Kelly Davidson Studio (Blog)

Family photo shoot

2012-02-28T10:45:00.005-05:00

I have a friend from high school, Karen, who has 4 ADORABLE kids. They came up to Boston a few years ago and we took a bunch of family photos. This year I went down to CT and spent a few hours photographing her and her kids hanging out, playing, jumping, and attempting to sit still.

George Clinton at the BPC

2012-02-23T18:18:00.004-05:00

George Clinton Meets Berklee (at the Berklee Performance Center Thursday, February 16)

Shot for the Boston Phoenix (see this week's issue, page 22, 23) and online: here!

I even photographed Emily's Flat Stanley at the concert!

Gloria Estefan

2012-02-16T13:34:00.002-05:00

Shot at Berklee Performance Center during the BTOT conference. Gloria Estefan was the keynote speaker.

BU's Winterfest

2012-01-31T17:23:00.002-05:00

My 2nd assignment for Boston University was to cover certain aspects of their big Winterfest event.

Here a few features from the day.

(all images shot for BU Photo Services)

BU Bridge

2012-01-25T14:59:00.002-05:00

I met with the creative director at BU yesterday to show her my books and random clips so I could start freelancing for my alma mater. She told me to go shoot some features on Comm Ave and come back next week, so I spent the remaining 30 minutes of daylight on Comm Ave photographing skaters and bikers and then headed home, determined to get something interesting on a boring stretch of street that I have walked a million times as a BU student. It can be done!

Today, as I was about to head over to start shooting, I got a message from the CD and got an assignment to take an environmental portrait of a professor at the general studies school. Yay! It was a specific shot they were looking for... her surrounded by students racing by... showing her steady in the bustle of the school.

I can't share those photos yet, but here I took on my way to the shoot... on the BU bridge.

It all just brings back so many memories...even though I've lived in the area since I graduated, I don't often walk around there... just drive by.

Kenji Nakayama

2012-01-14T15:45:00.002-05:00

Last week I photographed Kenji Nakayama for the cover of the Boston Phoenix. Check out Chris Faraone's article here.

Check out Kenji at this link: http://kngee.com/

And here are some outtakes from the shoot.

Rule, the band.

2012-01-05T14:25:00.005-05:00

Another fun band shoot.

I photographed the band Rule for the (potential) cover of the Boston Phoenix. We shot for about an hour in FREEZING/windy conditions outside of the Charlestown rehearsal spaces at 50 Terminal St (where I used to rehearse with my old band Naked On Roller Skates).

The band is awesome. The shots are fun. But...didn't make the cover. See below (LEFT is the cover that didn't make it. RIGHT is the cover that exists on the newsstands):

Inside the Phoenix is this, nice and big:

The full article is here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/132059-class-of-2012-bostons-12-best-new-bands/

And... as for outtakes, here are a few:

New Portraits

2012-01-03T16:30:00.002-05:00

I've been a busy little shooter lately.... and I'm so behind on posting!

I photographed an author in NYC in late November. We walked around the High Line and a cute spot right on the Hudson River. But my favorite shots came from the last spot we picked which was just a closed garage on 19th st at 10th avenue, right under the High Line. Here are two of my favorites.

And just yesterday I had a fun last-minute shoot with a friend who is also an author now and needed shots for the catalogue and possibly the book jacket. We shot right in my backyard and parking lot.

An afternoon with the Emery family

2011-12-12T16:48:00.003-05:00

Author photo for the Phoenix

2011-11-17T15:54:00.003-05:00

This is Joseph Zaitchik, 87, who just wrote his first novel.
I photographed him for the Phoenix this past weekend at his home.

Boston Phoenix article here:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/arts/130019-first-time-novelist-at-87-umass-professor-josep/

Family

2011-11-15T14:29:00.002-05:00

Sue and Amy and beautiful baby Kellan.
November 5, 2011
near General Bancroft's castle
Groton, MA

Another Jade Yoga ad

2011-10-26T11:20:00.002-04:00

This past spring I flew out to LA to photograph 2 yoga instructors for Jade Yoga. This is Sara Ivanhoe on her bike near Santa Monica Pier.

These ads run in Yoga Journal Magazine.

Sunrise in Luray, VA

2011-10-25T16:17:00.002-04:00

Suzanne and I drove down to Luray, VA to photograph our friend Greg's wedding. We all went to Boston University together... graduating from the photojournalism program. I hadn't seen Greg probably since we left college in 1999... but we see each other on facebook. Good ol' facebook.

These photos are from 7am when we hit the road to drive back to Boston on Sunday. Twelve hours later I pulled into my parking lot in Cambridge. Ahhhh. But this moment, right before the sun peaked out over the hills when it was still foggy and quiet on the roads was my favorite moment of the weekend. Maybe event the month. It was magical.

Phoenix cover story - Hearing Voices

2011-10-24T17:47:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday Kristen, the Phoenix art director, Sarah, the writer, and myself took a trip out to Western Mass to photograph Marty for this week's cover story.

We didn't have a lot of time, and we were late in getting there, so all the images I had planned in my head with interesting lighting and mood couldn't happen. So, I abandoned those shots, and just photographed Marty while she talked with Kristen and Sarah and used natural light while we hung out just outside of her house. I think it worked out perfectly.

