Misti Layne “working” her first wedding!

I remember this day so vividly it’s amazing.  It was not a good day!!!  For some odd reason I was not happy about this wedding and being in this wedding.  I remember my mom trying to get us both ready and I just wasn’t happy.  She called her DJ friend who was on duty and had him play my favorite song–Seasons in the Sun–which he did.  Yes, I know now it is quite a morbid tune BUT as a kid and you can sing “seasons in the sun” it is quite fun!  So anyway on to the story.  I don’t recall the ceremony but do remember the reception and just being a little pissy UNTIL I was given this camera.  I remember the moment vividly and fortunately someone was there to take a photograph of me.  Now of course there is the ahem, cute factor going on here.  The point however is I guess I was just meant to be a wedding photographer!  The road I took was quite winding and the road less traveled to be sure but I did find my destiny.  I love just waking up every day knowing I’m going to photograph something…anything!

So I guess it just goes to show that some things are innate to us but not always obvious.  Thankfully, I found the right road eventually.  No regrets at all!

Every year for many, many years I have gone to NYC once or twice a year.  I first went when I was 18, went to NYU and it holds a little bit of my soul.  This year was a bit different. I got caught in Hurricane Sandy.  It wasn’t so bad in Manhattan for me.  We were left in darkness but on 30th Street so walking to 39th Street wasn’t so bad.  For those downtown, it was a very different story.  My friend and I walked the Brooklyn Bridge then caught a cab back home.  Driving through Chinatown made me feel like it was war torn Vietnam.  No lights, nothing recognizable, no people and no English signs.  It left me with a sort of discombobulated feeling.  It didn’t feel like the place I’d known for so long.  I am glad I experienced it and of course, got home but for those who are still dealing with it I cannot fathom the pain and agony it has caused.    These images were taken with not the right equipment–I came prepared for head shots not a hurricane but I hope leaves some sense of what it was like to be there.

I was raised on farms and with all kinds of animals.  I spent a day recently with a friend at her home with her three horses, huge goat, cats and dogs.  It was delightful.  So I just wanted to share a few personal images from that day.

Jimi Hendrix said “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”

Music photographers and musicians just go together.  Jimi Hendrix, like so many musicians I know, was an artist through and through and his passion coupled with his talent made him who he was.  If he was just a guitar player, even a great guitar player, he’d been off on the side of the stage for someone else to lead the show.   But instead because of quotes like this we know him to be the passionate, profound and intelligent person that he was too.  As a music photographer and capturing musicians live or in stills this persons passion and mine for who they are and for photography can create amazing, iconic music photographs with feeling and emotion hitting you viscerally.

An utterly amazing and talented friend of mine Johnny Ceravolo, the lead singer for When In Rome, recently posted on Facebook “More and more I want to say less and less.”  Johnny shares everything on Facebook and this was just one of many things he had to say one day.  His quotes can vary from the intelligent and critically thinking on the topic of religion or filled with swear words about the most mundane chores of life.

I have photographed When In Rome live as well as taken portraits of Johnny  Ceravolo just one on one.   He’s an amazing singer and talented guitar player and like Jimi Hendrix is an amazingly intelligent and passionate person.   His desires to share his music with the world, change the world, share his unique perspective and passion with people is great.  His love of music and people is tangible in minutes of meeting him or hearing his music.   I can’t imagine the sad day it would be if he did start to “say less and less.”   Of course there are moments we all feel this way but Johnny puts them out into the world and shares what the rest of us just think.

When I have photographed Johnny just as any other musician or band I can’t help but photograph them with my own feelings and emotions taking over or just becoming entwined with theirs.  That is why music photographers and musicians just go together.   The bond and love I have for musicians is just innate within me and I love photographing them and just being with them!

Here are just a few of my favorite images I’ve done and then there are these images on my blog Band Photos.

I photographed The John Corbett Band last week at The York in Los Angeles and once again they totally rocked it.  Here are a few of my favorite shots.  I love photographing live music and I hope you can see the love, passion and fun these guys have on stage!  Be sure to request they go back!

I had a day off last week and decided that FINALLY after living in San Francisco this long that I was going to Safari West in Santa Rosa.  It wasn’t nearly the same as my adventure in August to South Africa  where I got very up close and personal with some amazing Cheetahs at the Le Sueur Cheetah Project.  But this place was lovely and had me back for a moment to almost the same place.  I’m a total animal lover and this was meant to take me out of my element and push me just a bit photographically.  This is a private reserve and the owners live on the property.  All of the people who work there seem to really love animals and their jobs.  They have giraffe, cheetah, numerous types of monkeys and birds and kudu, zebra, buffalo and wildebeest and very shy rhino’s.  I really wanted to play with the cheetah again but alas, it was not possible.  But it was an amazing day with the most beautiful sunset to close it out.

