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cweeks — mr. west
Published: 2007-09-26 19:23:47 +0000 UTC; Views: 36426; Favourites: 600; Downloads: 568
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almost 4 months since i've submitted anything besides updates to my blog ... i guess ... it's my way of protesting the flicker-ization of photo community sites ...yes, hdr and photoshop ... yes ... they make pretty landscapes.
what i think is funny ... is that all of these hdr-fuckos ... lets see them shoot people.
i guess they probably won't though .. they'll just go to flickr and put "pro" next to their name because a us$20 fee definitely makes you pro.
and what the fuck does this have to do with kanye? well ... at the vma's he had a bit of a tirade-strewn-melt-down.
and, honestly, besides meeting him at the vma's in miami when i didn't really know who the fuck he was ... i really hadn't had much contact with mr. west. in fact, i've heard him perform a few times ... but ... i'm not really listening ... i'm making photos.
so ... last night ... at the opening of the latest place for the angeleno denizens and japanese tourists to spend and consume ...
i got a chance to actually talk to the guy.
it wasn't as prolific as mr. malkovich ... but ... i found kanye to be pretty damn cool.
a lot more humble than i would have expected ...
then again, he was alone (i mean, with a girlfriend) ... and there was no entourage to "hop him up" as has been the case before when i saw him launch into a tirade about awards and who should and who should not get them.
he's passionate.
i think that's a good thing.
passionate people are misunderstood i think.
i know i am.
when i showed kanye the back of the camera after having said, "this is the photo i wanted to make all night, bro."
he said, "and you did this in the middle of a party."
'twas a very cool exchange.
and ... interestingly enough ... that was the last photo i made with this particular leica m8. pretty much killed the fucker ... but .. it's obviously still making nice photos...
leica m8. summilux 35/1.4 at 1.4. 320 iso. 1/60th second. b/w native mode. adj levels. add +cont.
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Comments: 301
I love reading the descriptions for a lot of your photos. You have a strong ego -- something a lot of internet artists don't really have.
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"what i think is funny ... is that all of these hdr-fuckos ... lets see them shoot people.
it's hard for me, but i'm trying, people intimidate me and sometimes they make me feel like crap, but if I learn my little camera, and take fear out of the equation like 'lightdrafter' recommended, then...i have a changed event available, and in that window i can maneuver for moments - and try to steal that person's soul just for an increment, a tiny glimpse into the vulnerable ego/self, and grab a sneak-peek into another's life - most of my stuff is outta' focus or wrong, so i have to cull and find a gem, it's weird thou, some of my favorites - of people - are one shot opportunities......the human is the toughest mammal for me, so since it is my weakness - i approach it, in hopes of expressing myself more effectively in a non-verbal fashion.....just because i can digitize something, does not make me more human, i think it merely brings me closer to God........again, i appreciate your work 'cweeks'
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This is so amazing !
I also had the chance to take kanye west in picture but it's not as good as your picture. It was in morocco, mawazine concert.
[link]
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Cool 
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Mr. West isn't mt favorite person, but your photograph of him is!
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"...passionate people are misunderstood i think. i know i am..."
SO true! Oh, and lovely photograph Mr. Weeks.
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i like him, specially 'don't say you will unless you will'
what a heavy despairing yearning erotic passionate song
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Why do you rant after self thaught photographer that post on flickr...
WTF is your problem? Everyone have to start somewhere sir!
Complaining about HDR and Photoshop making thing easy...a little bit like shooting people in black and white...it make the job easier!
But I have to say you are very skillfull and I like your work... I would give a lot, only to have half your skills.
Keep on the good work and respect for the people that share the same passion as you...even if they are on flickr and do HDR!
Peace
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Hi, have been on Kanyes only concert in Germany the last year, my girl friend gave me the tickets as a present. That was a great time.
Just got my first roll of film out of a leica m3, and yes film looks very much like film, digital is something else...
Its just noisy as hell didn`t expect that at ISO 400? thats the pic: [link]
keep up the good work.
Nico
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yeah ... i hadn't seen him live and then i did and knew what everyone was talking about: he's pretty damn good.
i've found that tri-x didn't scan right for me which is the reason i shoot delta 400.
that said ... grain can happen like that for myriad reasons.
keep shootin', man!
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hi,
I`ll try the delta next time.
You must have good connections to germany? since you got that m9 so early and Leica is based here in germany.
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Really nice story... I'm glad you share your experiences with us
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This is a nice one for you. If you want to be understood, listen.
Lovely shot.
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I read a few of the early comments and couldn't agree more with your comments about people that are kidding themselves into thinking they're teh smex as soon as they hold a camera that weighs more than their phone.
I've only recently bought Kanye's latest album (after watching Dave Chappelle's Block Party) and have to say it's nice to see an "un-pimped" shot of the master producer. Thanks for posting it up.