Here's the story: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/128668-voices-carry/

Easton, CT

2011-10-24T17:40:00.002-04:00

I stopped by my parents' house in Easton, CT on my way down to Virgina last week. Thursday, after a jog around the neighborhood (my first run on those hilly country roads since years ago!), I took my camera around and snapped some pics with the idea of the Easton Arts Council photo show that happens every year. Every year I mean to shoot in Easton and contribute to the exhibit, and every year I fail. The photos are due Saturday, so I may fail to exhibit them this year, but at least I took a few. Here's a link to the rest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157627940535756/

Occupy Boston

2011-10-07T13:53:00.003-04:00

Thursday, October 6, 2011
Boston, MA

OCCUPY BOSTON

Full gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157627834452794/with/6218764454/

A new Jade yoga ad

2011-10-06T12:53:00.002-04:00

I shot this on the pedestrian bridge between Memorial Drive and Storrow Drive near Harvard University.

Cambridge Detail

2011-10-04T18:01:00.003-04:00

On a recent walk with Ms. Sasha Beans Davidson, I brought my camera and 50mm/1.4 lens. It's been a while since I've shot with it. Usually it's in the shop (years ago I think I purchased a lemon) and other times I just get annoyed at the scratchy sound of the focus ring. But, it's just a sound. It works on manual focus (minimally on auto).

For years I only had a 50mm. It's still the only lenses I have for 2 film cameras I still own (Canon AE-1 and the Nikon F100). Maybe I shot with it so much that I needed a break from it...but I might be back.... it's fun to use. Although, really, I'd sell it for a 35. I think I would like it just a little wider.

I think I'll keep shooting with the 50mm for now, on my walks with Sasha anyway. It's light. It's fun. And I want to keep shooting details of my neighborhood. It's beautiful and interesting.

Here are the results of the walk. Enjoy.

Full set here.

Raytheon

2011-10-03T17:55:00.003-04:00

September 2010 I photographed the MMU (MathMovesU) ad campaign for Raytheon (hired through The Boston Group ad agency).

Here are 3 of the 4 ads that I shot.

Models from Model Club Inc
Lighting rented from EP Levines
Assisted by Mike Spencer
Makeup by Honah Lee Milne

BUMC

2011-10-03T17:16:00.004-04:00

Boston University Medical Center
This project is from February, but recently thought to include it on my blog.

I worked with Peggy Pesce (independent Art Director) http://www.linkedin.com/in/peggypesce

This is the wall in the entranceway to the offices at BUMC.

Here are 2 of the Doctors highlighted.

Tomorrow's cover of the Phoenix!

2011-09-14T18:13:00.001-04:00

Sneak peek of tomorrow's Boston Phoenix with my photo of the amazing Erin Morgenstern!

Stay tuned for a few outtakes!

Bubbles!

2011-09-12T16:20:00.002-04:00

Matt and I visited my sister and her family in CT this past Saturday. Just a few hours of catching up and playing with bubbles.

B&W Mime in Concord, MA

2011-08-26T18:17:00.004-04:00

Rick Fingerman portraits

2011-08-02T18:30:00.003-04:00

I photographed the great and funny Rick Fingerman for Financial Planning Magazine at Dana Farber.
(Assisted by Mike Spencer)

This is a portion of the article.

And here are some outtakes:

Check out ALL the outtakes here.

Frank Germano's awesome artwork

2011-08-02T12:55:00.003-04:00

I did some work a while back for the ubertalented Frank Germano. Check out all his awesome artwork here (http://www.mofdesign.com) and specifically the work he did with guitars and basses that I photographed.

All photos taken at Jampspot in Somerville.

Another portrait

2011-07-27T16:30:00.001-04:00

Matt's grandmother, Lillian.

Portrait

2011-07-27T16:25:00.001-04:00

Judy Savage.

http://jsavageediting.elance.com

Berklee portrait

2011-07-27T16:04:00.001-04:00

June 30 I photographed Mor, a jazz musician from Berklee. This is my favorite from the shoot.

Fenway, Boston, MA

Another lightning storm, this time in NYC

2011-06-15T13:09:00.002-04:00

I spent a few day in NYC, split between work and pleasure. During the work portion I stayed in the Trump Soho on the 23rd floor facing Tribeca and the finanacial district.

Thursday, June 9 there was a little lightning storm, which I captured while standing in the bathtub that was nestled right in the window. Here is lightning in NYC.

Lightning storm in Boston

2011-06-02T11:49:00.002-04:00

June 1, 2011

A tornado killed 4 people in Springfield Massachusetts. About 90 miles away, in Boston, we get a spectacular lightning show, torrential rains and ominous thunder.

The news here: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/06/02/tornadoes_hit_western_central_mass/

tUnE-YaRdS at Brighton Music Hall

2011-06-01T12:58:00.001-04:00

See full gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626619266869/

Boston Ballet. Backstage.

2011-06-01T12:49:00.003-04:00

Check out the full gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626666101135/

California is for me

2011-06-01T12:09:00.011-04:00

I recently went on a very quick trip to Los Angeles. Jade Yoga hired me to shoot 2 ads for them out there, so I debated, did some math, emailed some friends, and then hopped on a plane. 2 nights in LA, why not.

I am extremely excited how the photos came out for Jade Yoga. (photos to come). In the meantime, here are some photos from the non-work part of my trip:

I took some time with this woman after the shoot. She was outside of the shop the entire time selling some trinkets and jewelry on a blanket. At the end of the day she packed up everything onto her bike and headed out. She said her name was Rasta Momma (and then went into a whole rap about it). She wanted to know if she could get a copy of the photos, but then talked herself out of giving me her PO Box.

