Scared - Koboltor

Robert Had a Cold

Kleine Lichtjes

Honderdduizend Sterren

Frogconcert Nijbroek

Lutherse Kerk Orgel at Mad Science Tattooing

Gospel at Kloosterkerk

Gospel 2 at Kloosterkerk

Italy

Kunst

I MOVED All MY DJ-SETS TO https://www.mixcloud.com/michelmontagne/ BECAUSE OF COPYRIGHT ISSUES!

DJ Michel Montagne – aka music photographer Michel Mees – was weaned on music’s underbelly. The Swans, Joy Division and the Cure all got under his skin. Add to this cheery apocalyptic crowd Coil and Front 242, and there’s your feeding ground for the hypnotic, shadowy moods Montagne draws from his decks today. But it’s not all subterranean. He still loves the thrill of his first house record French Kiss by Lil’ Louis. 
In the mid-90’s he photographed a score of techno gods for dance zine Bassic Groove. The shots led to his later work for music magazine Oor, dj’s and record companies. Their music, however, convinced him to add turntables to his regular camera equipment. And he’s been playing his decks at venues around home base The Hague ever since.
His mixes run rife with dark electro, frenzied techno, and a glide into trance and minimal. Running through it always the rising swell of plaintiveness. Good music is all about feeling after all. 


www.michelmees.nl
 
txt by www.somegoodculture.com


Michel Mees (Drunen, 1969) has been dragging his camera bags to nightclubs, hotels and palaces for more than two decades now. Palaces you said? Yep. That’s where this versatile photographer from The Hague found His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard in front of his lens. “ It’s one of the advantages of being a photographer”, Mees smiles. “You go through doors that remain closed for others”. 
  
Music being his big love it was hardly surprising Michel Mees started his career pressed against the edge of local concerthall stages, making snapshots of new bands. While still attending the Royal Academy of Art, his phone started ringing with offers of work. Magazines were keen to pick up this talented dude from The Hague. Since then Michel Mees has snapped his shutter in front of hundreds of dj’s & musicians, including Armin van Buuren, Alice Cooper and Tiësto. For a good portrait he travels as far as Uzbekistan. 
  
But you wouldn’t do him credit by naming Mees a music photographer. He’s much more. His bulky portfolio includes commercial work, (travel) reportages and lots of portraits. 
  
His intuitive and repo-like style was formed by the time pressure that often goes with music photography. “Unless you’re lucky you will only get a few minutes for a portrait”, Mees points out. “I like that challenge. You have to make do with the props you find in the twenty square meters around the hotel.” 
  
What makes Mees’ pictures stand out is the feeling of spontaneity in his pictures. Like you are accidentally witnessing the decisive moment, together with the photographer. 
However, the casual nature of his shots can be deceiving. Sometimes it involves hours of preparation. Mees: “I try to grab that special moment. Like a still from a movie.”

txt by Rene Passet

michelmontagne

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