I first saw Tramaine Townsend (left) at the Roxy Cottontail show at Dolce a few weeks ago. He was snapping pictures of all the revelers, wearing a bow-tie and a red V-neck sweater. He looked like a movie usher, but a really cool one, the one all the other movie ushers want to be.
Then he passed me his business card: It had a cartoon man in a suit wearing goggles, and underneath it read: "The Misadventures of Flaco." A photographer named Flaco?! I had to find out more.
Since then I've seen him taking pics at the Erykah Badu/Biz Markie party at Ghostbar, and at Justice a few days ago. He recently took the time to answer a few questions about himself. His answers are after the jump.
Is taking pictures at parties and events your actual job?
Originally I am a motion graphics artist. I create video-based graphics to visually stimulate audiences. It was mostly broadcast work that I did last year, and freelance here and there. Taking photos for parties is a new venture that I am taking on to make my photo skills more versatile.
What other venues or events have you photographed?
Not anything too major. You can kinda say the URB party [Roxie Cottontail] was my first big one. But there have been others I taken photos at, but I had to do it gorilla-style with hopefully no complications. Some I got caught, some I didn't. Ruthless.
Is there a place to check out your photos online?
Most definitely! It's really my kick-start and has a lot of my street work on it. But check it out it's www.flacowashere.com. Dope!
Who does your hair? And do you always wear a bowtie when you're out shooting?
Hahaha! Naw the bow tie was for that night. But it definitely goes with my so ever-changing style. Always trying to look different from the norm, consistently utilizing my design skills in everything I do, including my hair. Which was done by my barber in Irving named Shane, real cool kid.
Where do you like to hangout in your spare time? (Bars, clubs, the library, wherever...)
Mostly been as of this year I like hanging in bars and not so much the club-goer. I like being around people who are like-minded and appreciate art and culture, not the ones who just follow the crowd.
Any crazy stories about the weird stuff you've seen?
I have encountered a lot of different people in the streets when I take photos. Some weird, some entertaining, others just out right fresh. But all experiences that will last a lifetime. You know the world is a lot different when you actually walk outside in the streets, opposed to driving on it. Something I have come to appreciate.
Comments (0)
