still more concert photos [warning: color!]

[mike_dixon1]

I pulled out some of my old slides from concerts I shot when I was younger and scanned them on my flatbed (please forgive the poor scan quality; it's dynamic ranges isn't very good).<P>

 

The first couple are of the late Michael Hedges (a very cool and talented fellow), and the third is of the Indigo Girls (who were also down-to-earth). They were all shot on Ektachrome 100HC. All of these photos were taken with a Minolta Maxxum 7000 and either a Sigma 70-210/3.5-4.5 APO zoom or a Minolta 50/1.7, so it really doesn't require superfast glass to get the job done.<P>

 

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/hedges01.jpg">

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/hedges02.jpg"><P>

 

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/indigo01.jpg"><P>

 

The last few shots are of the Hoodoo Gurus, shot on Ektachrome 400. I generally used manual metering, zooming in as much as possible to get a reading, then setting the aperture/speed as needed to put the values where I wanted them. I don't remember how much I used the autofocus. I do remember my ears were ringing for three days after that show because I spent a couple of hours setting in front of a stack of Marshalls. That was even with earplugs. If you are going to shoot concerts, earplugs should be an essential part of your gear.<P>

 

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/gurus01.jpg">

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/gurus03.jpg"><P>

 

I hope these illustrate why I think that flash sucks. If I had used flash, not only would I have been thrown out immediately, I would have spoiled the dramatic effects that the lighting engineers worked so hard to achieve.<P>

 

<img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/burmashave/gurus02.jpg">

[Spearhead]

Whoaa, that's a lot of photos, too many to comment on.

 

<p>

 

Michael Hedges died? I didn't know that.

 

<p>

 

Most of the music isn't too cool for me, maybe I don't get as excited

about the pix (excellent as they may be) because I'm not as into the

artists. I like the right pic of Hoodoo Gurus best.

[Tony Rowlett]

I so totally agree with you on not using flash that... well, I just

totally agree with you. I hate flash and only use it for some macro

stuff I've been fiddling with. These photos are way cool. I like

both of Michael Hedges, especially the one that shows subject

movement. I'm sure I would have enjoyed this concert. The Indigo

Girls photo isn't as strong, I don't think, but nicely composed and

exposed. All three of the Hoodoo Gurus shots are friggin fabulous. I

really like the backlit hair fringe on the first one. Would kind of

like to see his face better as it seems like he's on a really cool

sounding verse. Some good stuff. I would add my one shot of George

Winston in concert, but it's totally lame compared to these, and it's

in BLACK AND WHITE!!! :-)

[christel_green1]

Basically I could just copy/paste most of Tony Rowletts response... I

too love the Hoodoo Gurus pics - esp. the first one, and agree

wholeheartedly on the flash issue - so whatB4s new? :)

[wayne_harrison]

while concert photos are far from my favorite genre, i do think the

second image communicates very well. the trick is not just to get

the blur, but to get the timing of body shape right. so many concert

pictures are simply wooden.

[chris_y.]

<P>To me, the Hedges shots are examples of what is pedestrian

vs. what is, as Spirer said, "transcendent." Picture

1 is a geekly looking guy to old for his costume playing a guitar.

Picture 2 is a soul in flight. (By the way this blur works so

well because there is SOMETHING in focus...) </P>

 

<P>I've found that shots of musicians are sort of slaves to

expectations...

The subject seems to demand a narrow, rebels-in-action approach-

At a portfolio review I had a very knowledgeable, hip photo editor

tell me about a collection of my portraits: "I don't know-

they don't seem to be about the music..." They were kind

of dark and somber and formal- I think I was trying to present

these artists as the serious poets I knew them to be- But they

weren't musician shots as he expected them.... </P>

 

<P>So lets see some musician or concert pictures that work, but

would NOT be candidates for the Sunday Arts Section...</P>

 

<P>Also, if you'd like to review my portfolio of musicians, click

Portraits at:</P>

 

<P><A HREF="http://www.chrisyeager.com/">www.chrisyeager.com </A>