Light painting photography artist Chris Benbow has scored the Ezra Furman and The Harpoons album cover. Here is a short interview with Chris about the cover shot!

LPP ∇ So give me some background how did you get the job? The Ezra Furman Album cover I mean…

CB ∇ Well I received an email through my website from an american band who had seen an image they liked on Flickr, They said they would be interested in using my image for their latest album cover and would give me a few hundred dollars. I said I would be happy to. We spoke a bit about it then I didn’t hear anything for a while. Next thing their record label is in contact with me sending over contracts for me to sign Contracts were signed at both ends and payment was sent electronically and I get a few copies of the CD free also.

LPP ∇ Thats sick so you just randomly got an email? were you super excited or like oh this is BS?
CB ∇ Yeah I just got an email one day, I never know what to think when I receive emails, when I got an email about Luminary I was excited but thought “they are really going to fly 10,000 miles to film me” same as this “they want to pay me for a digital file” Sometimes it all works out fine other time it’s just hot air. You can usually tell the fakers a mile off, never hurts to research in to them before agreeing to anything, So I went on a research mission and found the band and record label to be pretty legit and have done world wide tours and the album would be on sale in shops.

LPP ∇ So they selected one of your images you had already shot?
CB ∇ Yeah, they didn’t give me a brief of what they wanted then I shot it, which I would love to do sometime, but it’s nice for people to want what you have already done rather than want a bit more or something different.

LPP ∇ Had you ever heard of the band before?
CB ∇ Nah not at all, they are one of those bands that are not in the top 40 or whatever but they are big enough to have a record deal and world tours, so a nice balance, after talking with Ezra about the cover I did listen to the band I liked what I heard which is even better, I’d hate to support something that I hated, sort of feels like selling out for money.

LPP ∇ Is the album out yet?
CB ∇ It’s out next week I think, on the 22nd/23rd, a pre-order is available though.

LPP ∇ Any idea how many copies they are printing? and are they using the image for any other promo stuff like posters or anything?
CB ∇ No idea how many copies are being printed I will find that out to see how many copies of my image are floating around. Yeah the contract said that they could use the image for promotional posters and leaflets as well, I think I get a copy of everything it’s on.

LPP ∇ Are you gonna buy an album?
CB ∇ Being the album artist I get a few copies for free, but if I didn’t I would be buying one for the fact my image was on there and it’s a decent CD, I did get a preview of the tracks before release.

LPP ∇ I would buy like 50 of them….. so where did you shoot the image and how long ago?
CB ∇ I shot the image at a house that had recently burnt down near my house, the owner who had died in the fire had an awesome car collection which had been some what damaged. It was taken in January 2007.

LPP ∇ Woah that pretty scary… did you know the guy?
CB ∇ Nah, I heard rumours of how nuts he was though, I think he started the fire himself.

LPP ∇ Strange…. I bet he would be happy to see your image of one of his cars on the cover of an album that will be seen around the world.
CB ∇ Hopefully I mean thats what it’s all about. Some of the places I sneak in to I always wonder, if the owner would find it on google and be outraged or pleased

LPP ∇ Well Congratulations…. great work, any advice for other light painters trying to get their work seen?
CB ∇ Networking is the key I think, Just make friends and be nice and good things will come back to you. It’s when you start chasing things too much that you’ll feel like nothing is happening.

LPP ∇ Cool man thanks for your time…

Check out Chris’s light painting photography artist profile HERE and his website HERE.