Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Crown Royal Ads

Seems like there's a lot of liquor commercials on TV lately. They all seem to have the same Frank Sinatra meets 007 top of the world vibe...which is a pretty great fantasy...especially these days. These Crown Royal ads with the down home feel not only stand out but are actually really well done. I wonder if they did some kind of market research and determed that Crown Royal drinkers are in general broker than Ciroq and Grey Goose consumers and would relate? Or maybe it's vice versa and they're selling people a romantic notion of the other side of life. Blue collar cool or big baller cool? It's nice to be given some lifestyle options when choosing how to get intoxicated. haha.

***UPDATE***

IT'S THE ECONOMY!

LA Times Article: "The Absolut Vodka commercials that aired in Los Angeles and 14 other cities during Sunday night's Grammy Awards marked the first time in years that liquor ads ran in prime time on network-owned stations. As the recession takes its toll on firms that rely on advertising, TV stations aren't the only companies running ads once considered inappropriate. In recent months, the NBA rescinded a ban on courtside advertising by liquor companies. Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. did the same for ads they run on their websites. Billboard operators have allowed more strip clubs to hawk their establishments on roadside signs."

Friday, December 5, 2008

Grandma's famous chicken

My grandma used to make chicken and potatoes for me, my brother and our two cousins.  It was always a real treat.  One day I gave it a try and what do you know...it came out alright. Had friends over to enjoy my version of Grandma Rita's chicken last night.  Good times!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

©Peter Graham

J Valentine. Chinatown, SF. This was for album packaging on J Records. Never released. But it looks great in my book! double page...you gotta see it!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

BOXIE album packaging

new artist on J Records...Boxie. Shot at Fast Ashley's studio in Brooklyn.
©Peter Graham

Bayje album packaging

just got back from NYC...shot a couple album covers...Atlantic Records new artist...Bayje.

©Peter Graham

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Boogie X No Country

Didn't think this movie could be any grittier...till Boogie took pictures of it playing on his TV!




Monday, August 11, 2008

Monday, July 7, 2008

Nas "Hero" Dir by Taj

Love to see my folks do their thing. Taj is doing his. Went by his set last week...the video will be out soon.

©Peter Graham

Friday, May 23, 2008

Les Nubians

Les Nubians put up some shots from our shoot on their website
©PeterGraham

HELLA TIGHT

Some friends I grew up with in the Bay started up a hat company...I took the photos for their website...
©PeterGraham

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Croquet & Cristal

I've shot a couple album covers for Bad Boy Records...Diddy needed a personal photographer for his little $5mil party celebrating his new Hollywood Star...I usually pass on the event gigs but I figured this would be interesting...
©Peter Graham

Monday, May 12, 2008

latest tear sheet....

I could see Mack 10 and Glasses Malone playing themselves in a movie like Training Day. I had that kind of scene in mind for this shoot in Downtown LA for Rides Magazine.
©Peter Graham

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

GOAPELE

took some amazing photos with Goapele yesterday...
©Peter Graham

...my first and favorite subject. got a lotta love for her and her family.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

alwayswithyou.tv

A good friend and visionary documentary filmmaker Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi has a new project about technology and development in India.  Check the site...alwayswithyou.tv
I shot still photos for Eli's documentary about hip hop in Cuba...Inventos.  You can read about his work in Jeff Chang's book Total Chaos.  Some of the Cuba photos...

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Pinky Toe

Had a little accident...

...nothing to crazy.  You know...another day out in the water...wiped out on a humungous wave and snagged my pinky toe on my leash.  Wasn't that bad...but a shark ran into me and tried to eat me...had to kick it 5 times in the face to make it swim away.  All I got was a broken toe...and a little bite in my board...
...If you see me with my special shoe you'll know why.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Benazir Bhutto

I'm one of many people who never heard of her until she was assassinated.  What a tragedy.  I hesitate to iconize political figures who I know little about but she seems to be one of the most interesting people of our time.
click to enlarge

Too $hort

Just shot the album cover. Was thinking about concepts and rediscovered a classic video -- "Life is Too Short".

Ise Lyfe

Shot his album cover a while back. Spoken word poet and MC. Talented.
©Peter Graham