Tim Soter… blog.

When you call me and I’m here in the office doing work, this is where I am.

This past weekend I pulled out this photo that, three years ago, I had scanned in and printed large (thanks to a friend with a really nice, giant Epson printer at her work.)

Over the years I’ve told people that part of the true excitement for me regarding photography is… photography allows you to shoot and shoot and then later figure out why you took the photos that you did.  With art you’re making something specifically to feed back to yourself and that’s not only been the appeal of photography for me, it’s been the appeal of life; creating and enjoying things with such specificity. I’ve never retired any of the things that I’ve truly loved and they still manage to bring me ecstasy and true joy… from comic books to New Order songs, well made coffee, photography… the best freedom we have is the ability to pursue, (again with extreme specificity,) the things that engage us the most and bring us the most joy. All joy occurs in your own mind. It’s nearly impossible to really share those specific loves that I mentioned and to what end?

This self-portrait (made about four years ago) actually captures all of that; made when I was high and alone and in my own head, probably depressed and wanting to escape.  It is however a great example of something made without much thought, to be “read” back later and deciphered.  Simultaneously, it also becomes a shield and an icon of power, a complete reversal of my feelings at that moment, presented as truth.  The mask I’m wearing presented by the mask of photography.

EPILOGUE:  I don’t get high any more (forecast: 80% chance of paranoia.) And, to end on a light note, this photo seems very “Clash of the Titans.”

“Hey… can I talk to you about your colon!?!??”

Perhaps you’ve seen this commercial in the past few months, I shot the print ad version for BBDO.  Marge (pictured above, name not changed to protect the innocent) must have repeated that line maybe… 150 times during the ten hour day.  I was shooting in between takes, for little two or three minute bursts, immediatley retreating after hearing the bark of “Alright, we’re rolling!”  That’s the way I like it though; I’m used to it after having my share of curt editorial shoots.  I literally had nine seconds to shoot a portrait of Daft Punk, but I’ll save that story for another post.

Marge was fantastic, I ended up shooting some quick headshots for her when we had a moment, she never lost steam and we had a shared sense of humor.  Once again, another shoot that was great due to the cooperation of everyone involved; diector, producers, etc.

Below is a screen shot of the TV ad.

ON THE NEWSTANDS NOW.

These guys were easy to work with, took direction well.  Thanks to Matt for attempting to smoke for the first time.  I have to say my only regret it that the flashlight was on for only half the shoot – I should have caught it but such is life.  “Serenity now!”
Below is a second set-up, done within the last six minutes.  And yes, that car growled like a tiger.

PHOTO: Tim Soter

Animal Collective listening party – Album: ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion.’

Location: The River Room of Harlem

I went to the above listening party last week to hear the new album.  (I had the pleasure of photographing the boys two years ago. The above outtake is from some polaroid filter fun at the end.)  We live in an era where we are inundated with “music” and I use those quotes because often the sounds we are hearing are from bands not formed by musicians, but fans of music. Thanks to cheap or free creative computer programs matched with so many generations of social networks, never before have there been so many contributors, adding to the MySpaceBook laden clutter of the “everyone’s creative and got something to say” era that we live in.  There is a new, subconscious feeling that there is a duty to creatively contribute something to the collective that is our new society, the one in which our online personalities and identities are more important that our face-to-face selves.  Few bands are able to move beyond simply being a contributor, even a good one, and exceed expectations to become unwitting innovators  – solely by working with in their terms and not adhering to the new route.  Animal Collective is one of those few.

“Am I really all the things that are outside of me?” asks Avey Tare (third from left) on the new album.  It affected me in the same way ‘Ghost in the Machine’ by The Police did when I bought the cassette off a kid in the 7th grade.  I honestly could barely get my little kid head around being introduced to an entirely new style – a dark universe of reggae rock.  I couldn’t even imagine the musicians playing it or how it would even have come about.

Here are just some other scribblings that I made on a scrap of paper that night. I hadn’t expected to write at all but couldn’t help myself.

• Scritti Politti Beach Boys church vintage tented carnival

• 70’s AM Gold hits played in Atlantis

• harmonic yodeling energy of a holy aerobic workout video

It’s funny how many times the lyric “I want to…” comes up in their work because they, in fact, are already doing it all.  Inhibition free.