New Blog Site!

Please visit There is a Light for the latest version of Scott Witter Photography's blog.

The Raveonettes play Rock The Runway

The Raveonettes (click to enlarge)

LAST Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite bands, The Raveonettes, play a free show at the 3rd annual Rock The Runway fashion event held at The Art Institute in Orange County. There was a great turn out complete with a fashion show, graffiti and printmaking artists, two Kogi taco trucks, makeovers, and even some guest appearances from Bravo's biggest reality shows, Project Runway, Launch My Line, and Real Housewives of Orange County.

Although there were many other songs I would have liked to hear The Raveonettes play (I'm sure time was a factor), they had a great set and I left having no regrets having made the trip from Long Beach. I was especially impressed with their cover of Sonic Youth's "100%". Due to my second trip to the Kogi truck for another round of korean spare rib tacos, I missed out on getting a front row spot for the gig. Needless to say I found a great angle on the side of the stage and was able to sit comfortably throughout the show... allowing me to get some great snaps of Sune and Sharin exiting the stage. Enjoy the photographs and be sure to catch the Danish Duo if they ever come your way. Congrats to all of the designers involved in the runway show!

© Scott Witter Photography

Johnny's Gift to Jim Marshall

Johnny Cash at San Quentin. Photo by Jim Marshall.

IN 1969, while performing at San Quentin State Prison, Johnny Cash gave photographer Jim Marshall a special gift. That gift, of all things, was the middle finger. It was something that will go down in the history books of music photography. A gift you ask? Yes. Photographers can only dream of their subjects opening up to them like that. It is something that only the subject can give away. A photographer can ask for it, but rarely will he or she truly receive it. This is definitely not to take anything away from Jim Marshall. Only an experienced photographer can capture something like this. It's about putting yourself in the right situation and anticipating the moment. But what really makes it work is the trust the subject, in this case Cash, has with the person behind the camera. That goes a long way.

Portrait photographer great, Richard Avedon, once said, "A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he's being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a part of the photograph as what he's wearing or how he looks. He's implicated in what's happening, and he has a certain real power over the result.". Johnny knew what he was doing, and the end result is a caption of his legacy.

Sadly, last Wednesday, Jim Marshall passed away. He leaves behind a beautiful collection of photographs which ranges from The Beatles to Jim Morrison and everyone in between. Feel free to view more of Jim's work, and the stories behind them, here.

The EkoMiko Project with Izabella Miko

Izabella Miko, co-star of Clash of the Titans

IN the fall of 2009, while working feverishly on concepts for future promotional shoots, I was introduced to actress Izabella Miko, co-star of the blockbuster movie Clash of the Titans. We hit it off instantly and talked of collaborating together on a future photo shoot. At the time, Izabella was dedicating herself to upcoming film projects, but was also hard at work developing her eco-living foundation EkoMiko. Originally from Poland, she has always been very passionate about educating people in her homeland about simplistic, economical ways to lend a hand in keeping our planet beautiful. Now living and working in the United States, Izabella feels it is important to spread the word here, as well as globally.

EkoMiko poster (click on photos to enlarge)

When Izabella approached me about shooting images which promoted EkoMiko, I knew right away that it would work well if the concept tied in with her character of Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom, whom she portrays in Clash of the Titans. I also wanted to try and make it a "non-celebrity" looking photograph. It needed to be as raw as possible, as well as having mother nature (or elements of it) as a focus point. I wanted the image to tell a story, as if she was the "Goddess of Eco-Living". I couldn't help but to envision one of my favorite books as a child Lord of the Flies. After researching Athena, we decided on wardrobe that would embrace the greek goddess idea without being too literal. Instead of using typical olive leaves, I wanted to create a hand-made headdress out of natural materials that she could call her own. The color green typically identifies most things eco-friendly, but wanting to do something a little unique I opted to allow only the leaves in the headdress represent that color. Everything else was to have subtle earth tones, aside from the white dress. As for the location, we shot at a beautiful spot on the beach in Palos Verdes, CA.

web site tearsheet

It was a great pleasure working with such an inspiring and talented person as Izabella. She couldn't have been more gracious and down-to-earth (hence her quest for absolute green living). We all feel the shoot was a colossal success and hope that others will be influenced into making a change in their daily routine to live a more eco-friendly life. Be sure to check out the EkoMiko web site for tips on how to do just that or to make a donation. Click here to see the behind-the-scenes video.

the photographs

This was actually a dual project. While shooting for EkoMiko, we also shot photographs of Izabella with bags that were manufactured out of recycled movie posters and banners. What a great idea. Check them out here at sybil.pl.

the bags

the outtakes

making of the headdress

EkoMiko Foundation launch party at La Vida in Hollywood

scott and izabella

Izabella's interview with Movieline

*Special thanks to Izabella Miko, Renita Gale and Vanessa Witter for helping make this happen.

