Oh No! Not another 365 project?, a set on Flickr.
So against all my previous reservations I have decided to do one of those blasted 365 projects. Now let's just say to begin with. I haven't stuck with it. There have been a occasions even at this early stage where I have missed a day. This is usually because, well to be honest and truthful, I've been too tired to fight my laziness, and inertia to do one. I have, in my defence caught up the next day. Why am I doing it? Because it's there! Also I tend to need a goal to aim for, or a framework to adhere to. I want to do more photography. I see this is a way of feeding that hunger. Whilst I have not set a formal theme for this project, I do seem to have fallen into doing selfies. This is a rather dubious term that I always find hints at intimate self indulgence. Well perhaps self portraits fit that description. As with a lot of creative endeavors some days are easier than others for coming up with ideas, and then executing them. Some start with just a germ of an idea that may or not work such as the tequila bottle one, and others turn out pretty much as envisiaged, like the Alice Cooper homage. Some are obviously just straight forward, some reflect a mood for the day. I hope to keep it up for the whole year, although I'm sure people will get fed up with seeing my fizzog by about 31st Jan, I know I will! Here's to a year of exploring what I can do with my image. I welcome comments, critiques, ideas etc here and on my flickr stream. Don't worry, it'll soon be Christmas!
Showing posts with label photographs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photographs. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Monday, 27 June 2011
A beginner shoots a gig part 2 - after
Ok post gig round up.
Mistakes I made. Setting the ISO too low. I was shooting at iso1600 to begin with. Consequently my shutter speed was at around 1/40 or slower. Lots of blur for the first band, which is a shame as they were very good. I managed to salvage some of the slight movement ones by mono’ing them. Hides a multitude of sins, bish, bash, bosh. Job done.
Next mistake. Not checking the state of my lens. After about an hour, lots of lens smear. Anecdotally I think this was affecting the speed of my auto focus. Might be a load of nonsense, but when I cleaned the lens (for once having a cleaning cloth with me. More by luck than judgement) the autofocus seemed to me to be a lot more responsive.
Next Mistake: Not being ballsy enough. First couple of bands I was being nice and polite, swapping places with other photographers, so they could get my vantage point, trying not to get in the way of the fans (being over six foot tall, this is not always easy). Second band on had lots of fans up close and personal, and I was worried about a) upsetting them, and b) damaging my lens. By the third band all this went out the window, and I was weaving amongst the moshers, avoiding getting crushed by failing crowdsurfers, and knealing in a manner of spilt alcohol, getting those attractive up nostril shots.
Last notable mistake: not getting to talk to the bands. This is difficult on these shows where there are lots of bands on in short succession. You could be having a great chat with the musicians only to realise the next band are nearly through their set. I always try and track down the bands in the following days, and most tend to be on facebook. If I can I share a set from flickr. This is cool for me it’s quite gratifying when people give you good feedback, and the bands are often pleased to get photos from the gig to use on their pages, websites etc.
What has been nice at these gigs is some others taking photographers chatting asking advice (are they crazy, I don’t know anything, hahaha), comparing equipment etc. Photographers can be a lonesome species, even in the staid confines of local clubs, they tend to sit in uncomfortable church hall chairs, staring unblinking at a succession of images of steam trains and cut flowers, never actually talking about photography (oh no drifting into a rant, yikes, forgive me).
Well before this post meanders to far from it’s source, lets divert it quickly to it’s destination. I really enjoy gig photography. You get to hear lots of new music, some good, some great, some not so polished. I have a picture going into a local paper (apparently, although I don’t have any evidence of this), another photographer/promoter has given me a website credit on the band they promote, and another of the band has asked if I would like to help them do some promo shots.
If you love music, have a go, see what you can do. Above all else don’t get despondent if you get a lot of blurred photos. I delete far more than I can use.
Go and have fun with it!!
Mistakes I made. Setting the ISO too low. I was shooting at iso1600 to begin with. Consequently my shutter speed was at around 1/40 or slower. Lots of blur for the first band, which is a shame as they were very good. I managed to salvage some of the slight movement ones by mono’ing them. Hides a multitude of sins, bish, bash, bosh. Job done.
Next mistake. Not checking the state of my lens. After about an hour, lots of lens smear. Anecdotally I think this was affecting the speed of my auto focus. Might be a load of nonsense, but when I cleaned the lens (for once having a cleaning cloth with me. More by luck than judgement) the autofocus seemed to me to be a lot more responsive.