"NOT SHOT" Story 1 - President Clinton in 1998

2011-05-24T11:56:00.009-04:00

A photojournalism professor at Boston University told us that in our careers we will shoot a lot of great photos, but the one we'll never forget is the one we missed. The shot that would have been perfect, had we gotten it.

So, I'm starting a series of blog posts about would-be shots. "NOT SHOT" is a photo that could've been, but isn't, but that I will never forget about.

The first shot I remember missing was a big one.

President Clinton vacationed on Martha's Vineyard every year, he probably still does. In the summer of 1998 I had an internship at the Vineyard Gazette doing design work for their tourist guide and shooting whatever assignments they would give me for the weekly newspaper and the monthly magazine. I spent HOURS in the darkroom, sometimes overnight, shooting as much as I could, and celebrating my last summer before graduation.

I had 2 assignments regarding Clinton's vacation on the island. The first was to cover his arrival at the airport. I stood amidst the press pool, roped off almost a mile away from Airforce One realizing that I had amateur gear among seasoned professionals. But, I still got a decent shot of the gratuitous baby-holding and hand-shaking. The other assignment was to cover the press that invaded the island, who had set up in the parking lot of the elementary school in Edgartown, and were there covering the president's vacation. That assignment I shot on color slide film and it ran in the Martha's Vineyard Magazine. My first magazine shoot ever.

So, the shot I didn't get wasn't an assignment. It wasn't anything that needed to be taken or was expected to be taken, but I think it would've been famous.

The shot was a vertical frame of the Clinton family sitting at the window table of a fancy restaurant, Bill looking down, Chelsea with her arms crossed, and Hillary looking away. The light was nice, the body language was interesting, and given that at some point that week the video-taped confession of the president's innappropriate behavior with Monica Lewinsky would be released, it seemed pretty historic and important.

The shot was in my framed in my viewfinder because I WASN'T on assignment that day, which means I wasn't cordoned off with the rest of the press on the sidewalk across the street from the restaurant, I was just walking around, trying to think of where I could get a good shot without having any credentials or other access, and I knew about a path that led beside the building. I didn't realize they would be sitting right at that side window. I was shocked, and then psyched, and then as I focused my manual lens and tried to keep the camera steady for the slightly long exposure it would require, someone blocked my lens, pushed down my camera, and told me I couldn't be there. Secret Service.

I didn't get the shot.

I didn't get the shot.

Crop.

2011-05-13T16:34:00.004-04:00

I hardly crop my photos. I understand the need to crop as a graphic designer, to fit a photo into a design (I do it all the time when designing cds for musicians), but as a photographer, I have always tried to crop 'in-camera.' If it's not a great photo when I take it, I don't tend to crop it to make it better. It's either a tight shot, or it's not.

But, lately, I've been talking about cropping and, well, found myself in a situation where I could see how a simple crop could make an image stronger, and so I did it.

Where are my ethics? I don't remember ever being told I shouldn't crop. I just remember being told not rely on cropping to make my photos good. Take a good photo. Period.

So, I photographed the head of public safety at Berklee yesterday, and towards the end of the shoot he was walking me around the future offices of the department of public safety, and there we were, in a tiny cement room in the basement of the Mass Ave building, and I snapped 4 quick shots of him while he was talking about the plans and how we were standing in the future utility closet. He didn't pose. I didn't set it up. I just picked up the camera, snap, snap, snap, snap, and we moved on. When I got home, this is the shot I had taken:

It's a fine photo. It's exposed correctly. It has a cool feel. He reminds me of Leslie Nielsen in Naked Gun. But the flourescent light above him is too hot. It would be fine to keep in there if he was lit separately from it and the flourescent light was exposed correctly and not blown out. But it was a quick shot, and the light doesn't work in it.

So, I cropped it out:

The cropping didn't change the photo, it just made it a stronger portrait. There's less discraction. It wasn't a huge crop, I didn't make it a vertical photograph, or changing the weight of the photo (the 2/3rds rule), I merely kept the dimensions of the original and brought it in tighter until the light (distraction) was no longer in the photo.

So, I guess I don't think cropping is evil. Do I wish I had made that crop in-camera? Yes. Am I mad I had to revert to cropping? No. I'm actually glad I saw what the improvement could be with a crop, and didn't just trash the photo because it wasn't good enough.

I won't be cropping left and right now. But I won't be so verbally against it.

Tolerance. It's such a good thing to learn, and practice.

(There are plently of questions about the ethics of cropping. I don't think I would ever crop away 2/3rds of my photo like this: http://www.john-zhu.com/blog/2009/09/17/photo-cropping-ethics-a-designers-view/)

3000 miles. 495 photos. 40 fruit snacks. 9 gigs. 8 days. 3 bands.

2011-05-04T18:30:00.010-04:00

I wish I could really write what 'touring' is all about. ('Tour' being 1 week in a van with 6 boys and 5 other girls driving out to the midwest and back).

All the photos from the tour are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626641645112/with/5685388160/

I only mid-tour learned that the POINT of the tour was the Daytrotter session (which is just an awesome thing to learn).

So... the tour. Where to begin. (First, is it 'tour' or 'the tour'? I remember having this discussion with my friend Jenn from high school about it being 'prom' or 'the prom'.)

Anyway, this should probably occur in sections.

THE VAN.
Maybe even the van can be broken down: van etiquette. van smells. van conversations. van seating. van radio.
Hmm, I'm sure there's more.

