Snowball proudly sporting a Sirsy onsy (or is it onsey?)

I’m heading out to shoot Revolution Hall’s last show-Sirsy. It’s going to be bittersweet. Even my cat is a fan! But I’m not going anywhere until I can find my SHOES…

I’ve been running since I turned 14. Sixteen years later, I can’t imagine not doing it. Running has taught me about working hard in high school, discipline in college and now – about real commitment to what’s important to me.

After my first season on the track team and placing last in every event I was in, I vowed to myself to keep on running if I improved even a little bit. I ran all summer, lost 30 pounds and began placing in the top three of all the events our coach put me in the following spring. I became more disciplined, happier and faster than ever before.

While I decided not to run with the track and cross-country teams in college, having to make that decision made me realize that working hard is good but that doing things at the right time is more important. I had to make a choice between completing the requirements of the work that came with being a double major and making practice twice a day. I chose the work, because that’s what I came to college for. Yet, I took every opportunity I could-to run.

After college graduation,  my friend Amanda and I made a pact- we’d run The Revlon Run/Walk for Women every year no matter what changed in our lives in the years ahead. This weekend was the 8th year we’d completed the run (walk). So many things have changed in our lives. She’s a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology soon to start working at Yale. I’m an ad agency AE and music photographer working on taking my work to the next level. We’re both starting new chapters in our lives. Yet, one thing remains the same-our commitment to friendship for life. Here’s to 8 years of the thing that continues to move us along-running for life!

Halestorm has the sound to back up the stage presence. They keep my ears happy and attention on shooting. They’re a photographer’s band without trying to be. Fun yet passionate and serious (all at the right times), they love their fans and their fans love them.

I have more photos of them than I would typically post. I am happy with these. I hope when they see them, they will be too. Here’s a glimpse into Halestorm’s Saturday night on stage. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

HALESTORM Favorites from 4.25.10 – Images by Julia Zave

DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL at Northern Lights in Clifton Park on 4.11.10 – Images by Julia Zave

SNOOP DOGG at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY on 4.22.10 – Images by Julia Zave

ALKALINE TRIO at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY on 3.8.10 – Images by Julia Zave

Must get for training time, a movie about Fred Lebow-the founder of New York City Marathon. Run for Your Life: http://www.fredlebowmovie.com/

And even more running inspiration can be found in The Long Green Line: http://longgreenlinemovie.com/

Why am I  posting this? Because I want them both and this is a hint. HINT!

ANTI-FLAG at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY on 2.1.10 – Images by Julia Zave

DAN BLACK at The Bayou in Albany, NY on 4.3.10 – Images by Julia Zave

Amateur, shamateur I still won! I’ve never actually won anything before except for a Fall Out Boy promotion at one of the tours a few years back. This one is one I was very excited about. I must’ve checked the PDN and Billboard sites a couple times a day, since January, for 2 months to see if the winner’s galleries were up…but they weren’t, so I gave up. Then, last week while shooting a show at Jillian’s a friend told me that she saw my pics in Billboard. With extreme surprise (I figured they’d email me to let me know it was official and when the pics would be printed) I googled my name and Billboard in the same sentence. My stuff was published in the January 16th issue!!! Looks like the winners gallery has been up for 2 months!!!

I’m yet to receive my prizes. I’m not exactly sure what they are, but I want them. I really should email John from PDN to see if he knows what’s up.  After all I def get a WHOLE YEAR of PDN and Billboard FREE! Update to come. In the meantime,here are the pics and the mystery winner’s prize list:

• Amateur Grand Prize: $1,000 cash, iPod Touch, your image published in the winners’ gallery in Billboard as well as on pdnonline.com and billboard.com. 1 Grand Prize Amateur winner will receive aManfrotto 190XPROB black aluminum tripod with new horizontal center column +Manfrotto 322RC2 horizontal grip action ball head with RC2 rapid connect 2 Amateur first place winners will each receive a Manfrotto 7301YB M-Y compact tripod with aluminum 3-way head and new angle selectors
• Amateur First Place Prize for each category: will receive a digital camera, a Crumpler bag and your image published in the winners’ gallery in Billboard as well as on pdnonline.com and billboard.com.
• All First Place winners receive subscriptions to Billboard & PDN.
• Fans’ Favorite winner will be published in the online winners’ gallery and receive a Billboard “swag bag”.(professional and amateur categories will be combined. There will be ONE winner)

One of the great things about training and running a marathon is that you always know that the day is going to come when you-start and finish the race. This may seem obvious, but believe me it isn’t, especially when you have miles to go before the finish.

