I managed, this year, to get everyone into at least one picture. That’s the group photo in the middle there. The other photos, the portraits and action shots, were more or less random; I tried to get people doing stuff, but there were a lot of people and a lot of stuff going on. What I’m trying to say is anyone I didn’t get an action or candid shot of is my fault. Everyone was beautiful and a lot happened.
I’ve spent longer than I wanted to on this edit, too. I’ve realized that when it’s a short post, like the recent ‘Taco Bell but pretty’ post, come out really easily, almost without effort. I shoot for a short while, under a hundred raw images to edit, take the four or five that are good, and put them up. Then I write something stream of consciousness about them or what I was doing then or really anything, straight into the CMS text box like a real sicko.
Other posts, like this one, I feel an amount of pressure to ‘get it right’ because there are real stakes involved. 3-4 days shooting, a lot of feelings, things I know I missed that would be good to have, etc etc. Have to reconcile all that with what I do have and move forward. Let go of the bad pictures that cover a moment I care about. Write something good for the people I know will be looking at it. Also, while I might start with 100 raw pictures for a short post (sometimes it’s literally one photo that I just like), this one went from about a thousand raw images to 100 ‘keepers’ that were worth bringing into lightroom. The 100 keepers is the easy part, getting those to these 60 was much harder.
I could probably get this to a tighter edit, given more time, but I have made everyone wait too long already. Plus, like Sophie says, people like a lot of pictures. I was really happy with how the new camera performed; this is the first year I’m really happy with the photos from people dancing and making art.
One other consequence of doing this post 6 weeks after the event: the writing ends up being about the edit and not the thing. I should keep field notes, I guess, so I can reference what happened. Next year!
Posted by matt on 2026-09-25T00:03:56Z GMT
This was three weeks ago now, which might make you think I’m slipping on my promise to get things out in a timely manner, but believe me when I tell you the last three weeks have been absolutely stuffed with things I needed to do, so editing took a bit of a backseat while being in the moment and pushing the buttons took precedent. Like, for example, my Photography Show, first I’ve done in a decade or so. Really proud of this one. Anyway.
So I arrived and a couple people were attempting to move a piano onto a kind of upright framework. This was a baby grand piano, maybe 5-600lbs (that’s 250 odd kilos, for those that measure in saner units), on an engine hoist. The keyboard and lid had been removed, so maybe subtract some from that, but still a big, heavy object. Everybody just kind of pitched in, and Auguste, who was running the show, got on the mic and quipped that it was the first act. Somehow, they managed to get it into the framework, held in place with screws and ratchet straps, and so the show moved on, now with more space for people to sit.
pretty sure this is a bit from isorhythmics’ analog video synth. a very aesthetic pile of wires.
The first act was a duo, cello and piano, and I really should have taken notes because they said aloud the names of the pieces they were playing, and I don’t remember them. Lovely playing, both of them, together and solo.
then there was Dylan’s performance, probably the most punk rock of the evening, my dude just really wailing on that vibraphone. not punk in like the fast and electric guitar sense, but punk in a loud and emotional way. If you take my meaning.
really though, the next performance is why I should be taking field notes because I remember liking Ilya’s stuff but nothing about it at all. If I wrote stuff down that day or the next I could recall all sorts of detail, but now almost a month later? Not happening.
This was a cool analog (I think?) synth performance. I remember being slightly entranced by the whole thing. I probably should have moved around and gotten a few different angles, but I ended up with like 5 different versions of this one shot. Luckily I’m the only one keeping score.
Grant was there doing visuals for several of the acts. Despite some technical difficulties in the first act (bad cable going to a depth mapping camera if I recall correctly), he killed in the later sets.
And then Auguste themself performed, first a ceremony where they burned papers which all had ‘fuck this fascist regime’ on them by all the attendees (with music from the vibrations of the burn bowl). Then a whole set that’s hard to describe.
Antonia also did visuals for Auguste and some of the other folks, really cool stuff.
Then there was Golden Champagne Flavored Sweatshirt, who did their own visuals, synced to a live performance. Amazing stuff.
I just want to note here that there were no lights on in the room when I took this picture. The light from the projector screen and the light from their ipads is the main illumination in both of the previous images.
The last guy, isorhythmics had probably the most insane setup of the night. An analog video synth plus what looked like a bunch of other synths. Again it was absurdly dark at this point so I only got a couple frames, but what a cool performance.
Posted by matt on 2026-08-12T07:49:29Z GMT
from the set of the future hit short film. turns out with modern cameras, equiped with digital shutters, you don’t need a blimp to work silently. Although, when the scene is funny, you do have to try not to laugh. That does show up on the sound recording. Just for example
I took far too many pictures so of course this is a loose edit. It was a super fun day, shooting in three locations. I took both Leicas but ended up shooting mostly with the Monochrom, which means most of the edit is monochrome. Also I’m behind on editing again, so this one is going out sort of half baked. At least it’s done.
Anyway, we keep moving.
The lake was super idyllic, just showing off the best of oakland. It’s sort of fantastical that we live here? And can just use it (and the amazing weather) to shoot our movies?
The line for this shot: “I think I’m at the lake… Yeah, definitely the lake.”
Anyway, that is too many pictures. The next edit will be longer, probably. If I’d had more time, I’d have made a shorter edit (maybe).
Posted by matt on 2026-07-28T07:34:12Z GMT
I live half an hour from the world’s most beautiful taco bell, in Pacifica, and until last week, I’d never been. So we hopped in the car last friday after work, as I’ve been doing, and went down there to see what the fuss was about.
there’s something poetical about going to beautiful places and shooting them in crap light. This beach specifically is quite breathtaking on a good day; the surf and the surrounding cliffs make quite the view; the orange sun setting over the pacific, the whole sky filled with color. This was not one of those days.
In fact, it was super overcast. And somehow dark? We got there with about 10-15 minutes before sunset but I almost missed the photos of the sun peeking through on the horizon because I thought it must’ve passed already.
I’m still in a post-op shoe because the fracture in my right foot isn’t healing very well. I’ve got a bone growth stimulator (we’re still doing phrasing in this house) and we’ll see if it works. But for this outing I didn’t want to get the medical shoe full of sand, so I didn’t go down to the ocean. Actually me and the ocean are on the outs, seeing as how it keeps trying to kill me.
The food at this taco bell, in case you’re wondering, is the same food they serve at every location, which is to say fine. Well, it’s one of their “Cantina” locations, so you can get drunk and then get your drunk food in one convenient place. Otherwise, it’s a Taco Bell. With a nice beach. Infrared heaters on the deck were a nice touch, even with my jacket it was chilly out there.
Posted by matt on 2026-07-23T07:56:52Z GMT
sometimes I just have a few photos to share
the texture of the concrete made me stop as I was unlocking my bike and get my camera back out to get this picture. Really nice.
Then I got home and the moon was doing a thing. Earthshine visible on the dark side. Several UFOs not visible to the naked eye showed up in the shot, too (lens flares).
Posted by matt on 2026-07-22T05:18:35Z GMT
