What a ride I’ve been on.  Literally.

Many of you may have noticed my lack of blogging in the past two months.  If you haven’t been keeping up with me on Facebook or Twitter, it’ll come as a surprise that I’ve been on tour with the one and only Justin Bieber documenting every facet of his life on his first headlining North American tour.

If you recall, last December I had my first encounter with Justin while shooting an assignment for the New York Times.  It was at that point I realized I had documented something pretty special as he played Madison Square Garden for the first time.

Long story short, after the assignment, I put together a prototype book with the help of my fabulous designer Laia Prats, and proposed a Justin Bieber documentary to his management (at the TODAY Show) and a number of publishing houses.  After a few months of hustle and luck, I was told to meet up with Justin and company in Nassau, Bahamas where he was performing at the Atlantis Resort.  That was in mid-June….and I’ve been on the road with him ever since.

The bus tour has taken me all across America from the east coast to the west and as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Texas.  Soon we’ll be traversing Canada, Justin’s homeland, eh?

So what’s happening with my pictures?  Many things!

First and foremost, Harper-Collins is publishing an illustrated book with about 150 of my photos along with text written by Justin himself talking about his transition from a normal kid to international social media celebrity and touring music sensation.  The book is hitting the presses very soon and will be on bookshelves worldwide beginning in October.

Beyond the book, I’m creating an exclusive archive of Justin at every one of his 80+ North American shows both on-stage and off.  Those photos will be released in some new and exciting ways to his fans and media.  More to come soon on all that!

I’ll be on tour until at least the end of his North American tour, which ends in early January 2011.  Rumor has it a world tour is in the works!  Until then, the best way to keep up with me is through Facebook and Twitter.

I hope to continue blogging from the road, so if you all have any questions or blogging requests, please let me know and I’ll try to answer them as the tour goes on.

Thanks for all your support!  I’m really excited to see what comes of all this.

This morning I covered Justin Bieber’s appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show in Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

I had to arrive at the crack of dawn to wait, along with hoards of other press, while enduring the shrieks of Bieber’s diehard tween fans. I was in need of an Aspirin after this shoot. If headache is a symptom of Bieber Fever….I can certainly say I caught a case of it listening to them scream!

I quickly found that the press riser where many of the celebrity photographers lined up to shoot was not a viable option for me as I would’ve been crammed behind 40 other photographers. So I opted to shoot from the rear of the stage where nobody was shooting from. I really lucked out because I was able to pull off some nice frames shooting through the crazy fans. I like to stray from the pack and get something different….at least my photographs are unique versus everyone shooting from the riser getting the same canned shots.

I was also able to give Justin and his manager my prototype books containing the images from my all-access coverage at the Z100 JingleBall and they very much liked it, which made me quite happy. Perhaps a new project in the works!

Here’s the source of the headache:

Take a peek at a slideshow Justin Bieber’s TODAY Show concert.

Justin Bieber TODAY Show Concert – Images by Robert Caplin

Jason Reitman – Images by Robert Caplin

Another dip into the photo vault finds the hot film director, Jason Reitman, currently in the news for his latest movie, Up in the Air, starring George Clooney. Check out this cool interview with Jason Reitman I caught on my NPR podcast.

When I was commissioned by the Los Angeles Times in Feb 2008 to take his portrait, it was for a critical essay by Dennis Lim discussing the ways in which the new crop of Oscar-nominated best directors are emblematic of the direction cinema is moving. I’d link the story, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere online!

Jason’s publicist squeezed the shoot into his schedule at The London, a fancy hotel in New York. I showed up about 20 minutes early in order to find the hotel room and set up a few different poses prior to his arrival.

The highlight was when I used one of my awesome jokes to try and get a smile from the director… ”So a neutron walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender sets the beer down and says, “For you, no charge!”…

…but I only got pity.

Hey Jason, if you’re looking for a production photographer for your next flick…you know where to find me!

Normally, following around a 15-year-old boy for an evening wouldn’t be that exciting – unless the young man is the newest overnight pop sensation, Justin Bieber, playing his first concert at the “World’s Most Famous Arena”, Madison Square Garden.

When I got the call to photograph Bieber, I didn’t have a clue who the young man was. My editor told me that he was a star born and discovered through the magic of YouTube and subsequently R&B artist Usher took Bieber under his wing – so began his transformation into a star.

Check out the NY Times Article here.

