The energy, good vibes, music and photo opportunities really made it all come together.
I don’t normally go night clubbing, much preferring something a bit more serene like a cocktail bar, but I really got into the whole Gatecrasher vibe making the photography job a delight. They say when you find a job you love, you’ll never do a days work again. I guess that’s what it’s like with my photography. I’m lucky do be able to work with my passion!
The photography brief came from a mobile phone company who provide a service whereby Gatecrasher night clubbers can buy their tickets in advice via their mobile phones. One of the benefits of buying tickets in advance this way is that clubbers don’t have to queue – they just get their phones scanned and walk right in.
The brief came in two parts; photographs of people getting scanned into the nightclub and close ups of their phones with their mobile tickets displays and then photographs inside the club.
As is my habit from time to time, I made a rough plan (that makes sense to me if no one else ) One bit of paper that I could whip out and refer to so I made sure I captured all the photograph I needed to. Slightly embarrassed about my scribbles haha. I will try and neaten up my hand writing for next time!
With so many party people, I had to employ a little crowd control at times. How come EVERYONE wants their photos taken when they have had a few drinks? There was certainly no camera shyness that night, but everyone was in good form and helped me get some great photographs.
And stepping inside the nightclub…….it’s actually pretty huge with about 5 bars/dance floor areas. I had a lot of leg work to do!
DJ Fedde Le Grande
And if you like a bit of music whilst viewing photographs…………
I’m thinking of blogging about nightclub photography covering camera settings, ambient lighting and the use of flash. Watch this space!
It was a real privilege to be able to photograph Joan Armatrading at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall last weekend.
Now, I can’t say I’m her biggest fan or have followed her career, but her voice has registered on my musical horizon over the years and I like what I hear.
Before the gig, one of the back stage guys came up to me and asked me not to be too intrusive with the camera and not to go past a certain point, which would have taken me a bit closer to the centre of the stage. At the Symphony Hall, if you are on the ground floor (as apposed to one of the tiers of seating areas) you can’t get to the centre of the stage as immediately before the stage there is seating, so you have to shoot your photos from the side. Bearing this in mind I ‘hid’ in front of a speaker just before Joan came on and took my position. One of the great things about the acoustics in the Symphony Hall is that the speakers don’t blare out the sound, so I wasn’t deafened by being inches from the speaker I was trying to hide behind!
The back stage guy also said that photographs could only be taken during the first two songs, and not the usual three. It’s always a little disappointing to hear that, but it wasn’t a problem.
With every song came a guitar change!
Joan was awarded with a Birmingham Walk of Stars…..star! The star was presented to her by Lord Mayor’s Deputy, Councillor Randal Brew. Joan will be joining other Birmingham stars such as Ozzy Osbourne, Lenny Henry and Julie Walters with her very own star on Broad Street.
I stayed for the whole gig, and was over the moon when Joan played one of my favourite songs; Love and Affection
She finished the gig with Drop The Pilot. Every got out of their seats and danced and clapped along – including me, even though I was sitting on my own in the front row lol.
Today I bring you a letter from my mail bag, or rather an email from my inbox!
A fellow photographer sent me an email asking for some tips on gig photography. I thought it would make a great blog post, so with his permission, I thought I’d share his question and my answer with you. It’s edited a little to leave out personal details.
It’s a really good question, and one I had when I first started photography. I remember the first gig I went to for some photography practice when I first picked up a camera. I hadn’t a clue what settings to use. Looking back at the settings I used at that gig, it’s no wonder the images were blurred, and pretty rubbish really. My shutter speed was too slow, my ISO too low, and I even *gasp* used the flash! I remember thinking at the time: I’ll never understand this, and getting disheartened at the results.
Really it’s all simply down to practice. I took myself off to other gigs at various venues and over time figured things out.
So, onto my reader’s question.
Hi Karen,
I’ve been looking at some of your excellent shots on your website and wondered if you could offer some advice.
I’ve been asked to be photographer for a band’s reunion gig. While I’m no stranger to the camera I usually shoot in studio settings or out in daylight, rather than in dark and constantly changing environments.
I wondered if you could offer any tips or caveats for gig shooting – the sort of thing you might think “if only someone had told me that before my first gig shoot!”. Anything to be aware of?
“Hi!
Thank you for the email. That’s a great question!
Hopefully the lighting will be in your favour. I remember trying to shoot a band at a venue in town. They were almost in the dark and I didn’t get one decent shot. However, thankfully, most places aren’t that bad.
Usually there is a three song/no flash rule. Get there in plenty of time to assess the layout of the place and where you will be shooting from. Start planning as soon as you get in there. I usuall bring my 18-135 lens and 70-300mm, just in case I’m further back from the stage as I would like to be. I then decide on my lens before I shoot, with just three songs there isn’t much time to be changing lenses and missing out on a great shot.
Settings wise I find that the following settings usually see me alright: shutter 1/60 or 1/80 sometimes even 1/100 depending on how animated the performers are! ISO between 1200-1600. Even though time isn’t on your side take a shot or two and review image on the back of your camera and adjust shutter/iso accordingly. If the lighting changes dramatically in each song, do the same again. Red lighting can be a pain & doesn’t look that great, so if you have choices of other colours of lights, wait for the lighting to change.
Watch the gig through your lens – have that finger ready to press the shutter! Take portrait and landscape shots. Zoom in/out and try to frame the shot. Do your ‘cropping’ when you take the picture – this avoids work afterwards, though sometimes you’ll notice that some pics could benefit from a little cropping.
Think about what you are taking a picture of. Are you after just the singers face? Do you want them holding the guitar as well – make sure you can see the whole of the guitar then. Do you want their full body? Try not to cut off the shot at their ankles.
Try not to get in the way of other photographers. Move around, don’t hog one spot. Share the space. If you bump into someone, it happens, just apologise and be aware of their equipment.
Just try and get a nice variety of shots; the members of the band, maybe the set list if you can see it and the audience.
There does seem to be a lot to remember, but it does get easier with practice.”
I would probably add to that a bit about security. Make sure you have permission to shoot the gig. 99% of the time the security guards are helpful and friendly. Remember, they are doing their job, so if they stop you or ask questions, just be patient and be polite. And enjoy the concert!
Hope these hints and tips are useful to you. If there is anything else you would add about gig photography that I’ve missed out, please leave a comment. Photography is definitely one of those areas where there is always more to learn. That’s one of the things I like about it – always a new challenge!
) One bit of paper that I could whip out and refer to so I made sure I captured all the photograph I needed to. Slightly embarrassed about my scribbles haha. I will try and neaten up my hand writing for next time!
DJ Fedde Le Grande
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