Archive

Fink returned to London in November 2014 and performed a sell out gig and blessed fans with new tracks from their latest album Hard Believer as well as old tracks from their catalogue. It was an awesome gig in such an awesome venue and has to be one of my highlights of 2014.

Camera – Nikon D3 & D800.

Copyright Chris Lopez 2014

The Session 58 Collective hosted a brilliant night of raw music talent at the prestigious Jazz Cafe venue in Camden, London last night.  The fabulous Ilana Lorraine and brilliant Nate James introduced some outstanding talent including Dawson, Josh Kyeot, Miss Baby Sol, Alex Vargas and Ruth Royall.  Who needs mundane TV talent shows when you can absorb a night of pure talent just down the road.

The incredible Alex Vargas – Photo by Chris Lopez

Its always a good idea to recci a location before you do the shoot for real so whether its the day before or the morning of the shoot get yourself  down to your preferred location to check out the lighting, composition, obstructions, public access, privacy etc. I always take my camera with me when out and about scouting for locations, you’ll soon build up an archive of suitable locations for individual artists/genres.

This shot was a result of a recci with Julie Thompson for her album cover ‘Feeling for corners’ which was shot in Greenwich Footpath Tunnel under the Thames.  Julie and I spent the day checking out underground tube tunnels, road tunnels and footpath tunnels till we came across this location.  I approached Greenwich Council film unit and we hired the tunnel for an hour before it was opened to the public so we could get the final shots.

Nikon D3 – 24-70mm lens

Copyright Chris Lopez

A few years ago I was asked to shoot a charity event for Education Africa. Guests included Sir Bob Geldoff, Terry Gilliam and Rankin. Always worth doing things for charity when you’re not only helping the cause but getting good access to high profile people and get shots like this! Copyright Chris Lopez
Camera – Nikon D3

Education Africa charity event 2009 Photo by Chris Lopez

Let me tell you a little story.

When I was around 17 yrs old I use to take my fathers Olympus OM-1 camera out, without him knowing, to photograph my friends bands. I soon got the bug for shooting music and when asked to photograph a new band called Dirty Boots during a rehearsal at a local pub  I jumped at the chance. When I first saw this frame in the contact sheet, it was at that exact moment that I decided I wanted to photograph bands for the rest of my career.  The guy in the foreground is Henrik Takkenberg who ended up becoming my best amigo and partner in crime.  The composition, depth of field, triangles, contrast and grain make this image so appealing to my eye.  Henrik sadly committed suicide in 2008 making this image the most powerful, emotive and important image in my entire archive.  The rest is history as they say.

Nikon F2a – 105mm

RIP – Henrik Takkenberg – Dirty Boots 1994 – Copyright Chris Lopez