Next Mistake: Not being ballsy enough. First couple of bands I was being nice and polite, swapping places with other photographers, so they could get my vantage point, trying not to get in the way of the fans (being over six foot tall, this is not always easy). Second band on had lots of fans up close and personal, and I was worried about a) upsetting them, and b) damaging my lens. By the third band all this went out the window, and I was weaving amongst the moshers, avoiding getting crushed by failing crowdsurfers, and knealing in a manner of spilt alcohol, getting those attractive up nostril shots.
Last notable mistake: not getting to talk to the bands. This is difficult on these shows where there are lots of bands on in short succession. You could be having a great chat with the musicians only to realise the next band are nearly through their set. I always try and track down the bands in the following days, and most tend to be on facebook. If I can I share a set from flickr. This is cool for me it’s quite gratifying when people give you good feedback, and the bands are often pleased to get photos from the gig to use on their pages, websites etc.
What has been nice at these gigs is some others taking photographers chatting asking advice (are they crazy, I don’t know anything, hahaha), comparing equipment etc. Photographers can be a lonesome species, even in the staid confines of local clubs, they tend to sit in uncomfortable church hall chairs, staring unblinking at a succession of images of steam trains and cut flowers, never actually talking about photography (oh no drifting into a rant, yikes, forgive me).
Well before this post meanders to far from it’s source, lets divert it quickly to it’s destination. I really enjoy gig photography. You get to hear lots of new music, some good, some great, some not so polished. I have a picture going into a local paper (apparently, although I don’t have any evidence of this), another photographer/promoter has given me a website credit on the band they promote, and another of the band has asked if I would like to help them do some promo shots.
If you love music, have a go, see what you can do. Above all else don’t get despondent if you get a lot of blurred photos. I delete far more than I can use.
Go and have fun with it!!
Thursday, 23 June 2011
A beginner shoots a gig – Part 1 before
I class myself as a beginner. My work is still inconsistent, I am only shooting local gigs, and compared to the superb work of many of the contacts I have made on Flickr, I have a long way to go.
Tonight’s venue is my usual haunt, The Horn in St. Albans. This evening is the final of their twice yearly Battle of the Bands competition. St. Albans has spawned some breaking bands over the past few years, and this competition has seen winners like Enter Shikari (Spelling?!?), The Subways and Friendly Fires. I cut my teeth shooting what turned out to be the winners of the previous BOTB, namely Waiting for Katherine.
I have seen a couple of the finalists, Billy Skins Fifth, and Evergreen. Both of these are strong acts. The other two I haven’t had the pleasure.
My kit tonight will be my trusty Canon 400D and 17-55mm. I might take my flash along in case I stay to see they winners receive their prizes, but it’s a late one, and I have work in the morning. Modus operandi will be to shoot on ISO 1600 , f2.8, and probably be lazy and stick to AF. The lens is way quicker than I am, and it can nearly see in the dark. I have trouble in full daylight. If you want to check out my previous efforts they can all be found on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/axemanrj I welcome comments, advice, etc.
I will post the results there tomorrow hopefully, and write part 2 of this blog entry.
Wish me luck
Tonight’s venue is my usual haunt, The Horn in St. Albans. This evening is the final of their twice yearly Battle of the Bands competition. St. Albans has spawned some breaking bands over the past few years, and this competition has seen winners like Enter Shikari (Spelling?!?), The Subways and Friendly Fires. I cut my teeth shooting what turned out to be the winners of the previous BOTB, namely Waiting for Katherine.
I have seen a couple of the finalists, Billy Skins Fifth, and Evergreen. Both of these are strong acts. The other two I haven’t had the pleasure.
My kit tonight will be my trusty Canon 400D and 17-55mm. I might take my flash along in case I stay to see they winners receive their prizes, but it’s a late one, and I have work in the morning. Modus operandi will be to shoot on ISO 1600 , f2.8, and probably be lazy and stick to AF. The lens is way quicker than I am, and it can nearly see in the dark. I have trouble in full daylight. If you want to check out my previous efforts they can all be found on my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/axemanrj I welcome comments, advice, etc.
I will post the results there tomorrow hopefully, and write part 2 of this blog entry.
Wish me luck
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