Reflections at the Footlight Club

The book project is almost done!

Last Saturday, we completed the final photography and started laying out the actual book.

The people in the photographs are getting their stories in to me and we hope to have it all completed and ready for the printer by the end of January.

For those not familiar with the project, I set out to document the current members of the Footlight Club, America's Oldest Community Theater, in Jamaica Plain, MA. I wanted to capture them in their self assigned roles, and learn about how and why they became involved in this institution.

The book, due to be published through Lulu.com, is going to be used as a fund raising tool and marketing tool for the group.

Stay tuned to find out about the actual publish date and the kick off party at the theater in April.

The photo above is Tonee, one of the stage managers at the club.

My Memories of Christmas

(as posted on the Ad Club Blog)

My favorite memories of Christmas... Well, it would have to be the mysterious and wonderful adventures at Grandma's house before I was 10 years old.

We would get up at our house and open our presents, rush through breakfast and get on the road. After an hour drive over the berkshires, we would arrive at bedlam.

My grandmother must have been cooking for days preparing for the day. Walking into the kitchen, the senses were assaulted by smells of delicious food, cries of joy and welcome, and warmth from the stove that was putting out still more delectables.

Moving into the parlor, my younger brother and I would spy on the tree and see how many presents were stacked there. Because Grandma's was the central meeting point for 5 or 6 generations, plus various neighbors, it would seem to our eyes to be an ocean of wrapping paper and bows.

And then there would be the den. If the kitchen was the gossip point for the mothers, grandmothers, aunts and older neices, the dark, cave-like den was for the men. The tv constantly buzzing with bowling, wrestling and then football. The smell of smoke and whiskey, the feel of stubbly hugs and talk of arcane sporting terms and who was doing what at Sprague Electric.

It seemed to be two worlds, the den and the kitchen, with constant traffic in food and drink moving between, through the kids world: the Parlor.

It was a strange and magical time. The kids, my cousins, brother and I, would make forts, eat chicken and rice, steal cookies, ogle the presents, eat some more of whatever we could sneak, rest and spy on the adults, all the while, anticipating tearing into the huge pile of presents.

Looking back now, I can hardly remember the presents or the unwrapping. My memories center around the warm feeling of belonging, surrounded by famly, the friendly chaos, of being sated and happy with the promise of more good things to come.

As a father of two boys, I watch them each Christmas and wonder what they see now and will remember of our times together.

The snaps here are from last year's celebration. Hunter got a snowman kit and wasted no time in putting it to use at my parents' place in Maine.

Season's Greetings!

Imagine the excitement.

Imagine the anticipation.

Imagine the plans, late at night, under the sheets with a flash light and the dog-eared catalog.

Forget the hype and the pressure, that's an adult thing.

Imagine the conversations you might have, if you came downstairs and there was a big guy with a red and white suit standing in the living room.

Ah, ah! 911 is an adult thing!

Imagine two brothers waiting... on Santa Patrol!

Happy Holidays, to every one of us!

The Portrait Project Continues!

For the first time, in a very long time, I placed myself in front of the camera. And learned a bit of empathy for my own subjects.

In the middle of our tight schedule, we found a hole where we could fit me in. After all, I had been hanging around the club for years and made my own contributions by creating photographs for posters and brochures.

Setting up the lights and the position was easy. But, sitting there was not. Nor was the makeup or the direction from Joy, my make up artist, and Jessica, my assistant.

Not that they were difficult. In fact, they were quite supportive. It was my own anticipation of the light and the pose and my own ego in the way. Surely, I don't look like that! Where did that grey in my beard come from? Gosh, no more donuts between setups!

No, my crew was, as always, supportive and creative. Despite having to work with a prima dona like me!

My thanks to Joy for putting up with my complaining about makeup under my eyes. You were right, of course. And, thank you to Jessica for, ahem, pulling the trigger on this one.

Shay's Tongue

Every so often, one of my sons will walk past the studio while I am working. If I am just setting up, they might even stop in and hang for a couple of minutes. At least until they get bored with Daddy playing with his lights again.

This time, Shay stopped in and hung for a while.

I had a client coming in for a shot for a postcard. Since he wasn't there yet, I asked Shay to stand in for a lighting test.

He sat on the stool and grabbed the mic stand and, I swear, let out a shriek that Gene Simons would approve of.