REST STOPS.
Is that its own topic? Or under Van? I can't be sure. Coffee on the road can be an entire chapter (if this became a chapter book. I would need to find an illustrator).

MOTELS.
Quality Inn vs. Econolodge. (And then there was that one Quality Inn that obviously used to be an Econolodge.) Jizz. Bloody spots on pillows. Pillows that are obviously just a handful of cotton balls. Cat smells.

VENUES.
Some are cool. Some are skank. Most are at least more than a little gross. Especially the bathrooms. (But of course I have pooped in almost all of them. All except Iowa City because there was no light in the girls room, and Pittsburg because I didn't want to be murdered.)

MUSIC.
The actual product we are performing and selling... Golden Bloom is totally growing on me. The last song of their set is incredible. Shawn's positive energy is infectious. (There is no way I could've been "Tour Dad" and have done all that driving and organizing and playing in 2 bands every night and still smiled, at all). Boby Bear told me once, "Personality is 90% of the game." Shawn has that.

DAYTROTTER.
This was the craziest and longest day of the tour. We were in Rock City, IL where both bands did a live recording session, and then we had to drive SO many hours (6? I forget) to Indianapolis to do the LaundroMatinee session at a random awesome spa. The Daytrotter studio was small and boring, although I didn't really know what to expect, I hadn't heard much about it before the tour.

It is awesome. Check out their site. Right now. Tricky covering XTC's Dear God is my favorite.

Anyway, the instruments they had in the studio (and all the people who run it) were awesome! I used a cool red Gibson for my bass parts. (A Gibson what, you ask? I have no idea) We did 3 songs, and Amylee almost killed me... it was so fast and the bass was gigantic and had a big metal thing that my forearm rubbed against. I survived, but barely.

Mike, the engineer was awesome, quiet, cute slight accent. We did 2 takes of each song and then Golden Bloom did their thing and we hung out in the lounge playing Sonic on Sega (which I learned I am no longer good at) and buying up all the tshirts and hoodies (I now am a walking advertisement for daytrotter.com)

Then it was the long long drive to the video session with LaundroMatinee.

Sadly, the day ended with Taco Bell.

Things I learned on this tour:
There is an "H" in Pittsburgh.
You can make a bowl out of a carrot and call it a 'vegtabowl.'
There are mega stores in the midwest that look like a Kohls that are called The Christian Store.
Boston is so small.
Chicago is awesome.
Earplugs are the greatest invention, ever.
Most boys have issues peeing in a toilet.
Sitting in someone else's pee is disgusting, but not life-ending.
Bring your own personal pillow.
Pittsburgh has fans, Cleveland too!
I love traveling, especially with friends and strangers with a common goal of music and fun!

Check out the bands I toured with:
The Michael J Epstein Memorial Library
Golden Bloom
Neutral Uke Hotel

Check out Daytrotter:
www.daytrotter.com/
Check out LaundroMatinee:
www.laundromatinee.com/

Some Phoenix 'Best Of' Pics

2011-05-04T12:31:00.004-04:00

The Boston Phoenix had their "best" issue recently. (Check it out online here: http://thephoenix.com/thebest/boston/2011/).

Shag won for Best Women's Haircut

Here are some outtakes from the shoot at Shag:

Walter Sickert won Best Artist

Here is an outtake from the shoot:

Death Wish Movers

2011-04-08T13:14:00.002-04:00

Death Wish Movers, shot for the Improper Bostonian.

Anthenaeum portrait in the Phoenix

2011-04-05T11:45:00.002-04:00

Before I left for my week-long, awesome, photography-filled trip to austin, tx during sxsw, I had a portrait assignment for the Boston Phoenix at the Anthenaeum. I had never been... all I knew about it was that there was an Edward Gorey exhibit somewhere in there.

Kristen and I headed over, took some photos of the chief conservator there, James Reid-Cunningham. The story is about a water leak/flood that happened there, and all the preservation that had to happen. You can read the article here

outtake of James Reid-Cunningham

Another Boston Phoenix cover

2011-04-01T17:13:00.005-04:00

Here is the current cover story for the Boston Phoenix
(check out the sotry and another photo here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/life/117923-cambridge-author-caleb-neelon-traces-graffitis-hi/?rel=inf)

(check out Caleb's site here: http://calebneelon.com/)

The Boston Phoenix cover

2011-04-01T17:00:00.002-04:00

The cover of last week's Boston Phoenix was my photo of the band Girlfriends from SXSW.

Check out the band here: http://girlfriendstheband.com/

And a crowd shot from Austin Music Hall during the Village Voice party (which inlcluded Wild Flag, Fishbone, Wu-Tang Clan...)

Check out the article here: http://thephoenix.com/Boston/music/117590-ood-the-bad-and-the-indie-boston-may-have-/?page=1#TOPCONTENT

SXSW 2011 recap

2011-03-30T15:45:00.024-04:00

This year was my 3rd trip down to Austin, TX for the big South By Southwest music festival. I went as part of the Boston Phoenix crew, flying down with Design Director, Kristen Goodfriend and staying a few days past the festival to recover, and fly back cheaply!

Before we even got into Austin, KG and I ran into friends at the airport! Mike, Sophia, and Glenn. Glen was filming them the entire week while they pretended to think they were at Stamp by Stampwest, a stamp collecting confering in another state's Austin.

Hilarious.

