Bay Area Trip 2019 / January 27, 2019 by Bebe Besch

Berkeley / San Francisco / Oakland

I just got back last week from a 4-dayish trip the the Bay Area to visit my best friend. I was unfortunately taken with a cold the entire trip, which I wasn’t expecting. This meant we relaxed more, and there were a lot fewer photos than I expected, but I got to spend more quality down time with my best friend and she took good care of me.

Our first full day was spent eating good food, and driving around San Francisco with my friend’s neighbor who needed some photos for her Acupuncture practice, so we also had a mini photo session.

Taking in the different art at the Clarion Alley.

Looking back at the city as darkness arrived.

The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge - my favorite complementary color combination of blue and orange were truly featured here.

Our second day we went out for more sight-seeing and food.

We went to Lombard Street, which was packed with visitors and requires you to walk up a lengthy hill no matter what direction you’re visiting from. It was a fun attraction to see with all of the commotion and folks excited to drive down the iconic s… — We went to Lombard Street, which was packed with visitors and requires you to walk up a lengthy hill no matter what direction you’re visiting from. It was a fun attraction to see with all of the commotion and folks excited to drive down the iconic spot.

A park nearby Lombard Street had some beautiful trees and arches.

Chinatown noodles after an action packed day.

Our 3rd Day we spent meeting up with an old friend for lunch, vintage shopping at Something to Sell About, and getting our relaxation on at Piedmont Springs.

Mochi, who was a guest at our place for a day.

After meeting up with our friend in Oakland for lunch.

My only attempt at taking a photo of the Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse that took place once night during my trip. I only had my 35mm lens with me, and spent most of the evening relaxing at a hot tub and sauna with my best friend.

On my last full day, we explored the Berkeley Campus, had lunch at Chez Panisse cafe, went to Amoeba Music, and visited our friend’s house for dinner and some catching up.

We decided to visit the Berkeley campus and there were so many different beautiful paths to look at there! The sun was out and offered the most beautiful lighting.

This little guy got close, then climbed right up onto my leg as I was taking the previous picture. I shook him off - and I’m guessing he’s the campus squirrel that everyone must feed by hand.

At the Campanile at the Berkeley campus.

A few stunning black and white shots to close out this trip.

My only souvenir from this trip to myself was buying my favorite album on vinyl, Total Life Forever by Foals, from the iconic music store Amoeba Music. Foals also happened to release their first single “Exits” off of their next album on this very da… — My only souvenir from this trip to myself was buying my favorite album on vinyl, Total Life Forever by Foals, from the iconic music store Amoeba Music. Foals also happened to release their first single “Exits” off of their next album on this very day, so I got to enjoy getting excited about that and discussing tour dates with my best friend as well on this final day of my trip.

Best of 2018 / December 30, 2018 by Bebe Besch

It’s that time of year where we’re all reflecting: both looking backwards and thinking of what lies ahead. I’ve had this website up now for nearly a year, and my first blog post ever was my Best of 2017 photo post. Look how far we’ve come! I am happy to say that I’ve been fortunate to photograph many important things this year, and hope I am able to carve out even more time next year for creative projects.

I’ll start my Best of 2018 post out with a few photos of one of my best friends, Lacey, and her finance (now husband) Kyle during their engagement session from January, and then a photo of them dancing at their wedding this November. 2018 has truly felt like their year to me, as I photographed many moments along the leading up to their big day.

On the dance floor at Trinity Tree Farm.

Live Music

Live Music continues to be my biggest passion besides photography. I can’t get enough concerts throughout a year. I don’t photograph all of them, but I usually want to capture a moment from each show, if I can. Here’s a few favorites form the shows I was able to photograph:

The Dr., John Maus, earlier this month in Seattle.

The intimacy of Lucy Rose’s set at The Sunset still lingers whenever I see this photo.

U.S. Girls had an incredible album this year, and a stellar KEXP performance as well.

