Mike McLaughlin On Assignment
Rock and Roll may never die, but it is nonetheless temporal. We are pretty lucky here in Asbury Park. Holy rock moments are in good supply. However, they are just that—moments. And while the rest of us are busy losing ourselves in sweaty and joyful abandon, there is someone hard at work capturing the ephemeral—the rock photographer.
My first appreciation for that kind of artist started in the early 90’s (when everything started for me) with the images of Charles Peterson, noted photographer for a little indie label in Washington state known as Sub-Pop. I spent hours pouring over his work, finally able to see what the bands I had been hearing looked like.
Your I Phone Can’t Take This: An Iconic Shot From Charles Peterson
In an age of camera-phones and instant photography, the photographer who actually makes this work into a trade, who passionately composes shots instead of just pressing a button on a phone, is especially valuable to a community worth that attention. That’s why when I saw area photographer and resident Mike McLaughlin’s work up for a show at Asbury’s own Bands On A Budget on Mattison Avenue, I knew I had to find out more.
Mike’s been working closely with nation and area acts for years now, and he’s known throughout the community for his creativity, generosity and just for being a cool dude all around. I had a chance to hang out with Mike at Johnny Mac’s a few weeks back, and I was able to get the full story on Mike and his work, which you probably have already seen.
His care for his subjects, willingness to give himself and the camera over to the moment and what it demands, and signature color composition all combine to make some of the most stunning images ever captured in the Asbury scene.
Your Fair Reporter: Thanks for hanging out today, Mike! I really love your work and the bands you work with, so I’m really glad to be able to find out more about your career. When did you get started in professional photography?
Mike McLaughlin: I guess realistically it was in 1994, that’s when I shot my first documentary work. Although, I didn’t even have my own camera or really start shooting professionally until around 1997. I got started in a weird way.
Growing up, I never had any interest in photography and didn’t take it in school. I have always been interested in people—a “what makes us tick?” sort of thing. I’ve always been fascinated by the extremes of war and hate and the darker sides of humanity, from a totally objective stand point, not in a sympathetic way, of course.
In 1994 I was able to gain brief access to a Ku Klux Klan cross lighting on a farm in rural Maryland, for an art piece that I was working on at college. I’d like to make clear that I’m in no way a Klan supporter or anything like that—it was just my fascination with how completely outside of the realm of normal existence some facets of humanity could be…Anyway, I borrowed a friends camera and went.
I was intrigued at the idea of being around these people who I’d only read about or seen in history books–learning about and trying to understand them and their motives. They stood in the dark and lit a 30 foot cross on fire and I started shooting away. While I was taking those photos, something in me just clicked into place. I knew at that instant that documenting through photography was what I was supposed to do with my life.
You’re great at it, so it seems kind of natural for it to just be a calling for you. I had gotten into your work after seeing your shots of area bands like The Bouncing Souls, some guys that I’ve since come to learn you are very close with. I know you also photograph athletics and I love your portraits, too. What are your favorite subjects to photograph?
In a word…people. The camera has always been a key for me, a key to doors that I wouldn’t be able to go through otherwise, a key to worlds different from mine, but most importantly a key to understanding the world around me, the people in it, and how and why we all are what we are. Whether it’s the world of foreign cultures, musicians, or sporting events, I try to find the story within each and tell that story through a visual narrative.
A Choice Shot From Mike: Fans At The Bouncing Souls Show, The Stone Pony. February 2011.
Yes, I think that’s why your photographs really draw people in. When I look at your work, there’s a feeling that I’m not just looking at a picture, but that I’m connected to the subject in a subtle but profound way. I especially love your crowd shots for that reason—I feel like I’m at the show. Who are some of the bands you’ve taken pictures of? Is there a photo shoot in particular that stands out to you?
Throughout my life, until photography came along, music was my number one passion, and now it takes a backseat only to photography.
I would even say that it actually sits along photography for you, just because so many of your shots are of musicians and shows.
Yes, I am extremely passionate about shooting bands and artists. I’ve shot B.B. King to the Bouncing Souls, Jane’s Addiction, Joss Stone, Queen Latifah … A lot of bands. I tend to like shooting punk/hardcore bands live the most, simply because they are wild onstage and have huge fan interaction which makes for great photos, but I enjoy shooting any genre– rock, indie, pop, hip hop.
Hell, I’ve shot a few symphony orchestras. I love shooting live shows, but I especially love working with artists for portraits and behind the scenes documentary stuff. It really allows me to explore the musician’s personalities, individually and collectively as a band.
A Backstage Shot From The Bouncing Souls Show. The Stone Pony, February 2011.
I like trying to come up with ideas for portraits that either show the personality of the band or are just conceptually fun as hell to pull off. I had a great time working with the Souls on a bunch of promo portraits—those guys are great to work with and easy. They are so entwined and comfortable with each other after all these years, that they are very natural in front of the camera.
I also did a really cool shoot with Tiffany Sterling and Sal Vation from Underground Logic somewhat recently. It was lot of fun and we got some great shots out of it. Another really fun one was Old No. 7. We did some pretty cool conceptual shots together, I was really happy with the outcome.
