April (Filming) in Paris

This phase of 2013 is a slight departure from what I am normally involved with.

My brother was hired to shoot a film in France, and haphazardly sent me a text message one day saying, "Hey! you should come to Paris with me and be my AC (assistant camera operator)"... to which I thought for 2 minutes and replied "...ok, I'll go."

It was that random.

So over the last couple of weeks I've been in the process of moving into my new place, had a wedding to shoot, and filming & editing for another video project... all while planning a trip overseas. A month-long trip, no less.

With a bag (full of clothes and equipment) and a backpack (with a camera, lenses, laptop, chargers, hard drives, etc.) I caught an 11-hour flight to Paris earlier this week to meet up with my brother and our writer/director, who were coming in from the first round of filming in New York.

We are staying in Gentilly, in an art studio owned by Keith's friend Jonathan (an artist/art-history professor here in France). Each room is full of giant canvases, sculptures, prints, lithograph equipment, paint, and chemicals.

Sprinkled in are laptops and power cords. There's even a full (real) human skeleton assembled in a wooden closet in the room where I sleep:

We have 3 weeks total to write multiple drafts of the script, cast our actors, run rehearsals, plan shooting schedules/times, and scout locations. Our days so far have consisted of a LOT of walking around Paris and jumping from train to train, with our "down-time" being filled with script revisions and read-throughs. We have cast our lead actress already, but still need to fill a few other roles.

Keith & Kevin discussing the first draft of the script

It's an experience, for sure. Sometimes tiring and stressful, but so far it's been a lot of fun. Filming starts tomorrow.

Changes for 2013

It's been nuts lately.

It's currently 3:30am and pouring rain... and I love it.

I just wrapped editing for 3 wonderful weddings. I was flown to Las Vegas to work with a country artist on a video project (the guitar player on his record is also the guitar player for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill), finishing the rest of the video shooting and edits this week, shooting a wedding next weekend, and then flying to Paris two days later to work on a film with my brother.

THEN, after 3 weeks of filming, I'm headed to Istanbul by myself... just because.

...oh, and somewhere in there I have to move from my apartment to the condo I just bought. Ugh.

So check it...

My good buddy Todd is a painter, and graciously took a day off work to help me paint my new place.

...11 hours of painting, sore/swollen hands, and 150lbs of paint. Here are some before/after photos:

Subtle, but lighter ceilings and darker walls

flare

bathroom flare

It's my first time as a homeowner, and as you can see I decided to spice it up a bit.

So what about the rest of my activity?

Well, I went to Las Vegas to work on a project with this guy. Was treated to too many drinks and a little VIP action in the process:

I also did some lovely wedding work, like this:

yours truly... scouting the location.

It's been fun. And stressful. But I think a new life starts soon!

Hope all of you are well :)

-Clay

2013 Off to an Adventurous Start

Happy New Year!

I know, it's February now... but I've been a tad busy. Not including hunting to buy a condo and dealing with my car being fussy, let's start from the most recent events:

After waiting 15 years, I FINALLY got to see Ben Folds Five play live at the Warfield in San Francisco. My brother had literally waited half of his life to see them as well, so he drove up from Los Angeles to join me.

(and if you weren't aware, Ben Folds Five just reunited last summer after splitting up in 1999)

Not only did I see the show, BF5's kind publicity people granted me media access as well. So I was a happy camper Thursday night. Here are a few photos:

Ben Folds Five at the Warfield in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster

Ben Folds Five at the Warfield in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster

Ben Folds Five at the Warfield in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster

Before this, I was enlightened to the fact that rock guitarists are still being created when we interviewed/shot Tyler Bryant for theFIVE10.com. This kid (who is seriously the next Stevie Ray Vaughn) already opened for Aerosmith and Slash, and is featured in the rock-photographer documentary Rock Prophecies. It's been a long time since I've seen someone play guitar like this:

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

...and before that, I had ventured to Los Angeles to see my brother, check out Abandoned Pools at the Viper Room in Hollywood and shoot a wedding for a producer friend of the family. Congratulations to Sean and Laura!

Sean & Laura wedding in Pasadena, CA

Photo assistant for the day, my brother. Keith Lancaster.

So there are the 2013 highlights so far! Things start kicking into gear a bit more in February. Hope everyone else is doing well.

-Clay

Pearl Harbor Day - Capt. NG Lancaster

Today is the 71st anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I'm kind of a WWII buff, but today is significant because my grandfather (Capt. Norman Lancaster) was serving on the USS Phoenix in Hawaii on the day of the attack. He also lived close to the Pentagon (could see it from his kitchen window in his high rise apartment building) and witnessed the Sept. 11th attacks as well. Both occurred around his breakfast time, so I used to joke that he's no longer allowed to eat breakfast.

He died last year just before turning 97, and is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC with my grandmother.

Thanks to him, and everyone that takes on the task of defending our country.

