First off, thank you for taking the time out of your
schedule to do this interview with us. Could you introduce yourself/your choice
of art to our readers?
I'm Angela Owens. I'm a photographer in Boston ,
MA
How long have you been shooting photography and do you feel
you have mastered your field yet?
I'm not sure when exactly I got into photography. I've been
playing around with cameras since I was a kid. I started shooting shows when I
was a teenager. It wasn't until I was halfway through college that I realized
maybe I don't suck at it, and decided to get into photography seriously. I
started taking extra classes at a different college that offered documentary
photography, and then I got my Masters in photojournalism. But I don't think I've
mastered anything. I'm an idiot. I mess up all the time. Every time I look at
one of my photos I see a thousand ways I could have shot it better.
What is your current “go to” set up for shooting live shows?
With your set up do you run into challenges when it comes to shooting in a live
setting (lighting/stage setup/crowd/etc etc)?
I don't have one go-to setup, it changes depending on the
venue. For 90% of my shots at TIHC I used an 85mm prime and no flash. But when
I'm in a basement I'm going to use flash and a wide angle. Gotta adapt to the
surroundings. I wouldn't say I run into any challenges, exactly. There are
always different factors to consider, the biggest thing is where can I position
myself to get a good photo without getting in the way. Its such a bummer to see
photographers who don't follow that etiquette. Documenting the show should
never ever ever ever interrupt the show. But finding a good spot on the side is
never too much of a challenge.
Your go to shooting style based around black and white
photography, what do you feel is gained/lost with doing solely B&W shooting? Are you using stock B&W settings through your camera or do you
use programs such as Adobe Lightroom to have more control over your final
product?
There are some photos that definitely work best in color,
but I just prefer black and white. Its just a matter of personal style. I like
to play around with light and shadows, and I think those details are best seen
in black and white.
I shoot in color and convert to black and white later.
Shooting B&W through your camera really limits your options. And every once
in a while someone *needs* a color photo, and I'm not going to disappoint them.
I see a lot of people complain about “stage potatoes” at
live shows, do you feel like it hurts your shooting focus when there’s a
million random people on the stage with you?
I don't encounter that too much. Most venues I go to in Boston
don't have stages, bands usually play on the floor. The Democracy
Center
But to answer your question- if people get in my way, it's
annoying, but who cares. I want everyone to have fun, and if I miss a few shots
it isn't the end of the world. By all means, stage dive your heart out. But if
you don't serve a purpose, don't stand on the stage for the whole set. The only
time I get really cranky about it is when tall dudes stand in front of me so I
can't see. I'm five foot nothing, I can't shoot over them. And then it's
awkward afterwards when a band asks me for photos and I have to tell them that
I couldn't see them because their entourage was in my way the whole night. That
has only happened a couple times though. Usually everyone is cool.
You had the opportunity to shoot This Is Hardcore and
Damaged City Fest this past year, how were those experiences?
This was my third year shooting This is Hardcore. Joe does
such a great job bringing everything together and it always feels like a
reunion with friends that I don't get to see the rest of the year. It's kind of
exhausting to shoot 60 bands in a weekend, but it is totally worth it. Plus
there's pizza.
This was my first time shooting Damaged
City Damaged
City
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If you had to showcase your ENTIRE catalog of photos with
one live photo, what photo would you choose and why?
Ah shit. I have no idea how to answer this. Any photo of
Mindset, GIVE, or No Tolerance.
Who are your influences when it comes to photography? Do you
believe that like their work helps you strive to become a better photographer?
Matt Miller has been my biggest influence since I started
shooting shows. I think he mostly does weddings these days, but check out the
hardcore shows in his archive. His work is next level. And Alvin Carrillo is my
favorite current photographer. Seeing his photos definitely pushes me to be
better. He's got an incredibly unique style and vision, I admire his work a lot.
And obviously Glen Friedman produced some of the most important documentary
photographs of early hardcore.
Now for the most important question of this interview, you
have ONE choice of pizza for the remainder of your life. What pizza place and
what toppings from said location would you choose for your lifelong pizza?
That's too easy. The vegan buffalo chicken at Nice Slice in
Providence. But only if I get to choose who makes it. It's hit or miss
depending on who's working. One time
when I was on tour in Florida of all places I had the best vegan pizza of
my life, but I can't remember the restaurant or what town we were in. I will
always remember that pizza though. It's the one that got away.
Thank you again for doing this for us, if you have any final
comments, shout outs, or words to the readers, please include them below.
Thanks Wayne ! It
was a pleasure.
Check out Angela's work directly at angelaxowens.com
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Interview was slated to be in the next issue of our physical zine, but with that project getting halted for the time being I figured it would be cool to share the interview with all of you. Expect another interview or two to hit the site very soon.
Check out Angela's work directly at angelaxowens.com
--------------------------
Interview was slated to be in the next issue of our physical zine, but with that project getting halted for the time being I figured it would be cool to share the interview with all of you. Expect another interview or two to hit the site very soon.
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