The concert at The Garden was actually a music festival put on by the NYC radio station Z100 called “Jingle Ball 2009” in which numerous artists, mostly those with the fan base of 12-16 year old girls, performed. Artists included Taylor Swift, John Mayer, Usher, Justin Bieber, Pitbull, Kris Allen, Jay Sean, The Frey, and Ke$ha.

I was tasked to follow along and document the evening with Bieber and his entourage, which consisted of managers, his mother, another young friend, myself, Usher, and a bodyguard. To my astonishment Justin was one of the biggest stars at the venue, with young girls screaming and squealing at any glimpse they were able to steal.

Because of the number of performers at this concert, there were numerous dressing rooms for the artists. As I walked down the hallway and passed the other artists’ rooms, it was obvious that Justin’s was the one that all the backstage pass holders wanted to be around, clogging the hallway around the door. I even ran into Harvey Weinstein who brought about 5 young girls backstage to meet Bieber and Usher.

I also ran into Trey Anastasio backstage, lead singer and guitarist for Phish. Though he’s played the venue a number of times, this time he was here with his young daughters in order for them to meet their teen idols. Since I’ve been to nearly a dozen Phish shows, I couldn’t help but strike up a conversation with Trey and snap a photo of us together. (Trey actually lives in my neighborhood and I see him walking his big, white dog from time to time.)

As Justin’s set neared, his management cleared the dressing room so that he and Usher could start warming their voices. I, too, was kicked out, but managed to talk my way back inside because he and Usher’s relationship is exactly what I wanted to share with NY Times readers. They first started dueting Usher’s song “U Got It Bad”, which they were going to perform together later on stage.

Afterward they started warming their voices using traditional vocal exercises, which was also pretty fun to witness. I’d never realized the extent in which pro artists had to warm their voices prior to performing. Being there shooting stills, I wanted to capture what I was witnessing, so I took some video mainly as a way to listen back to the audio. But after watching all the clips I took, my editors at the NY Times thought it’d be fun to share the video with readers.

The walk from the dressing room to the stage was a significant trek that had us passing numerous other artists’ dressing rooms, crew, and fans with backstage passes in the hall trying to steal a glimpse of the stars. Moving quickly and flanked by his entourage and security escorts, it was hard to even notice Justin in the middle as we swooped through the winding hallways. But as we passed, everyone – especially the young girls – took notice and swooned for him calling his name and asking for autographs.

Once truly backstage on the floor of The Garden, Justin and his crew met up for a quick pow-wow and before I knew it John Mayer was coming off the main stage and was shaking hands with Bieber.

As Justin went onstage, I ran to the front and shot from the pit (the area between the stage and the first row). With young girls screaming in my ear and clawing at my back to get to Justin, I continued shooting as Usher came out and performed his song, “You Got It Bad”, together with Bieber.

Before I knew it his set was over and I rushed back around and caught my favorite moment of the evening – when Justin and Usher came off stage together. There was a true moment happening in front of me as Justin looked up at his mentor while walking off stage at his first show in Madison Square Garden.

After Justin’s set, I broke off from his crew and decided to watch and photograph Taylor Swift who closed the festival.

It was an unlikely concert for me to attend, but it proved to be quite an experience!

Congrats Justin on your accomplishments!

Click HERE to see all 141 photos from the concert!

Here are some select stills from the show:

Justin Bieber Blog – Images by Robert Caplin

Christina Aguilera – Images by Robert Caplin

This dive into the archives goes back 3 years when I was commissioned by the NY Times on a last-minute assignment to photograph Christina Aguilera during a listening session for her new CD due to release back in the summer of 2006. The CD she was releasing was titled “Back To Basics”.

My editor at The Times called me last minute to see if I could run to the Sony Studios where Ms. Aguilera was playing her new tracks for friends and executives inside the studio. I quickly called up my buddy Noah Gilbert to give me a hand lugging my gear and assisting during the shoot. We arrived at the studio as the listening session was underway. As it turned out, my editor at the NY Times had worked with Aguilera’s publicist, who didn’t get in touch with her manager, so they had no clue I was coming! I had to use my silver tongue to get just a few moments to take the portrait.

We couldn’t set up the portrait during the listening session because the large studio was packed with 40-50 friends and executives. Leather couches were strewn around the studio and dozens of candles burned while Christina played each track and talked about the songs. After about an hour of lounging in the back of the room by the catering table (yum), Noah and I had about five minutes to set up and two minutes to shoot, all while guests lingered. Needless to say it was a rush job. My first thought was to take advantage of the soundboard since we were in the fancy studio. Unfortunately, after getting my lights set up, the sound technician had turned off the entire sound system. Due to the limited time and other pressing issues, he couldn’t boot the system back up, so we had to go with the flow: a soundboard switched off! Strict ethical policies at the NY Times prohibits any digital alteration, so I’ve never Photoshoped the soundboard into the “ON” position.

