The Last Concert

We went out in style for the last concert at The Photography Room...it was an amazing show. We had a good turnout of people on a very snowy night in Grand Rapids.

We took this photo in a quiet moment after everyone had left. From left to right is amazing singer Jonathan Kingham, me and my now infamous scarf, my lovely wife Kathleen and the great Glen Phillips.

Time now to turn to a new and exciting chapter. We are most grateful to Glen for coming back to Grand Rapids and playing the gallery one last time!

A Letter Slipped Under The Door

Some of you may have read this week that my wife Kathleen and I have decided not to renew our lease on The Photography Room after nearly 7 years there...we're closing at the end of December. It is a wonderful space, we loved our time there and we have many accomplishments to celebrate.

But the reality is that I've always had a very busy schedule shooting commercial photography and making short films. But when push comes to shove, even I can't do everything...trust me, I've tried ;)

So I was feeling a bit melancholy this week after the press releases went out and Chris Knape from The GR Press wrote a brief but very nice blog entry. I've bumped into all kinds of people this week and they have been so gracious and kind in making a point of saying that The Photography Room will be missed and it was an important part of the art world here in GR.

On Saturday, I was grabbing the mail at the gallery and found the letter pictured above slipped under the door. Although I'm not exactly sure why it's anonymous, I certainly appreciate the time it took to write me and the effort required in hand delivering it...so to whoever wrote it...thank you.

So please join us on December 4 for a big celebration with a fantastic concert by Glen Phillips...it will be a very fun evening! You can order tickets here.

Glen Phillips Returns...soon!

Glen Phillips (formerly of Toad the Wet Sprocket) is coming back to play The Photography Room on Thursday, December 4. His last show in April was sold out and a big success...

This night will be extremely special (for a lot of reasons) and you won't want to miss it!

You can purchase tickets via this secure online link...it's very simple:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43560

See you at the show!

Umm...you need to watch this

Willy Porter is unbelievable...it's as if he plays guitar with 4 hands. I can't wait for his show on November 9 at The Photography Room.

Check out this video...imagine being a few feet away...and order your tickets here:

Willy Porter Concert - November 9

Wow...I've wanted Willy Porter to play at The Photography Room for about a year now and it's finally going to happen!

Willy Porter

Here's the link to order tickets (only $20!) from Brown Paper Tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/45164

Our capacity is only 120...so there isn't a bad seat in the house. Willy has a tremendous and loyal following and this is sure to be a very special evening!

Here's a video of Willy playing "Available Light".

And here is "Flying":

Glen Phillips Concert - December 4

My wife Kathleen and I are pleased to announce that Glen Phillips is returning to Grand Rapids to perform at The Photography Room on Thursday, December 4.

Glen's show with us in April was sold out...here's a video. I still keep bumping into people telling me how amazing his performance was (you truly had to be there).

Here's the link to order tickets. We are using a new (and better) online ticket broker and you'll will be receiving physical tickets in the mail:

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43560

See you at the show...you won't want to miss it!

more concerts coming up

We're almost ready to announce two REALLY great concerts at The Photography Room. One in November and the other is in December.

As soon as we have ticket order information up and running I'll blast out the word. But you won't want to miss either one!

Here's a look at an earlier performance last spring at The Photography Room with Glen Phillips...an intimate setting and not a bad seat in the house.

Sunday - Night Photography Workshop!

I'm conducting a night workshop this Sunday night from 7 PM - 11:30.

After a some basic instruction at The Photography Room, we'll head out with a small group.  There is still space available.  

The cost is $75...includes lots of one on one instruction while shooting the night skyline in downtown Grand Rapids.

Shoot me an email at brian@photographyroom.com if you'd like to come along and I'll send you all the details!

It's a Big Lake

Lake Michigan is truly an incredible body of water. Having lived near it nearly my entire life, I sometimes forget how awe inspiring it can be.

Last month I began shooting a series of photos based in part on how BIG the lake is...and in effect...how small it has made me feel at times.