I learned about the Vaporwave and Synthwave music genres this year and scoped out Waveshapper at a Seattle venue I’ve never been to before.

LUH (Lost Under Heaven) completely wooed me….(wu-ed me?) at the High Dive.

The best live show I think I ever have seen John Maus perform, at Coney Island in NYC, a few days before my 30th bday.

Noel Brass Jr. performing some soulgaze songs at the Waveform: Music and Tech event.

Neko Case performing a few songs off of her 2018 release to an private crowd at KEXP’s gathering space.

Shame putting us in our place at KEXP’s gathering space.

John Maus at KEXP in January, masterfully getting the sound just right. This might be my absolute favorite photo of the year, and it is one of the few that was featured in the art gallery at KEXP in the Fall of 2018.

Geneva Jacuzzi opening for John Maus at Coeny Island was something I could not have imagined. I will never forget this performance in and outside of a bubble!!

Portraits of Musicians

Most of my music portraits come as a result of shooting sessions at KEXP 90.3fm. I’m hoping to extend this further next year by reaching out more to musicians for collaborations myself.

Portraits with Friends

I had quite a few friends and family visit in Seattle this year, and I took trips to NYC and Minnesota to do my fair share of visiting myself. I am so lucky to photograph moments with the people in my life that I love and want to document forever. It has been a blast photographing people impromptu and in sessions.

Frances visiting Seattle (my mom’s best friend).

My niece Quetitia visiting Seattle and hanging out at Gasworks Park.

A new thing I tried in 2018 was using items (like prisms) to add effects on my photos in camera.

One of my best friends, Ashley (Pepper the DJ to others).

Holiday photos with Rina and Travis inspired me to make this composition. Purple and Yellow - Vikings colors!

Rina, Travis, and I basically got kicked out of the Volunteer Park Conservatory for this shot.

My friend Justin at Cathedral Park in Portland, OR.

Found a patch of a fantasy world while shooting Christmas Card photos with Melissa and Jonathan at Greenlake.

I really want to shoot more family sessions next year after shooting with my friend Shannon and her lovely family. They were a joy to work with - smiles all around!

I shot a couple of of senior photos this year including this favorite of my session with Rianna in Snohomish.

Lee tagged along to the Living Computer Museum and it was definitely his thing!

One of my favorite simple portraits of my friend Molly at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis.

My best friend Angela at the Dream Machine in NYC.

My friend and coworker Chelsea at the Seattle Design Festival 2018.

My friend and coworker Colleen at the Seattle Design Festival 2018.

Angela and Justin in Portland, OR, at BarBar.

My friend and talented artist John Behr. I always joke that Josh Tillman created his stage identity, Father John Misty, after being inspired by this buddy John, because, well, they knew each other back in the day.

My friends at my Halloween party - Nate posing for the camera here.

One more shot of Angela at the Dream Machine in NYC.

A little friend I made on a random farm in Minnesota. Cats are people too!

Scenery

I live in beautiful Seattle, and was fortunate enough to do some traveling again this year. I love road trips and am super pleased to have gotten to road trip to Minnesota, which got its own full post here, as well as visit the East coast, which got its own post here.

The Great Plains on the way home from Minnesota.

The Strawberry Fields memorial at Central Park, NYC.

My sister Shayna taking in the Devil’s Tower, WY.

Events

One of my main goals for 2018 was to attend and shoot more events around Seattle. I shot a few things in the synthesizer community here, including a Patchwerks meetup and the Waveform: Music and Tech Event. I also shot a few light events like the Luminata Festival, Lusio Lights, and checked out Enchant Seattle as well (supposedly the largest Christmas Lights maze in America?). I also shot an event hosted at the Seattle Aquarium as a part of the INTA reception (a worldwide conference regarding Trademarks). Finally, I shot photos of the annual KEXP Record Fair, and also checked out the Seattle Design Festival with some friends.

Knobsenschitt put on by Patchwerks in Seattle - a synth lover’s meetup!

Waveform: Music and Tech Event at the Living Computers Museum and Labs.