This was one of the more difficult shoots I’ve done due to the chaos in the room and Christina’s surprise of having to sit for a NY Times portrait after a long presentation. Though we were rushed, I was able to pull off a couple nice shots of the Grammy Award winner. In just the few moments I had with Aguilera, it was obvious she knew how to work a camera. I think I could have a lot of fun shooting an extended session with Christina should the day ever come.

Christina, have your people call my people….

NY Times Article and layout:

James Spader – Blog – Images by Robert Caplin

Last week I received a New York Times assignment to shoot a portrait of James Spader for an article about his role on Broadway in a new David Mamet play called “Race”. The brief shoot took place at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in mid-town and was another one of those “set-up in advance and bang out a handful of frames with the talent” quickies.

I knew James Spader primarily from his Boston Legal television show in which he starred opposite William Shatner, but I’ve also seen a few movies where he plays eccentric characters, so I had no idea what he’d be like in real life. I found him to be one of the kindest and most willing celebrities to shoot with. I did have trouble trying to get much expression from him, but never the less I feel we had a very successful shoot.

For this particular shoot I met up with the play’s publicist who showed me around the theater, back rooms, basement, dressing rooms and I decided to choose the basement and a stairwell as the locations. With the help of my good pal and assistant, Noah Gilbert, I took some lighting tests and waited for Mr. Spader to arrive.

Once James arrived for the shoot it was very obvious he was going to be very easy to work with. When I shoot these celebrity assignments, I often bring a handful of lighting set-ups to get a variety of portrait options for my editor. I decided to bang out a few ring-light portraits while I had him near a brick wall…the first flash surprised him because of the brightness of the ring-light. At first I thought he was upset, but he quickly laughed it off and said, “It’s ok, I can handle the first act tonight seeing rings of light….anything for a good picture.”

Also, during the shoot another actor in the play came and pulled James away for a few minutes. Afterward James apologized explaining that he insists the entire cast gets weekly B-12 vitamin shots administered by his doctor to keep the cast healthy, and that was what the interruption was about. Smart idea considering the winter season and all the germs the playgoers must bring in each night. You have to be healthy to perform on Broadway.

Interesting fact I learned from James. As we were walking down to the basement to take a few more portraits, we passed an old poster for a play from nearly a half-century ago. On it was the profile of a woman and he mentioned how uncanny the resemblance was to Drew Barrymore. It took me a moment to put together that the woman in the poster was actually Ethel Barrymore, Drew Barrymore’s great-aunt, for whom the theater was named. Fancy that!

Here’s a quick snap I took with James in my basements set-up:

See the entire shoot by clicking here.

2009 International Emmy Awards – Blog Slideshow – Images by Robert Caplin

What a whirl-wind few days….I had a small break since completing my time-lapse of the World Series, but Friday found me quickly back into the action of a corporate job, this time as the house photographer for the International Emmy Awards that was held Monday in New York.

Prior to the awards ceremony there’s a 3-day festival held that includes cocktail parties, luncheons, screening and panels, followed by board meetings and finally the awards ceremony. Monday night had me photographing some of the best and most influential artists, actors, filmmakers, directors, producers, journalists, and statesmen in the world. I had the opportunity to sit through, meet, and photograph the likes of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Sir David Frost, Barbara Walters, Moby, Edie Falco, among many others.

I was working as part of a team of photographers and editors through PSG, a news organization founded by a friend of mine, Warren Winter, that was commissioned to produce still photos for The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Together we were a team of 3 photographers, 2 editors, and gaggle of top-notch PR professionals helping to identify the endless stream of foreign (and thus almost impossible for us to identify) celebrities.

I’m continually amazed by the places my job brings me and I don’t take it for granted. It’s quite a pleasure to be a fly on the wall and be given permission to freely document these amazing events.

Click here to view more photos from the Emmy Awards.

I got caught chimping on the red carpet in this AP video:

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys – World Series 2009 – Images by Robert Caplin

Wow, what a night!

While shooting the World Series for MLB’s public relations dept., I had the opportunity to get some pretty exclusive access to Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ performance prior to the opening pitch. What I found so amazing about the experience was that I felt I was documenting a genuine moment in both performer’s lives.

