DPC Mentorship - Gig/Concert - DPChallenge Forums

08/08/2005 06:34:45 PM · #201

your not that harsh it is cool. hahah if I can't take the CONSTRUCTIVE critisism from you I am gunna have a really really hard time in this business. I wouldn't care if you said man that is s***. It is the only way you learn. I learned the most from people that were willing to be honet with me and that is what I admire most in people. :)

08/08/2005 06:42:21 PM · #202

Originally posted by Anni:

ummm..the originals?? Well I won't do this in future, but I usually delete the original after editing, otherwise I get confused. *hangs head in shame* Thanks again for your help. I still have LOADS of editing to do before I hand them in on thursday. The editing is going a bit better due to your comments. I am dodging out a lot of that scafolding, and clutter in the background. Things are just falling into place a bit easier. Thanks again so much for your time!
I will let you all know if I get any other pics worth showing.

Gunna get back on track with my venue in a few weeks. I have had 2 outings in the past 3 weeks so I have to leave it for a bit. It would be different if I were to do it for a living but as of now as much as it pains me it is still just a hobby, and I wouldn't want to seem to the hubby that I have become a bar fly. I think babyshambles have been rebooked for late this month.

Okay, but PLEASE don't put too much pressure on yourself! Please take photos of as many nobody bands as you can before you get to the important ones! I'm really glad you're having fun with all this though.
Edit... besides, the famous people have millions of photographers following them about. They're up to their eyeballs in photos. It's your local community who need you! As you earn your dues, you can give great photos to bands who REALLY need them.

Message edited by author 2005-08-08 18:44:00.

08/09/2005 06:08:20 AM · #203

yeah I know what you are saying. I just want to see babyshambles...I am curious to see how they sound...I know what you mean about putting too much pressure on myself, there were some pics in the paper from the event yesterday, and I was kicking myself for the pics I took of Daniel in the crowd..You were so right I should have zoomed out to get more of the crowd. And stood on the baracade too get that sea for people in with him. My pics of him are crap and I can only think that if I had some more CF cards I would have got some decent shots. I am gunna put up a flyer in the music shops I think to try and market myself to some bands and see how that works out. Do like a deal or something like a portrait session and a gig session all in one. Try to put myself about as much as I can in the local scene.

Still I am really down about my daniel photos. I am a perfectionist. Part of the musician in me that has to have EVERYTHING just right to please my audience in this case anyone who looks at my photos. I know I am just starting out and I shouldn't be hard on myself, but I find it hard not to be bummed out that I was there, and didn't do better. Nevermind I got better shots of Estelle than the paper did.HA I will put them up maybe tonight.

terje

Apple iPhone

08/10/2005 03:52:46 AM · #204

Here is a new assignment for the group:
Live Concert/Gigs

Hopefully the members of this group will do well! Good luck!

08/10/2005 05:55:26 AM · #205

OMG that is so cool! I'd better not get a brown ribbon for this one, LOL! Looks like I'd better clean my sensor as well (you need to as well, Anni!)
Anyway, a response to the last post:
From my own experience, I heavily discourage you from trying to make money from bands. Although they'll happily spend thousands of pounds on guitars/drums/etc, getting money for photography is like getting blood out of a stone. This also applies to managers/labels. You are much better off giving your photography away free making sure they credit you. Make sure they don't already have a photographer though. It can feel frustrating and thankless, but the (limited) money that can be made through gig photography comes through publications and image agencies, not bands. Even when bands do pay money, it comes largely as a result of word of mouth. I was given this advice when I started and didn't listen to it. I wish I had. I'm now making a point of giving photos free to bands and selling them to publications. It's good publicity.
I've also been meeting up and speaking to one of the photo editors from Getty Images... shots of bands on stage don't sell very well. I was told that the only way they would be interested in my photography for future work was to take loads of backstage photos and photos that the public wouldn't get to see. Now, I recently offered my photography for FREE to a Leeds magazine, who sent me on an assignment to take a photo shoot for a big name band. When they came back to the magazine and asked for the photos, I gave them for free, but asked if I could hang out backstage with them at the Carling Leeds festival (huge opportunity). They agreed. I'm now Getty's photographer for the festival although they're having problems getting passes for this festival, but I do have 2 other publications trying to get me in. If all this comes together and Getty use my photos, I'm really getting myself on the right road.
I say all this, because experience shows me that it is not enough to just stay in the audience or photographer's pit and shoot photos that everyone else is shooting. You must be proactive, and not think about earning money (unless someone offers!) for a while. I also think I owe it to my clients to not charge until I'm confident at what I do... it saves a lot of stress as well but mainly it's a very small world and you don't want your name out there until you're ready. You'll also be surprised how many amazing gig photographers there are out there... it was only when I started getting better that I realised just how ferocious the competition was just in Huddersfield/Leeds!

Message edited by author 2005-08-10 05:57:00.

