Floyd Arthur Dakil - 1945-2010

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SXSW Photographer Survival Guide

Going to SXSW is a great experience for photographers. You will probably photograph more shows in a week than you do in several months in your hometown and access is pretty open on the smaller stages. I loved my visit last year and wanted to share a few practical things I learned.

The SXSW photographer survival kit

Reusable Water Bottle -

Austin is hot and dry and you will be sweating a lot running around town with a camera bag. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, there is more free beer given away at SXSW than free bottled water. However, most venues set up coolers with free tap water that you can refill a water bottle with. Do this every chance you get. I attached mine to my camera bag with a carbineer.

Wetnaps! -

A nice little travel pack of these fits discreetly into a camera bag. When you're in the war zone and need to wipe off grease from the visits to the ubiquitous street sausage carts or Death Metal pizza, these will come in very handy. Will freshen you up better than cheap napkins and keep the grease off your camera. Also good for fending off crotch rot and for any bathroom or lack-there-of emergencies. 

Sweat/Beer Towel -

Great for mopping your brow in the sweaty Austin heat and for sopping up spilled/thrown/sprayed beer off your camera. Take one with you from the hotel room in the morning or pack a few from home.

Roll-on Sunblock -

I like this little Neutrogena SPF 30 Sunblock stick. It doesn't take up any space in the bag and won't leak. Stands up to sweat and its not greasy or slippery.

Mini Flash Light -

Either a mini mag-lite or LED keychain will help you find stuff at the bottom of your camera bag in a dark club. Last year I stayed in an Airstream trailer in a local Austinite's back yard.  That flashlight came in mighty handy finding my way and getting the key in the door.

Tylenol -

Between the sun, the beer, the sweat, the noise, the slam dancing, the walking and the standing you are going to need it.

Notebook + Pens -

There is so much going on that it helps to write out a plan for the day. I used a moleskine reporter notebook to write out my schedule but if you are more tech savvy there are a bunch of iPhone apps to help with scheduling (although service may be spotty). Check the local newspapers as they have comprehensive schedules listed as well.

Backpack Straps or Backpack photo bag-

I use the Think-Tank photo Urban Disguise 60 as my main carry around bag. They have a nifty shoulder harness accessory that hooks onto 2 D rings and the handles of the bag to give you a back pack strap. This greatly reduced fatigue throughout the day. Also think carefully about what you really need and pack as light as possible without forgetting the essentials.

Energy Bars -

There is not a lot of time to stop and eat and your choices on the main strip are basically pizza and grilled meats of varying quality. A few good energy bars stashed away will help you get through an energy crash when stopping to eat means missing a performance. Austin is the hometown of Whole Foods so you are in luck, there is a big one not too far from the action.

Good supportive and comfortable shoes, light, breathable clothing and extra earplugs-

No explanation needed.

Good Luck! If you have any more suggestions, leave 'em in the comments.

SXSW Photos Featured in Rolling Stone

Toot toot! (that's my (own) horn) Photos of Deer Tick and the Strange Boys, both bands I enjoyed a great deal at SXSW, were published in the current issue of Rolling Stone. Both bands were featured as Top 5 breakout bands from the conference and Deer Tick led the article. Which says as much about my excellent taste as my mad kamera skilz. Toot Toot!



If fuzzy photos in a scan don't do it for you, check out this earlier post with links to multiple galleries from SXSW

SXSW 2009 MUSIC PHOTOS

Riverboat Gambler's Mike Wiebe reemerging from the crowd he just destroyed.

SXSW 2009 PHOTOS - 4 days - 41 Bands

Wanted to share with you an overview of the photos made during a wonderful and hectic SXSW Music Conference.

Captions are within the galleries and I am also listing some of the highlights in order of appearance. If you are looking for something additional on any of there artists, there are plenty of alternate takes in most cases.

I'm really excited about this chunk of work, I hope you'll be able to browse through it. - Jacob

DAY 1 -

http://www.33-13.com/data/web/sxsw2009_1/index.html

Wavves - Emo’s Main - Fat Possum
Strange Boys (live and portraits) - Emo’s Main - Fat Possum
Hacienda - Headhunters
Circle Jerks - Emo’s Main
Phosphorescent - Club de Ville, Brooklyn Vegan Showcase
Deer Tick - Club de Ville, Brooklyn Vegan Showcase

DAY 2 -

http://www.33-13.com/data/web/sxsw2009_2/index.html

Passion Pit - Radio Room Patio
Doug Sahm Tribute - Antone’s
Jimmie Vaughn
The Gourds
Shaun Sahm
Dave Alvin

Dirty Projectors - Emo’s Annex
Flower Travellin’ Band - Smokin’ Music
Ben Harper and the Relentless7 - Stubbs

DAY 3 -

http://www.33-13.com/data/web/sxsw2009_3/index.html

Passion Pit - Portrait
Hot Leg (spin party - Stubbs)
Black Lips (spin party - Stubbs)
Mi Ami - Havana Club
Casio Kids - Havana Calle 6
Ponderosa Stomp Revue: - The Continental

DAY 4 -

http://www.33-13.com/data/web/sxsw2009_4/index.html

Frodus - Radio Room Patio
Cursive - Radio Room Patio

Cannabanoids with Erykah Badu - Auditorium Shores
Explosions in the Sky - Auditorium Shores
Daniel Johnston Emo’s Main
Riverboat Gamblers - Emo’s Annex


contact info:
Jacob Blickenstaff
917-554-1710
jacob@33-13.com
http://www.33-13.com

SXSW 2009 Day 1 Photos

Hit the ground running in Austin. No time to talk but I did put together some highlights from the day's shooting. Keep your eyes peeled on BrooklynVegan for more extensive photo features and reports.





************* GALLERY OF HIGHLIGHTS ************

bands shot on Thursday:

DAY:
Psychedelic Horseshit
Wavves
Trash Talk
Strange Boys (live and portraits)
Annihilation Time
King Kahn and BBQ Show
Young Widows

EVE:
Hacienda
Circle Jerks
Those Darlins
Phosphorescent
Deer Tick

sxsw photographer

Open Notice to:
Music Press
Photo Editors
Publicists / PR / Promotion
Record Labels
Independent Artists
Industry Insiders
Industry Outsiders

One-man photographic wrecking crew, myself, Jacob Blickenstaff, is going to SXSW.

MISSION STATEMENT:
To document and be a part of the schizophrenic music and cultural experience of the festival and create a body of work ABOUT the experience. ABOUT being a fan, a band, a scenester, a music biz guy, about myself being a sxsw first-timer/virgin --- and not just the same shots of 100 buzz bands

STRATEGY:
Intuitively follow a path of good ideas, good labels, good showcases, good emerging bands, good veteran bands and good BBQ.

CONTACT:
Tips, bribes, assignments, collaborations, press releases that I probably won't read, hate mail, fan mail, energy bars/drinks can be sent here:

Email - jacob (at) 33-13.com
Twitter - jblickenstaff
Facebook - here
phone - 917.554.1710