From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me they suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had too many distracting shadows.
A couple of things. I have been following this band (British Sea Power) for several years now. It's only in the past year that I've really worked up my nerve to a) bring cameras to gigs, b) work my way up close and do photos, and c) actually present them to the band.
I went to two shows of theirs this week. At the first one, their roadie recognized me from a previous gig I'd shot in Seattle. I took some more photos, and asked if he could get them to sign some for me. Absolutely. I posted a link to the photos on their fan chat board, and went back to their next show on Tuesday armed with two copies of several photos.
The roadie said hi to me again, and waved to me from the stage. This time, someone from the venue told me I couldn't use flash, so I cranked the D300 up to ISO 1600 and 3200 for the set. (http://trupin.smugmug.com/gallery/4935991_paFwX)
It was a typically great show. At the end of the show, I stuck around while everyone was clearing out. One of the band members I'd spoken to before wandered out from backstage, and I brought the pictures over. I asked if he could get everyone to sign one copy (in one folder) and they could keep all the other copies (in the second folder) if they wanted.
Their horn/keyboard player came out and asked if I was the guy who had taken the photos. He had seen them on the fan site (he goes up there and looks!) and thought they were great. We go to talking for a few minutes. Then their viola player comes out, and she's walking across the stage with copies of the photos I'd taken! SHE started talking to me about the photos, about her impressions of America, etc.
The lead of the opening band (The Rosebuds) came by. It turns out we have friends in common. I'd taken a bunch of photos of them and gave him my card - right up on stage - after their set two days previously. He turned to another band member and said "Hey, this is the guy who did those photos I sent you!"
They've got one more show in the area before returning home after months in the States. I'm going to do up some more prints from the ISO 3200 show and bring them over to them before the concert.
So the lesson here is that you can actually use photography to meet semi-famous people you want to meet. It just takes a bit of nerve to get started. Now I'm recognized on sight by a band that's just had a Top Ten album in the UK.
> From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me they > suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had too many > distracting shadows.
> A couple of things. I have been following this band (British Sea Power) > for several years now. It's only in the past year that I've really worked > up my nerve to a) bring cameras to gigs, b) work my way up close and do > photos, and c) actually present them to the band.
> I went to two shows of theirs this week. At the first one, their roadie > recognized me from a previous gig I'd shot in Seattle. I took some more > photos, and asked if he could get them to sign some for me. Absolutely. I > posted a link to the photos on their fan chat board, and went back to > their next show on Tuesday armed with two copies of several photos.
> The roadie said hi to me again, and waved to me from the stage. This time, > someone from the venue told me I couldn't use flash, so I cranked the D300 > up to ISO 1600 and 3200 for the set. > (http://trupin.smugmug.com/gallery/4935991_paFwX)
> It was a typically great show. At the end of the show, I stuck around > while everyone was clearing out. One of the band members I'd spoken to > before wandered out from backstage, and I brought the pictures over. I > asked if he could get everyone to sign one copy (in one folder) and they > could keep all the other copies (in the second folder) if they wanted.
> Their horn/keyboard player came out and asked if I was the guy who had > taken the photos. He had seen them on the fan site (he goes up there and > looks!) and thought they were great. We go to talking for a few minutes. > Then their viola player comes out, and she's walking across the stage with > copies of the photos I'd taken! SHE started talking to me about the > photos, about her impressions of America, etc.
> The lead of the opening band (The Rosebuds) came by. It turns out we have > friends in common. I'd taken a bunch of photos of them and gave him my > card - right up on stage - after their set two days previously. He turned > to another band member and said "Hey, this is the guy who did those photos > I sent you!"
> They've got one more show in the area before returning home after months > in the States. I'm going to do up some more prints from the ISO 3200 show > and bring them over to them before the concert.
> So the lesson here is that you can actually use photography to meet > semi-famous people you want to meet. It just takes a bit of nerve to get > started. Now I'm recognized on sight by a band that's just had a Top Ten > album in the UK.
> Even though I didn't use a D3 or a 100mm f/2.
Congratulations!
You're definitely on the right track.
I shot my first concert with a Canon AE-1, definitely not the most professional camera of its day. But, it got the job done.
When I started, people told me the same things you're hearing now, but I ended up backstage, both during the show and at 2:30 am; my critics were nowwhere to be seen.
>> From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me >> they suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had >> too many distracting shadows.
> I must say that you did much better this time. They have a great feel to > them. I'm sure the band will definitely love these. Working with > available > light can be rewarding and amazing. Keep up the good work.
They're far more hit-and-miss, and often unsharp. I also find that the red channel blows out pretty quickly at concerts.
They'll get some copies when I see them on Tuesday, the last US date on their tour. Great, tiny little club in NJ. Total fire trap.
> I shot my first concert with a Canon AE-1, definitely not the most > professional camera of its day. But, it got the job done.
> When I started, people told me the same things you're hearing now, but I > ended up backstage, both during the show and at 2:30 am; my critics were > nowwhere to be seen.
The first time you realize that the people you listen to on the radio or on the CD are real people that you can actually approach, it changes your outlook on the meaning of celebrity. Even taking that photo of Bill Gates holding the latest copy of my magazine wasn't quite the same, and he pays my salary.
>> I shot my first concert with a Canon AE-1, definitely not the most >> professional camera of its day. But, it got the job done.
>> When I started, people told me the same things you're hearing now, but I >> ended up backstage, both during the show and at 2:30 am; my critics were >> nowwhere to be seen.
> The first time you realize that the people you listen to on the radio or > on the CD are real people that you can actually approach, it changes your > outlook on the meaning of celebrity. Even taking that photo of Bill Gates > holding the latest copy of my magazine wasn't quite the same, and he pays > my salary.
There's that old religious saying: "Knock, and the door will be opened."