We got right into the drinking and the music (even though the music portion of the festival didn't start until the next day, Wednesday). We went to Emo's (ran into Kevin Hoskins, formerly the booker for the Middle East Club in Cambridge) and saw some music. Here's a shot of the crowd:

I think the most exciting thing about Tuesday night in Austin was the realization that for the next week I would be wearing tshirts, and not 8 layers of hoodies and jackets and gloves and scarves. Summer weather in March...that's what SXSW is all about!

We ended the night locating the RVIP Lounge (the RV that drives around Austin during the festival with karaoke and snacks and drinks.) It wasn't too crowded and Kristen got to sing One Night In Bangkok for everyone!

All the pics from Day 1 can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626323671372/

Day 2: Wednesday, March 16

The Boston Phoenix threw an unofficial showcase party at Klub Krucial from noon to 6... with bands like DOM, Hooray For Earth, Girlfriends, The Seedy Seeds... and a mid-show break with the great Eugene Mirman.

My friend Kathy was in town from Boston visiting family and stopped by the party:

One of my highlights of SX... Eugene introduced me to Carrie Brownstein of Wild Flag (more importantly to me, of Sleater-Kinney, a band I have been a huge fan of since Dig Me Out was released in 1997!) Of course, standing next to Eugene with my billion pounds of camera gear, it looks like I'm following him around as the press or papparazzi, but we shook hands and I might have swooned a little. "Nice to meet you, Kelly." Um... nice to meet YOU!

I missed the Wild Flag show in Boston before the trip to Austin, so I made sure to see them as much as possible during the week. I think they played 6 times. Maybe more. I caught 3 shows! (one at a bike shop, one opening up for Wu-Tang Clan and Fishbone, and one great outdoor one at the awesome Mokawk venue). Check them out, it's Mary Timony from Helium and Carrie and Janet Weiss from Sleater-Kinney, and Rebecca Cole from The Minders. http://www.facebook.com/WILDFLAG

Day 2 ended with Emo's again where some of the Phoenix peeps and I saw OFF! and Bad Brains. I scooted when they started playing reggae.

All the pics from day 2 are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626201231861/

Day 3: Thursday, March 17

St. Patrick's Day!

More Wild Flag!

And Ghostface Killah from Wu-Tang!

All the pics from day 3 are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626341729058/

Day 4: Friday, March 18

Berklee College of Music had a showcase that I was hired to photograph which included the bands Stereo Telescope

and Aloud

who I was SUPER psyched to finally see! And, I met the cutest pup in the whole world (Besides Sasha, and Ghillighan, and Fiona, and a few others....)

This is Monkey who belongs to the nice girls of Black Kettle.
After the Berklee party, I got to see a few bands at the Sub Pop showcase and then made my way over to the hottest place on earth (seriously, the hottest room at sxsw was the IFC House) and see Liz Phair!

Then back down 6th to see Eugene perform again.

And ended the night with Matt flying in to town and us all going to catch Peter Buck playing bass on a small stage with some other notables in the group The Baseball Project. (unpictured, Mike Mills who was in the audience).

This is the moment I realized that all celebrities pretty much know each other. Somehow. Mike Mills' cell number is in Eugene's phone. That. Is. Awesome.

All the pics from day 4 are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626374024022/with/5568467737/

Day 5: Saturday, March 19

I got to judge brisket in a BBQ-off! It was for real, sanctioned and overseen by the LoneStar Barbeque Society.
Here are the chefs!

Admittedly, I have only had brisket once in my life prior to judging, but I still think I did a good job! :)

Eugene's friend Chet (who's parents own the ranch where the BBQ was) took us on a tour of the land and we saw awesome animals and finally I got to see a part of texas other than 6th street. Hill Country.

Here's my favorite cowboys, well, BBQers, really.

When I got back into town after a full day of BBQ and shooting the Berklee part of the party, I met back up with Matt and Eugene and saw Sean Lennon perform with the drummer from Deerhoof and then eventually Yoko Ono.

We didn't stay too long past the first song (when I had to stop taking pictures anyway). It was fun to see her close up. Scary trying to manuever out through the overpacked bodies in the small room.

All the pics from day 5 are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626262901263/

Sunday was the last day of the festival. I didn't shoot any music. Can you blame me? (My ears are still recovering from the week of music!) I took some portraits, walked around town, had the most amazing sushi dinner ever, went shopping for cowboy boots, checked out Waterloo Records.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626388114904/

Monday was more walking around and random food adventures. Hot tub lounging and margaritas.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626263205543/

Tuesday was actual boot purchasing and the flight home!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157626263227635/

The entire trip is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/collections/72157626323696934/

Portrait for the Phoenix

2011-03-04T17:07:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I photographed Courtney for the Boston Phoenix. It's an interesting story that is hard to sum up.

Read The Whole Article Here.

Wedding album

2011-02-24T15:12:00.002-05:00

Last year I photographed Fulani and Gigi's wedding at Marliave downtown... We finally got around to making an album!! Here it is!

MMU ad campaign

2011-02-02T11:18:00.002-05:00

This past fall I won the bid to photograph 4 images for Raytheon's MMU (Math Moves You) campaign that The Boston Group created. Sarah Beth took these photos of 2 of the ad banners at Patriots Place. They can also be seen in Defense News and other defense-related magazines.