08/10/2005 06:42:20 AM · #206

I'm shooting a local music festival this weekend in Huddersfield (Lark in the Park), no big names unfortunately (although there will be the next 2 weekends when I shoot at V Festival and Carling Leeds) but I would like to invite anybody who fancies shooting with me for the live music challenge to come over and stay. Accomodation will be on a mattress on the living room floor, but comfy! The festival happens over Saturday and Sunday. I'll have to limit the amount of people who can stay to two! The offer is also open to those not from this group, but those in the mentor group will take priority. I'll also try to get a press pass for anybody who's interested so you can try to get on the stages.
Take care folks,
Bob.

Message edited by author 2005-08-10 06:48:43.

08/10/2005 07:50:05 AM · #207

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Damn if only I had a car! would love to come to leads and shoot with you, but can't get around that way of the country.

08/10/2005 03:02:58 PM · #208

here is my example of that 'classic' gig photo pose..Shot from the side. This is Jo, former member of Sclub7..

I had to D&B the heck out of it. I think that burning on her hand left a bit too much shadow. but maybe I am being too picky.

Message edited by author 2005-08-10 15:04:49.

08/10/2005 03:11:08 PM · #209

Nice shot, I'd crop it a bit tighter. The wrist and back of head have been cropped so tightly, the negative space at the top and left seems unbalanced. The skin tone seems a bit orange, I think I'd remove a bit of red using colour balance in PS. Shame the face isn't sharper though, what was the shutter speed? Definitely a step in the right direction though.
Edit: D&b has worked well in this shot.

Message edited by author 2005-08-10 15:12:17.

08/10/2005 03:39:11 PM · #210

yeah I am weak when it comes to cropping..Saj pointed that earlier to me. I photoshopped this one a bit more. and I was thinking about maybe a border for it like you had in your shot from this weekend. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture. I know it isn't really publication material, but I think that it is something the artist herself would like.

Message edited by author 2005-08-10 15:46:19.

08/10/2005 05:02:46 PM · #211

I can see what you like about this... I like the soft focus effect, presumably you've added some semi-transparent Gaussian Blur?
The skin tones are way off though, and look very orange.
I've very quickly adjusted the colour balance, and removed some red:

08/11/2005 03:14:14 PM · #212

yes bob it is gaussian blur as well as a spot lighting effect. I thought the skin tones looked very red..I couldn't decided if I liked it that way or not...It gave it a very African feel I thought...

Also on a very GREAT note here is an email I recieved from my reporter friend I made at Pop2thePark

To: "Anni Ernst"
>Subject: RE: girlsaloud photo[Scanned]
>Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 16:18:54 +0100
>
>Hi- just to let you know they used your photos in all the papers and if
>you give me your address I'll send you a copy.
>They look really good next to my cheesy story (which contains more than
>a hint of irony).
>
>Regards
>
>Ceara

I am soooo excited this is my very fist time being published and only my second attempt at gig photography! Things like this make me feel I have a real future as a professional photographer. THANKS SOOO MUCH BOB!! I couldn't have done it without you!!! I am so amazed how far my photos have come with your advice and the critiques and advice from others.

I don't think that I will enter the contest for gig photog. I don't plan on shooting anywhere this week..I am a bit in the dog house with the hubby at the moment so I wouldn't ask him to babysit. I might look for somewhere I can go where I can bring the boy (dylan)

xx
Anni

08/11/2005 03:49:26 PM · #213

Originally posted by Anni:

Fantastic news, I hope you'll show us scans or photos of your work in print!
It doesn't sound like it's your week (financial disaster and doghouse), but I hope your other half is proud of you!
I hope you find some time to enter the challenge, as the comments will be VERY helpful to everybody who enters, and voting on them will also help to see what works and what doesn't.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/11/2005 05:59:16 PM · #214

No NOT a good week at all

gaurawa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

08/11/2005 06:29:36 PM · #215

Hey Bob,
Sorry for not being active much here. Last few weeks were too bad with work related stuff. I shot a few shots yesterday concentrating only on putting the artist on frame edge and looking into and trying not to get a microphone/guitar in the way, I realised I only took very small no. of pics and well nothing much useful either. I think I need to get more into this. Hopefully I will get more free time starting this weekend.
Here's one shot that I liked from yesterday. I might add a few more if they worth a look.

100mm 2.8 lens with 550EX flash bounced off the ceiling, had to crop the left side a bit because of another artist's back in frame.
Edit: Added

Message edited by author 2005-08-11 23:30:22.

singe

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/11/2005 07:02:20 PM · #216

Bob - I submitted to the challenge. I'd post some more photos, but I'm afraid someone would recognize the person in my challenge shot from the others I took. Should I post them?

Anyway, I think you'll like my challenge photo. I'm very happy with it.