I'm nothing special, but at least all the shots in my gallery (at this point in time) are shot on film cameras.
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he's not so bad.
it was digital.
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Man, u are so lucky..
I mean u talked to kanye ..must be awesome.
I love this photo btw.
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Fantastic story, and fantastic photo. You're right, photographing people is MUCH more challenging.
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I like this capture.
Great composition, light.
( Not sure about his expression though! 
I agree with what you say.
Most do not know the definition of 'artist', '
( I know well enough that I am neither ...yet! )
Another comment: I wish more would put the
story of the photo behind it, as you did so well.
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I'm not personally much into rap & although i've heard some things about this particular artist that I may not like, (admitting i don't know "both" sides though) unlike some people I know that makes absolutely no difference to the quality of the image presented.
The first thing that stands out to me is the lighting. It's kind of backwards, technically, but I really, really like the way that works for this picture, it seems to kind of speak to the personality of the subject, like he's staying in the shadows on purpose.
Not just the eye contact but also the expression & the 'way' he's looking at you gives this portrait a lot of power also. It seems kind of like, "arresting" I suppose, when looking through a page of thumbs this one pretty much demanded a larger look, if that makes sense. The way the light is split on his face definitely reinforces that too.
I have a feeling I'm not quite making sense though so I'll stop there. The point was I like it, and nothing else should matter.
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you lucky son of a.................................rockstar
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What's your profession.. how do you mean so many famous people?
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that's so amazing!
the shot+the story.(:
you're really lucky;
i'd love to meet this guy.
kanye is amazing
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so , so , SO jealous !
ignoring the fact that this photo includes one of my favourite artists .. this is really nice shot
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If people enjoy doing hdr landscapes, why not let them?
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mr ego...bonnaroo 08' -- kanye kicks phil lesh off stage 1h early so that kanye can be the only one playing. the light show didnt happen since kanye didnt show until 4 something in the am (daylight). kanye then didnt give a farewell and cut the show short. what a man...
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no, what i do know is the fact that he showed 2hrs late for his "light show" and many many people were very angry. angry enough to tag the walls and grass with the nature of "fuck kanye."
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sounds like it was a very immature crowd.
the times i've seen him perform he was on time.
thanks for letting me know to never cover that festival; the fans sound like assholes.
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that's not the only time he hasn't showed, heh.
pretty immature to not show up, don't you think?
people aren't always what they seem,
referring to both the crowd and kanye.
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i'd prefer to know the whole story.
why, though, kanye was at "this" festival is beyond my comprehension.
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[link]
go ahead and read some of the comments, too.
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does it really matter?
i don't care, mate. when i've photographed him he's always been on time.
were you at bonaroo?
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"Does it really matter?"
Yes it really matters..
Please don't be so egotistical like Kanye.
Think of others, think of how they feel.
Yes, I was at Bonnaroo. I was working an 8pm-8am security shift. I watched as people trailed by to the main stage at the scheduled time. Then as time progressed I watched as more people (some of the same as before) walked back to their campgrounds annoyed and angry because yours truly had not shown.
He finally showed when it was daylight, how can a light show be enjoyable in the day?
Another no show:
[link]
I like this one because it shows how he thinks he is better than everyone else. We are all equal, none better none worse. Otherwise that is selfish. Do you want to be considered lesser than someone else?
[link]
This one is great. Seems like a good speaker...right?
[link]
One last thing, being photographed and playing a show are two totally different things. He was paid to play a show that the PEOPLE paid for. Having a picture taken is a matter of being, no talent needed.
Now I conclude, it really does matter. People matter, life isn't a one man show. Everyone should view each other as equal so we can all love each other. And Kanye may have music that many like, but not everyone likes it. There is no reason to neglect anyone a good show.
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blame the organizers. bonaroo and kanye weren't a good fit. i don't see the cross-over demographics there.
kanye's always been cool to me.
you're calling me egotistical? please. get a life.
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you were acting like the people 2nd to kanye, which is everyone, is lesser.
yeah, the organizers didn't help but kanye could of acknowledge the crowd about being late, not cut short, and waved a little goodbye. bonnaroo (*spelt with two N's) was his chance to represent for fellow rappers since more and more music types are being brought. then again, i'm glad he pissed off a bunch of people because bonnaroo doesn't need his junk. i don't give a fuck if he was cool to you because you obviously fall for it all. you aren't worth anymore of my time. open up your eyes.
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you sound insecure.
i hope you work through that difficulty in your life, mate.
it'll be much better when you don't feel you're "lesser" in your own eyes.
kaynye doesn't think he's better than anyone else.
then again, you don't know him. you've never met him. in fact, you probably never will but i hope you actually do meet someone who's at the "top of their game." perhaps you'll learn something from them.
i hope for you.
don't be a hater.
it's unbecoming, mate.
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