As soon as I saw Caitlin McElroy photographing Me Infecto, the opening duo at the Vera Project's new and wonderful venue, the Theater Off Jackson, I knew she'd be my subject this week. Before BlöödHag hit the stage to assault us, Caitlin and I found a quiet corner in the theater's lobby.
Caitlin, 21, first took an interest in photography around the same time she started going to concerts at age 13. But only recently did she begin combining her two interests. While taking photo classes at Seattle Central Community College, Caitlin was required to work with a nonprofit organization.
"I chose the Vera Project because I love what they do," Caitlin said. "And I love rock and roll, but I can't keep a beat and I can't sing, so [photography's] about all I can do."
When I asked about her favorite photographers, she answered without hesitation. "David LaChapelle. Absolute favorite. I love that he can take a hundred people and perfectly choreograph them. If you look at his photos, every single person is doing something. Also, there's this guy Glen E. Friedman...."
I was surprised. "Glen E. Friedman is one of my favorites!"
"He's really good at catching the feeling that's going on at the show, all the energy. He manages to fit it all into the frame."
We spoke more about photography and our current favorite bands (we agreed that Beth from the Gossip kicks a whole lot of ass), and, having grown up in the same all-ages scene, I had to ask her what she thought of its current state.
"Oh, am I gonna shoot myself in the foot?" she asked with a laugh. "The all-ages scene sucks. This is a fantastic thing the Vera Project's got going here, but when I was 15, there was a lot more going on."
This was another thing we could agree on. Before going inside, we reminisced about the defunct RKCNDY and Velvet Elvis. It's cheesy to say, but I'm glad I have all those old photographs. MEGAN SELING