I have an idea for an exhibition of large scale prints at The Photography Room a little later this year or early next. This small blog photo won't translate the scale I plan to blow these prints up to...but I was intrigued enough to share one of them here (it pictures a very lonely sea kayaker)

...and please pardon the watermark (nothing personal :)

Lux Land Concert was great

Lux Land performed at The Photography Room to a wonderful audience last Saturday.  It was a truly great show...quiet, moody, soulful and rich.  Lux was joined by slide guitarist extraordinaire Dan Matheny (of The Verve Pipe and Brian Vander Ark) and his contributions were fantastic.

We're currently in the process of booking some incredible national acts for the fall.  I can't wait to make some announcements in the next few weeks.

Night Photography Workshops - Dates Announced

Here we go!  After a long two-year absence, I'm very pleased to announce two special night photography workshops this summer.  We'll be shooting two different stretches of the river downtown in case anyone is interested in attending both workshops.  

If you know someone who might enjoy shooting with me, please pass this link along to them. My workshops are open to all skill levels (beginners to advanced amateur).  Here are the dates:

Sunday, June 8

7:30-11:30 PM

Location: Museum Row, Lighted Bridges and Hotels along the Grand

or

Sunday, August 3

7:30 - 11:30 PM

Location: 6th Street Bridge and Fish Ladder

Group sizes are small; only 15 participants in each class.  The cost is $75 for each workshop and includes some refreshments.  A tripod is necessary and the workshop is open to both digital and film cameras.  After you sign-up I'll email you a detailed itinerary and further instructions.

Our workshops go like this, we meet at the gallery for the first hour to discuss technique, exposure and composition.  Then we head out as a group to the pre-determined location to shoot the sunset and then full blown night images as it gets progressively darker.

It's a ton of fun!  I'm your guide and personal instructor, bouncing from student to student chatting and helping you make some really cool images at night!

Give it a try!   Send me an email to reserve your space soon.

Back to Photography - Workshops!

Whew...I've definitely felt more like a music promoter than a photographer recently. I'm certainly not complaining but...HOLY COW...the last couple months of concerts, film premieres and shooting a concert DVD had me wondering where my fantastic day job had gone!

Actually, photography didn't really slow down at all, I just added concerts to my plate of fun things to do. Crazy? Yes...but FUN!

But it did get me thinking about other FUN things...I still get a pretty steady stream of emails this time each year inquiring about whether I'll be doing more of our popular summer photography workshops. But my busy schedule the last 2 summers had put these fun gatherings to talk and take photographs on hiatus.

So I'm excited to make a pre-announcement (is there such a thing?) about some very limited night photography workshops I'll be organizing in June and August. Basically our workshops go like this:

1. We meet at the gallery for an hour to look at some night photographs I've taken as well as go over some technical tips for shooting in the dark
2. And then, Viola! We head out into the night for 3 hours of shooting the lighted bridges, museums and hotels along the Grand River.
3. I'm your personal guide and instructor...and I bounce around from participant to participant chatting and helping you make great night images.

Sound FUN? If so, just shoot me an email at info@photographyroom.com and I'll make sure you get first dibs on the information and scheduled dates...no obligation. I'll probably only do a total of 4 workshops this whole summer so we should have a good turnout for each.  Oh, and even if you're not interested, pass along this page link to a friend who's a shutterbug!

I should be able to roll out the official dates next week sometime...so stay tuned!

Ryan Montbleau Band perform "This"

Ryan Montbleau Band stopped by The Photography Room on Thursday...incredible show.  If you missed it, let's just say you missed an amazing band.  Here's a clip of Ryan performing "This":

Ryan Montbleau Band - "This"

Glen Phillips at The Photography Room - Video 2

Glen Phillips at The Photography Room - I Still Love You


I only made one song request when Glen Phillips performed at the gallery...he was gracious enough to accomodate me even though he said he hadn't played it in a very long time.

The video's a little shakey at the start (people passing by) but from the sound of the song, it's seems to me like Glen pulled it off without a hitch!

