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May 2008 Profile:
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By Nina Khachatourian
Do you have any formal training? How do you keep up with trends in the craft?
Ray: No real training other than that one semester of photography I took in college and advice from our older brother. Everything else has been learning while we're doing it. We're thankful for all the compliments we get and we don't ask for any money for what we do. We still think we've got a lot more to learn and we just enjoy any opportunity to take pictures. Every time we go out, we're learning how to deal with lighting, focusing and color. These dark clubs are a big challenge when it comes to that. We're also constantly adding to our equipment. I put up a Paypal donation for anyone inclined so we can add equipment.
Peter: We usually hit the Wolf Cameras Warehouse location on Harry Hines. We read up in digital photography magazines and are constantly looking for advice from the pros we bump into. I also messed around in a small media tech class.
What do you love most about photographing the Dallas nightlife?
Ray: Obviously we're able to capture a lot of memories for people. It's an art form for us, even if it is bad art. Say what you will about Dallas but there's a lot going on in this town if you know where to look. I also think it's funny that our website is used sometimes as proof/evidence for drama. :)
Peter: Lesbians kissing each other. I see it as art!
What kind of equipment do you use?
Ray: We are Nikon whores. We use two Nikon D50s, a D70 and a D70s. Our lighting consists of an SB600 and SB800 speedflash with an assortment of light modifiers. Our lens collection ranges from 24mm to 200mm made by Nikkor, Sigma and Quantaray. And it's constantly growing.
Peter: We're in the process of turning our dining room into a makeshift photo studio.
Ray: Yes! So ladies, come on over! We love living in America!
Do you ever focus in on a group of people and wait for a good shot?
Ray: That's what's great about there being two of us. If it's a good crowd and a lot of energy, we'll be at opposite ends photographing so you get two perspectives.
Peter: People probably don't like it but we love the candid shots more than the poses. In most of our pictures the natural affect of what people look and do looks better then the usual "smile and thumbs up" look.
Do you ever keep shots just for yourself? Or are they all out on the web?
Ray: You could say there are a few shots we don't put up on the website. I couldn't tell you how many I have of people dancing and lifting their legs to the point where I capture their lower intestines. And I couldn't tell you how many I have of females lifting their arms so high that I accidentally capture their mammary glands and of course, people doing things in the corner somewhere that would probably get me deported if I did it. Those pics aren't thrown away but archived in a private Lek file. No, there won't be a subscription Lek website for any pervs out there.
What's your sign?
Ray: We're both born in May and are Tauruses or is it Tauri?? And no we're not twins, we're 7 years apart and I'm the older, louder and drunk one.
Where can we see the dirt?
www.lekbrothers.com or www.lekbros.com for those who can't spell "brothers"
Anyone you want to thank?
There's so many to thank that the list could go on and on. We'd like to thank ALL the Dallas DJs and their different genres, ALL the club promoters such as Fresco, ALL the clubs in Dallas such as Minc, Zubar and back to Minc again, ALL of the beautiful people of Dallas for allowing to photograph them and NIKON. I think the people who know us know we're thankful just to be allowed to run around photographing freely instead of running from Communists in Asia.
