“If you make yourself more than just a man,
if you devote yourself to an ideal,
you become something else entirely.” - Liam Neeson (Batman Begins)
The session below contains images we recently captured of Marcus Roberts and of his alter ego Mavrick Traxx. Images of a mortal who steps into the studio and must transform himself into something greater to conjure his next level signature beats. You can’t prepare for it, you can’t control it, and most importantly… you won’t be able to turn it down. I&B Photography presents: Mavrick Traxx.
“A mess is home to me.” - Kelci Smith of kindlewood (‘This House’)
Back in April my wife Mati and I were emailed the first single from the band kindlewood’s debut album. The moment we heard the song ‘This House’ we both knew it would also be the soundtrack to kindlewood’s first music video which we would fight tooth and nail to make (luckily no breaking of teeth or nails were needed). We have known Galen and Kelci Smith, two of the three members that make up kindlewood, for a few years now, starting when they were going to college here in Dallas. We attended the same church and bonded in our love of all things creative. All four of us have a gift of picking up new things easily and enjoy having a stable of talents to pull from so we saw kindred spirits in each other. Late one night Galen picked up my guitar and together with Kelci they played for us a couple of songs that they had been working on in their dorm room. Both Mati and my mouth’s dropped. We couldn’t believe how talented they were and that they weren’t pursuing this avenue already.
Not too long after that night they graduated and decided to head back to Washington, DC where they grew up. We couldn’t blame them for wanting to be around family but we definitely were jealous that we weren’t able to physically see with our own eyes how exponentially their chemistry and talents would grow. Once out in DC they picked up Jamison Lyman, an extremely talented musician who was performing as a solo act… and that was that… kindlewood was fully formed.
Both Mati and I are extremely grateful that we are still able to be a small part of the kindlewood experience. Though it took a ton of sweat and determination to pull off the planning and filming of this video we know that it is for a very worthy group of artists. We would like to thank Timothy Scott (tjscottphotography.com) our producing partner for shouldering much of the load though he had many other lucrative projects he could have dedicated his time to. I would also like to thank the cast and crew for going above and beyond to create the world we envisioned. This was definitely a labor of love worth suffering through 100+ degree temperatures and much of the crew contracting poison ivy. The next video will be set in a location that is climate controlled… I promise!
Check out the video below and if you would like to know more about kindlewood or would like to purchase their (seriously genius) debut album head over to kindlewood.co.
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast.
And when I run I feel His pleasure.” - Ian Charleson (Chariots of Fire)
One afternoon last week I received a call from a friend explaining that our mutual friend Anthony, a graduating senior, had to turn in his track uniform the next day and had never had a photo taken of him wearing it. That would not do. So I ran back home, grabbed my gear, and headed out to the track at Bowie High School in Arlington, TX for an impromptu photo session in 100+ degree heat. Next time someone please remind me to take an extra moment to grab a water since photo shoots are always easier without double vision. Luckily the camera only captured one Anthony in his element.
“I couldn’t get my family to eat together.
You have your family dreaming together.” - Bruce Dern (The Astronaut Farmer)
Roger. Nikkia. Xavier. Isaiah. The Stokes.
This family is just plain cool. Seriously… Mati and I were able to spend the afternoon with them and we walked away truly inspired. Inspired as artists but also as our own family unit. You can just feel how much the Stokes love each other and the level of respect they hold for one another. They encourage each other to dream big and will be there if they fall. And yes… we got this from one afternoon.
My prayer is that these images live up to the standard for which they have set because they truly deserve it. When Mati and I grow up… we want to be just like the Stokes.
