Up On The Roof

How does an image happen? As I've joked many times, I'm just the monkey that pushes the button. Sometimes it is just luck or being at the right place at the right moment. For highly art directed shoots, it's a little different.

Ideas for shoots sometimes happen long before they are created and sometimes they happen because of a collaboration. A lot of times I'll have a basic concept for a shoot and then I'll find a musician or group that is a perfect fit for that idea. Meeting musicians or hearing their music will spark an idea for a project as well.

I met Alex Brumel at Banjo Jim's several months ago playing a solo acoustic set. I was there to see my friend Bill Bell and was heading out. Alex started to play and I ended up staying to hear his set. I loved his music and offered to shoot his "To Bring You Home" CD release at The Cutting Room. I met his partner in crime, Janel Elizabeth, for the first time that evening, as the rest of their full band. I found out that Alex and Janel were now a duet and had an album, "The Millstone", they recorded together coming out at the same time. Now performing as Alex Brumel and Janel Elizabeth, I began shooting them live and then we moved into the studio and did some outdoor location work. We developed a good rapport (now, a friendship) and they were very comfortable with me shooting them.

For a couple of years I've been aching to shoot an urban picnic. The juxtaposition of city skyline, a filthy rooftop and a touch of old timey recreation. This pair of young singer/songwriters were perfect for the concept and were excited when I proposed the shoot to them. The rainy month or July 2009 had us rescheduling 3 times. Finally blue sky, white clouds and several trips to the roof later. We got it. Check out ahronfoster.com for more shots of Alex & Janel.

Thanks for reading.

Be well,

Ahron