STRINGS & THINGS

I love guitars! Banjos, mandolins, violins, viola de gambas! Not only do I get to photograph the musicians that make music on these amazing stringed creations, but I also get to work with the especially talented, thoughtful and gifted folks that design and build the instruments that allow musicians to make the noise that we call MUSIC! I recently had the opportunity to document a few of the latest guitars from Pennsylvania luthier Matt Artinger and some stunning banjos from Beltsville, Maryland based Kevin Enoch! Not only are these amazingly beautiful bits of musical eye candy, but they all sound as good as they look.
My personal favorite- “The Tokyo Rosie” but, then again, it would be! I got to lend a small hand in the design of this one- Billy Gibbons, eat your heart out! ( now I just need some folks to play with- )

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ARTINGER CUSTOM GUITARS

Once again I count my blessings that I have the good fortune to make a living, however meager, doing what I truly love.
….and I admit it, I love guitars, and everything about them! The variations of their sonic palette is infinite, as are the players that finesse, throttle, bludgeon and seduce those glorious sounds from these musical sculptures of wood & metal. Nowhere else on the planet are more beautiful, and more interesting instruments created than in the humble workshop of luthier Matt Artinger, in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. I’ve known and worked with Matt for over 10 years, and consider myself a lucky man indeed to be able to spend even a few days a year photographing, and playing these stunning instruments. Every one a work of art, every one a player’s dream.

YOCCO’S – EMMAUS, PENNSYLVANIA

Good Morning, Gentle Readers! Nothing especially artistic, creative ( artistically or musically) or newsworthy this time around, just a wacky roadtrip stop at Yocco’s, a friendly little hot dog chain in the Allentown area that the Dinerhunter & I had lunch in while on photo assignment at the Artinger Guitar workshop. Although the Dinerson scooped me, using my own pictures, I thought this was worth a quick post, if for no other reason than the aggresively cheerful anthropomorphic hot dog. Yum! Yum! Glad to see that our friends from around the world all feel compelled to stop in and bite the dog!
See? Even our friends from Finland make the trip to Yocco’s!
The Diner Hunter says ” That’s the King of Hot Dogs!”
We had the small meal-

ARTINGER CUSTOM GUITARS

I am so very fortunate to be able to make a meager living doing something I love, creating compelling images of the world around me, and at no time am I so blessed than when I have the opportunity to work with master luthier, Matt Artinger. For several years I have made the trip from the Washington, D.C. area up to the quiet Pennsylvania town of Emmaus to document the unique and striking creations issuing from Matt’s workshop. The beauty and diversity of his instruments, be it guitar, bass, mandolin or whatever else his wicked mind and talented hands devise is always a surprise and a treat to photograph…. and to play! If you are ever of the mind to own a one of a kind extension of your own musical vision, Matt is certainly the man to see. Here is a small sample from our latest photo session. To see more, visit the website or the dedicated photo blog!

Artinger Guitar Shoot

One of the great joys I’ve experienced over the past several years is working with Master Luthier Matt Artinger. I met Matt back in 2001 when he was still a teenager building guitars in his parent’s basement. The quality and craftsmanship of the first instrument I bought from him convinced me he was a talent to be reckoned with, and now, 10 years later, he has lived up to all expectations- and more! The artistry & sheer build quality go hand in hand to produce instruments worthy of craftsmen twice his age.
A testament to his growing reputation within the custom guitar community is the recent inclusion of his work in the coffee table book by guitar authority Robert Shaw, Electrified: The Art of The Contemporary Electric Guitar. I’ve been photographing the major pieces coming out of Matt’s shop for the past four or five years, and I’m proud to say that several of my images were featured in the book. Nothing is more beautiful than the sensuous curves and deep, glowing wood textures that grace these guitars. Every one is a work of art, and, to top it all off- they play like a dream! The marriage of form and function is truly a marvel.
We average 3-5 photo sessions a year, depending on Matt’s output, and each trip to Pennsylvania is always capped by a visit to one of the many classic diners that are on the route to his workshop. Be sure to take a look at the Artinger website, and the image blog of these fine instruments that I maintain. Better yet, give Matt a call and place an order for YOUR custom guitar.