Check out Chuck Lapinsky’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chuck Lapinsky.

Chuck, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I am a professional musician and photographer. I have been playing instruments since I was thirteen years old and started doing photography in my late teens. For many years, I traveled with drum sticks in one pocket and a camera round my neck.

Over the years, I have played drums and percussion alongside a long list of famous and not so famous bands and musicians.

Once I moved to San Diego in 1999, my focus has not been performing out as often, as I concentrate more on concert photography.

I shoot a lot of live concerts. I am based in San Diego, but I shoot throughout the U.S. and I am available for tour support as well. I do still take the occasional performing gig, but I am pretty selective. I am available as a percussionist (you provide backline).

While you will definitely see me in the pit at arena rock venues, my local focus it to promote emerging independent musical acts who can thrive while producing their own music, not encumbered by the corporate music business. In addition to supporting emerging artists, I also support a wide variety of social causes through my photography of charity events and fundraisers for various non-profit organizations.

I photograph and write articles for: Guitar Girl Magazine,Examiner.com(past), AFAAT Independent Media, San Diego Troubadour, Boogie Magazine, NBC San Diego, NBC Bay Area, NBC New York, Live Nation, Belly Up Tavern, Anthology, (now Music Box), House of Blues, 4th & B, Brick by Brick, The Casbah, San Diego Independent Music Festival, Gator By The Bay Festival, San Diego Pride Festival, Oakland Pride Festival, Southbay Pride Festival, Lady Brain Festival, and many more venues and festivals.

It’s not only about the music though. I also photograph a lot of personal shoots, both on location and in studio. These shoots are not limited to musicians only, but for anyone who has an interest and/or need for images not on a performance stage.

My photography style is best described as a dynamic black and white portraiture. Whether at a concert or doing personal shoots, my vision is to create dynamic imagery that can stand on its own and tell a story without the distraction of color.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My specialty is storytelling through black and white imagery.

My inspiration has always been great photographers and photojournalists of the past who only photographed in black and white.

There is just something about a monochrome image that can convey so much more about a person or story than a color image.

While my cameras all capture images in color, I utilize the digital darkroom now to transform my images into the monochrome space that I envision when I am setting up the shot.

The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
I believe you have to be true to yourself and always believe in the value of your work.

There are many misconceptions about artists and whether or not people will want you to provide your art for them at no charge.

Exposure, while having value when you are starting out, does not pay your bills or purchase equipment and supplies.

I think the takeaway has to be if people value your work, then they should be willing to compensate you. The amount can always be up for negotiating, but if they want your work for free, then they really do not value your work and skills.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My main website is: https://chucklapinsky.smugmug.com/
There are multiple galleries within the site.

The musical portrait gallery is: https://chucklapinsky.smugmug.com/Performers/

I also write a music blog at: https://itsallaboutthe.music.blog/

I can be found on Facebook and Instagram as well.

https://www.facebook.com/chuck.lapinsky

https://www.instagram.com/chucklapinskyphotography

Contact Info:

• Address: San Diego, California
• Website: https://chucklapinsky.smugmug.com/
• Phone: 619-306-3139
• Email: chucklapinskyphotography@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chucklapinskyphotography/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chuck.lapinsky
• Other: https://itsallaboutthe.music.blog/

Image Credit:
Chuck Lapinsky

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