Photography By DRG Films

I went to Angels Gate Park out in San Pedro with a friend and I captured this picture while with her. I like this it because there’s three layers of colors that support the subject while she’s trying to deal with the wind.

Keyon Cox

Here we have Y-O of U-N-I. I shot this image after the duo performed at the OkayPlayer showcase at SXSW 2009 in Austin, TX. He’s one of my favorite people to photograph because he always has great energy. Although he’s not necessarily high energy in this photo, the sunlight behind him lit him up perfectly to exude the energy within. He’s actually just looking down at his blackberry (you can actually see the reflection in his sunglasses). 

Mai Shafik

High Power Moves; Hawdwerk and Jansport J.

Not only are they down to earth and easy to work with, but we all represent the 626 area. So, in support of their movement, DRG Films created the High Power Moves EPK (which you can check out on this site) and I shot this album cover. I shot this at our favorite taco shop in West Covina. I have to say, I always have a blast when I’m working with these guys. They’re both extremely creative, but they trust me enough to let everything fall into place organically, which is why I was able to capture this image.

I vowed to never work with them again because they make me laugh so hard that its painful… but we were able to come to an agreement with tacos.

Mai Shafik

Keyon Cox

Louisiana Man Aug. 2007

Around the time I dropped my sister of to college, I met an unique individual. He is known as the “Mayor of Grambling” and has been sort of a wise, well respected man that lives right off camp  us. Never a boiring time in Louisiana.

Keyon Cox

June 22, 2009 - Trinidad by way of INDIA!!!

Its funny how things work.  I wasn’t even supposed to be the photographer of this particular shoot.  I had actually set this shoot up for another photographer from DRG.  I can’t remember why the other photographer couldn’t do the shoot but no worries. I had already cancelled on this girl once and she was really disappointed. So I decided I would do the shoot.  At the time I was not a photographer and had no interest in being a still photographer. I decided to do the shoot in the legendary garage of the DRG Films Pasadena house. This is the only shot from the entire shoot I actually liked.  This model from Trinidad by way of India was a very nice young lady, however extremely awkward to work with. She kept asking over and over how do I compare to other models?  “If you guys had to rank me from 1-10 what would I be?” (Awkward!!!) She seemed so excited for the shoot and so excited to see the final pictures, I found it quite entertaining that she never made the time to come back and pick up the pictures.  Whatever!!! Just another days work.

Mayon Denton

I will never forget this day. It was a family portrait I shot in Whittier California. The group was about 45 people, it included 7 different families and the grand parents. This was a great group to work with, but a lot of work for just one photographer without an assistant. Mayon was supposed to help me out on this shoot, but we were shooting a music video for Those Chosen the same day and the crew needed him at the studio; so I took this one on my own. These are the ladies of the “blue family” (Each family was color coordinated, which made the composition of the group portrait fun). One of my favorite things in this photo is how you can see a little of the mother in each one of her daughters.

Mai Shafik

There were so many characters at SXSW, I couldn’t being to count. That being said, I’m not sure if this man was a transient or if he was just run down from the event? In any case, I saw him standing in from of this flag and it was compelling in itself.

Mai Shafik

The architecture in Washington DC is part of what makes the city so beautiful. There were plenty of moments when I looked around and felt like I was on a back-lot at Universal Studios. Even the imperfections of the stones on the buildings adds to the city’s charm. You’ll notice the sun rays create a nice glow about this scene. This is one of the first sights you will see as you exit the metro station and walk into Georgetown.

Mai Shafik

It’s always interesting to take a picture of someone else taking a picture.  This shot was taken during a photo shoot we were filming for El Volo, a famous photographer and editor for Low Rider Magazine.  My partner Reggie Reagor has been working with him for a few years now.  We all went along to capture this particular day, which was filmed in the LA River. While Danlen and Reg were filming, I was taking snap shoots of what was going on.  What is captured here is a still image that I converted from the video Danlen shot.  I had to change the angles using some clever techniques to get the exact angle and shot I wanted.  The color of the car was so dynamic that I wanted to show the audience nothing but the purple, so I changed all the other colors into a high contrast black and white just leaving the purple popping out of the photo.  Dope!!!

Mayon Denton