Cheryl Spelts | Photo Blog | Marty Casey

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Marty Casey | Silver Elements Collection

A little over two weeks ago I got to do a fun session with Marty Casey for his Silver Elements Collection. It’s a line of really beautiful jewelry that he designed with Marla Zegart – and the running theme through the whole collection is the natural environment. The first piece, launched a couple of months ago was named after his big song from Rock Star: INXS, “Trees.” And the newer pieces are part of the Stars collection, also named after a new song, “I See Stars” – and come with a CD single of “I See Stars.” It’s a GREAT song – definitely one of my all-time favorites!

We shot in downtown La Jolla and right on the beach in Pacific Beach, under the Crystal Pier. So beautiful jewelry, incredible setting, and a hot rock star – perfect assignment for me!

I’m sure some of the images from this session will end up in my online portfolio at some point in the future – it’s arguably some of the best work of my entire career – I’m really proud of it! But for now, the only place to see it is in Silver Elements Collection’s Online Catalog – so go look! And buy something! Every purchase helps to plant a tree in conjunction with American Forests “Global Releaf” Ecosystem Restoration Projects. So you not only get a beautiful piece of jewelry you’ll be able to wear forever, but you’re also helping the environment!

http://www.silverelementscollection.com

Monday, November 3, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Backstage with L.A. Guns!

Backstage with L.A. Guns / Photo: Cheryl Spelts

Have you ever wanted to see what happens behind the scenes, before a big show? I got the chance to go backstage with L.A. Guns and shoot a photo documentary last month at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. I think the images are beautiful, but more than that, it’s fun to see a different side of some of our favorite musicians!

http://www.rockbandlounge.com/news/2008-09-la-guns/

Thursday, October 2, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Marty Casey in San Juan Capistrano

Marty Casey / Photo: Cheryl Spelts

Can you ever have too much Marty Casey? I think not! The image above was shot in San Juan Capistrano last month, and as of today it’s one of the images rotating through on the front page of martycasey.com.

There are a few more of my images rotating through too. More, more, more on those later…

Edited to Add: As of October 21st, the image above is also the main image on Marty Casey’s MySpace Site – and the redesign is stunning! Kudos to his design team! http://www.myspace.com/martycasey

Marty Casey / Photo: Cheryl Spelts

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

L.A. Guns, Live at the Key Club in Hollywood

When a quintessential Los Angeles band like L.A. Guns comes home, after a summer on tour, it’s a big deal! And when that band has a new lead singer, and said lead singer is Marty Casey, and the band also includes Tracii Guns, and the venue is located on the Sunset Strip? Well then you know it’s going to be a great show!

L.A. Guns / Photo: Cheryl Spelts

This is just a taste from this very sexy and intense concert….

The full slide show is at http://www.rockbandlounge.com/news/2008-08-la-guns/ – and in this case, bigger is definitely better! If you have any comments or questions, there’s a discussion thread on RBL at http://rockbandlounge.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=8230.

Friday, June 27, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Twisted Trees

Trees Dog Tag from Marty Casey I love it when people send me fun stuff! This just came into my mailbox, and it’s super cool – and not just because the ad features one of my images!

The twisted “Trees” illustration is beyond cool – loved it since I first saw it – and it’s a perfect fit with silver. I LOVE this necklace! And it’s for a good cause as well – the world needs more trees.

You can read all about it on martycasey.com – and buy one too!
http://www.martycasey.com/silvercollection.htm

And while we’re on the subject of Marty Casey, tonight is the very first show with his new band, LA Guns in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They’ll be in Los Angeles at the Key Club and in Hermosa Beach at Saint Rocke in August, but if you live in other parts of the United States or Canada or Puerto Rico or Peru or Venezuela or Chile or Argentina or Uruguay, then check out the tour dates on his site.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Marty Casey on the Sunset Strip

If you watched my favorite show ever, Rock Star: INXS, this singer/songwriter may look familiar. And even if you didn’t watch the show, you may recognize him from the commercials that were all over CBS that summer. Marty Casey was the fan favorite, and millions of people voted for him – he’s an amazing musician!

We shot this session on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood – but not at night, when the strip is at it’s most recognizable… We shot during the day, and were gifted with soft hazy light for most of the session, and then brilliant sun for the balance. Perfect!

Marty Casey / Photo: Cheryl Spelts

And there’s more! To see the whole session, go to Rock Band Lounge!
http://www.rockbandlounge.com/news/2008-06-marty-casey/

Or to discuss it on RBL, go here!
http://www.rockbandlounge.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=6701

Thursday, April 24, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Just a little tease…

I recently did a session with Marty Casey on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. I can’t share all the images just yet – but I can share these!

Marty Casey on the Sunset Strip

Marty Casey at Whisky A Go Go

Marty Casey at the Roxy

There’s more from this session, and it’s amazing! The best is truly yet to come…

Tuesday, March 18, 2008 by Cheryl Spelts

Hammerfest 2008 in Chicago

When I interviewed the Lovehammers back in early 2006, I remember being impressed by the way they talked about their fans and the huge shows they put on in their hometown of Chicago. And I sort of decided then that if I ever got the chance to shoot one of those big shows, I’d take it! I’ve always wanted to go to Chicago…

The opportunity came last weekend – two years after that interview – some things are worth waiting for! Hammerfest is a big deal and this year it was at the House of Blues in downtown Chicago. Great venue! All brick, two balconies that circle around the floor, and it feels small and intimate yet holds a LOT of people. I went with five friends – two who live in Chicago, and three others that flew in for the weekend. We spent the whole weekend together, but they were good sports when I abandoned them during the show.

Shooting any show is always intense – but the Lovehammers multiply that intensity by ten. Their shows are incredibly passionate and vital, and there’s movement and color and action everywhere. It’s an amazing thing to see live – and capturing some of that magic in a still photograph is one of the most satisfying things I can think of to do. They create magic onstage, and I tired to tap into that vein, and mine some of their magic in my images. It was a blast!

This image is one of my favorites because of the orange and violet lighting – the colors of RockBandLounge – and to see Marty Casey, our RBL Ultimate Rock Star bathed in those colors was great fun!