Following on in this series, this fourth installment sees us feature the work of our photographer Brett Padelford. Scroll down to see what Brett chose as his favorite five images, shot for mxdwn.
Chuck Moseley with Faith No More at The Troubadour, 2016;
I took this photo of Chuck Moseley during his final performance with members of Faith No More on Aug. 20, 2016 at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. Sadly, a little more than a year later, he would be dead. I like this shot for it’s intimacy – as if you’re on stage with him. The eye-level angle was made possible by the small area stage left at the venue, where they once allowed photographers to stand. Unfortunately, the last few times I shot there, it was closed to the media. Either way, I still love shooting The Troubadour and am happy I could grab this soulful, moody photo of the late singer/songwriter.
Pussy Riot at The Bootleg, 2017;
The shot isn’t spectacular, but it was an honor to photograph Pussy Riot on their Los Angeles tour date at the Bootleg Theater on December 13, 2017.
The sarcastic lyric projected above the group, and their body language, speaks to their political activism against the repressive regime of Vladimir Putin, and their literally sacrilegious approach to it.
Tinashe at Air + Style Festival LA, 2018;
Good light is so important in a shot, and the late-afternoon sun shining on Tinashe in this photo beautifully highlights her, enhancing the joy apparent in her face. It’s also helpful that the tent provides a black background, which makes the subject pop. Taken at the Air+Style festival at LA’s Exposition Park on March 4, 2018.
Alice Smith at Arroyo Seco Weekend, 2018;
This may be my favorite photo taken for mxdwn. Everything works for me here. The lovely Alice Smith as subject, the perfect, warm lighting, and the ample headroom that adds to the dramatic nature of the shot. The intense look on her face, and the contortion of her shoulders, reminds me of Bernini’s masterpiece, “The Ecstasy of St. Teresa.” Taken at Arroyo Seco Weekend in Pasadena on June 25, 2018.
Dave Navarro at Above The Fonda, 2019;
Since I’m presumptuously comparing my photos to the Old Masters, the chiaroscuro lighting of Dave Navarro in this shot reminds me of my favorite Italian painter, Caravaggio. The intense light from the left sculpts his body, and his stance presents interesting angles which prevent the shot from being static. Navarro’s eyes are shadowed by his hat and he’s facing away from the crowd into the darkness. It all makes the shot that much more metal. Taken at the Above Ground benefit concert at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood on September 16, 2019.
Brett Padelford is a photographer based in Los Angeles, CA, and you can find more of his work on his website and via Instagram.
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