Saturday, March 11, 2006

Hey,

More new photos added...I just published a few shots from Bedouin Soundclash, I had a blast hanging out with these guys...they were super cool...

Here's a link to there site http://www.bedouinsoundclash.com/ - They just got thru doing some work with Daryl (of the Bad-Soul Brains) check out the media section of there site...

I've dug up some more photos from the Living Colour show I shot in December of 05' - I'll add those this weekend...

Time to catch some zzzz's

Good Night!

Friday, March 10, 2006

I've finally dug out some of my "Orange Sky" photos from last year, the galleries been published on my site. Have a look...

Here's a link to the bands site www.theorangesky.com it's updated fairly often and you can find media and other cool shit there...

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

I've added a few Soulive photos to the site...

R.I.P. Gordon Parks

Another one of my heroes has passed...I can't even begin to explain what a profound effect Mr. Parks had on me wanting to pick up a camera and not just from a still photographic standpoint, every facet of his life whether it be directing, composing music or writing poetry. He did it all with such style and compassion, I wish I could have met him and talked shop before he left us in this world.

He truly lived a full life.

Here's more:

Gordon Parks, a photographer, filmmaker and poet whose pioneering chronicles of the black experience in America made him a revered elder and a cultural icon, died yesterday at his home in New York. He was 93.

His nephew, Charles Parks of Lawrence, Kan., said Parks had cancer and had been in failing health since 1993.

Parks, the son of a dirt farmer, rose from meager beginnings and above recurrent discrimination to walk through doors previously closed to African Americans. He was the first black to work at Life magazine and Vogue, and the first to write, direct and score a Hollywood film, "The Learning Tree" (1969), which was based on a 1963 novel he wrote about his life as a farm boy in Kansas. He also was the director of the 1971 hit movie "Shaft," which opened the way for a host of other black-oriented films.

Elegant and aristocratic with a trademark bushy mustache, his work traversed a vast landscape from poverty and crime to luxury and high fashion. He was a high school dropout turned award-winning photographer who traveled the world, using his camera with deftness and defiance.

"I didn't set out to do all that I did," Parks told an interviewer. "I think there was always fear -- fear of not being educated. All the things I did were done because of the fear of failure."

He was born Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks on Nov. 30, 1912, in Fort Scott, Kan., the youngest of 15 children. His mother died when he was 16. He then lived with his sister in St. Paul, Minn., for a while before he struck out on his own. He left school and took on a number of jobs, including as a pianist with an all-white band and with the Civilian Conservation Corps.

While working on the Northern Pacific Railroad in the late 1930s, Parks picked up a magazine that had been left by a passenger and leafed through it. A photo spread of migrant workers and their living conditions taken by Carl Mydans, Dorothea Lange, Ben Shahn and others working for the Farm Security Administration captivated him.

One afternoon in the winter of 1937, during a stopover in Chicago, he saw newsreel footage taken by Norman Alley of the sinking of the USS Panay by Japanese forces. Parks compared Alley's documentary approach with the works of Farm Security Administration photographers and had an epiphany.

"Suddenly I became aware of all the things I could say through this medium," he once said. "I sat through another show, and even before I left the theater, I had made up my mind to become a professional photographer."

He paid $12.50 for his first camera, a Voigtlander Brilliant, at a pawnshop. His camera was "my weapon against poverty and racism," he said.

Soon he was photographing eye-catching young black women in fashion spreads for a St. Paul department store.

In 1942, he began working in Washington at the Farm Security Administration, the agency created to call attention to produce a historical record of social and cultural conditions across the country.

The discrimination that he experienced in the city left him raw. During this period, he took what became one of his signature photographs, a picture of Ella Watson, a cleaning woman who worked in the agency's building. He positioned Watson in front of an American flag, a broom in one hand and a mop in the other. He named the picture "American Gothic, Washington, D.C." The photograph captured his style of focusing on one particular person to illustrate a broad social theme.

"I never allowed the fact that I experienced bigotry and discrimination to step in the way of doing what I have to do," he once said. "I don't understand why other people let that destroy them."

Parks later went on to Life magazine, where from 1948 to 1968 he covered segregation, crime and other issues. His 1961 photograph of a poor Brazilian boy named Flavio da Silva brought in enough donations to help the family build a house.

St. Clair Bourne, who directed a 2000 HBO documentary on Parks's life, was a young photographer when he first met Parks while covering a civil rights march. He was one of many black filmmakers and photographers who respected Parks for his historical role.

