Dyslexic Fish at the Swan Basement

[Brad_T]

Dyslexic Fish are a 5 piece funk rock band from Perth, Western Australia. This is another show from the WAMI festival held here last week. The Swan Basement venue is down in Fremantle (Perths Major Port), and is a fairly small room (around 350 people) and a bit of a nightmare to shoot - red walls behind the stage, low white ceilings, and pretty low lights (a lot of red cans). I am going to post quite a few photos from various bands and venues with very different shooting conditions over the coming days/weeks (as long as no-one gets sick of my threads). The idea is I am keen to get other peoples comments on the photos and conditions that they where taken in.

All photos are taken with Canon 350D, EF 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, ISO 1600, mostly using aperture priority with the lens close to being wide open. More photos are up at http://www.livemphotography.com (http://www.livemphotography.com/).

Again any C+C welcomed.

(1)

http://www.livemphotography.com/photos/dyslexic_fish/2006-02-24/001.jpg

(2)
http://www.livemphotography.com/photos/dyslexic_fish/2006-02-24/002.jpg

(3)
http://www.livemphotography.com/photos/dyslexic_fish/2006-02-24/003.jpg

(4)
http://www.livemphotography.com/photos/dyslexic_fish/2006-02-24/004.jpg

(5)
http://www.livemphotography.com/photos/dyslexic_fish/2006-02-24/005.jpg

[Steve Parr]

Brad, these are much nicer than those in your previous thread. Get those guitars in there!

Been a long time since I was in Perth & Fremantle. Used to hang out at a club called Pinnochio's. Is that still there?

Steve

[RockSlut]

Much nicer set, Brad! Congratulations. My only critique is that the b&w on (5) is a little bland, but then I like my b&w's nice and contrasty.

[René Damkot]

I like #1. Conveyes the 'action' nicely.

[DwightMcCann]

I'd like to see them a little bigger. Oh, and I agree with with experts. I think if you get a fast prime, like the 50mm f1.8 or 85mm f1.8 you will see another improvement jump and your images will crisp up considerably.

[Brad_T]

Thanks for the replies.
Sorry steve - don't remember pinnochios.. it may have changed names before my time? Where about's was it?
The pictures are that size up on my photography website and I just link to those. They do look better bigger though so I will try and post a couple of larger ones when I post my next set. The 50mm 1.8 is on it's way, so I am looking forward to experimenting!!

[DwightMcCann]

Well, then, you are on your way to fame and fortune in the concert shooting realm! :-)

[dandan]

oh my, whith that slow lens youve got no wonder why it was a nightmare to shoot. You should look into a cheap prime like the 85.. 1.8 or the 50mm 1.8. both are very good for this stuff.

good shots for what you had to work with though. niice

[Steve Parr]

Sorry steve - don't remember pinnochios.. it may have changed names before my time? Where about's was it?

Not quite sure. I remember staying in the White Swan Hotel, and I think we were able to walk to the club, which had live bands.

This was back in 1984, though, so perhaps some things have changed...

[Brad_T]

There is a swan hotel still in north fremantle, not sure if it that is the one.. Was it near a bridge and the water? Actually I have a vague recollection that maybe mojo's (along the road from the swan) used to be called pinnochios.. If so it is still going! I could be mistaken though. I'll ask some of my older mates to see if they remember.

Got the 50mm f/1.8 today, and had a bit of a play around at home. How do you guys generally use the very short depth of field to your advantage (or is it rare that you actually shoot wide open with this lens)? I know dwight has suggested previously to focus on the eye closest to the camera - is that the basic principle or are there other things to note?

I've noticed that if the eye is in focus, it seems the depth of field is only a few cm's... You wouldn't want the subject to be moving to fast. The lack of USM is noticeable (general comment - compared to the 24-85mm USM lens I have).

Thanks,

Brad.

[Steve Parr]

There is a swan hotel still in north fremantle, not sure if it that is the one.. Was it near a bridge and the water?

Yeah, it sure was. Actually, I think the name of it was the Swan Hotel, as I remember the waterway being the Swan River...

Steve

[René Damkot]

How do you guys generally use the very short depth of field to your advantage (or is it rare that you actually shoot wide open with this lens)? I know dwight has suggested previously to focus on the eye closest to the camera - is that the basic principle or are there other things to note?
I have the 50/1.4 and use it preferably closed down a bit (say, f/1.8) Not because of the DoF, but because it's soft wide open. And yes, I try to get a focus on the closest eye. Then again, a softer image is better then one with motion blurr, so f/1.4 get used as well ;) I think DoF is quite okay even wide open on anything but a FF camera. (On which I find it either too long or too short anyway mostly)

[DwightMcCann]

Yes, the general rule is to focus on the close eye ... this is actually a very good rule of thumb for most people shooting ... and then you simply have to allow the rest to be where it is depending on the DOF. I have heard several comment that they use the 50mm f/1.8 at f/2.2.

[Brad_T]

Cheers for the tips guys! I will get out and shoot some gigs and see how I go.

Incidently Steve - these photos were shot in the basement bar of that same hotel.

[Steve Parr]

Cheers for the tips guys! I will get out and shoot some gigs and see how I go.

Incidently Steve - these photos were shot in the basement bar of that same hotel.

Cool! Small world.

I'd love to get back there someday...