Ashton’s Bridal Shoot

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We did this on a very rainy day on Daniel Island. We had rescheduled a couple times and coming down to the big day we had to make it happen. Considering the the weather it came out great. He’s a video from out shoot. Video by my good friend Alex Moore and music by a great band named “Justice”. Enjoy.

CB

“Something New” by Valero

 

So it’s done! On less than a shoe string budget and in 3 hours and 29 min for production time I have competed my first music video.

Its not perfect but for the circumstances it didn’t come out too bad. There will be many more video and film adventures for me after this experience. For those who care this was shot on a Nikon D90 and edited in FCP and Color. The moving camera sequences were shot with a tripod, a box, and a skate board.

I will be posting some BTS clips soon, meanwhile enjoy the video, let me know what you think and check out Valero’s music at Valero.bandcamp.com. Thanks to Valero, Ashley, Reba and Otis for all your help.

CB

Musical film.

Music Videos are hit and miss. Some are so pointless and some are so epic and increase the value of a song. This weekend I will make my first attempt to film, write and direct a music video.

The band is called Valero and there from the Greenville area. Check them out. http://valero.bandcamp.com/

I’ll post it hear as soon as it’s done. stay tuned and enjoy my story boards…

Perspective

Perspective is truly an artist’ most useful tool. This applies across the board, photography, music, writing, film, even sports.

I took this photo last saturday at a wedding for Morgan and Vern. It was a beautiul wedding but when we were getting some wedding party photos before the ceremony, the location was tricky.

This was at a club on the air force base and there where many distractions in the background of the shot. Roads, people, cars, buildings… all kinds of junk that would taint the style of the photo.

By being cautious with the PERSPECTIVE, I was able to work around the “not so ideal” location with out having to manipulate the photo and the integrity of the image.

I lowered the lens and shot upward to dodge all of the unpleasantries. I know this is a super easy concept and basic common sense but if you take this idea and apply it to other aspects of art it can change everything.

Really take time to plan your approach of a goal. sometimes I grab a camera  and a memory card and just start shooting and hope something comes out or pick up a guitar and start playing chords hoping for a song. While sometimes this approach works, it doesn’t give me “my best”. It gives me “Ok” or “Pretty Good” results at best. Visualize what you want, note the obstacles, form a  solution and make it happen. One shot, make it count.

CB

Sk8’n w/ A-Moo

Baby I’m Back

So much to catch you up on.

First. Im going to be a father. Simply life changing and I couldn’t be more proud. I have 7.5 months to get my act together and attempt to become a father. I know I know. This is something that I will learn, I’m only human and life is full of lessons that will personally whip me into shape as I become more and more like Ned Flanders and less like Homer. Girl or Boy?? What do you think?

Second. My life as a photographer has become more intense as I am slowly becoming a wedding photographer. I always told myself I would never do weddings but I starting to enjoy them. Need a photographer for your wedding coming up?

Third. Music is kind of taken a back seat. Not intentionally. I believe as artist, some times its healthy to put the brush down, take a step back away from the canvas and just look, evaluate and set a new approach to make sure that your growing. I haven’t written a song in over 6 months and I feel like Im almost detoxing from all my bad reference, one liners and cheesy attempts to be clever. Soon Ill be playing to a sold out venue every night. a one man auditorium with the intentions of putting him/her to bed. Where the skill set of my song writing will truly be tested and compared to “The Wiggles” and “The Doodle Bops.” Look… I’m trying to be clever again.

Good talking to you

CB

Last Thursday

….I played a show at the Oasis in James Island. In support of Jerry Jacobs, I played my first show under the stage/band name of “The Paperback Writer.” The show went well considering the dilemmas we had with rehearsals and sound equipment. A Big thank you to Brandon Hair who offered his talents on Drums and Will Reid on bass. Both of these guys are really guitar players and are just that good to be able to help me out. Many more shows to come as well as some networking plans like a facebook, twitter, website, etc coming soon so check back for updates. here are a few photos if you missed it. Photo Credit: Cassie Mims

btw i wasnt trying to look like a pirate, thanks bran.

SET:

Carseat Distance

All I Ever

Roots

Engine *New

Change Your Mind

quiet. Thought. endiscouragement.

it’s 10:45. i’m at the Barnes residents. Dog sitting. Skyy. She is a wonderful dog. I mean this dog is so polite. Im sitting on there couch up in the loft. All Alone. No body is here but me, I have been alone since sunday not having much contact with the outside world. The TV is on mute and has been for hours as i use the characters on Law and Order as company so I dont get to lonely. Its super quiet, My analog wrist watch clicks and the fish tank thumps with bubbles. This is the perfect atmosphere for thinking.

Tonight I have a lot on my mind. Most of it I’m not comfortable putting on the world wide web. I Have nothing to hide but reading a blog sometimes… It’s just hard to get the context, you know?