*All images copyright 2010 Scott Witter Photography

Picking Cotton: The Photographs

In the fall of 2008, I got a call to bid on a job for publishing giant St. Martin's Press to photograph three authors for an upcoming book. A couple of weeks later I received the nod and was awarded the assignment. Interestingly enough, the shoot did not require me to travel but rather to stay in my current (now former) hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Actually, one of the authors, Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, lived only a few miles from my house. Scouting locations was a little challenging, but eventually I found some great spots to fit the mood of each subject. The day of the shoot had finally come. To start the day we all met at Jennifer's house for a quick meet and greet, decide on wardrobe, and discuss the day's shooting schedule. Erin Torneo, one of the authors, had not been awake long when I got there as she and her husband Sascha had arrived late the previous night from their Los Angeles flight. The third author, Ronald Cotton, would show up soon after and upon walking in I was instantly taken back. I'm around 6'3" and even then Ronald seemed to tower over me like a giraffe. A look into his eyes revealed not a boisterous, loud character, but more of a quiet, soft-spoken being. I couldn't help but think, "Is this what prison does to a man?". When Ron and Jennifer greeted it was like two high school chums seeing each other at a 20 year reunion. Both of their eyes lit up and it was an embrace like no other. It was hard to fathom the fact that in 1984 Jennifer had accused Ronald of raping her, and that he would serve eleven years in prison for a crime he did not commit.

The shoot went amazingly well and the book, Picking Cotton, is a huge success. I am truly blessed to have witnessed the special bond that has been created between these great friends out of such injustice. The book is a best seller and both Ronald and Jennifer have been featured on 60 Minutes, the Today Show, Dr. Phil, and NPR among others. Read a condensed synopsis of their story here at The Innocence Project and be sure to pick up a copy of the book now in paperback.

the photographs

Jennifer Thompson-Cannino

Ronald Cotton

Erin Torneo

the outtakes

book release party in new york

Jennifer and Scott

Jason Ramirez (St. Martin's Press), Scott, and Erin

Links: Picking Cotton on Facebook and 60 Minutes on Ronald Cotton Case

All Photographs Copyright 2010 Scott Witter Photography

*outtake photos courtesy of sascha paladino

Smashbox 2009 Face Off Finalist

While brainstorming ideas this past October I came across this striking girl working in a vintage clothing store in Long Beach. She had this incomparable aura about her and stood out from the rest of her co-workers. Kym would later be the subject of my next portfolio piece.

I had an idea of shooting a portrait that incorporated an urban neighborhood feel and after scouting the city I thought of a place all too familiar to me—my cousin Allie's residence. The location is actually in Los Angeles, but appears to be set in another time and city. The exterior is very similar to the architecture of many South and Central American countries I've visited. I knew it had the feel I wanted and that Kym would be the perfect model. I was listening to a lot of Saint Etienne at the time and was inspired by the song 'People Get Real' off their album Fox Base Alpha.

Kym worked out great, obviously, and in December I went on to enter the photo in Smashbox Studio's 2009 Face Off Photo Competition. Although I didn't place, I did make the top 50 which enabled the image to be showcased at the Face Off Show at Smashbox's West Hollywood location. I was very honored to be chosen out of over 500 entries and ended up having a great time at the party.

As I explore this city in search of more "characters" for my portfolio, I hope to come across another Kym. They are rare, but do exist... at least in a Saint Etienne song.

A few behind the scenes shots.

All photos Copyright 2010 Scott Witter Photography

Ketchup

Yes, it's time to ketchup... or catch up (on the blog that is). It's been a while since I have posted anything. Over the past several months I have been working diligently on creating new images for my portfolio. In August, I began collaborating with the talented photo consultant Selina Maitreya and really began sculpting a new vision. It actually wasn't new, it just had yet to be uncovered. Selina's expertise and lack of "sugar coating" things has definitely helped me do that.

Over the past few days I plan to post some of the images with a brief description of the planning, inspiration and thought process that went into their creation. I went back and forth on wether I should post such personal information, but I feel that in the long run writing it down will help the exploration and developmental process. Until then...