I’m AJ Miranda and I live in Austin, Texas.This tumblelog is a collection of my work as a photographer, videographer and writer.I also chronicle my life as an Austinite, music fan, food enthusiast, comedy nerd, journalism wonk, poker player, curious being and restless spirit.Tumblr (3.0; @byajmiranda)http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/Trophy&#8217;s is where I discovered Prayer For Animals and SNAFU Kitties, two of my favorite Austin...http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/22243094246http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/22243094246Wed, 02 May 2012 01:46:02 -0400life<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1nxjcBBj51rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I interviewed the band Boyfrndz at Progress Coffee last year. In backpack journalist fashion, I also shot the photos that accompanied the story. At the time, after the interview concluded, I shot the band against Progress’ red brick exterior. We weren’t excited by the shoot. After all, how many thousands of band photos have been shot against a brick wall? So the guys asked if I had time to shoot more, which I did. We walked to the band’s house in East Austin. It was an eight-minute walk away. The house was a museum of technologies past. The backyard housed two 60-inch big screen TVs from the 1980s. Neither worked, and they were in fact spray-painted with Boyfrndz imagery. Inside, I found a toy Yamaha keyboard and a vintage typewriter. Throw in a Macbook, and we came up with the idea of having the band members each messing with a different kind of keyboard.</p> <ul><li>Client: Backbeat Magazine / Red River Noise</li> <li>Date: July 2011</li> <li>Location: Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm IS</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/20131922097http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/20131922097Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:05:00 -0400my photosworkred river noise<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1bu4qUVj01rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I fell in love with the moody blue lighting used at Ruta Maya on this night. Walking into an Austin music venue, you never know what the lighting’s gonna look like. The same venue can use dim red lighting on Friday and bright green on Saturday. Or worse, an ugly and unbalanced mix of all sorts of drab colors. But the lighting on this night was even along the stage in luminance and hue, which made my job editing the set easier. The above shot is of local emcee Tee-Double as he guests on a DJ set by Ursula 1000.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: March 13, 2012</li> <li>Location: Ruta Maya in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF-S 18-135mm IS</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul><p><em><br/>Click the photo to visit the gallery.</em></p>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19775375935http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19775375935Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:29:14 -0400workconcert photographyAustin VidaAustinmy photos<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m177dlSDxA1rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Part of the appeal of South by Southwest is being pleasantly surprised by artists you didn’t know anything about. I was out of the loop on Beatriz Luengo when the petite, feisty songstress took the mic at Maria Maria. Aside from having a good voice and strong stage presence, she’s a very animated performer. Consequently, most of my shots featured her shouting or making funny faces. A fun shoot, overall.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: March 12, 2012</li> <li>Location: Maria Maria in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF 50mm f1.8</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul><p><em><br/>Click the photo to visit the gallery.</em></p>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19683696263http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19683696263Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:56:00 -0400AustinAustin Vidaconcert photographymy photoswork<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1773rREH51rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Austin Vida’s editor-in-chief, Ian Morales, was nominated for an award at the inaugural Revolucionario Awards, which is part of interactive portion of South by Southwest. I’m not much for awards shows or meet-and-greet events, honestly. Nothing against them. Just not my cup of tea. What lured me into going was the music lineup. David Garza opened the music festivities with a solo acoustic performance.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: March 12, 2012</li> <li>Location: Maria Maria in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF 50mm f1.8</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul><p><em><br/>Click the photo to visit the gallery.</em></p>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19683453861http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19683453861Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:48:00 -0400workmy photosconcert photographyaustin vidaAustin<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m176ta6HEu1rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>There isn’t another band like Master Blaster Sound System in Austin, as far as I can tell. A little bit cumbia, a little bit hip-hop, a little bit pop—all with a grungy, dirty electro vibe thrown over it. Expect a DJ who plays the güira, a flying-V guitarist who wears a calavera mask and a petite five-string bassist who is larger than life on stage.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: March 10, 2012</li> <li>Location: Jovita’s in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF 50mm f1.8, EF-S 18-135mm IS, EF 75-300mm</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul><p><em><br/>Click the photo to visit the gallery.</em></p>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19635691444http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19635691444Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:15:00 -0400austin vidaconcert photographymy photosworkAustin<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m170yz5yrG1rrp25zo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Usually, shooting local shows in Austin means shooting hairy dudes in shabby clothing. We don’t have many homegrown Latin pop groups with strikingly photogenic female singers. So shooting Austin Vida’s recent showcase was a nice change of pace. Manzanas Malas are a fun live band with lots of energy and performance-mindedness. These attributes translated well to photos.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: March 10, 2012</li> <li>Location: Jovita’s in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, EF 50mm f1.8, EF-S 18-135mm IS, EF 75-300mm</li> <li>Software: Adobe Lightroom 3</li> </ul><p><em><br/>Click the photo to visit the gallery.</em></p>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19631128377http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19631128377Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:08:00 -0400austin vidaconcert photographymy photosworkAustin&#8230;when every shot bar, housing co-op, art gallery, bicycle shop, public park, gravel lot and...http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19263823411http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/19263823411Tue, 13 Mar 2012 20:39:00 -0400Austinmusiclife<iframe width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5uNBwCunaQI?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br/><br/><p>Gotta love a band like Los Skarnales. Their charisma and spontaneity makes them a can’t-miss live act and one of Texas’ best. They’re also fan-friendly—so much so that a handful of fans joined the band on stage for this rendition of “Perdida.” Shooting at Pachanga Fest is always a fun time.</p> <ul><li>Client: Austin Vida</li> <li>Date: May 21, 2011</li> <li>Location: Fiesta Gardens in Austin, Texas</li> <li>Videographer(s): AJ Miranda, Tina Phan</li> <li>Gear: Canon 60D, Canon T3i, Zoom H4</li> <li>Editor: AJ Miranda</li> <li>Software: Final Cut Pro 7</li> </ul>http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/18913606740http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/18913606740Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:38:00 -0500Austin Vidamy videosworkconcert videographyAustinI&#8217;m an Austin-based life form. I&#8217;m a storyteller; my preferred mediums are writing,...http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/18894697427http://byajmiranda.tumblr.com/post/18894697427Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:13:00 -0500Austin VidaRed River Noiseworklife