Don Johnson Big Band

[kmb]

Hello,

I had the privilege to photograph DJBB's (they're a Finnish band) gig at the Lutakko venue (don't worry if that doesn't mean anything to you :)).

They call themselves the world's smallest big band. I'm not sure what to call their musical style... The vocalist sings rap, but otherwise it's quite melodic... Check out for yourselves, they have a nice live video on their site:
http://www.donjohnsonbigband.com/en/audiovideo/

The show was excellent, even though I wasn't a fan before the gig :).

So, here are a few pictures (click for larger size & properly processed versions):

#1
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_6927.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_6927.jpg)

#2
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7223.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7223.jpg)

#3
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_6950.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_6950.jpg)

#4
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7316.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7316.jpg)

#5
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7235.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7235.jpg)

#6
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7237.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7237.jpg)

Gallery here (incomplete):
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=40

[stupot]

these are great, i really like the second one! looks very sharp and the colour is great.

[DwightMcCann]

Very nice ... but they are so clean cut and reasonably dressed that they couldn't possibly be good! :rolleyes: I am often assured here that tattoos and piercings and body painting and weird hair colors and Star Wars costumes are almost required to demonstrate a band is good. :lol: :lol:

[Brad_T]

Great shots - 1 and 2 are my favs, although the blue cast in 2 could probably be improved somewhat. Some seem a little dark. The back lighting on 4 and 6 make for an impressive backdrop but the lack of light on the face means that they don't quite work for me. 5 is hilarious - good job getting the focus right with such a short dof.

Thanks for sharing!

[kmb]

Thank you all for the feedback, I appreciate it.

Very nice ... but they are so clean cut and reasonably dressed that they couldn't possibly be good! :rolleyes: I am often assured here that tattoos and piercings and body painting and weird hair colors and Star Wars costumes are almost required to demonstrate a band is good. :lol: :lol:

This is Finland, we don't believe in that kind of nonsense ;). That might explain why they've not made an international breakthrough yet, though... Anyways, I've never seen so clear enjoyment of performing, I'm just not very happy that I think I couldn't get that through in my shots... I actually for the first time was distracted by the performance that I stopped shooting from time to time just to watch and enjoy (I did pay myself in and there was no money involved in the other direction, so I didn't have to put my "professional mode" on).

Great shots - 1 and 2 are my favs, although the blue cast in 2 could probably be improved somewhat.

That's a matter of preference, isn't it? I mean, "improved to what?" was the first question that popped into my mind. I'm not sure I'd like neutral skin colors (plus neutral everything else) in that shot. Anyway, I appreciate this sort of input - and definitely respect your opinion - as I'm also trying to learn what other people like/dislike about the results I'm producing.

5 is hilarious - good job getting the focus right with such a short dof.

Thanks :). If I recall correctly (can't check, I'm at work - coffeebreak if my boss asks), I haven't cropped that too much, he was right in front of me. I was very surprised to see it was taken at f1.4. Sometimes I get lucky. Still trying to learn how to make my results not that dependent on luck :rolleyes:. I'm blaming my equipment - specifically the apparent lack of reliability of low light focusing of the 20D - because it's easier to accept than admitting the lack of skill :D. I should get the 5D next month, very interested to see if things get any easier with that.

Again, thanks for the input, guys :)

[René Damkot]

Very nice again. I like #1, 4 & 6 best. Why? On #2 the BG is a bit distracting, #3 just doesn't have it for me, #4 could have been a bit lighter, but is nice and moody as is, #5 is cropped a bit too tight IMO.

[Brad_T]

That's a matter of preference, isn't it? I mean, "improved to what?" was the first question that popped into my mind. I'm not sure I'd like neutral skin colors (plus neutral everything else) in that shot. Anyway, I appreciate this sort of input - and definitely respect your opinion - as I'm also trying to learn what other people like/dislike about the results I'm producing.

Entirely my opinion of course haha, I should have stated. I would have adjusted the white balance temp/tint such that it goes in the direciton of neutral somewhat. The blue cast looks nice, just a bit much on first glance and thus the colour looks a bit flat. I like the shot anyhow, and I'm sure other people have differing opinions on the colours.

[kmb]

Very nice again. I like #1, 4 & 6 best. Why? On #2 the BG is a bit distracting, #3 just doesn't have it for me, #4 could have been a bit lighter, but is nice and moody as is, #5 is cropped a bit too tight IMO.
Thanks, René. I agree with the #2's background. I started doing my usual background darkening layer, but gave up, as the bg is lighter than the subject, and a considerable amount of darkening would have required to make the subject pop considerably better. That then requires considerable amount of effort when creating the mask that it wouldn't look like it was processed (especially that saxophone is a pain in the buttocks - and of course hair that is partially "transparent" against the background), so I just let it be. I guess a FF camera + 85@f1.8 would have been better here (now it was 50@1.4)

#5... again I agree. There should be more below the shot. It was taken with the 50mm prime at f1.4 (I think that lens was the best choice for that shot - considering the alternatives I had - although I didn't choose anything for this particular shot, I was just lucky to have it there), and of course I had very little space to move. Did I mention I really, really want a FF camera? :p.

