Singer Songwriter - Dunn Bros Coffee House

[taygull]

OK, so last night the artist I manage did a small performance at Dunn Bros. in Frisco TX. This is a little deal a local guy puts on twice per month. There was a very good turnout; it looks like we got some new fans.

There were lots of good artist tonight; the one I manage will be in the first pic. I took this outside as he was taking a break.

Feel free to comment as I shot these in RAW, the only thing I see is more noise in RAW than I did in JPEG.

For some reason the B&W spoke to me tonight. I like the ease of making the colors look better with RawShooter, but the B&W seemed extra "moody" tonight.

I am using Elements 2.0 and RawShooter Essentials.

#1 Wade Kilgore http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4677/wade6qh.jpg

#2 Wade and Tom - These guys write a bunch of stuff together. I like having the heads from the crowd; I think it shows the intimacy of the night.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/4724/wadetombw8rm.jpg


#3 really good artists did not catch his name.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9186/harmonica1ln.jpg

#4 really good artist, had a great song about the "Sago Mine"

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/109/guitarplayer9vb.jpg

#5 Very good musicians, his wife sings very formal. He played a song he wrote (kinda folksy) where she sang in opera style in the chorus. Funny good song, she is amazing as is he.

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7105/lastguy3gl.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

Excellent ... love that first one ... could be a CD cover! Much intimate than I get to shoot.

[Steve Parr]

Nicely done.

I'm diggin' #4...

[taygull]

Nicely done.

I'm diggin' #4...

I figured you would, it is a Taylor.

[taygull]

Excellent ... love that first one ... could be a CD cover! Much intimate than I get to shoot.

The problem is I don't get to do as many "creative" shots. There is not as much "moving" around in the small gigs. These guys were sitting down all night so it really makes it tough to comeup with something cool. I think that is why the B&W works.

The "large stage" does give you some fun angles, but it does keep you "back" a bit.

Thanks for the kind words.

Any tips? How could these be better?

[Steve Parr]

Any tips? How could these be better?

Shoot up from the floor, or from the extreme sides, just to get a change in perspective. Also, I noticed that you didn't shoot any of the performers from their right side; go ahead and do it.

Whatever you do in these situations, don't be afraid to move all over the place while shooting...

Steve

[taygull]

There was no right side. It was a brick wall. I've got some more shots from the performers left but I did not like them much. You can't tell it in the shots but there was no room for me to get right in front of them.

At what point do you guys start to worry about the "crowd", in these small venue's your right on top of them. The last thing I want is to be a distraction.

[DwightMcCann]

Well, unless you are hired by one of the groups/individuals to shoot them you really do not have an "excuse" to obstruct anyone else, or at least not for very long ... maybe about three songs worth! :-) If it is informal, it is probably OK to be a distraction but not an obstruction. Or, if this is a regular thing, try concentrating on just one guy at each event.

[René Damkot]

I like #1. Pity the focus is a bit in front. #3 and 5 are also nice. In #4 I would've liked to see the guitar neck. (This forum is way too big an influence on me...)