Today I finished a book and I have been reading so much lately that I am craving buying another book right now.

My Feet are hot. As a diabetic going on 12 years with the disease, they (doctors) told me I would start to lose feeling in my feet and if i wasn’t careful then they might have to cut them off. I have great feeling in my feet THANK YOU VERY MUCH, they just get dry and are always hot. I dont know.

Sometimes its just hard to keep your chin up. Its hard to be the positive one and keep looking at the bright side. Its hard to be confident and it seems the world is out to destroy us. and the largest most dangerous weapon is our judgment of ourselves. Were getting old, fat, bald, pale, wrinkly, tired, lazy, and not good looking. Im running through red lights, forgetting my multiplication tables, dropping stuff, stubbing my toe, waking up with back aces and all the sudden being disturbed by scary movies. If it weren’t for my self-esteem I wonder what kind of guy i would be. different thats for sure.

For us dreamers it seems there is always some one better than us at what we do, and that person who is better is always a jerk, well most of the time.

And there are so many things you want to change about yourself and you wonder am I ever going to change? Is taking a stand even worth it?

This is the point were you decided it’s time to go to sleep before you hurt yourself. Get in those pajamas you got for Christmas from your granny that still have the tags, fix yourself some cereal and just go to bed with “Sigur Ros” on your iPod at a low level. Trust me, its best to end the day early and start tomorrow right.

pleasant dreams Dreamers.

Dream on.

being in a band

Ello,

Setting: I’m in raleigh, nc waiting to hear “tegan and sara”, one of my new favorite bands. I’m with my wife, our friend katy, cassie and jerry.
New found glory was the opening act and paramore will finish the show. As I sit in the far back, stage right, directly in front of the lawn I had an. Moment of personal questioning…. Where do I want to go with this music thing. What’s my plan? And when and at what point will I declare “I have made it.”
As I watched “new found glory” I thought this is a band that has “a name” and to be honest they have kinda fallen to a band that everyone keeps to there seats. And I understand that people didn’t come to see them but I felt bad for them. I could tell its a job to them. Almost like all they know is music and if they didn’t have music what would they do. I never want music to become my job. This is one of my biggest fears. What if this is what I become? Not comparing myself to new found glory, I’m not a fan necessarily but I have respect.
Would life be better as a local musician on a large scale. Regional tours and first name basis with fans and venue reps. The human heart I don’t think can take the pressures of celebrity hollywood. So many greats have gone down fighting the demons of tmz and us weekly. I have my goal in sight and I’m zeroing in on what I want.
now to set up a plan and carry it out. God willing I would like to write songs that provoke thoughts of truth and purpose and feelings of comfort that we are all in this journey together (run on sentence). Hope your weekend is full of friends and family. To be continued… My thoughts are. So jumbled.

Btw, show thursday july 29 at the oasis in james island. 7pm.

welcome back.

things have changed.. Lebron is in Miami, tiger is not a good role model, Barak is prez (has been for a while, I know), and… I really can’t think of any more huge changes.. the fact is that I’m coming back. I really never left but just stop writing. Over the last year and a half my life has taken some huge changes that have distracted me from my art and inner creative. Which is fine and a part of life.

I’m back recording music. I’m in the process of revamping my sound and image. It looks like a new EP, which is a fancy word for “DEMO” will make its way to your collection come Autumn 2010. I have been working with new people who inspire me in different ways. I have been reading different books and watching different types of film and music. pretty stoked..and I want to document it all for whom ever is interested.. the new recording is going to have some new songs as well as one or two older songs redone.

Like “Carseat Distance.” If you have ever seen me play, you have heard this song. I don’t think I have ever not played this song.. the only reason I keep it is because its meaning changes to me every so often and I seem to keep learning new things about myself through the lyrical matter. In no way am i stating that this is a great or even good song. I’m simply digging into the way that any artist taps in to inspiration and how it relates to them and the spectator.

It seems that often times I write tunes and I feel a bit vague on what I ment by what I wrote. But they often bring themselves into fruition down the road. Now this does seem like a “Baby, I miss you, got to get you back” type song but it means more to me about spiritual direction of my life.. like for instance that maybe the songs context is about trusting God to take the driver’s seat in my life and that it truly is trust, not a necessarily a comfortable or easy decision.

Currently I’m in a time in my life were I have let that slide a bit. I’m finding my flesh creeping its way back into decisions and thoughts.  I have to find myself like a child afraid of jumping in the pool, but at the same time im just dying to feel the thrill of not being able to reach the bottom. My old man is in the pool just itching to catch me with a firm, safe, but adventurous grip. So all I can do is close my eyes, plug my nose and just take a step.

hope this finds you well and rested.

love-Cody