I had a truly life changing experience in South Africa and I’d like to do something in return. The Le Sueur Cheetah Project was just truly an amazing experience for me. They need money and more so now because one of the cheetahs is pregnant which is wonderful. Please consider purchasing one of my images. All profits will go to Le Sueur. They really need support and I hope to do just a little bit. Thanks a ton!

Purchase images here… Help Le Sueur Cheetahs.

So I have been away for quite awhile and I hope you noticed!  I’ve actually been traveling in South Africa and just returned last week.  It was truly amazing and one of my most favorite trips ever.  I’m a total animal lover and spent time on safari but also at a monkey, lion, elephant and cheetah sanctuary.  This was the most amazing thing ever.  The people were so passionate about their jobs and the animals and were quite proud of their country and the conservation efforts that are being made.  We obviously have nothing like it here!  But here are some of my most favorite images and boy was it hard to get it down this far.  So I hope you enjoy a bit of my passion which are travel and animals and this was a lot of both!

I really love live music and living in San Francisco gives me the best access in the small venues I love.  Like Red Devil Lounge.  The capacity is only about 300 so I can get up close and personal  and I love it.  Last week Missing Persons, When In Rome and Gene Loves Jezebel played.  It was fantastic.  The passion that When In Rome had when playing was obvious.  I never got to see these bands when I was younger so I love that they come back now and so up close and personal.

I just returned from an amazing road trip.  This year I’ve decided I have to travel as much as possible and this one was about seeing friends, family and the road between.  First stop was West Hollywood, then Palm Springs and then off to Phoenix and back again.  It’s a really beautiful part of the country even if just sand, flat or hills.  The area around Palm Springs actually reminded me of the mountains of Mt. Sinai.    Watching the sunset at Sedona was really quite amazing.  I had no idea what that area was truly like but the sun never seemed to set the same way.  I definitely need to go back and see more.  But I walked away with a refreshed feeling and so glad to see friends and loved ones.  Seeing the beauty in the small things will surely help me in finding them in my assignments from weddings to portraits.  I’m so excited for this year and the people I will meet!

The world is a much smaller place now than ever before and travel photography is something that is no longer done by a few professionals. Black and white photographs, portrait photography of locals and documentary or editorial photography is something we all do now with even the cameras in our phones. I recently returned from a Middle East tour of Egypt and Jordan. Both places I had been dreaming about going to for as long as I can remember. I travel a lot and it’s my biggest “vice” in life by far. Learning from other cultures and experiencing different ways of life can only enhance yours in a better way. It was a wonderful trip filled with amazing places and lovely people. So here is my 10 point bullet list for travel photography!

I’ve always dreamed of seeing the Pyramids of Egypt and Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan and finally made that dream happen this month.  It is an amazing place full of amazing people and just the best experience!  We had a very full 10 days but our tour director did a great job getting us around and seeing the most important things and learning a thing or two as well.  It’s a different world to be sure but we also share so many things and I walked away with great memories and many new friends.  A few marriage proposals too but alas I had to turn those down.   The Pyramids of Egypt were incredible and possibly the most amazing place I’ve ever been is Wadi Rum.  Truly breathtaking.

The people were so kind and fun.  At a mosque I was inundated by about 20 kids on a school outing who were asking me a bunch of questions and just as intrigued by me as I was of them.   I rode a camel that decided it didn’t want to go up the mountain but back home to dinner at a gallop but fortunately I was saved by my Bedouin who ran down to get him back.  That was fun!  But here are just  slight few of my favorites from an amazing holiday abroad to the Middle East.

I lived in New York City eons ago.  I go every year a couple of times and walk my butt off each and every time.  I recently went for my birthday and as is my norm took my camera everywhere.  So just  a few images to share…

I’ve known Karen and Eric for an unbelievable 8 years.  IT was that long ago that I photographed their wedding in Wine Country.   A few years ago they moved to New York City and we’ve kept in touch over the years.  Well, last year on one of my regular visits we did Karen’s pregnancy photos.  It was so much fun.  Karen is a petite little hottie who is quite shy and reserved but we got great shots with her, the belly, Eric and the cats too. Well, this year it was a pleasure to work with Liam too.  What a cute kid!  We spent just an hour in Central Park on the West side and got so many lovely shots.  Poor Liam had to wake up but he was quite awake when it came to a popsicle!    Photographing children is a lot of fun.  Do remember to keep it quick and work around their needs and schedule.  Take a break if you must and if they start to cry, just keep shooting!  Those are moments you will cherish too.

All the best to the Hopps and I look forward to next years shoot!

Three weeks after September 11th, 2001 I went to NYC on my yearly Fall trip.  I’d originally planned to go this week for my birthday and my friend’s birthday but knew it was going to still be muggy and hot so I changed it for three weeks later.  Fortunately for me.  Flights had resumed and my trip was on.  There were only 6 of us on a huge jet but on the way back it was a completely full flight.  I knew I was only going to shoot black and white film while I was there as it was just the most fitting thing to do.  But while people were still hurting, life was still going on.   Just like today.  A lot of my still very favorite images were taken that week.   This is just to remember.