Grandpa (center)

Grandpa's ship (while he is aboard) sailing past the wreckage

Grandma & Grandpa (Florence and Norman Lancaster)

General McArthur aboard Grandpa's ship (USS Phoenix)

Capt. Norman G Lancaster

Funeral at Arlington National Cemetery last Fall. We (my family) in black on the left.

He is also in these segments on the History Channel about Pearl Harbor. In this one, he's at 1:12, 2:38, and a particularly chilling comment at 6:27:

Holidays, Photos, and Festivities

Hey!

Ok... so I did, in fact, neglect November. In my defense, I was busy with Thanksgiving (family in town), my birthday, a wedding to shoot & edit, and a few other activities.

Here's some fun stuff from the last month:

Sarah & Thomas had a beautiful wedding in Pleasant Hill, CA

Congrats to Sarah & Thomas

My brother and step brother came to visit for Thanksgiving. This is the "portrait" we took for our parents.

Keith had to shoot car stills for a project, so we took this Jaguar out to Treasure Island (across from San Francisco).

Our view of San Francisco when we were done with the shoot.

Ventured in to San Fran to the Aquarium. That's just a bunch of fish over my head.

...then my birthday happened. (FYI that's artwork I created for The Family Crest. Incredible group.)

Later on my birthday, at a city professionals meeting (hence the name tag). I don't know who's idea the cake was, but thank you! I also don't know why my eyes are ridiculously blue.

And it's only December 6th! We got a whole month ahead of stuff to do (if you know me, you know how much I love Xmas time). 

It's gonna get packed, so if you want to book something, you need to do it now! I have some trips to SoCal coming up, a wedding to shoot in San Francisco, a trip to Reno, a promo shoot to do, potentially a video project, various events to make appearances at, people to see, and that doesn't even include the shoots I'll be assisting Jen Cash with.

So speak up if you need me! Happy Holidays everyone.

Happy Halloween!

Hi folks,

So I'm updating this on the last day of October, which means... I technically didn't neglect you this month! Ha!

Oh, and it's Halloween :)

Hope all is well with you. There's a lot changing in my world at the moment, which accounts for the missing posts. But I do have some fun stuff to share, which includes an evening shooting The Hives as they came through Oakland, CA at the Fox Theater, and a beautiful wedding with a lovely couple at Fort Mason in San Francisco. So let's not beat around the bush any further.

Lyssa and Allen's wedding at Fort Mason, San Francisco

Lyssa and Allen's wedding at Fort Mason, San Francisco

Lyssa and Allen's wedding at Fort Mason, San Francisco

The Hives take center stage at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. Photo by Clay Lancaster

The Hives take center stage at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. Photo by Clay Lancaster

The Hives take center stage at the Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. Photo by Clay Lancaster

Everyone please have a fun and safe Halloween! I'll be out and about. You may have seen me in 1985, or 1955, or 2015. I jump around. Known to go Back In Time...

"Gimme a milk... chocolate..."

Marty McFly costume this year.

- Clay
claylancaster.com

The Way It Was (Nostalgia)

This really has little to do with my photography work. It can kind of relate to the weddings I shoot, though.

I write and shoot for theFIVE10.com (a music webzine). After observing new albums myself, analyzing comments left by our readers, and even listening to my parents talk about stuff, I've come to the revelation that people don't like change. They say they do, so they vote for Obama or something. But really, no one likes unfamiliar territory. That's why the phrase "out of your comfort zone" is so prevalent.

It's a challenge for people to explore new things.

I see it in weddings: same songs for the reception, same decor, same organization of the day...

I see it in music: same beats, same chord progressions, same look, same "sound"...

My honest assessment is that most people are followers, not leaders. Look at the cell phone market. Everyone loves to trash Apple over what "the new iPhone lacks", yet they fail to recognize that NO company had an all-touch screen phone until Apple made one. Now it's simply the benchmark, and how cell phones are designed. Followers.

It's apparent that people don't like to stray from the format. They don't like change... unless everyone else is adopting it, so they feel like they fit in.

I'm guilty of many of the same feelings, and I struggle to adapt sometimes as well. I feel like current society has no sense of respect, or work ethic, or manners, or writing skills (as I post this, I just saw an article saying that reading/writing SAT scores are the lowest they've been since 1972). So even when it's cool to say something like "u r awesome" in a text message, I immediately gripe and assume those people have no language skills.

Not all change is good, obviously. But try to embrace it, and try to make it work for you. Your favorite band did an album that doesn't sound like they did 10 years ago? Try to see it for the style it is now. You're taking all of your wedding planning cues from what has been done by everyone else for 30+ years? Try creating your own way of getting married.

Hell, try creating your own way of living! (as long as you don't hurt people, that is).

A real-life example is, well, me. I saw life and career as the way my dad did it. The "practical" route, so to speak. So I went to college, got a BA in Economics, and started going after finance-related jobs. Eventually it started to kill me, because it didn't work for me. I've always been creative, so I found a new way to make a living. And now I'm the reason you have wedding photos.

For most things, there are no rules. You can explore new ideas. No one is stopping you, so do it! You might be surprised.

This has been a public service announcement from Lancaster Photography.

:)