"He educated white people about the black experience, and as an artist he used his skills to do that," Bourne said in a 2000 article in the New York Times. "Today, it would be harder: the lines, political and cultural, have hardened. But when Gordon came along, there was a great deal of ignorance about the real experience of black people."

A self-taught pianist, he composed Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1953) and Tree Symphony (1967). In 1989, he composed and choreographed "Martin," a ballet dedicated to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

His autobiographies were "A Choice of Weapons" (1966), "To Smile in Autumn" (1979), and "Voices in the Mirror" (1990). His poetry anthologies include "A Poet and His Camera" (1968), "Arias of Silence" (1994) and "Glimpses Toward Infinity" (1996).

In 1998, Parks donated 227 pieces of his work to the Corcoran Gallery of Art.

He was married and divorced three times. Survivors include three children.

Freedom, Parks said, was the theme of all of his work: "Not allowing anyone to set boundaries, cutting loose the imagination and then making the new horizons."
I've added a new gallery for Prong and a few pics from my photo shoot with Eyes of Fire, actually it wasn't really a traditional photo shoot just some shots I took of the band after there gig...

The new 24-7 SPYZ cd "Face the Day" is getting a lot of iPod rotation with me. It's there 1st album in almost 10 years and I'm heavily endorsing it (go cop!) You can get to there site from my links page...

I'll update the blog again sometime this week with more photos and a cool project I have coming up...

A few people have asked for my rates...

A basic studio/on location shoot will run you $300.00 for 2 hours and $150.00 each additional hour...e-mail or call me and I can get into more detail...

peace
SS

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Hey,

I'm listening to Brian Eno as I type this blog, the man is a genius...If you haven't heard "Ambient1/Music for Airports" you must go pick it up NOW! your ears will love you for it.

ENO is GOD!

I just got in from the Prong show...I'm not sure who promoted this gig, but whoever it was did a s**t job...I could get more into that but what's the point.

Prong sounded amazing, I haven't seen them since 93' when they opened for the Bad Brains...I hope this new lineup stays together, it would be cool to hear some studio material from them...It was good to see Tommy Victor & Co. still making noise. I'll have photos up from the gig shortly.

Eyes of Fire opened the show...best live band I've seen in ages, and I go to a lot of shows, so ya know I'm not just blowing smoke. If they come through your town go check them out and you'll see what I'm ranting about. I got some photos with the band after there set, I'll have a link to the story and photos when it's been published. There new album "Prisons" was released a few weeks ago. Go pick it up "It's fucking brilliant!" You can get to there site from my links page. Shout out to Matt (your the shit bro!) Thanks for the free swag (I'm dig'n the "Eyes of Chaos" kicks!)

Before I go watch "Two for the Money" let me just say my daughter who just turned 3 is the most brilliant and gorgeous child on the planet...this kid is a prodigy. I've got a few photos I'm going to put up from her B-Day party.

The rest of the week I'm shooting, Trivium on the 22nd (today), Bedouin Soundclash on the 23rd and Napalm Death on the 25th...

On deck: Orange Sky and Soulive photos, if I have time I'll put a few up tomorrow...

peace
SS

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

I put up a few photos from the "Suicide City" photo shoot...I had a such a blast doing that...

I'm beat, going to catch some zzzz's

peace

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Ok I lied, I added another new photo...I put up a shot from the Little Brother show...Tay and Big Pooh chill'n on the bus...

R.I.P Dilla

You were one of the illest ever, and will be missed...

Friday, February 10, 2006

Ok ok ok...quit your whining people! I've put up a few new Living Colour photos "enjoy"

You get no more new photos until V3.0 of my site is complete...

Unless of course there's a large sum of money involved...

peace
SS

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Sup People,

Hope all is cool with everyone...I've been super busy...

I had a blast at Little Brother the other night in Buffalo (I'll have new LB pictures up when the new site is finished)

LB played the Icon, easily one of the worst venues I've ever seen/shot a show at...on the positive tip, LB rocked it and they were mad cool...Big ups to my homie jaythreeoh, we rolled up to the show and he did an ill interview with Tay & Big Pooh, you can peep his show on 89.7 WITR from 9 to 12, Mon thru Friday here's a link: *plug* http://slowFlowOnline.com

I did a promo shoot for a local hardcore band (Inherence) over the weekend...that was hella cool...I haven't done promo photos for a band in ages, I forgot what a blast it is.