I hear he is organizing a band in his preschool. His older brother, Hunter, will be running the sound board and managing.

New Portrait Project- A Personal Exploration

This image of Joy Cochran, titled "The Curator", is from a new personal project that I have begun, with the assistance of Amy Stahl, a wonderful producer. Joy has also been doing fantastic work as my makeup artist on the rest of the portraits.

Our goal is to create 30 portraits of people who are involved with the Footlight Club, the oldest community theater in America. Located in Jamaica Plain, the theater is celebrating its 130th season.

What attracted me to this place was the passion these people exhibit. Every time I walked into the space, for every performance, rehersal or other event, the energy just blew me away.

So, we set out to celebrate their passion, skills, and dedication.

We are about half way through the production, with plans for a show in April at the club and a book of the collection with insights from each of the subjects.

Stay tuned for more images and news from this project and others!

Richard Repetta, as "The Crooner"

Moody Motorcycles

Another image from the archives.

What I love about my job is that every day is something different. One day, we are working with a biotech start up to illustrate their product to prospective investors. The next day, we are creating an image of an industry leader for a marketing report.

And, on another day, we are in an iron fabrication facility with two of the loudest custom bikes I have ever been near.

This was created as part of a campaign to promote the gentleman who customized the bikes.

I wish I still had the posters from this one.

The Cut Ups

I got looking back through some of my old images this morning, while procrastinating calling clients.

I came across a series I did for a local magazine. There were eight or ten products in all, photographed in pieces, printed out and taped together.

It got me thinking about where I had started in this business and where I was going. Like so many photographers who have been weaned off film for digital, I thought about techniques that we had used in the past but were no big thing now.

It will be very interesting to look back in ten years at what we think of as cool now.

What will be out? What will be in? What defines retro then?

Somedays, I miss film. But, most of the time I don't.

Does that mean I spend most of my time looking ahead? What about today?


Images ©Matthew McKee
Model: Julie Gilmartin
Makeup: Cynthia Murphy
Jacket by Harley Davidson

Happy Halloween everyone!

Darker than a Backbay back alley, the night comes
swiftly across the road to greet you.

There is a low, almost subliminal, atonal
vibration that begins behind your spleen.


There it is again!

What is going on?

A fog appears, as if pushed from behind a grave
stone, wrapping around an eerie yellow light.

Something flutters from above!

A scream cuts through the cold air!

Ah, no, wait. That was me. I just
realized we are out of peanut butter cups.

Happy Halloween!

(hey, we did a movie of that night...
and the production leading up to it.
Check it out here

The Most Fabulous Story

I do pro bono projects from time to time. Generally, these are conceptual based projects that are interesting and give me a chance to explore work or a subject that I have not had a chance to tackle before.



This particular project was for a friend of mine, who was producing a production of "The Most Fabulous Story."

As I understand it, it is a funny story about an alternative Adam and Eve scenario in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, I never did manage to get to the show.











I did get to work with some marvelously talented people, who work in "ordinary" day jobs.

But, at night, they have an incredible passion that they exercise every chance they get.

That is reward enough.

Matt

September Image

Spiral #3, Limited Edition, Archival Pigment Print, 10x14

This is part of a new, personal series I am working on, called "Found on the Beach."

For years, I have wandered parts of the coast line along the eastern seaboard, collecting bits of this and that. Unfortunately, the earlier items were lost as my parents edited my collection or disappeared during the several moves that we all go through. But a significant portion still remains, hiding in boxes or under the dust on my shelves.

And, during this past summer's vacation, my two boys have started creating their own collections.

So, it was time to do something with these fossils and rocks.

Shell #3, Limited Edition Archival Pigment Print, 10x17

These images are a few of the collection, and I hope to continue the series over the winter.

Stay tuned for more!

June Image

Seems to be the season to see how many bugs you can catch with your teeth!


What more can I say? I love the look of a motorcycle. I love the way the chrome gleams and the highlights glisten. The contrast of the hightlights
to shadows. The pure mechanical symbol of power and force that cuts through the air, taking its rider to
freedom.

But, I have to admit that, as I have gotten older, I have less and less interest in riding on one.
Probably a combination of too many crashes on bikes when I was a teen and more concern about my own safety.

The image and the series that came out of it, were created for the creator of the custom cycle, as part
of a campaign. The final images ended up on posters and direct mail pieces, as well as on the web site.