Passion Vs. Photography

Fortunately I have people who believe in my photography and my art. Fortunately I have people who tell me that I capture 100 Monkeys unlike anyone else can... that they can see my passion for photography and my love for these boys in my photos.

I'm so thankful for that.

I may not be spot on with everything technical in each photograph - but I do know what I'm doing. (For what I am doing and what I am happy with.) I do make my living by this... although, I'm finally at a point where I feel like I don't have anything to prove to anyone.

My passion for photography is strong. I'd love to say that "I love my camera more than anything," but... that would be a lie. I love these boys more than anything. I'm just thankful that my love for them transcends the lens and is captured onto the shots that I bleed for.

I put my heart and soul into each shot and I hope that you can see the heat of the moment and the vibrancy of the music and THEIR passion through each photograph. That's my ultimate goal... not to make you feel MY love for them - but for you to feel THEIR love for the music and each other and their love for performing.

I re-edited a few photos from the last show on the winter tour... I've shared them everywhere else - it's time to share them here.

To those who support me and my photography - thank you so much. To those who don't - thank you so much.

Thanks for taking a look at them. Catch more at www.jodieplatzphotography.com and www.facebook.com/jodieplatzphotography

Each and every one of you who reads this is appreciated! Thank you so much for your support! I can't wait to see you on tour!

Ultimate Gratitude

"Now that you've figured it out, don't you miss the puzzlement? 
Befuddled as you were, the answers to your questions weren't
Nearly as obscure as you thought they would be, 
And now you're bored because the wonderment's gone 
And you're starting to forget what you were wondering about all along, 
Well, well, well, well, well... Regardless..."

I'm not sure that I will be able to slap all this together with my words. Honestly the best way I may have to express what I am feeling right now is to put my hand to my heart and just let the tears fall.

One year ago I attended my first Spencer Bell Legacy concert (which also happened to be my first 100 Monkeys concert...) and at that concert I literally only knew Willow - the person I came with. I knew Spencer, but not as well as I do now, I knew *OF* 100 Monkeys and knew some of their songs (most of which they didn't sing) and [besides The Stevedores] had never heard of any of the other bands.

Fast forward one year later (and 28 Monkey shows later) -- my third SBL and I am entrusted with the responsibility of being the official photographer for the event, I have the privilege to call some of these bands/band members friends of mine and I now know every word to nearly every song that all the bands sing.

Gratitude doesn't begin to cover it.

This has easily been the best year of my life (as I have said that many times before). And while you may think it's still only September, it really is nearing an end. I am tying up the loose ends and making birthday plans, I am recounting and reliving all the fabulous moments from the year and most recently, this weekend.

Now, as you know if you're an "avid reader", I don't dish on the moments that happen outside of public view - but I will say that even with inebriation, there's no way I can forget them.

Somehow I went from being the unknown girl last year, on the outside of all the inside jokes - to getting stopped all night Friday and all day Saturday so that people could introduce themselves to me. Insane.

Friday night I sang/helped sing three Spencer songs on the Callahan's stage. (Go To Hell, Twenty To One and Acapella Gumdrop) I had 5 photos raffled off for the fund (a photo of each member of 100 Monkeys which was then autographed) and also I contributed a photo of The Kissing Club and Tin Tin Can to the Wanted banner that they raffled off. They played my music video for Acapella Gumdrop at the show on Saturday and Dr. Gary Hammer even mentioned/thanked me on stage during each show --- all of those little things added up to me being hugely grateful to be so involved.

...It all begs the question... "How did I get here?" I know that some are sick of me for asking this, but the only appropriate answer resides in what has been my motto since last August -- "be careful what you wish for."

I've already said my thank you mentions on the SBL site, but once again I would like to give a resounding thank you to all of those involved in Legacy; from Bill and the bands, Callahan's, all those involved in merch and keeping people on time (and caffeinated!) to the fans -- none of it would be possible without every single piece of this puzzle.

For those who read my blog and who haven't found Spencer Bell yet -- please take a minute to listen to a song or two here. You won't regret it. Read his story, look through his art and fall in love.

Official photos will be posted on SpencerBellMemorial.com before you can find them anywhere else.

xx

JP

Dear 100 Monkeys Fans

I am beyond moved by the reaction to my blog I posted earlier about 100 Monkeys. Your unwavering loyalty and support for the boys has floored me. It did not surprise me, but it floored me.