Old Jack, the press shot

2011-02-01T19:28:00.001-05:00

Old Jack, check them out here: http://www.facebook.com/oldjackband

see all the photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157625955905146/with/5408077915/

3 KutRoc records artists

2011-01-27T14:14:00.003-05:00

Sunday I shot 3 KutRoc artists, Kitarah, Mateo, and Maverick. Here are some of the pics. Check the music out here: http://kutroc.com/

Behind the scenes video from a shoot

2011-01-24T17:43:00.006-05:00

Yesterday I photographed 3 musicians (Mateo, Kitarah and Maverick) at Boston Studio in Framingham.... here's proof.

and here's an outtake: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/5383434036/in/set-72157625725506708/

Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker

2010-12-22T12:18:00.003-05:00

Last week I was asked by The Dig to shoot backstage at the Boston Ballet for their FOTOBOM section... and after only minimal hesitation, I said yes. And I'm glad I did....

Here is the article:
http://digboston.com/experience/2010/12/all-the-way-live-backstage-with-the-boston-ballet/

All of the images are on flickr... below is just a small edit. The experience was sad and beautiful and surreal and exhausting all at once.

I took ballet for a teeny tiny bit when I was really young, about 4 or 5 years old. I remember showing up late and having to go to the next class which was an older, advance class. And showing up with my hair down and getting reprimanded. I remember these negative aspects of the experience. I have no memory of ever actually doing ballet.

My fondest memory of ballet is of wearing a frilly pink tutu and twirling in some random parking lot over and over and over again, thinking I would wear a tutu everyday if I could, I thought it was so beautiful.

Her Campus

2010-12-17T15:56:00.002-05:00

Here is a page from the Boston Phoenix about HerCampus.com, with my shot that ran with it (and some outtakes)

kiddie fashion shoot

2010-12-15T12:44:00.002-05:00

This past weekend I had a super random, and truly fun(ny) shoot. A friend of mine asked if I would do a fashion shoot with his daughter and a few of her friends for her birthday.... this is what she wanted, at 7 years old, to feel like she was on America's Next Top Model. I think.

We set up at Hi-n-Dry (the new space is really cool, but really, nothing could ever compare to, or capture the magic, of Mark Sandman's loft.) I had a black backdrop and one alien bees strobe/umbrella. the background was a mess 2 seconds into the shoot, all wrinkled and falling over... but instead of worrying about all that i just kept shooting. The kids were having fun. They had different outfits and makeup and nail polish and were dancing around to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Some new yoga images....

2010-12-02T15:22:00.002-05:00

Last week I was in LA shooting an ad for Jade Yoga. I was there for a total of 24 hours, shot at 2 locations (these are from up on the hill near the Hollywood sign) and then dinner, one drink, bed, and flight home.
Talk about a quick adventure!

These are pics from a shoot with Coral Brown in Jamestown, RI for Jade Yoga.

Tommy Tune at the Intercontinental Hotel in Boston

2010-12-02T15:09:00.003-05:00

I had a random shoot for Playbill/Panorama Mag yesterday with Tommy Tune. It started at the Wang with 2 of the Rocketts, and ended at the Intercontinental with Tommy posing in front of his artwork that is on display there.

Dresden Dolls at the Cloud Club

2010-10-27T16:12:00.003-04:00

about a month ago i ran into amanda at yoga near my house and she told me that her and brian were getting back together for a reunion show at the wilbur in november.

nice. i haven't seen them play, in, well, years.

so, after we stretched it out in glen's amazing class, she asked if i would come over when brian got to town and photograph one of their rehearsals. yes. so i did so yesterday.

here are some pics from their practice. the shows are at the wilbur on nov. 2 and 3.

the full set is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157625249250292/with/5119207166/

Leah, headshots

2010-10-08T15:03:00.003-04:00

an old high school friend...middle school friend... wait, elementary school friend... lives close to boston, and so i visit and take pictures of her beautiful daughter for her first comp card.

Boston Phoenix cover

2010-10-08T14:59:00.001-04:00

Literary tattoos...and my portraits.

and an outtake from the shoot:

GRC Boston in the Boston Phoenix!!

2010-08-27T14:15:00.002-04:00

read the article HERE!

Play Ball -charity cruise

2010-08-27T12:54:00.005-04:00

July 14th I photographed a charity boat cruise for Play Ball (playballfoundation.org). Here are some of the highlights.

Girls Rock Camp Boston 2010

2010-08-26T15:02:00.006-04:00

girlsrockboston.org

My first week of August was spent photographing Boston's 1st Girls Rock Camp! Girls age 8 to 16 went to camp at Spontaneous Celebration in JP to learn instruments and be in a band, write songs, screen print tshirts and then have a showcase at TTs. 9 bands! Everyone was awesome...and inspiring.

The Saturday of the showcase I spend all afternoon shooting the concert, and then headed next door for a show of my own, wearing a Cupcakes tshirt (one of the GRC bands) on stage! Totally inspired.

For full set of images go here: www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157624689443257/with/4930381568/

Jay Z at the Boston Garden

2010-05-04T14:42:00.002-04:00

march 11, 2010

Tea Party Rally in Boston

2010-04-15T16:28:00.003-04:00

April 14, 2010
Sarah Palin and the Tea-Partiers (and the protesters)

Painted Bird Tattoo

2010-04-06T12:45:00.002-04:00

Painted Bird Tattoo shop in Medford.
Tattoo artist: Elize

www.thepaintedbirdtattoo.com/

sxsw portraits

2010-03-23T12:48:00.001-04:00

sxsw Wednesday 3/17

2010-03-20T04:04:00.001-04:00

Damien Marley and Nas

Spoon

Keegan Dewitt

sxsw Tuesday 3/15

2010-03-18T14:07:00.003-04:00

check out www.thephoenix.com/sxsw for all the pics and video and articles on sxsw!