The song is called "I Still Love You" and is off of his "Mr. Lemons" album released a couple years ago...it's a great record.

Review of Glen's Show in The Grand Rapids Press

John Sinkevic is an excellent music critic for The Grand Rapids press. Check out his blog for a review of Glen's show last night as well as The Photography Room as a music venue:

http://blog.mlive.com/soundcheck/2008/04/glen_phillips_takes_a_walk_on.html

Glen commented to me last night that he thought the audience was really great and the whole night was special for him and his opener Jonathan Kingham. My email has been burning up today with nice compliments from people who came to the show..so thank you to everyone who came out and supported the show!

Glen Phillips Show - Incredible!

Man...it's very late (or early) and I'm still buzzing from a truly stunning show at The Photography Room with Glen Phillips and his amazing opener Jonathan Kingham.

The show was sold out and people were very happy to see Glen in Grand Rapids playing in such a small room. After the show I was approached by so many people telling me how much they loved our listening room. One person said, "These concerts at The Photography Room are the equivalent of watching your favorite artist play in your home...only with with a few extra friends you don't really know yet!"

Well said...that's the idea entirely. And with that I'm off to bed!

PS - I'll post some video of Glen performing tomorrow at www.myspace.com/thephotographyroom

Next week - all music at The Photography Room

Well, next week is huge for The Photography Room as a (very) small concert venue.  We prefer to call it a "listening room"...a place for great performers to play in an intimate and unique environment.

We start off with a huge bang on Tuesday, April 8.  I can't believe this guy is dropping into downtown Grand Rapids to play our gallery.  I'm talking about Glen Phillips, a very established performer with three critically acclaimed solo albums to his credit. 

Glen is formerly the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket.  Unless you were living under a rock or on an extended Peace Corp assignment in the 90's, you know (and probably loved) Toad. If you don't have tickets already, better hurry and order tickets on this link.  There's only about a dozen left!

Then on Thursday, April 10, I'm very pleased to welcome a great band out of my brother's neck of the woods (Cambridge, MA)...The Ryan Montbleau Band. Unfamiliar with them you say??  Just check out their music here.  

They are a band that is emerging very, very quickly due in part to their tireless road schedule. They are going to be appearing in studio on WYCE (88.1) with host Pete Bruinsma on Thursday, April 10 at 4:20 PM to promote the show at The Photography Room.  Thanks, Pete!

Even if you are unfamiliar with their music I'd encourage you to come see a band that could break out big...and soon!  Tickets are only $12 via this link (yep, you read that right...only $12!)

So off with a bang we go...hope you can be there to join us.

Lux Land Concert - Saturday, May 17

I'm very pleased to announce that Lux Land will be returning to The Photography Room for her third performance in our gallery. Her last show with us was about a year ago and that, quite frankly, is way too long to wait to see Lux. Her last concert was a smash success.

Tickets for the show on Saturday, May 17 are just $12 and available via this link. Better order soon, Lux has a wonderful fan base that grows exponentially with every gig she plays. Only 120 seats available!

For the record, I did not take the photograph above (I'm still working on forgiving her). But I do love the image...just beautiful. I can't help but wonder what she's writing about (perhaps a journal entry on how happy she was with how the shoot was going?)

But I digress...see you all on May 17!!

Glen Phillips Tickets Now On Sale!

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket) is playing The Photography Room...OH YEAH!

Glen Phillips - Tuesday, April 8 at 7:00 PM

Follow this link to ORDER YOUR TICKETS ONLINE. I suspect they will go quickly!

Our venue is one of the best places to take in a concert...take a look at our MySpace Page and check out the videos of artists playing in our space!

new MySpace page - The Photography Room

To help the gallery book additional concerts as well as private parties, I've created a new MySpace page for The Photography Room. So if you are a MySpace member, please add us as a friend and feel free to leave a comment.

If you're not a MySpace member you can still check out the page and add it to your favorites. I hope the new page will keep people updated as to what shows we're booking there as well as posting photos and videos of performers in the space. Here's the link:

www.myspace.com/thephotographyroom