I am so proud for how much everyone has taken up for the guys; it truly was unfair that they did not get to finish their set and that they were asked to leave. They (The Hard Rock Las Vegas) conducted their practices unfairly and unprofessionally. However, I believe the boys handled the situation well and gracefully. (I would have thrown things... just sayin'.)

The feedback that I've gotten through comments on my site, my Facebook, the Chatter and my Twitter has been extremely overwhelming to say the least. I've been busy all day responding and replying. Someone (I'm unsure on if she wants to be named, so I won't say her name here) mentioned to me that the boys are not disrespectful and the Hard Rock Cafe of Las Vegas made them sound that way. I completely agree.

I have never before met 5 men who are more gracious, giving and downright RESPECTFUL than 100 Monkeys. They constantly look out for their fans, they take excellent care of their equipment and are beyond grateful to get to play the shows they play in the cities that they do.

I really hope that all of this can get put behind us as soon as possible. I am glad that everyone is now aware of what happened and how the boys were mistreated, but I'm sure that it's not something that they want to dwell on, so I'm thinking that if we all just get it out not -- bitch and moan at the Hard Rock for an apology and then move on to focus on the boys' amazement, that we'll all be happier Mnky fans. ;)

This is a memory that makes me upset when I think of it -- I get upset at how they were treated, how the staff treated the fans, how the staff treated their equipment, how the staff treated the boys... HOWEVER, there are a few other memories from yesterday that immediately make me *beam* when I think of them, so I do believe that I'll try and focus on those now.

I'm not saying that I'm "over" this, that it's all better and fixed now - I'm just trying to look ahead to the future. I know that RIGHTNOW this is such an important thing that 100 Monkeys fans ALL OVER THE WORLD want to deal with head on.

Here's a list of places that I am aware it's been posted:

Ten Gossip, as written by the ever-fabulous, Willow Raine.
Team j.action Facebook
Monkey Business 
Team Jacksper
Jackson Rathbone Online
Jackson Rathbone Source (from Brazil!)
100 Monkeys Chatter

If you know of a website or blog that has posted a link/my story, let me know so I can add it up here! Overwhelming, yes?!

My blog post has been RT'd countless times on Twitter - I don't have an exact number of how many hits that I got, but I know that it's been a lot. That is actually a really scary thought, if I can be honest with you. I know that by now, with how many times my Twitter name has been mentioned along side @100MonkeysMusic that they boys have read the blog. I just really hope that they're not upset about it, I hope that they're also thankful that someone put the real life account of what happened. I really tried to make it as accurate as possible.

(Jackson said that he wanted people to know and be aware that the Monkeys did nothing wrong in this. Well, I guess I did my part then, didn't I? I think this is one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations.)

I really just want them to know that I support and love them. Isn't that what we all want? We all want to support and love them and show them our undying gratitude for giving us their fantastic music and face melting shows.

Some people had asked, "well did anything good happen yesterday?" The answer to that is YES! The second show was so fucking incredible that half of my face is still missing from being melted off. They. Rocked. HARD. It was amazing. Yesterday I experienced shows 5 & 6 and last night's show was one of the best that I had seen - regardless of what happened, regardless of them not being able to hear themselves (I've been there boys; nothing frustrates me so much...) they still melted my face. I can't speak for everyone who was there, but I know that Jennifer, Crystal and Alissa and I all LOVED the show and we all said that we had never rocked that hard before in our lives.

So in closing - thank you 100 Monkeys fans for the support you give to the boys each day and then in turn, for coming here to read my blog, post your thoughts and retweet about it. You're insane in the best way possible. You're fucking amazing and you know it. I want you to know that I read and appreciated EVERY single time you commented the blog and every word that you took the time to say. I read every single tweet and if I missed replying back to you I deeply apologize, but know that you were not overlooked. Not in the slightest. You are incredible people.

Please keep rocking,

Jodie Platz

PS - I'm going to party tonight in Vegas for my BFF's 25th birthday celebration, tomorrow I'm spending the day in Vegas but I'm editing photos. I didn't get as many good ones as I did in Tulsa. Along with the sound equipment sucking major ass, the lighting was wretched, go figure. But! I will be seeing the Monkeys again soon... ;) Always an opportunity for new photos. I really liked setting my camera down and just rocking out, singing their words back to them last night...