Quick questionnaire......and then some: DJ ASHBA (Guns n' Roses / SIXX:A.M.)

So I'll try and do this post in english. I know there's quite a few out there who has the hots for DJ, and they'll prolly drool-google this.

I came to meet with DJ right after i moved to LA early 08, by recommendation of our common friend Marion Raven, who suggested me as a photographer for DJ Ashba. DJ writes and records with Marion. As does his bandmate, Mötley Crüe's Nikki Sixx. 

We've had a few shoots since then, and I even did a shoot for James Michael, SIXX:A.M.'s lead singer. We've also enjoyed a few nights out, indulging in foodwars at the Rainbow (quote owner: "I had Led Zeppelin do that in here, I didn't accept it then"....point taken, sir!) whilst clinging on to our favorite beverage, Buttery Nipples. Don't ask...go to LA. DJ even celebrated Norways national cheesy holiday with us in Hollywood; may 17.

I can't recall much other than DJ's jet black Mercedes scouring Hollywood for afterhours, us both very much outta focus. But we've also been extremely focused together. I might come back to the "story behind the picture" in a later post, as per request maybe...?

There is stuff to be said straight off though; DJ always comes out with a clear view on what he wants for a shoot: "a big total, with stormy thunder-clouds and me at some banged up location in kinda cold eerie colors. And I need that from several different angles and with different framings. And it damn better look better than Nikki's latest ones, and I need a fine looking chick on set too, and oh, remember to shoot a few tight ones for my Facebook-defaults and get me the hell outta the desert by 4pm". Now that's a brief!

Seriously, DJ knows the ropes of Hollywood and navigates its potholes like nobody's business. He's on the phone night and day prior to shoot and he's constantly tossing out ideas for me to assemble. He has evisioned his character real well, and plans everything down to minute detail. Which suits me perfect. Failing to plan, is planning to fail, or even PPPPPP (Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance).

Us at Blender 8 is thrilled to have DJ answer a few very quick questions about working with us camera-toters.

Now, take it from a man with a thousand lenses in his face:

 B8: Being shot as a guitar-player in two very significant rock-bands, how do you recognize a good photograph?

DJ: If it's believable and sincere!

B8: So what constitutes a good rock-shoot?

DJ: The chemistry between you and the person shooting you. You both have to have the same vision. You have to feel comfortable with your photographer. If the photographer can photograph your soul, he's priceless in my eyes, and Bjorn does just that. He's one of the very few out there that just gets me. (On that note: it really helps we got the same taste in music, style and hair-dye. I'd probably mess up that Barbara Streisand-shoot real bad - Bjorn).

B8: Do you enjoy being directed?

DJ: I have always been a visionary, I initially will describe exactly why my vision for that shoot is, and then I put all my trust into the photographer to take it too a whole new level.

B8: What do you look for when hiring a photographer?

DJ: I look at their previous work. I am an artist, you can spot an amazing artist a mile away, same with a great photographer.

B8: How important is a vision and a sole goal in Los Angeles? I take it this would count as much for a photographer, as a musican?

DJ: It's everything. I love creating visions, setting high goals and achieving them. It's kinda fun doing the impossible.

B8: Your bandmate (Nikki Sixx) has become a skilled photographer. Are you getting used to having the camera around, even in the most private backstage settings?

DJ: I've had cameras around me my whole life it seems. Ha! It's something you get used to quickly in this industry, just part of the gig I suppose.

B8: Is there a profound connection between music and photography?

DJ: They're both a form of art and expression.

B8: Is there a great rock-photograph you wish had been you instead?

DJ: Haha, no!

B8: What's the lamest thing a photographer asked you to?

DJ: "Make love to the camera", or "say cheese"... Haha 

B8: Ah, was he fat, and bald?

DJ: No..

Bjorn: Wtf, I never said that. Right....?

B8: What is your favourite rock-shot?

DJ: I like all the old backstage shots of classic bands, that aren't posed. Very cool.

DJ Ashba came out to Hollywood from outta nowhere with a guitarcase, fresh tiny tattoos and drew most of his early inspiration from his very first rock show: the infamous walking deathwish, Mötley Crüe.

A few years later he's best friends and bandmate with Nikki Sixx of the Crüe....only in Amiracle. Check out Nikki's wetplating and other great photography of his at www.sixxsense.com  Scroll down to "Nikki Sixx Photography" and get inspired.

So don't ever budge, if you really want it!

DJ Ashba is the lead guitarist for Guns n' Roses and SIXX:A.M.

DJ owns Ashba Media, a creative agency with clients such as Sony Playstation and Virgin.

