WILD RECORDS ALL DAYER!!!!!

PHOTOS FUNAKI

On assignment for L.A. Record I was covering the WILD RECORDS All Dayer event last saturday. WILD RECORDS is L.A.'s premiere label when it come to showcasing the best in Rockabilly, 50's punk and R&B the way it is supposed to be played. I love going to these types of shows because the music is good and its a blast to photograph. You know me, live is the only way to know if a band is any good. I'd be a Brittany Spears fan if I knew she could hack it live. WILD artist are all LIVE!!!! Here is The Rhthym Shakers, Alex Vargas and Don Juan y Los Blancos!!

Free Jazz session with Billy

PHOTO: FUNAKI

I ran into my good friend and musician Billy on my way to pick up some supplies. The weather was well over 100 degrees and it was unbearable. Billy started playing some crazy improvisational stuff on his horn blaring it with all sorts of sounds. It really reflected the heat and intensity of the day. I shots this photo during the session.

Lexus Jazz festival... Dona Oxford

PHOTOS: FUNAKI

Awhile back I heard a really good vocalist named Dona Oxford and I liked her blues/rock sound. I found out she was going to be at the Lexus Jazz festival so I went to check it out. Wow.. great voice and great live show. I got a couple of photos until I think it was her manager started trippin on me to pay her for my photos. HAHAHAHA OK SURE.

The Gutta Contructuz

Album Photography: FUNAKI

My good friend and longtime client XP put out some new material and he used my photos for the cover. The album title says it all.

At Peace

PHOTO: FUNAKI

Another from my series Sleeping Beauties. I loved the bold brick he was laying up against. He looked like he was sleeping good to. My notes tell me that when the store owners saw me taking pictures they called the cops to get him out from in front of their business and that he was dragged away from there by the cops. How rude.

Sleep with 1 eye open

PHOTO: FUNAKI

Sleeping beauties continues. The older I get the closer I get to my subjects. I was literally on top this guy t oget this shot. When you are on the streets its best to sleep with one eye open in case someone tries to run up on you.

The Yellow Burka

PHOTO: FUNAKI

Here is another image from my "Sleeping beauties" summer series. This image is called "The Yellow Burka". When I saw this it reminded me of the burkas worn by women in the middle east. The light was hitting perfect on a cold Friday morning. I know he could see me because he kept saying "what are you doing"? I just told him to relax and not take off his blanket.

MUERTO

PHOTO: FUNAKI

I will be posting my "Sleeping Beauties" show online for those who would like to check it out. Its an archive I have of people sleeping mostly on the steets. Why? Some ask, well I find it interesting where some people lay their head. Some look so peaceful and are in the most awkward positions. I hope you like them. This one is titled "DEAD" it was taken in 1999 in 100 degree heat. When I went up to him he did not look right. I tried to feel a pulse and there was none. I took some photos and called for help. I think he was just so drunk that his pulse was slow. I hope he made it.

The face of Quemado

PHOTO: FUNAKI

I posted a few days ago one of my pictures titled "The hands of quemado". I decided to post this one of his face in bold color. The face of quemado. Enjoy.

Learn from others mistakes

PHOTO: FUNAKI

Its better to go and watch the legal fireworks than to try to handle the illegal ones under the influence. Don't end up like the homie Quemado. Happy 4th of July from Downright Ruthless Street Photography.