I tended to go by: Why knock? Just kick the door down!
Once you realize that you are the only thing holding yourself back, there is no limit to what you can accomplish.
Cynicor wrote: > From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me > they suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had too > many distracting shadows.
> A couple of things. I have been following this band (British Sea Power) > for several years now. It's only in the past year that I've really > worked up my nerve to a) bring cameras to gigs, b) work my way up close > and do photos, and c) actually present them to the band.
<snip the opened-door story>
> So the lesson here is that you can actually use photography to meet > semi-famous people you want to meet. It just takes a bit of nerve to get > started. Now I'm recognized on sight by a band that's just had a Top Ten > album in the UK.
Nice (and apparently quite enjoyable) work. Way to go.
>> I shot my first concert with a Canon AE-1, definitely not the most >> professional camera of its day. But, it got the job done.
>> When I started, people told me the same things you're hearing now, but >> I ended up backstage, both during the show and at 2:30 am; my critics >> were nowwhere to be seen.
> The first time you realize that the people you listen to on the radio or > on the CD are real people that you can actually approach, it changes > your outlook on the meaning of celebrity.
She calls out other participants, a few friends, etc - all in all, no different than any other unknown internet user doing their little webcam thing for YouTube, except that a lot more people recognize her.
I don't know if that makes her any more approachable (probably not, if the stories and rumours are to be believed), but it shows that celebs are amused by the same stupid, inane crap that amuses the rest of us :)
On Fri, 16 May 2008 15:18:45 -0400, Cynicor <cyni...@sp.eake.a.sy.net> wrote:
: From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me : they suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had too : many distracting shadows. : : A couple of things. I have been following this band (British Sea Power) : for several years now. It's only in the past year that I've really : worked up my nerve to a) bring cameras to gigs, b) work my way up close : and do photos, and c) actually present them to the band. : : I went to two shows of theirs this week. At the first one, their roadie : recognized me from a previous gig I'd shot in Seattle. I took some more : photos, and asked if he could get them to sign some for me. Absolutely. : I posted a link to the photos on their fan chat board, and went back to : their next show on Tuesday armed with two copies of several photos. : : The roadie said hi to me again, and waved to me from the stage. This : time, someone from the venue told me I couldn't use flash, so I cranked : the D300 up to ISO 1600 and 3200 for the set. : (http://trupin.smugmug.com/gallery/4935991_paFwX)
I'd have culled that collection a bit. The two pictures of the cornet player, for example, are essentially identical. (If there's any practical difference between them, it's that one may be a tad sharper.) The monotony of repetition doesn't help the overall effect.
That said, you appear to have gotten some really good pictures under very adverse lighting. A credit to both your equipment and your photographic skills.
Cynicor wrote: > From time to time I post concert photos up here, and people tell me > they suck, or that they like them, or whatever. Mostly that they had too > many distracting shadows.
> A couple of things. I have been following this band (British Sea Power) > for several years now. It's only in the past year that I've really > worked up my nerve to a) bring cameras to gigs, b) work my way up close > and do photos, and c) actually present them to the band.
> I went to two shows of theirs this week. At the first one, their roadie > recognized me from a previous gig I'd shot in Seattle. I took some more > photos, and asked if he could get them to sign some for me. Absolutely. > I posted a link to the photos on their fan chat board, and went back to > their next show on Tuesday armed with two copies of several photos.
> The roadie said hi to me again, and waved to me from the stage. This > time, someone from the venue told me I couldn't use flash, so I cranked > the D300 up to ISO 1600 and 3200 for the set. > (http://trupin.smugmug.com/gallery/4935991_paFwX)
> It was a typically great show. At the end of the show, I stuck around > while everyone was clearing out. One of the band members I'd spoken to > before wandered out from backstage, and I brought the pictures over. I > asked if he could get everyone to sign one copy (in one folder) and they > could keep all the other copies (in the second folder) if they wanted.
> Their horn/keyboard player came out and asked if I was the guy who had > taken the photos. He had seen them on the fan site (he goes up there and > looks!) and thought they were great. We go to talking for a few minutes. > Then their viola player comes out, and she's walking across the stage > with copies of the photos I'd taken! SHE started talking to me about the > photos, about her impressions of America, etc.
> The lead of the opening band (The Rosebuds) came by. It turns out we > have friends in common. I'd taken a bunch of photos of them and gave him > my card - right up on stage - after their set two days previously. He > turned to another band member and said "Hey, this is the guy who did > those photos I sent you!"
> They've got one more show in the area before returning home after months > in the States. I'm going to do up some more prints from the ISO 3200 > show and bring them over to them before the concert.
> So the lesson here is that you can actually use photography to meet > semi-famous people you want to meet. It just takes a bit of nerve to get > started. Now I'm recognized on sight by a band that's just had a Top Ten > album in the UK.
> Even though I didn't use a D3 or a 100mm f/2.
I haven't seen any of your other shots, but these ones turned out really good. I've been shooting bands for years with a Digital Rebel with the kit lens and an f/4-5.6 75-300 lens and turned out better shots than some others I've seen using the D80s and 40Ds and what not. Before that, it was my 35mm Rebel, and years ago, it was a little Minolta X-700 with a Tamrom 70-210 zoom.
A better camera just gives you more options, it doesn't give you the eye to recognize a good shot, or the ability to balance the light the way YOU envision it.
When it comes to concert photography, you're largely at the mercy of the existing lighting. Using straight, overpowering flash gets you photos that aren't much better than snapshots - like this little joint that had maybe three weak lights: http://picasaweb.google.com/soundy106/SplatterEndoplasmic02
Most small clubs don't have sufficient stage lighting for good exposures without taking some extreme measures, like super-high ISO and ultra-low shutter speeds (unless you have really fast glass).