[DwightMcCann]

Hehehe, yes, hard to break into the international set if you are clean! :-) Actually, I like the performers who all dress alike as it gives them more cohesion. A number of black groups do this and the Latin groups often all wear mariachi style attire ... from a "show" perspective I find it very appealing. Somehow the t-shirt and jeans outfits just don't do much for me, sigh. Hey, I want a FF camera, too, but I'm going with a 400mm f/2.8 next and then all the fast primes I don't have yet ... so the FF is about $13,000USD down the road. :-)

[Croasdail]

I don't know... image 5 kinda does show he is playing and interacting with the crowd... so I can see some of his enjoyment of being there. Regardless, from a technical standpoint, these are peachie. Enjoyed them.

[kmb]

Thanks again for the comments :)

Here are a couple more pics hand picked to showcase the intensity and the good mood of the performers:

7
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7290.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7290.jpg)

8
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7435.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7435.jpg)

9
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7244.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7244.jpg)

10
http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal__MG_7169.jpg (http://www.bjorklid.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/_MG_7169.jpg)

[MDJAK]

Number 1 takes the prize as far as I'm concerned. Great close up. The sweat dripping and beading up on his face tells a great story. The rest ain't bad either.

mark

[zacker]

and i was looking for the guy from Miami Vice!
great shots though, good job!
-zacker-

[Brad_T]

I really like 7 and 10 out of the new ones - they really do capture the intensity!

[blighty]

The last one in tyhe first post is my favourite. They are all very sharp, well done.

[Grace]

OK, Im guilty of not going through and reading everyones replies...Let me first say I LOVE these pics! I don't know if it is appropriate, gosh I hope it is...But I think they have an incredibly sexy feel to them. You can really tells these guys are passionate about their music! I really love the cripness and clarity you have here! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[kmb]

Let me first say I LOVE these pics! I don't know if it is appropriate, gosh I hope it is...But I think they have an incredibly sexy feel to them. You can really tells these guys are passionate about their music! I really love the cripness and clarity you have here! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Hello there, and thank you for your feedback :). I wasn't especially aiming to take sexy pictures, but I'll take that as a compliment :D.

I especially am flattered when people tell that some feeling comes through (like passion in this instance), as I believe the essence of music/performing arts photography is to capture a visual representation of the feelings the artist delivers to his/her audience. Because of this, I try to remember to link to videos/mp3 samples or other stuff that the band might have on their website so that people can try to compare whether I've managed to capture the music in my photos. I'm not very good at that yet, but I'm getting there... :)

[zacker]

# 6 IS MY FAV... love the smoky atmosphere and the singer standing there, really cool shot!
-zacker-

[Steve Parr]

When I saw the title of this thread, I fully expected to see that guy from "Miami Vice"...

:lol:

[Grace]

Hello there, and thank you for your feedback :). I wasn't especially aiming to take sexy pictures, but I'll take that as a compliment :D.

I especially am flattered when people tell that some feeling comes through (like passion in this instance), as I believe the essence of music/performing arts photography is to capture a visual representation of the feelings the artist delivers to his/her audience. Because of this, I try to remember to link to videos/mp3 samples or other stuff that the band might have on their website so that people can try to compare whether I've managed to capture the music in my photos. I'm not very good at that yet, but I'm getting there... :)

Sexy is a compliment! sweat, emotion and talent...yeah, it's sexy! mayve thats just a personal thing. But you definitly did a good job of gettin a visual representation of feelings!
:cool:

[Greg P.]

Very nice ... but they are so clean cut and reasonably dressed that they couldn't possibly be good! :rolleyes: I am often assured here that tattoos and piercings and body painting and weird hair colors and Star Wars costumes are almost required to demonstrate a band is good. :lol: :lol:

You got that right. ever seen GWAR? hands down, id shoot them and no one else.

[zacker]

as dee dee Ramone once said.. "Nowadays, you gotta be different to get known, too bad its all been done so its hard to be different"...
-zacker-

[narlus]

Actually, I like the performers who all dress alike as it gives them more cohesion.

too bad i didn't have my camera when i saw the Super Furry Animals (http://www.superfurry.com/) last November. :lol:

Kalle, once again great shots. i find it interesting that you choose to use shutter priority over aperture priority; do you base the shutter speed on available light? as i see it's not set at one particular constant.

also, for exposure what does 'pattern' mean?

edit - greg p, i have seen GWAR but not in a long time, maybe 15 years ago? you'd definitely need yr weather-sealed gear for that shoot. :)

[Steve Parr]

You got that right. ever seen GWAR? hands down, id shoot them and no one else.

I'd rather dig out my own heart with a spoon than spend an evening shooting those guys...

[DwightMcCann]

I'd rather dig out my own heart with a spoon than spend an evening shooting those guys...

Well, first off they meet my criterium of all dressing alike which is a big plus. OTOH, they must be keeping their beer in those codpieces ... although I play tennis with a guy who was in a band whose members all stuffed rolled up socks in their underwear according to him! Anyway, I'd wear my etymotic earplugs but I think it would be fun to shoot them ... maybe Greg and I can go together! :cool: He could introduce me as his still lost grandfather.

[Greg P.]

hahaha. Id be more than happy to shoot a show with you.

[DwightMcCann]

hahaha. Id be more than happy to shoot a show with you.

When they come to the casino we'll go!:D

[Greg P.]

well im in jersey, so unless you can fly me out to wherever the casino is, i see problems.

[DwightMcCann]

well im in jersey, so unless you can fly me out to wherever the casino is, i see problems.

Umm, if GWAR plays at the casino I will fly you both ways! :lol: But I doubt it will happen until those guys need walkers to get around!