Interview with Robin Laananen

Come promesso ecco l'intervista con la fotografa RobinLaananen, il suo sito è www.redhedpictures.com - fateci un giro. In questi anni ha fotografato più gruppi di quanti riesca a pensare, ha curato il layout di dischi per i TheseArmsAreSnakes e i MurderCityDevils, questa è la sua intervista:

Photo by Robin Laananen - redhed pictures

1.When you started to make photographs did you imagine so much of your work would be on music? No, I had no idea that I would end up shooting things music. I knew I loved photography and went to shows, eventually I couldn’t go to a show without being front and center with my camera. I tried a few times...I didn’t know what to do with my hands, and I’d leave feeling like I was missing something.

2. What is your choice between digital & traditional cameras, if you have one – or do you use both indifferently?

All the cameras I own are film cameras, I have yet to make the digital purchase. I love film, I use certain films for specific results and never rely on my computer for alterations. Digital has it’s place, but I think, at least at this point, that it encourages people to be lazy. It’s so bad to be at a show, watch a photographer shoot, and the whole time they’re looking at the display after every shot. Ugh. It feels like they’re missing the whole picture...yeah, no pun intended. Shooting digitally can make it easy for someone to shoot knowing they can make corrections later....cheating.

3. How many tours have you been on as a photographer? How as this experience been as whole(between good and bad times)?

I had always been curious about the road and the sacrifices made to get there... so it just happened. I ended up on my first one after a liquor-fueled conversation with a friend of mine who was leaving for tour.

I’ve been on 6 tours as a photographer, most of which I was selling merch too, to claim a seat in the van. I love touring. Even the shitty times ~ when you’ve been driving for hours, haven’t showered in a couple days, starving and wearing dirty socks ~ it’s all part of the experience. And the shitty times gives you material to laugh about later... sometimes much, much later. The part that makes me most happy is photographing the more candid times, being trusted with all moments.

It’s helped me for when I’m home too, taking photos for music publications. I definitely understand when a band doesn’t want to be at a shoot, so I do my best to make it short and painless for the most part.

All this talk about tour....know anyone leaving soon?

4. Is it easy to start\keep on working for a music publications - having to move into a city like Seattle - or was it easy?

I had no idea why I was moving to Seattle except that my brother was there, the music scene seemed alive, and the few people I had met during a visit were doing interesting things. Now that I’ve lived here for a few years, I do realize how amazing this city can be at times. It’s a big city but still small. Nearly everyone I know has their hands in a number of projects, and the music community is very supportive of each other. Music photography will always be competitive no matter where you live, you just have to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. LA or New York would be the only other choices for a move...

5. What do you think is important in taking pictures of bands playing live?

Shooting a band live as though it’s for anyone who couldn’t make it to the show, make it so people can feel like they were there by looking at the photos. Look through the lens. Take photos that almost provide the “soundtrack” (a ”visualtrack” i guess) to a band.. If it’s high action, shoot high action, but if its a band like Godspeed You Black Emporer!, well then go with more moody, don’t try to shoot something that’s not there, that doesn’t fit the band... I don’t know if that makes sense.

6. Right now which bands do you feel are really exiting to watch live - which bands are you into right now? Exciting to watch live? The bands who are still around that come to mind ~ The Blood Brothers, Death From Above 1979, These Arms Are Snakes, The Locust, Chinese Stars, Plot to Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Bloc Party, The Faint.... hmmm, there’s more... The bands I listed seem to play their best show nearly every night. No half-assing. I like more mellow stuff too like Calexico, Blonde Redhead, Radiohead (which I’ve always enjoyed live too), Ratatat, Dios, Explosions In The Sky, Massive Attack, Sade, the Zombies, the VSS, the Arcade Fire, ... I could go on forever really.

7. How big is your archive of live shows pictures? Have you ever thought about making a selection and publishing a book - something that would document your work ?

I have millions of photos. More portraits then live these days. And I would definitely like to put a book together, got plans in the works...

Thank you Robin for having this interview - www.redhedpictures.com