I like chill music and rap for the most part. The Starting Line is one of my all time favorite, Number One Fan as well, but they broke up!

I’m quite surprised to see that you didn’t release a book yet. How come ?

Crap! I should! What kind of book? Visual? Written? Its hard to make money off those things so its hard to invest the time into it when I had to make a living! They are fun but so expensive to print in small quantities that its difficult to pull off. I am thinking of releasing some iPad books of my blogs, narrated and all. We shall see!

You are about to release a DVD called “The Music Photographer” (note : it came out a few days ago). What can we expect to see on this ?

Oh man, its gonna be awesome! I am so stoked, literally everything is set up BUT the dvd has to be authored- the final step. Its been almost two years in the making and I am stoked to finally be able to share it with people. The idea behind the DVD it to take people through all the content that I cover in my day long workshop in about 30 minutes, then walk them through a photoshoot, and then show them how I edit the images. The first section titled "Industry" is full of information from me, fun skits and real life example/ experiences I have had doing the things that I do. The second section follows me on a two day long shoot with A Day To Remember

A Day To Remember

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- the Alligator one. It shows my thought behind the images, the lighting, and some behind the scenes video. The last section is a full walkthrough of how I edit my images, screen recorded and voice guided by me. In addition to all this I put in about 45 minutes of additional behind the scenes footage from my A Day To Remember shoot so you could just watch how we work together. I hope people take and learn a lot from it and have a good time. Its fun, informational and 100% awesome- I promise! And for people in other countries you can just download the DVD, so no shipping charges.

You also released silicone bracelets designed upon Canon and Nikon lens, and photography pants, with pockets for lens caps, memory cards and stuff. Can we consider this as a “photograph 2 photograph” business ?

Yes! I created the Lens Bracelet® and Photography Pants. (link to http://www.lensbracelet.com and http://www.photogrpraphypants.com). The Lens Bracelets® were originally supposed to be a photographer to photographer business card but took off a little more than expected. I have put a lot of time in to them over the past few years and now they are sold in many places all over the world. Its great! The pants are still in their early stages, but hoping to get those off the ground a tiny bit more soon as well. There is definitely a huge market for photographer products, and as long as people love the products I am down to keep making them.

How can onr get your products in Europe ? Do you have some distributors here ?

yes! We have a bunch of stores for the Lens Bracelet® see them all right here. http://www.lensbracelet.com/stores. I think my prints also ship out of country. Prints.adamelamkias.com. The pants however, are USA only- shipping is too pricey!

What do you like to shoot except musicians ?

At the moment, nothing. I am currently venturing into new areas. I have plans to do some personal work in the next few weeks and I am stoked to get this going. I leave for Warped Tour in a month so not much time, but we shall see. My personally views are pretty extreme so I had been hesitant in the past to shoot them as I didn't want to lose clients, but now I realized that the true clients won't give a shit, and will stick with me. So here goes nothing!.

What is the best advice you could give to a junior music photographer ?

Shoot shoot shoot, and keep shooting for yourself. Its easy to get caught up and keep shooting what people are hiring for, but I have found that if you get burnt out its best to switch it up. Otherwise your craft will quickly become your enemy and then what is left for you in life? Also, networking is just as important- it gets you everywhere in the industry! Thats the main key to getting hired, so keep track of your contacts and never send anyone an e-mail that is longer than a paragraph- thats your best way to never get a response.

TU AS AIME ? PARTAGE !

Rescapé de la scène hardcore underground de la fin des années 90, Erik a lancé Shoot Me Again en 2004 avec Julien, un autre gamin hyperactif de l'...

Rescapé de la scène hardcore underground de la fin des années 90, Erik a lancé Shoot Me Again en 2004 avec Julien, un autre gamin hyperactif de l'époque. Ecumant à eux deux les salles les plus improbables lors du lancement de ce webzine, ils se sont rapidement entourés d'autres camarades de jeu pour renforcer l'équipe. Aujourd'hui concentr�...

Rescapé de la scène hardcore underground de la fin des années 90, Erik a lancé Shoot Me Again en 2004 avec Julien, un autre gamin hyperactif de l'époque. Ecumant à eux deux les salles les plus improbables lors du lancement de ce webzine, ils se sont rapidement entourés d'autres camarades de jeu pour renforcer l'équipe. Aujourd'hui concentré sur le développement du site, il est moins présent sur le front. ...

Rescapé de la scène hardcore underground de la fin des années 90, Erik a lancé Shoot Me Again en 2004 avec Julien, un autre gamin hyperactif de l'époque. Ecumant à eux deux les salles les plus improbables lors du lancement de ce webzine, ils se sont rapidement entourés d'autres camarades de jeu pour renforcer l'équipe. Aujourd'hui concentré sur le développement du site, il est moins présent sur le front. ...

Rescapé de la scène hardcore underground de la fin des années 90, Erik a lancé Shoot Me Again en 2004 avec Julien, un autre gamin hyperactif de l'époque. Ecumant à eux deux les salles les plus improbables lors du lancement de ce webzine, ils se sont rapidement entourés d'autres camarades de jeu pour renforcer l'équipe. Aujourd'hui concentré sur le développement du site, il est moins présent sur le front. ...

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