Battle of the Bands

[underoath]

1.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7097/00222hj.jpg

2.
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9228/00009hs.jpg



These are 2 pictures of my freind Joe, I recently shot his band at a battle of the bands competition. What do you think?

[Steve Parr]

Two things which bother me:

Lose the flash.
Lose the selective coloring.

Please, bear in mind that there are two of my pet peeves when it comes to band photography; I don't mean to sound harsh.

Composition looks pretty good, although I'd have tried to get the whole headstock into the frame in #2...

[Screamer]

It's a good start...

But, being constructive, like Steve has mentioned...definately lose the selective coloring. It looks very out of place in a band photo, especially given the apparent punk/emo look of the bassist.

I too, would suggest capturing the headstock. If it was a limitation of the lens focal length, just back up. Sometimes when shooting, it's easy to overlook this stuff.

Also, did you use Noise Ninja or an equivelant on these? the face looks like it has the "smoothness" slider up too high and detail was lost. Maybe, it was jusy the slow-sync on the flash causing it.

Keep shooting though! Live entertainment/performance photography has some of the harshest and most difficult lighting situations imaginable...:)

[Brad_T]

I am not really in the position to be able to offer advice, being only fairly new to the genre also - but some commentary at least...

Bass players are amoungst the hardest to shoot imo. They are generally in the least lighting on stage (except for maybe drummers) and their guitar necks are super long (to satisfy's dwights standard requests of not cutting off the guitar heads :) ).

The guy in the photo is wearing quite interesting clothes so he's probably a good subject to keep practicing on the next time they have a show.

[bikerider]

Not a bad start I reckon' and I agree that cutting off the instrument is not ideal. I am wondering if the first shot is selective colour or de-saturated for a washed out 70's look.
Roger.

[Shabookie]

I like the softness of the first one. I just dont know about the color. I think just B&W would fit better.

Me being a bass player, the second one is missing the action of him thumping and poping the strings. I think these are good shots.

Maybe step'n back 3-5 feet would have put things in the box a lil more?

[René Damkot]

On the first one, I actually think the flash with dragged shutter works pretty well. I agree with the desaturation having to go though... As well as the flash in the second picture.