RVip

2010-03-15T23:03:00.003-04:00

RVip
twitter: @rviplounge

karoaoke on an RV driving around Austin during sxsw. Good times!!

sxsw day 2

2010-03-15T22:46:00.000-04:00

sxsw day 1 sunset

2010-03-14T20:34:00.001-04:00

sxsw day 1

2010-03-14T19:43:00.002-04:00

Interactive badge in hand I made my way up the conference center escalator to the Digitas party I was hired to shoot. (twitter tag is #sxswmatchmaking)

Yoga Journal Magazine Boston Conference

2010-02-28T17:37:00.001-05:00

I just got the assignmnet again to photograph Yoga Journal Magazine's yoga conference in Boston. It's in April. I'm psyched!

Here are the shots I did for it in 2008: http://www.yjevents.com/photos/photosboston08/index.html

Ryan Landry's Phantom of the Oprah

2010-02-01T20:40:00.003-05:00

Ryan Landry is doing it again... ;)

This Friday is the opening for Ryan's new play Phantom of the Oprah at Machine. You can check it out at his site here and you can buy tickets here.

I'm sure this will be amazing, just like Death Of A Saleslady, Pussy On A Hot Tin Roof, Silent Night of the Lambs, Who's Afraid of the Virgin Mary, A T Stop Named Denial... and so on.....

Here are just a few of the photos from our shoot Friday night.

Pilates pics for the Improper

2010-01-06T12:16:00.002-05:00

December 22 I photographed Sarah Carr and Pai-Ling Yin from FitLAB for the Improper Bostonian (http://improper.com/). The issue is out now (check out pg 9!) The studio is in Cambridge and it rocks.

http://www.fitlabpilates.com

Here is the shot that ran in the Improper and a few outtakes:

Sasha in the snow!

2009-12-20T13:28:00.003-05:00

The Cliks in Cambridge

2009-12-17T16:03:00.003-05:00

The Cliks (thecliks.com) played the Middle East downstairs this past weekend. The new line-up includes Brian Viglione from the Dresden Dolls (and Star Matters, ::wink wink::) and Tobi Parks... and the show was awesome. Here's a few pics from the night. (The full set of photos are on my Flickr site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157623007869584/)

I love this band. I love Lucas.
check out the new video: Dirty King Video.

Phoenix portraits

2009-12-08T15:11:00.004-05:00

Last week I photographed 2 bartenders in Cambridge for the Boston Phoenix article on whiskey:
http://thephoenix.com/Boston/Movies/93969-Drink-like-Don/

Here is Scott from Rendevous:

And Emily from Green Street Grill:

Holiday Pet Portraits Dec. 5th noon-2pm

2009-11-25T17:07:00.003-05:00

Come on down to Bark Place at 1721 Washington Street in the South End (near Mass Ave intersection). Between noon and 2pm on Saturday, December 5th I'm setting up a holiday backdrop for you and your pooch. (Can be just pup, or human and pup).

$15 gets you 1 hi-res image emailed to you for personal reproduction and an online gallery at www.printroom.com/pro/kellydavidson where you can order prints or holiday products.

check out Bark Place at: www.barkplacesouthend.com

(Check out past pooch portraits from me here: Bark Place Halloween shoot)

New Moo cards

2009-11-19T11:31:00.002-05:00

I finally ordered more business cards. I think I've been out of them for months. I find a few here and there, in old bags or in a pile of other peoples' cards, and I've handed out a few of those, all bent and scratched...... so it was about time!

All new images.
Now I have to start working on my book (Blurb.com) .... That's been on my list for 2 years now. Wow. Time really does just fly by.

Lovewhip

2009-11-12T18:54:00.004-05:00

These pics were originally shot for The Noise for this month's issue, but weren't used. It was a fun rooftop shoot in JP with Emily Lombardo as my 'flash bitch.' (fun to shoot, a pain in the ass to bring the light kit up there!)

I'm super happy about these, kind of sad they won't be published anywhere.

Sasha and Memphis... in the 'studio' again

2009-11-05T23:32:00.003-05:00

I had to photograph a bunch of hats for Reebok so my livingroom became a little photo studio for a few hours...and before i broke it all down i grabbed the kids and took a few frames ...

Portland, ME

2009-10-15T13:17:00.003-04:00

I went up to Portland, ME yesterday to shoot the "fieldtrip' for LOLA magazine. These are some outtakes from the day...

the day started off rainy and grey and ended up being beautiful!! freezing but beautiful!

Duane Wrecking

2009-10-09T15:37:00.004-04:00

I had a shoot on Monday for Toby Duane from Duane Wrecking (well, my new friend from the Pho Republique). His company is tearing down a bridge in Dedham and Monday there was a big chunk being removed and he wanted shots of it for his website. So I went down there and wore a hard hat and bright safety vest and pretty much had access to all of the construction site. Here is a small edit:

http://www.duanewrecking.com/

the full edit of this shoot is on my flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157622405211231/

Autumn in Boston

2009-10-03T22:13:00.004-04:00

Here's a shot from the Mt. Auburn Cemetery. I had never been there but had to photograph it for the Harvard Resource. Here's a shot of the tower from which you can see all of Boston... it's pretty cool.