Avoidance aside, it’s time to start the training plan. That means lower carbs (NO cookies) and lots of green beans on the side, then some mileage in the mornings. I’ve been seriously contemplating getting up earlier just to run, the benefit being- after 5 the list of excuses is smaller than it is when I first wake up. Plus, in past experience it’s only about 3 weeks of early morning misery before I start to revel in enjoying the sunrise and having more food for breakfast-since I already did my run for the day.  I’ve been sick lately with a pesky something or other that I call- the winter sniffly, sneezy, snotty head filled blahs. Now I’m determined to exorcise and exercise all of it out of my system. The running starts back up tomorrow. Why? Because now I have a deadline and a receipt :)

Richard Avedon’s work has inspired me since college. He made the simple details and the unattractive appear beautiful, even if it was sad or superficial. So when Chase Jarvis posted a marked up image by Avedon and a editorial comment, I was ready  with my own two cents.

A story told by Chase. “I just recently overheard a self-described “purist” photographer ranting on about how we’re all cheaters and that the photographic masters before us lacked our current luxury–even desire–to “customize” (read: manipulate/photoshop) images. It was “…all about the the composition, a beautiful subject, and a properly exposed picture”.

So, here are my thoughts…there’s always going to be someone who disagrees with you and the way you do things. Points (pun intended) like this will always be up for discussion. Avedon’s mark ups are a classic example of old school technique going new school. We used to do this in the darkroom for hours…dodging and burning. The only difference is that now we can dodge and burn and layer and add effects at our desks with the lights ON. Photography and all the tools associated with it, have never been a luxury. Photography has always been a beautiful challenge, one that Richard Avedon has mastered. Now our task is to be aware.

*Inspired by Thomas Werner’s post at the Strictly Business blog on January 26, 2010 What is a Professional?

He was fun, energetic and wore one hell of a fancy pinstripe suit. For a moment, before he started playing, I wondered what a guy in a the suit was doing at metal show at Northern Lights. He was funny, full of potty humor and good music. I was surprised, really genuinely surprised. Devin’s voice unified us with the amazing feeling of being lost in glorious sound. It was melodic, unique and energizing. I didn’t tune out at all (this says a lot because I’ve been known to read books during sets which do not capture my attention). This was my first time, hearing the mad hypnotizing and passionate music. For me, it felt like I was discovering something new, while spying on a mad musical scientist  in his dark lab filled with sound.

Oh yeah, Devy opened for Between The Buried and Me…they were there too.

and Me…they were there too.
THE DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT at Northern Lights in Clifton Park, NY on 1.29.10 – Images by Julia Zave

I met relatives and spent time with friends, who made me feel like I had never even left. I set foot on the playground, I yearned for all these years. I navigated the subway and reunited with the heart of the city. I saw the sad stares of homeless dogs and sensed their warm breath on my legs as I walked past, wanting to stay and hug them all. I hugged the pure white beauty of the birch tree. I felt the solace of a quiet cemetery in the sparkling snow. I saw what money could buy and things that it could never fix. I saw extreme sickness, poverty and wealth. I experienced the simple beauty that lies in modest living. I breathed in the humanity and savagery of it all. I remembered what freedom; safety and security really feel like. I remembered that I left as a little girl, lost; but I came back as a woman who is smarter, stronger, bolder and braver. I remembered who I was all along. So, thank you all for your support and encouragement as I made the decision to go back after 15 years.

MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Images by Julia Zave