Last Chance To See 600 sq mi: Hidden
Missed Connections: Gefilte Fish...and "Chain Connections"
H-Town Rock
Rock Talk, Vol. IX
If you're keeping up with us lately, you've probably noticed our keen affection for photography over the last few weeks. With last weekend's opening party of our current Photo Show exhibit at M2 Gallery, and today's DirtyFeet introspective, we can't seem to get enough of these snap happy shutterbugs.
Today, we're coming to you from Sin City. Our mission: tailing Houston-based Music Photographer, Mark Austin (a.k.a. MCA Photo). Austin has graciously invited Houstonist along to chronicle one huge accomplishment in his career. And we couldn't be more honored.
Earlier this spring, Austin was asked to cover the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA, a three day music and arts festival in the Coachella Valley. We also tagged along for this ride and witnessed first hand how Austin works, jumping from set to set, weaving through hundreds of other photographers in a sweaty pit, to get that perfect angle, or capture that iconic guitar solo.
A few months ago, Austin was contacted by a curator of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, inquiring about the photos Austin had taken at Coachella. The curator was putting together a permanent photo exhibit on Coachella at the Hard Rock. Austin was elated. All his life he has visited over 30 worldwide Hard Rock cafes, and now, being told that his photos could also hang on those same walls, Austin was both honored and floored.
The exhibit includes 40 photos taken at Coachella---a small section of over 3,000 pics. Only a handful of worldwide photographers were selected for this exhibit, many of whom are huge names in the world of rock photography.
As we tagged along yesterday with Austin, we checked in and headed straight for the exhibit. We were amazed at how large the prints were. Framed and matted, the photos are labeled with the performer's name, Coachella '07, and photographer name. Austin has five of the 40 prints on the wall, including photos of CSS, Busdriver, Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, and Kings of Leon's Caleb Followill, who ironically were playing in the hotel that night. And, oh yes, you better believe we were front row.
Austin has recently become one of Houston's most sought after live music photographers. Shooting for publications such as Spin Magazine, Paste, V Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Houston Press, Barstool Magazine, and Village Voice Media, Austin has made quite the name for himself in the music world.
This summer, Austin was hand selected out of over 300 photographers to capture Pearl Jam's set at Lollapalooza in Chicago, a dream come true, for Austin, who's proud to admit he has been a member of PJ's Ten club since the beginning---over 15 years.
Yep, folks, he's the real deal. This shutterfly is one of the biggest and most passionate music fans we've ever met. A great resource for all things happening in music, and also a true appreciator of the ancestors of modern rock. We are always amazed at Austin's ability to capture that exact moment of a performance that only a fan can truly appreciate.
Two of Austin's photos are also currently being showcased in our 1st Annual Photo Show. Boy, do we know how to pick 'em.
Austin continues to shoot music festivals and live music shows in Houston, and all over the country. This summer alone, Austin shot over 500 bands at festivals such as Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Pitchfork. He is shooting Austin City Limits festival this weekend, and plans to also cover NOLA's upcoming VooDoo Festival, the iconic Halloween music festival in the heart of the swamp, where Austin was raised.
You can check out more of his work here and here. And don't be surprised if you see him in the pits of the next live show you see. We won't be surprised if we see him on the cover of Rolling Stone.
Well we are big rock singers, we've got golden fingers
And we're loved everywhere we go
We sing about beauty and we sing about truth
At ten thousand dollars a show
We take all kind of pills to give us all kind of thrills
But the thrill we've never known
Is the thrill that'll get you when you get your picture
On the cover of the Rolling Stone
-Dr Hook
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Way to go Mark - that is awesome!!