Lusio Lights at the Volunteer Park Conservatory.

Chelsea and Colleen at the Seattle Design Festival at Occidental Park.

Fin

When I was going to create this post, I didn’t think I’d have quite as much to share here as I did in my first “Best of the Year” list…but I have surprised myself. I really adore the photos I’ve posted here and as proud of them as I am, I just feel humbled to be able to capture such beautiful things.

For 2019, I have a few new goals, which I’ve touched on above. I have a new project on the horizon that I’ve been debating for sometime - hopefully that will be revealed shortly. I also have goals to photograph more music-focused projects on my own, as well as trying to conceptualize more portrait shoots instead of just heading out in the daylight and figuring out portraits on a whim (which don’t get me wrong, that is very fun!). I may reach out to aspiring models in the area who are on board to try funkier stuff, and I can’t wait to see what comes out of that - and of course, I want to photograph more people I love in the new year.

At the end of the day, I just want to take epic photos. Thanks for reading along and supporting my work!

Love,

Bebe

John Maus at Washington Hall 12.1.18 / December 3, 2018 by Bebe Besch

If you’ve ever had a conversation with me, it probably has led to music, and then to my favorite musicians that I’ve gotten to photograph and which moments have stood out the most to me. It always comes back to John Maus. I’ve written about him here, here, here, and most recently, here. Having said so much already, why write about him again?

This Saturday night, Maus performed a solo show at Washington Hall in Seattle. The venue was large for Maus and the crowd mature. The stage at Washington Hall has an outline of lights, directing your attention to the only person on stage.

Upon Maus’ arrival, he took a few moments huddled to himself before playing his initial backing track to sing over. This is a ritual of Maus’, a moment of silence before the coming eruption of emotion and sound. Although this is par for the course for Maus, there is a subtle elephant.

This tour is Maus’ first solo tour in 6+ years. After about 5 years of digital silence, Maus reemerged with his album Screen Memories and returned with a backing band in 2017. He toured with his band until Summer 2018, when his band mate and brother Joe Maus unexpectedly passed away while on tour in Latvia.

The rest of that European tour was cancelled, life changed, and Maus announced this solo tour.

Returning for the longest solo set I’ve ever seen him perform, Maus plunged through his many songs. Starting with “My Whole World’s Coming Apart,” and then later “Keep Pushing On,” and “And the Rain” – songs so resonating in this present moment and the many to come. The crowd was audible, but it took until about halfway through the set, right around “Rights for Gays” or “Pure Rockets,” for it to feel like a true John Maus set. The ones I remember from his previous solo days. A small mosh circle was formed and people thrusted their firsts towards Maus while he was motioning towards them.

A glance around the room and you could visibly see people dancing, jamming, responding and receiving (whatever you want to call it) in their own ways to the performance. A look up to one of the ledges along the side of the venue and you’d find a timid family seated right next to another group of friends who were completely lost in their rhythmic swaying to each song.

In a brief and somber slowness towards the end of the evening, Maus performed “And Heaven Turned to Her Weeping,” from Songs, a song I did not know he ever performed live. Via statics from setlist.fm, it looks like their data shows he performed it before in 2007, but has performed it a few times now in 2018. A few lyrics from the ballad include:

“Even though you’re far away from me, you’re in my dreams // and it’s hard to erase you from my memories… Cause this is the time for loving you // but you’re not here with me”.

Maus returned for two encores, another first for me - the second of his encores ending on his iconic “Believer,” from We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves.

As a fan, it is worrisome that this might be Maus’ farewell to Seattle, for now; a gift of another solo tour where he extends himself as much as possible on stage for us. As someone who feels like a friend, I am happy and proud for John, who has no doubt had an incredibly difficult year, but still delivers the most passionate performance I have seen to date.

I’m now reminded of a moment in which John once asked me how his live shows compare to the many others I attend & my answer remains the same: they don’t.

R.I.P. Joe Maus 1988-2018.