He knows 3 norwegian words: "Du. Er. Homo"

http://djashba.com/

http://www.ashbamedia.com/index.php

http://sixxammusic.com/

http://web.gunsnroses.com/index.jsp

SIXX:A.M. recently released the album "This is gonna hurt".

All images © Bjorn Opsahl / DJ Ashba, shot at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood and Salton Sea, CA

Historien bak bildene: KAT VON D

Siden mange spør, kommer en fyldig rapport fra mitt første shoot med Kat Von D. Sittingen med Kat ble ikke til på minste mulige motstands vei. Jeg fikk mine bilder til slutt, men veien dit var lang, og selve shootet et sant kaos.

Helmut Newton skal ha sagt “Photography is 90 percent moving furniture”. Jeg stiller meg bak den påstanden.

Kat har alt en fotograf kan drømme om; skjønnhet, massiv sjarm, energi og troverdighet. Samt, for hennes del, kroppen dekket med tatoveringer, og 4.5 millioner tv-seere hver uke.

Å juge til seg et shoot er ikke ukjent for meg, og her var det bare å sette seg ned og søke på deltakelse på tv-showet hennes LA Ink, for å få en fot innenfor døra og kanskje fått gjort en avtale. Men sjansene var ganske små med tanke på antallet søkende som er i tusenvis. Men det skader jo aldri å prøve, og til min store, blåøyde overraskelse kom jeg rett inn etter bare en audition, og det var tilogmed Kat selv som ville gjøre min “piece”. Jeg tilbrakte 5 timer med Kat og ex antall kameraer som fanget opp min minste hinting om et shoot.

Men det gikk, og vi jobbet i legendariske Smashbox Studios i Hollywood bare en uke etter. Jeg hadde timet min befaring i studio såpass perfekt at jeg kom innom og møtte studiomanager 2 dager før. Da hadde nemlig Madonna dobbelt shoot i 2 studioer: Ett var det grønne coveret for Vanity Fair med Steven Meisel, og ett annet shoot med Steven Klein i et studio rett ved siden av.

Bare å se Madonna haste mellom 2 studioer var nok til å vippe en nervøs nordmann av pinnen.

Alt gikk skummelt smurt en stund. Jeg skulle få hele 3 timer med Kat, som er 2.5 timer mer enn vanlig med giga-kjendiser. Hun skulle tilogmed komme ferdig “maket” og stylet, og jeg så for meg 3 timers boltring med Kat i studio.

Hun kom én time for sent, med sovesveis, uten sminke og i sandaler og singlet…Men hun kom ihvertfall i sin nydelige sorte Kat-customiza Cadillac: Katillac-logo med emo-heartagram i grillen og Mozart på full spiker.

Heldigvis hadde jeg et helt makeup-rom stappfullt av standby glam-squad og klær, så det bar rett i stolen for en ydmyk og litt flau Kat Von D. Det hele endte med at jeg fikk tilsammen ca 20 minutter foran kamera, til å skyte 11 bilder i to forskjellige stiler til 2 forskjellige kunder. 2 Hasselblader side ved side, for å unngå bufring som ville spist mye tid, mens regien haglet over Kat fra en febrilsk desperat fotograf.

Jeg stiller aldri uten backup-kamera, backup-data, backup-pizza, backup alt faktisk. Selv alle kabler, sikringer og pærer er x 2.

Så hvordan løser man 2 forskjellige uttrykk til 2 forskjellige kunder på 20 minutter med en rimelig stor lysrigg? Jo, man skrur av front-lyset. For eksempel. Det er en desperat handling, men det under press man ofte jobber best. En drage flyr høyest i motvind osv..

Etter et par hjerteflimmer, svettetokter og assistenter med brann i øynene, er vi omsider ferdige og jeg kan konstantere at jeg har gjort hva jeg kan.

Alt handler om hvem man omgir seg med, i mitt tilfelle satser jeg alle kluter på å ha et team rundt meg som er langt bedre enn meg selv, og i slike tilfeller er det imperativt. Fallitt er å gå fra et opptak man har drømt om i en evighet og forberedt seg på hele livet, med bare dritt i lomma.

Apropos tatoverte Hollywood-rockere; følg med til helgen. DJ Ashba (gitar, Guns n' Roses og Sixx:A.M) har gjort en liten Q&A eksklusivt for Blender 8.

Tech-talk:

Keylight er en 5-fots Octa

Jeg har 2 striplites som spisslys bakfra

1 lav barebulb (naken pære) på gulvet mot bakgrunn, for gradient

1 punch / kicker langt bak i studio, for catchlights i øynene og gnist i huden

Alt fra ProFoto (hver lampett har sin egen powerpack Pro 7, 2400ws. Stripsene deler en pack)

Lysoppsettet

Smashbox Studios, Studio 4

Kat og jeg, yay!