Jay-Z and Keys started their walk to the stage from center field which created this amazing scene where they were walking towards me far off in the distance while the Jumbotron overpowered the stadium with their larger-than-life figures. Upon arriving to the stage entrance, which is where I was shooting from, they had a few moments to wait until the live broadcast began when they could take the stage. At that point, you could tell they were super excited as the hammed it up to the camera and shared animated glances at each other. I would imagine, no matter how many concerts or stadiums they’ve played in the past, this had to be one the the most memorable moments in their lives happening in front of me. I know both are native New Yorkers and Yankees fans, quite an honor it would be to play for the world LIVE on television and in front of thousands at the Stadium. I was truly honored to have been given that opportunity. I’ll never forget this evening, that’s for sure. What a show!

I hope you enjoy the photos!

Congrats to the Yankees and to Jay-Z and Alicia on the killer evening!

Here’s the broadcast on YouTube!

More World Series photos to come….

Uma Thurman – Images by Robert Caplin

Due to some Facebook requests, I’m going to bring out my Uma Thurman shoot.

This session was another press junket type situation at the Regency Avenue on Park Ave (Same as Phillip Seymour Hoffman) and for this junket she was making her rounds for her upcoming movie “Accidental Husband”, though I wasn’t shooting her for for that particular movie. As it turned out, I was scheduled directly after the entire day of interviews and photo-shoots for Uma, so she was dead-tired when her day was over and her publicists told her she has just one more shoot with me for the LA Times.

One of the thing’s I’ve learned about shooting celebrities is that time is VERY limited. Often less than 5 minutes and you’re done….this shoot was no exception. For beginners, I was given a hotel room what was literally turned upside-down with couches pushed vertically into the corners and a big round table littered with empty bottles of water and soda. I started with her out in the hallway of the hotel, directly outside the room I was given to photograph. Inside the room, I also had two more portrait situations set up so I could throw Uma in on the fly, if she gave me the time.

Right when Uma was arriving, I could just tell she was worn out and didn’t want to have to have anymore pictures taken. Oh boy…. I literally took a few frames in the hallway and she said:

“Ok, you got it, that’s enough, right?” and started to walk away.

“Actually, we have just a few more set up inside the room!” I interrupted in an excited tone.

I was able to persuade her to continue and enter the discombobulated room I was provided. At this point her hair/makeup stylist, a flamboyant fellow of about 5′5”, kept asking me to show him the photos on the back of my camera. Normally I decline because that leads the actor and the publicists to want to see and approve, but this time I obliged because I wanted the shoot to continue smoothly past 5 frames! It actually turned out to be a benefit because the stylist really liked the photos and he was extremely vocal about it, which cheered Uma up considerably!.

From there I snapped a few I’d prepared earlier at the window and in the corner of the room. I’ve found that getting to the shoot extra early helps me figure out a number of portrait scenarios so I have more than one set-up to choose from in the end. It also gives me time to have lighting in place and ready so the talent only has to step onto the mark.

Here’s a video I took the day of the shoot….it was originally for my grandmother back in Ohio…so excuse the nonsense talk. I cut most of it out! Tiffany Clark was assisting me the day of that shoot:

Uma was happy I only took a matter of minutes to complete her portrait session and took a snap with me!

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Images by Robert Caplin

Some time ago I was assigned to take a portrait of Academy Award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman for the Los Angeles Times. It was back when he had three films releasing in three months: Before the Devil Knows You re Dead, The Savages, and Charlie Wilson’s War.

Normally when I shoot celebrities it’s during a “press junket”, which is when the production company is promoting a new movie and they invite the press to interview/photograph the cast. They’ll typically rent out an entire floor (or more) of a fancy-pants hotel (this time the Regency Hotel on Park Avenue) and they give me a hotel room to set up some quick portraits. I usually get about 10 minutes to take a portrait….usually less. Also, the celebrities are usually flanked by their publicists who like to give me a hard time and tell me what to do and how to take the photo. Fortunately for this shoot, the publicist was extremely kind and corporative when I asked if there was a chance we could shoot on the roof of the hotel, rather than in a hotel room.

The hotel manager brought my assistant and me to the roof to scout it some good locations and I quickly realized it’d make for some good photos. Philip was kind enough to climb up to the very top and sit on the edge of the building…I actually think he got a little worried as when he was sitting on the edge, when I asked him to change poses, he said, “Um, no thanks”.

All and all, a successful shoot!

Of course I had to get a shot of myself on the edge!