-Brad

gaurawa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/11/2005 07:22:16 PM · #217

Oh I just noticed the challenge... hmm now I need to get some other pics for the challenge, since I have already posted yesterdays' shot :D

08/17/2005 08:20:44 AM · #218

Hi guys, sorry for not being very active here, I've been pretty busy.
I think we need a bit of a shake up though, I'm going to email people here who haven't given me their chosen venue, as there are loads of other people who could take their places if they can't do this for whatever reason.
I would like to suggest to everyone in this group that it would be an excellent learning experience to comment on ALL photos in the 'Live Music' challenge. Commenting is an important part of developing one's eye and I also think it would be a great way of thanking DPC for giving us such a useful challenge!
If you don't have time to comment on all of them, at least try and comment on 20% of them.
Good luck if you've entered a photo!
Bob

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

08/17/2005 03:03:08 PM · #219

I've been busy as well. That is why I haven't been very active lately as well. Gunna get back on top of things and back to my venue soon.

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

08/24/2005 11:03:49 AM · #220

GIG PHOTO SUMMARY

This was my entry. I scored 82 out of 202 putting me at the 60% with a score of 5.410

After looking at the shot on my work monitor I see that it looks darker and less contrasting then it was on my laptop. This is a consistent problem with my submissions at the moment. Anyways, I'm fairly happy with how my entry did. Had some shots from the prior week that would have done better. I'll also post some outtakes later in the week for comment.

I also thought it'd be interesting to comment on the results (Top 10) and a few honorable mentions.

#1 (voted 9) - one of my highest votes and much kudos.

#2 (voted 5) I really wanted a bit more space around the horn, and it was a horn. I wanted to see the lips not just the very tip of the lips. Found the background a bit distracting.

#3 (voted 7) I had really liked this one, particularly the lighting and gave it a 7. Which was a good score for me in this challenge. Strangely, I apparently did not leave a comment. (I thought I commented on all. Perhaps it just didn't update.)

#4 (voted 7) I liked the capture of detail, the hands, the blue stand out. Though something just prevented this from all coming together for me and I am not sure why. Perhaps it's the distraction of the shirt.

#5 (voted 8) I really liked this capture. And for an alternative underground scene shot it's quite nice. You are hard pressed to determine if you are looking at a spot light or a sun greyed out by the clouds. This is a very "punk" capture.

#6 (voted 5) I think the old wrinkled hands were nice but they did not seem very focused to me. And I found myself wanting either a bit more at the top of the flute or a bit less. I stand by my vote.

#7 (voted 5) I actually liked this one. I should probably have re-visisted and given it a 6 or 7. One note, I felt that a tighter crop on the right might have benefited the shot.

#8 (voted 7) Nice shot BobsterLobster... this was a really fun fan capture. With good performance of the musician

#9 (voted 7) nice shot, a good alternative to rock music and jazz shots. Nice sunset tones. Might have liked a bit more if it were completely shadowed. Don't know...would have to see the two side by side.

#10 (voted 8) great "wide encompassing shot". Sure I'd like more detail on the musician (but in a 640 image that's hard to have). But the scene and capture were brilliant.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

#11 (voted 9) I just loved how the musician was captured. Great claritly. Good tones. Amazing hair capture.

- I enjoyed this one alot...albeit very posed.

- This was a shot I just loved. The colors, the clarity. The composition. This is to me a bass player with funk. Perhaps a different facial pose would have done this better. I liked how it rested on the background.

- Odd scene, sure it's reminscent of the prior president. But I thought it quite an intriguing capture. Interesting lighting.

- I really liked this shot. I loved the capture of the face. I seems to capture all the grizzly aspects and grotesqueness.

- I liked this for a distance shot.

08/24/2005 03:29:15 PM · #221

I was quite upset by the challenge really and I didn't comment on a lot of them, cause I just didn't want to be mean.
I thought a lot of the images were not live music, but mear portrits. and lots of close ups on hands palying instruments. tisk tisk.

anyway. I got my copy of the paper with my pics in. I am so proud and when my sister renews my membership! THAT SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO DO FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!(STOMP) I will put up a pic for all to see.

Welcome FINALY saj! I can't remember what I gave your pic but did I not comment?? I was going to comment on a lot more, but I ran out of time. Things have been quite hectic for me at the moment.

08/24/2005 03:38:28 PM · #222

Well done Anni! Please post a scan of the paper.

I've decided to retire from mentoring this thread. I've been finding it difficult to make time for it, and the time I do dedicate to it I feel is wasted as nobody is carrying out my assignments except for Anni, my best student!
I'm also fed up with trying to keep order to the group... there is quite a waiting list and I wanted to make sure that I gave the inactive members a chance to show they wanted to stay in the group before people jumped the queue.
Perhaps you can setup a thread where you just critique each other's gig photos without any assignments. Anybody will be able to join this group. This can be interesting, but ultimately you won't really progress as fast, and you'll certainly be waiting longer for your big-name press passes.
Maybe Terje will take over and give this thread some momentum?
Thanks for helping me to really think about how I carry out my gig photography, it's really helped.
All the best,
Bob

08/24/2005 03:39:33 PM · #223

Originally posted by Anni:

You wouldn't believe how many angry PMs I got for pointing this out. It's just my opinion folks!