You’re definitely going to be commissioned by The Obvious soon!
Definitely! I would love that! Let me know when your next show is, I love you guys!
Aww, I bet you say that to all the girls! Ha ha! But seriously, thank you, we would be honored to be your subjects! So I know what your photos look like, but how about your process? What are the steps from the inception of an idea for a shoot to the execution
and publication?
The Guinness World Record Setting Zombie Walk On The AP Boardwalk, October 2010.
It largely depends on what I’m shooting, but the best example of my process would be in my portraits. I spend a lot of time developing the ideas for portraits and try, the best I can, to cater them to the specific subject, to tell a piece of the story of the subject. I first want to get to know the person or band or athlete, by talking with them, watching them, or listening to them.
I then start playing with the visual ideas in my head, then often sketch them out on paper. I am very particular about the entirety of a portrait, the location, the composition, the pose, the lighting, every detail. Every part is critical to the success of the whole. When it works well it seems effortless and portrays a bit of the essence of the subject.
L to R: Area Bad Boys Pete Pedersen, DJ Jack The Ripper, & DJ Values Get Ready For St. Patrick’s Day. Get Weird Or Go Home!
Yes, I really am drawn in by your portraits. The way you manipulate colors and compose the subjects always makes for a very unique take on the person or people being featured. I can look at the work and know without even looking first that it’s one of yours, which speaks to the one-of-a-kind sensibility you have as your signature. When I saw all of your work together at the Bands-On-A-Budget show, I was so impressed with not only the variety of subjects, but the way that you were able to brand them as your subjects through your lens. How did that show come about?
To be honest, I’ve never really done much in the way of gallery shows in the past. I’ve had a few shots in shows here and there and did a series of portraits that were up in Asbury Lanes years ago, but I never put much though into showing. Bret {Morgan} from Bands On A Budget, had been talking to me for quite a while about possibly doing a show there and I have recently starting thinking about trying to put together some solo shows of a few different bodies of work, so the timing was good.
I thought it would be appropriate for my first solo show to be of my music work, partly because it is what a lot of people know me for, especially in the Asbury area, and because of the BOAB music connection. Bret and Danny {Croak} were great to work with, and I couldn’t have been happier with the results and the reception. I’ve got some interest from a couple of other galleries to do other solo shows and am starting to go dig through my pictures to put some things together. I’ll keep you posted.
Please do! I would love to see a more extensive collection anytime. I think you have something really viable in the gallery world, no doubt. Do you have any upcoming shoots that you’re particularly excited about?
Yes. I’m going to be shooting portraits with Only Living Boy at the end of the month. I’m really excited about working with them and the shots that we have planned, it should be great stuff. They’re an impressive band and really good guys, so I think we’re going to have fun with it. I also have some plans to work with Black Wine in the near future. I’ve known them all for quite a while now, and shot them live in their various bands before, but never portraits. I had an idea that popped in my head with Jay, Miranda and Jeff in it, so we’re gonna go for it. It looks really cool in my head!
I love both of those bands so much! I’m super psyched to see what you come up with when you work with them! Now, I know that you do a lot of freelance photography which you make a living from by selling them to organizations or media entities. You and I have talked about, especially in the age of the internet, how photographers don’t get a lot of credit, even if their work is used by others and seen by many. Where do you see the future of your work in particular and freelance photography going in general?
Talk About Getting Weird! Mike, Left, Asks Santa To Let Him Go For Christmas.
I just want to keep shooting things that I love and growing as a photographer. As long as I strive to be better than my last photo each time and challenging myself creatively, I’ll be happy. Hopefully, the financial reward comes with it.
Is there anyone who you feel indebted to for their contribution to your work?
Definitely, there are quite a few. Scott Longfield, a photographer at the Two River Times, was pretty much my first mentor in photojournalism; he taught me how to connect with the community you are working within. Pete Ackerman, Chief Photographer at the Asbury Park Press, was a huge influence on my work and process. Pete and I were competitive in a friendly way when I first started working at the Press, and it made me try to be as good as him. We shortly became good friends; he is an amazing storyteller and really knows how to nail that perfect moment.
And I hate to be cliche, but I owe a ton to my mother and father. My mother was my biggest fan, supporter and cheerleader, always encouraging. She passed of cancer and my father, who was always a bit quieter about it, has since picked up the torch and run with it.
Aww, I don’t think that’s cliché, I think that’s sweet! And it’s great to have support from your family when you’re a creative person, a lot of families are not as understanding, much less supportive! I’m so glad we got to do this today! I hope even more people are inspired to check out your work when this comes out.
You really do have a gift and a great eye, and I think the work you do, documenting everything with the attention it deserves, and in such an artistic way, is immensely important, so thank you for that. You are definitely a huge part of our community, and I’m really glad you are!
Awww, I bet you say that to all the boys! Ha ha! No problem Ang, thanks for all the kind words! I’ll see you at the next Obvious show, cool? And thank you for today, too.
So there you have it folks! Be sure to check out more great images from this gifted documentarian, and if you see Mike out at a show, put away your damn phone camera. Leave that ish to the experts!
XOXO
Ang