In the next few months I'll be working with the following bands:

Prong
NIN
Saul Williams
The CULT
G-Love and Special Sauce

I'm also working on something with Dilated Peoples, Defari and LB for later in March, I'll get more into that in my next blog...

I want to make some more time in my schedule for models doing portfolios, so if your into getting something together e-mail me and we'll work something out, if my schedule permits...

Sorry I haven't updated the galleries in so long, please be patient I have a ton of new photos that will be published when the new site is complete...

peace
SS

Monday, January 30, 2006

Hey,

I got a few shows I'm covering this week on the 31st "The Giraffes" and on the 2nd I'll be at "Little Brother" and "Fort Minors" show in Buffalo...

peace
SS

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Sup,

Really quick update...I went and shot an amazing f**king band last night, there live show blew me away (and I don't just say that about anybody)

Dig: "Suicide City" trust me your going to love this band, Killer songs, Great live show, Go support!

*side note* Billy Graziadei (formerly of Biohazard) is one of the coolest most down to earth cats on the planet, it was a pleasure taking there photos, not like some egomaniacs I've taken photos of *thanks for the free swag and convo bro (potty party!) your the shit*

More info here: http://www.suicidecity.com/ (copy paste into your browser or go to my links page)

I'll post an update soon with the scoop on new photos, my projects for 2006 and site re-design...

peace
SS

Sunday, December 18, 2005

I finished up my X-Mas shopping tonight...thank god!

I'm watching a PIXIES concert from this year, it was filmed at one of those HUGE festivals over in Europe.

Observations: It's filmed beautifully and the sound is awesome!, the band is tight as hell, no chit chat between songs, they've played just about the whole Doolittle album, Kim Deal is chain smoking and looking semi-fuckable, Francis looks like he put on 50 or 60 pounds (but the camera adds 30 of that right?) anyway this is a must watch for any Pixies fan...it's making me wonder why I haven't taken any photos of them recently, fuck I think it's time for me to get an agent lol

v3.0 of my site will be up and running in the next few months, in addition to a new look there will be new photos added from the following bands

Living Colour
Soulive
The Orange Sky
Buju Banton
Andre Foxx (P-Funk)
The Campbell Brothers
HATEBREED
Corrosion of Conformity

Happy Holidays!
Scott

Sunday, December 04, 2005

It's super cold here in Rochester, NY (yuk)

I had a blast @ Living Colour the other night, I hadn't seen them play since 93' when Bad Brains (minus HR and Earl) opened for them in a University Gymnasium *that was one of the worst sounding concerts I've ever heard, the acoustics were hellacious*

The band looked and sounded great, they played @ lot of tunes off there 1988 album Vivid my fave of the evening "Glamour Boys"

I brought a great print *16X20* to the show that I took of Vernon a few years ago, the only drag was not getting a chance to hang with him after the bands set (the Vodka Red Bulls were calling me lol!)...If you've ever had the chance to bend Vernon's ear then ya know he's a really cool, funny & intelligent cat. I saw him play last year and later on in the evening after the band finished we talked music, art and movies for damn near 3 hours...anyway I had to pass my print off to the roadcrew which made me a lil uneasy, but the cats who work for LC are cool, so it was relatively painless...

Soulive went on @ 11:30 and sounded amazing!

The show was great I shot a few rolls of film and on the way home got lost in Buffalo for an hour...what a nightmare City to drive around in, especially if you don't have a map and hate asking for directions...

I'm shooting Soulive again this week along with theNEWDEAL & Corrosion of Conformity

I'll have new photos up this week...

This sucks I don't think in the 2 years of my blog being up I've had to do this...

I lost a friend yesterday evening in a fatal car crash.

He was one of the good guys, a Sheriff here in Upstate NY.

I want to extend prayers and blessings to friends and family.

Rest in Peace Galen Herren

Friday, December 02, 2005

I'm shooting Living Colour and Soulive tonight...I'll update the blog tomorrow with highlights from the show...

peace

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

It's snowing here in NY (sucks) - I'm not dig'n it even a little...

Buju Banton was un-freeging-believable the other night - Gorgeous half naked chicks all over the club and Buju rocking out, don't get much better than that...I had a blast...the photos came out great of course...I'll put some up when the new site is done.

