Miguel Vasconcellos Photography

02/26/2024

Some outtakes from my shoot with back in December for AARP

02/20/2024

This past December is was able to spend some time with Henri Laborde , for AARP. He restores peoples art ranging from tchotchkes from trips to Faberge eggs.

From the story:

“While he had no formal training when he first got into the business, Henri says he believes restoration was in his genes.

“My grandfather on my father’s side ... was a neurosurgeon,” Henri says. “He had a passion for drawing every single nerve and muscle and bone ... My grandfather on my mother’s side was an artist and he made a living his entire life, selling paintings, teaching at the school of arts for over 30 years. So I guess colors and shapes and drawing runs in the blood.”

Growing up, Henri would tinker in his father’s workshop, building things to stave off boredom. Now, he works with clients to restore everything from dishware to art to Fabergé eggs.

“I work on anything that is artistic and valuable,” Henri says. “Or has meaning to people. And that’s not made of paper, basically.”

Henri says no matter the perceived “value” of a piece he is working on, he knows it is of the utmost importance to his client.”

01/24/2024

An outtake from my shoot with talented artist .

He’s captured in the reflection of the print he made of a Pacific footballfish found along Newport Coast in 2022, named Spiny Babycakes, for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

Another one washed up last year, and I believe he was going to head to the museum to do the same with that one.

01/22/2024

Recent work for AARP

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2aaQOovXlB/?hl=en&img_index=1

01/22/2024

Back in October I got to spend time with Dwight Hwang ( ), who makes gyotaku (“fish prints”).

The former animation storyboard artist found the craft while working in Japan and has managed to turn it from a hobby to a full-time profession.

Watching him work was amazing. Seeing how the final pieces turned out was even moreso. It was weird to look at them because it really looks like the prints have a texture to every part.

From the story:
“”After 20 years of storyboarding, I was starting to get really burnt out,” Dwight says. “I just never got to see my son really ... I basically missed out on the two first two years of his life and being burnt out and then not being able to see my son just sort of made me think that you know, this wasn’t worth it anymore as much as I enjoyed it.”

His wife is the one who suggested he jump into fish printing full time.

“And as soon as I made the switch, so many people just started reaching out, and I haven’t looked back ever since,” Dwight says.

Dwight’s first client was Patagonia for the cover of a book. He now leads demonstrations and classes around the world, including the Smithsonian and the Natural History Museum of Paris.”

Shot for

01/17/2024

Congratulations to and the rest of No Doubt for their Coachella reunion!

No Doubt was one of the first bands I ever shot (the photos were so bad, you couldn’t even tell who was playing). I shot them a few more times, I was closer, and the images got better.

Tom was also kind enough to reply to a random email from me when I was doing a portrait workshop with Chris Buck and say yes to a shoot for one of the assignments.

I’m hoping this means a tour at some point after the festival, it would be great to share the fun and energy of this band with our kids!

12/18/2023

Outtake from the AARP shoot of .

I shot this portrait of him reflected in the 12” single of “Blue Monday.” It also was released by the label his record store is named after.

I was really happy with how it turned out.

12/11/2023

It’s been about two years since I last shot football and I was asked to shoot for the San Diego Union Tribune Saturday in the CIF Division 6-A state championship against Colusa High School.

They didn’t win, but damn if they didn’t play hard.

12/08/2023

12/07/2023

I’m late to this, but congratulations, on being a Kennedy Center Honors honoree!

He’s written or co-written around 1000 songs, so no wonder he’s been recognized.

This was from 2014, when he played the Hollywood Bowl. First and only time I was allowed to shoot at the stage at this venue, and I was way over-lensed for it

12/04/2023

Dave Noise is awesome, I still appreciate his being able to find the Jump With Joey Japanese Import CD for me in 1995 when no other record store could:

“In 1991, Dave James opened the record store, Noise Noise Noise, at age 22.

"It was super exciting to get to do my own thing," he says. "It was really cool back then."

In 2006, struggles with drug addiction forced Dave to close the store. After a months-long process, Dave was able to get clean and turned to a 12-step program that connected him to other sober people and with one of his passions: music.

By 2010, with years of sobriety under his belt, an opportunity came along for Dave. A record store had gone out of business and the space was available. After some initial hesitation, Dave signed a lease and was born.”

Shot for

11/03/2023

Congratulations to the one and only on your induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

This was shot back in 2018 at Pacific Amphitheatre.

The last time he was there, his show got rained out and cancelled. Fortunately, this one did not and I was able to (briefly) shoot this legend while he played Trigger, which I learned a ton about from reading this story in Texas Monthly: https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/trigger/