Deryl Dodd - Private Party! No go for dial up!

[taygull]

OK, so I was hired to shoot a private birthday party Saturday night. I was pretty excited as Deryl Dodd was playing the private party. The “host” of the party is lead guitarist for Woody Lee.

Deryl Dodd (http://www.deryldodd.com (http://www.deryldodd.com/)) came on the music scene a few years back as lead guitarist and harmony vocalist for Martina McBride. Deryl went on later to open for Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn and some other big acts. He had some pretty big hits when he was diagnosed with viral encephalitis. This slowed Deryl as he had to stay in bed for 6 months and couldn’t play guitar or sing.

Deryl and his band had another miss-hap about 6 weeks ago with all their music gear and merchandise was stolen. Some fellow Texas musicians have come to his aid and actually hosted some big events to help the band recover.

Deryl is a class act, as humble as anyone I’ve ever met and is one hell of a musician. Needless to say the birthday girl was over whelmed!

Here are a few shots from the party.

#1
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/9245/ddcloseup9rx.jpg

#2
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/5162/ddside7pr.jpg

#3
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1218/ddfront3fn.jpg

#4
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/7087/ddcarla6bg.jpg

#5
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/1922/ddportrait9hc.jpg

#6
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2492/drummer5uu.jpg

#7 My traditional headstock shot

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1563/headstock5fw.jpg

#8
Another artist whose name I did not catch, played and opening set. His first name was Kurt and he was really good.

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/4136/kurt3hk.jpg

#9 OK, so there were more than musicians at the pary! I gotta get better at my flash photography!

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/925/girls8vq.jpg

[DwightMcCann]

I only know Brooks and Dunn from amongst your catalog because I have shot them. The lighting looks pretty harsh. And the only thing I care about is whether they liked your pictures!? Oh, one thing ... I always shoot Meet and Greet as tight as I can ... when it is one artist and one or two fans I shoot head and shoulders ... women always think they look too fat and guys are usually doing something weird with their hands. I also always tell 'em to "hug him up", but you did a good job on that part. I even try to get smooches sometimes in the small venues ... those are pictures of a lifetime for the fans.

[taygull]

There were three lights on each side of the "stage" (front part of the room). I actually liked this lighting better than Hanks.

Wait until you see what I put together. There are reasons but I can't show it until Thursday. It took me 15 hours of work to put together!

[taygull]

The strange thing is these are a ton sharper pre-posting on the forum. Dwight share your process for posting the pics so they stay sharp? My shots always print very sharp, they just don't show up online as sharp.

[DwightMcCann]

It took me 15 hours of work to put together!

Oh, a quick one, eh? ;)

[taygull]

Oh, a quick one, eh? ;)

It is not as "cool" as the norm...just big with lots of pics.