The shots below are from the medium on Soldiers Field Road in Brighton. Just cool light and cool leaves.

Mateo and Amanda

2009-09-29T23:22:00.004-04:00

It's a CAMERATHON!!!

2009-09-23T13:13:00.003-04:00

http://www.etchedonfilm.com/camerathon

Come check out the Camerathon page and donate to my cause and get some nice prizes. Read the story, and help a girl out!

more portraits

2009-09-10T17:09:00.001-04:00

I photographed my friend Sarah last month...in my kitchen (i love that orange wall), around Boston, and at the beach.

Here are some outtakes.

Kids keeping cool on a steamy Boston day

2009-08-18T20:32:00.004-04:00

Here are shots from Sunday afternoon at the new space between the waterfront and downtown, I never knew there was such a cool fountain there. (well, not as cool as the one at the christian science center).

Chris and Erin rescue Pepper the pup

2009-08-18T13:45:00.009-04:00

On Saturday I went up to Hudson, NH to document my friends Chris and Erin pick up their pup Pepper (formerly known as Minnie). They rescued her from Arkansas through a rescue organization up here (finding her on petfinder.com), and picked her up in a Walmart parking lot from the transport guy who brings up the puppies and dogs who are adopted up here.

There were a lot of dogs on the truck, with a stops in CT and then NH to drop them off. Here are pics of a few of the dogs meeting their new owners, and of course Chris and Erin meeting Pepper, and promtly bringing her to Bark Place to get a flea bath!

for all the photos from that day, go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157621951761053/

Boby Bear (outtakes)

2009-08-09T17:21:00.002-04:00

This is an outtake from the Boby Bear shoot I did for The Noise (shot in my kitchen like the one of my Mom below).

Mom

2009-07-08T17:56:00.001-04:00

photos of Provincetown, MA for Stuff mag

2009-07-03T13:57:00.004-04:00

On June 16th I spent the day in PTown with my pup Sasha and my friend Cathy taking pictures of various scenes and stores for Stuff Mag.

The "Day Tripping" article is here, more photos are in the hard copy: http://stuffboston.com/stuffboston/archive/2009/06/29/day-tripping.aspx

Here are some of the shots that made the edit and some that did not.

Copley Sqare, Boston

2009-06-22T11:56:00.002-04:00

I shot this a little while ago. I was walking home through Copley Square and I looked up in between the John Hancock building and the hotel beside it ... and this is what I saw.

Upcoming Exhibit

2009-06-20T08:08:00.000-04:00

weekend in ct: day 1 (the highlights)

2009-06-15T20:06:00.010-04:00

i was in redding, ct this weekend hanging out with my favorite girls...and their kids. it was the first time jess and jenn and everyone got to meet sasha. i introduced her to everyone, and after she had a hyper crazy night getting into everything, she relaxed and just played and enjoyed herself with the kids. sasha is GREAT with kids. i wasn't sure if she would be since i've only had her for 2 months and am not around kids up here in boston that often. but she was amazing, i am SO proud of her.

here is theo's approach in the front yard.

here is sasha, posing pretty for the camera from below the back deck. she is so happy in the country.

jess hanging out on the back deck with stephen feeding theo in the background.

upclose and personal with theo during dinnertime. notice sasha foraging in the background. she had the most human food she's ever had in her life that hour.... she learned quickly to stick near theo when it was feeding time!

jess' shoes which we had a minor debate about....i still think they are slippers.

jess and stephen... consoling him after a minor incident on the rooftop

here are 2 shots of sasha in the glow of brian's flashlight. she wouldn't stay still for the 2nd shot, but i kind of like it anyway.

a link to all the pics from the weekend are here: www.flickr.com

Sasha and Memphis

2009-06-12T17:58:00.003-04:00

...posing pretty for the camera.

Lisbon, Portugal

2009-05-28T12:30:00.005-04:00

Mortuary School

2009-03-16T14:00:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago I got a photo assignment from Kevin Banks at the Phoenix to shoot 2 women in the Mortuary program at Mt. Ida.

Here is a link to the article in the Boston Phoenix.

Mackenzie Byles and Megan Peterson

couch

2009-01-29T16:09:00.002-05:00

i photographed diane Paulus, the new creative director at the ART on brattle st for the Improper. the shoot was scheduled for 2pm-3pm. i was asked to be there at 1:30 to set up.

1:30 i am there, getting the walk around to figure out where the shoot will actually take place. at 1:45 i'm told she won't be there until 2:15, so i leave, grab lunch, and come back at 2:15. she's late, still. the shooting doesn't begin until 2:50. it's over by 3.

here's the test shot for the 1st of 3 locations.

PA in hotlanta outtakes

2009-01-27T22:01:00.002-05:00

Jade Yoga Mat ad to run in Yoga Journal

2008-11-18T17:07:00.002-05:00

I met Dean from Jade Yoga Mats at the Yoga Journal's Boston yoga conference earlier this year. He hired me to photograph Boston based yogi Baron Baptiste.

We shot in front of Fenway Park, and here's the ad that will run in Yoga Journal soon...

2 rock shows THE WHO and the ORGY OF NOISE

2008-10-31T13:23:00.003-04:00

I photographed The Who the other day at the TD Banknorth Garden. Here are a few shots from that show (one of those, 3 songs only, no flash, front row)

and Bill T Miller's Orgy of Noise at TT the Bear's Place in Cambridge (full set of pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellydavidson/sets/72157608540672225/