Ok so I just got back from an Yngwie Malmsteen show, now before I get off on a rant here let me say the whole evening wasn't a wash...The opening band was called Orange Sky there from Trinidad here's a link to there site (www.theorangesky.com) "They were awesome and there set was hella good!!!"

Allright so I'll skip all the bullshit and non-returned e-mails from Malmsteen's management leading up to tonight...I'm there to shoot the show on a freelance basis for the paper and I was told by the promoter cool go ahead...then 15 minutes before the show starts I'm told NO PHOTOS from anyone not even the amazingly gifted handsome and brilliant photographer Scott Stewart can take photos.

WTF kind of bullshit is this!?!? So washed up, past there prime, a million notes with no purpose, soul-less, blowhard swedish guitar players don't like there photos taken!?...Fuck em'...

Anyway I had a few pops, chatted with some friends and bailed...

This site is getting a major overhaul and all of my stock photos are being put away...So enjoy the myriad of photos in the galleries while there up because come December it's going to have a totally new look and porfolio section etc etc etc...

The merch page on the new site will have a book of my selected photos for sale, I'm doing this myself on the DIY tip and I really think your going to dig it...

I'll be shooting David "Fathead" Newman later this week and Living Colour on the 2nd of December - I've got some other really killer shit coming up to...I'll save that for next blog...

peace

Sunday, November 13, 2005

What's Up,

It's a lazy Sunday here in Upstate, NY...

Stephen Perkins cancelled the show last night, not sure what happened...

I'll be shooting Buju Banton on the 19th...Buju always puts on a great show, I'm glad he was let back into the States to tour...Listening to Til' Shiloh as I type this blog...YEA!!

*Equipment*
*New Site*
*New Merch*
*A book of my photos, on the DIY tip*

I'll have info on all of this ^^^ next blog...

peace

Friday, November 11, 2005

Saturday I'll be shooting Banyan, this is Stephen Perkins *drummer for Jane's Addiction* side project that employs a rotating lineup of stellar musicians and enlisted 20 plus players (including Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea) on the band's last album.

here's a link to his site: www.perkinspalace.com

Saturday, November 05, 2005

God I'm getting old, I'll be 3? on Tuesday (Nov 8th)...

I've had a few of my friends & family call and ask me what I want for my B-Day (a music gift certificate always works duh!) but seriously I'm blessed, I don't want for anything...

Ok, before I step out for a nice steak dinner w/the family I just wanted to write a quick blog and let you know there are some new King's-X photos published in there gallery...

I'll publish more shots from that show later this week...

peace

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Wow!! King's-X is soooo awesome! (they always have been), I haven't seen these guys play since 2002 when I shot them opening up for Dream Theater...

It sucks that I have to drive to a shitty club in Buffalo to shoot one of the greatest bands on the planet (I wasn't on the list WTF happened Jay Phebus!?!? *Jay is King's-X's inept tour manager* that's a whole other story, anyway after 20 years these guys should be playing arenas!

Don't download there new album you cheap fucks go spend the $12.00 and support the band....They've really returned to form on this album Ogre Tones, "It's absolutely brilliant!"...They played just about the whole album in there set, which was totally cool w/me...

Had a chance to chat w/Doug and Gerry after the set, really nice guys...

I brought a killer 16x20 print to the show that I took a few years back and had Doug sign it (yea so what! - I'm a fan to!) "Doug if your reading this your 16x20 is in the mail lol"

I'll have pictures of the show up later this week I shot a half dozen rolls (no flash) and the club wasn't really well lit, which means it was tough to shoot, but we'll see what I've got when I get my prints back from the lab...

A'ight gotta bounce and catch some zzz's my daughter is going to be up really early in the morning wanting her daddy to make her waffles and dance to "The Wiggles" (If I die and go to hell, The Wiggles will be the house band)

Before I forget to mention it, me and my kick ass web designer Jeff Gerew have been talking about maybe doing a re-design on the site, I'll keep you posted on that.

Peace
Scott =)

Monday, October 31, 2005

All you NYC cats!!

Take some time and check out the killer exibit @ CB's gallery.

My buddy Frank DeBlase has some of his work on display there.

You can get more info on my homepage.

This week I'm shooting Sarah Slean on the 1st...she's a cutie, think Tori Amos minus all of the over the top weird shit - more here ---> www.sarahslean.com

Nov 2nd I'll be shooting King's X there new album is AWESOME!! It's easily there best studio album in 10 years