Murasaki Baby Doll at Tease-O-Rama 2005

[mikegoat]

Retro Burlesque. A Japanese Troupe called Murasaki Baby Doll. Imagine Hello Kitty meets The Who and dances to "My Generation" with an homage to on-stage destruction. WOW. The only standing ovation at this retro event held at Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco.
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ISO 1600. All shot with 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 at excruciatingly slow shutter speeds. A lot of dud photos from this event... I went back to check the EXIF on these and realized that all the shots that came out were with the two faster lenses...not the 28-70 2.8 as I had thought...

[DwightMcCann]

Exquisite! Marvelous. Potent! Colorful! ENERGY! How did you manage to get to do these? :-)

[mikegoat]

Thanks Dwight- Since you asked:
I have been looking for events and venues outside my comfort zone. Left to my own devices, I would have a snapshot collection of cracks in the sidewalk. I saw this event coming and emailed the media rep (who also, it turns out, happens to be one of the people who put the event together) and nicely asked her for press/media access and a photo badge. I was graciously rewarded. What was really fun was sitting at the front edge of the stage (nightclub/table seating) with photographers who shoot this stuff all the time and get published regularly. What did I see? PRIME LENSES. FAST LENSES. ( I want a 24mm 1.4) Retro burlesque appears to be a thriving side culture (it would be unfair to call it a sub culture-these folks really are witty, hip and have a really good time). Now that I am developing a modest portfolio of interesting event photographs, I string a few together and email a to the media rep to show I am serious. I maintain an optimistic and persistently friendly approach. I will post a few more pictures. Due to the subject matter (though all strippers ultimately had pasties and G-Strings like the good old days) and my not-yet-qualified for-the-Glamour section status here, the photographs I will post will be G or PG rated. The show never was gross or obscene, lurid or indecent in any way.

[DwightMcCann]

Hehe, I've got a portfolio of world class performers ... maybe I should try your approach. Was this something you had planned to attend anyway?

I bought a 50mm f1.4 and have an 85mm f1.8 in the mail. Haven't used either yet. Are these the sort of primes you saw. That 24mm f1.4 is a touch pricey even for me ... but I'll add it to my list of glass to acquire. :-)

[mikegoat]

Here are a few more images that a give a flavor of this event.

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[DwightMcCann]

Phew, I wonder if my wife would let me go with you?

[mikegoat]

I did not know what the distance to stage was going to be. So I brought my 12-24 4.0, my 70-200 2.8 L IS and my 28-70 2.8 L, my 50 1.4 and my 85 1.8.

First problem- Nothing I had was W I D E and FAST. 4.0 does not cut it. The 28-70 at 2.8 was OK sometimes, but I also really needed to use the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8 because of the crappy light, and found myself finding a corner away from the stage to get head and feet in. The "Pros" were sitting at the table with their primes laid out in front of them. The must have for THIS event was the 24 mm 1.4. The shooter had an EOS full frame film camera however. So ideally, but it doesn't exist as far as I know, it would be nice to have a 15 mm 1.4 to get equivalency because of the crop factor. Not a zoom in sight...

[DwightMcCann]

I now have the 24mm f1.4 on my B&H wishlist.

[mikegoat]

Hehe, I've got a portfolio of world class performers ... maybe I should try your approach. Was this something you had planned to attend anyway?

I bought a 50mm f1.4 and have an 85mm f1.8 in the mail. Haven't used either yet. Are these the sort of primes you saw. That 24mm f1.4 is a touch pricey even for me ... but I'll add it to my list of glass to acquire. :-)


Dwight, your portfolio ought to get you on the other side of the ropes at the Grammys and backstage for the Stones IMHO.

[RockSlut]

Stunning photos! Congratulations. I'm a huge fan of burlesque and you have doen the show much justice. Thank you for sharing!

[Curtis N]

Great shots!

[Nidz]

Wow.. the colour hits you in the face like a ton of bricks.. Nice show..

[kenyc]

Incredible shots. I love the "windmill" shot (third one-second batch).

KAC

[DwightMcCann]

Well, if I ever get settled again, after this move, and get caught up with all my obligations, you'll have to drag me to one of these shows. BTW, your statement about the Pros having primes has really hit home for me. 90% of my casino shots are done with my 70-200mm f2.8, some with 24-70mm and just a few with my 300mm f2.8, and I never use my 16-35mm f2.8 there anymore ... but the 300mm shots, the only prime I have used there, are always just a little better. That's what started me to get some primes. I have the 50mm f1.4 in my case. I have the 85mm f1.8 in the mail. I now have the 24mm f1.4 on my B&H wishlist, along with the 500mm f4. And I think I will be looking to see what is available in the 100mm to 200mm range for primes. It will take me a while to get a chance to use them for Live Performance, but I'm somewhat anxious to try the 50mm and 85mm at the boxing match later this month, along with my staple 24-70mm (the Pro's choice). Having never before had the resources to own lenses in overlapping focal lengths and particularly primes in the ranges of my zooms, I think using all these lenses ought to be interesting. I will probably go over to the EOS lens forum and ask around.

Again, your images are really potent and fun.

[myth337]

Left to my own devices, I would have a snapshot collection of cracks in the sidewalk.hehehehehehe... do you have any shots you can post?? ;)

Retro Burlesque!! What a concept!! Your pics are the craziest I have seen in a long time!! Great work!

I have also started to use the 50/F1.8 that I have a bit more.. and am getting a bit more used to my 70-200/F2.8. when these two are mastered.. (and I can find some cool events like this to go to...) I'll start looking at a shopping list again.

.. Lee

[René Damkot]

Nice shots! Specially # 2,4 and 6 and # 3,4 from the second batch!! Pity on #1 the elbow of the first girl is in front of the second girls face.... Looks like a very energetic event!
As for a fast and wide lens, why not give the Sigma 20/1.8 a try? Affordable, fast and very nice.

[BottomBracket]

These are great photos. You can feel the energy.

[mikegoat]

Nice shots! Specially # 2,4 and 6 and # 3,4 from the second batch!! Pity on #1 the elbow of the first girl is in front of the second girls face.... Looks like a very energetic event!
As for a fast and wide lens, why not give the Sigma 20/1.8 a try? Affordable, fast and very nice.


Thanks for the input. What an exercise in frustration shootng this event was! I have about 500 images. I am still sorting through them but the vast majority are movement impaired. It was hard getting a shot that wasn't blurred let alone one that was framed decently! Point and shoot, point and shoot. I learned a lot about the need for speed in lenses.That is why I snagged a 24 1.4 L on Ebay this AM new and in the box that a nature photographer purchased and never used. Saved about $300 off prices charged by the usual suspects. I saw what pros use at these events and the word is simple: PRIMES!

[rklepper]

Great shots. Really looks like fun. Thanks so much for sharing.