Chely Wright in Concert, May 17-18, 2004

[DwightMcCann]

Chely Wright was apparently trying to make a comeback from having had "artistic differences" with someone so she came on this little tour to build some grass roots support. The real downside was her tour manager: after being told I was going to shoot her by the venue management and tour promoter and watching me shoot for two concerts, he came up to me at the end of the second concert and said, "You don't know how to shoot cover girls so don't publish, print or share any images with anyone without written permission!" I had a few exchanges with him and then asked the tour and venue management, who said, "Do what you want with the pictures and if you get any flack about it we will never play Chely Wright songs here (meaning the radio station who sponsored the concert) again." I never heard any further complaints, but Chely was reported to have had another round of "artistic differences" and lost another recording deal. In the end I was given the impression that she is really a very nice person and was unaware of the arrogance of her tour manager. So, here's Chely Wright:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChelyWright/CW500/ChelyWright0844-500.JPG

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChelyWright/CW500/ChelyWright0865-500.JPG

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChelyWright/CW500/ChelyWright0696-500.JPG

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChelyWright/CW500/ChelyWright0856-500.JPG

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChelyWright/CW500/ChelyWright0770-500.JPG

As I think back on this incident in light of my current photography assignments I like to think that Jon would have talked out of the other side of his mouth and been interested in using my pictures.

[Steve Parr]

NIce shots, Dwight. The stage lighting worked REALLY well in #3.

And, again, impeccable taste in acoustic guitars...

Steve

[DwightMcCann]

Steve, you have noticed that I always showcase certain instruments! :-)

[symes]

NIce shots, Dwight. The stage lighting worked REALLY well in #3.

And, again, impeccable taste in acoustic guitars...

Steve

Percisely what I was thinking...

Cheers,

[GyRob]

VERY nice shots the lighting give great effect.
Rob.

[Shabookie]

The lighting looks great in all the pix
5 is my fav. What a great shot. I love the light blasting off the guitar and the shadows from the players hand and mic stand.


Is that a speaker monitor in the view of the mics?

[DwightMcCann]

Shabookie, that "monitor" is actually the back of one of the main speakers in this tiny venue! I can't remember why I didn't move to the left but I think it was because it would block Chely.

[René Damkot]

Nice shots as usual. I'ld try to mach the skin tones (on the first 4) closer to the close up though. On the other imgs they're (a bit green-) yellowish, because of the filtered tungsten.

[DwightMcCann]

Rene, the light is not consistent ... there is a very liimited lightboard for these lights and the guy who runs it likes to think he is at the Bowl downtown so he is constantly adjusting! Sometimes he doesn't make a show and they leave all the lights on the whole time. And since they want to create "atmosphere" there is a tendency to stick red and yellow gels in all the lights, sigh.

[Exit]

She is so hot! :)

I say we protest againts light guys who use red gels!!

[DwightMcCann]

Exit, watch out for what you ask for ... it could turn into another Islamic cartoon uprising in this forum!

[Exit]

We're not crazy fools like them :)

Check out these forums. We've talked about the red lights and 3 song shooting limt a lot
http://www.concertshooter.com/

[DwightMcCann]

So, Exit, what's the story on ConcertShooter? I see one guy with ALL the pictures on the home page ... guess it's his website, eh? Is it useful? I a lot of experience with hot lights and shooting limits.

[Steve Parr]

She is so hot! :)

I say we protest againts light guys who use red gels!!

Something that I've been noticing lately is that red gels are okay, provided that there is also some white light, as well. The funny thing is that it doesn't need to be a lot of white light, but just some white light...

Steve

[DwightMcCann]

Yes, there are enough variables to always make it interesting. I shoot Englebert Humperdinck tonight ... can't wait to find out what his rules are!

[Exit]

Red will usually fool the meter on the camera as well so you have to dial in a -2/3 EV unless you shoot manual and spot meter the brightest part...and then under expose some

[DwightMcCann]

Exit, didn't hear back from you on concertshooter.com?

I shoot with a 1D Mark II and always spot meter on the face ... then I bracket +/- 2/3 stops everything using H drive at 8.5 fps while shooting, which keeps the sets of three frames within under 1/2 second. I do not shoot RAW.

[Exit]

concertshooter is an ok site. It really needs more people posting there to get things going. I'd say right now there are about 5 guys who post often with another 10 who post from time to time. There are some gallery pages from different guys you can look at and some of these photographers have shot some big time groups.

[DwightMcCann]

Exit, do you belong and do you think it is worthwhile/supportive? I shoot a lot of world class talent on a very regular basis (almost weekly ... tonight I am shooting Englebert Humperdinck), am hoping to build a business in this area, and would participate actively if it was a professionally oriented website. If it is just a bunch of guys posting their concert pictures to impress each other I can do that here! :-) Oh, and thanks for the information so far.

[René Damkot]

Red will usually fool the meter on the camera as well
Hmmm, don't know about that. What I do know is that the problem is (also) caused by the (tungsten) light already being around 3200K (lot lower when dimmed), and the gel lowering it even more. In total it amounds to almost nothing but red reaching the sensor. Which results in a clipped red channel, and almost unexposed G and B) . Search the Luminous Landscape for 'reduce those clipped channels' for a remedy.

[DwightMcCann]

Rene, thanks ... I'll check that out. :-)

Update: Checked out the clipped channels article ... interesting and useful as I had never thought about selective saturation. Checked out the Billingham ... may have to add that to my equipment budget! :-)

[René Damkot]

With all your equipment, I doubt even the biggest Billingham will be large enough ;) You won't regret it though...

[DwightMcCann]

I expect so, although I'm more interested in something for my 20D, 10-22mm, 24-105mm and 100-400mm for "walk around". When I shoot with my professional gear I usually pack it around in a Pelican 1610.

[markthompson]

Hey, that's me with the impeccable guitar. Have any other shots (with me in them) that you'd send me strictly for my personal enjoyment?
markthompson@comcast.net
www.SweetbriarRecording.com
www.ThompsonMusicRental.com

[DwightMcCann]

Mark, 2004 is on DVDs so you're outta' luck, but with that harsh lighting I don't think there'd be anything you'd want to sit around and admire ... I'm just sayin'. :-)