Bela Fleck and the Flecktones Concert

[twistedinsight]

Ok, first off. This is my favorite band ever. this is my first attempt at concert photography, and was my first real use of my Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC lens. I was right up against the stage, and right by my man Victor Wooten.

If you've never heard of this band, and you like jazz, bluegrass, blues, all of the above, they are definitely worth checking out. www.flecktones.com (http://www.flecktones.com) they consist of the virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck, the wicked awesome best bassist alive/dead Victor Wooten, incredible saxophone/flutist/clarinetist Jeff Coffin, and a man that pays a Drumitar, which is an electronic drumset he made on the body of a guitar, Futureman. They're amazing. You owe it to yourself to check them out, you will not be let down.

hope you enjoy.

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/bela2_800.jpg

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/group2_800.jpg

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/takeabow800.jpg

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/vic12_800.jpg

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/vic6_800.jpg


http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/vic_bela_duel1_800.jpg
here they were dueling, or playing off of each other's solos. it was amazing...

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/vic_bw_1_800.jpg

http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones/images/vic11_800.jpg


as you can see, i'm quite the victor wooten fan. i've met him numerous times, sat down and talked with him, and he's the most down to earth guy, and really cares about his fans. can't beat him.

have a great week.

if you like these, and would like to see all of the pics from the show, visit here:

http://www.magnolia-net.com/~jedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones (http://www.magnolia-net.com/%7Ejedmag/jrowephotography/events/flecktones)

Jon Rowe
JRowe Photography
www.JRowePhotography.com (http://www.JRowePhotography.com)

[elcuartoscuro]

Very good"!!!!!

[DwightMcCann]

One of the few bands I have not heard in person that I would really like to see ... I shoot world class singer/songwriters almost every week and am pretty inured to the talent but having heard a little Bela and loving their genre this would be a treat. Your images are marvelous ... perhaps a touch of sharpening after resizing but the captures convey that magical sense of the event!

[fstop212]

All shots are great, but the first shot is my favorite -

[freefallu]

very very nice live performance pictures, id bet this group would like to get their hands on them. Thanks for sharing i dont have a favourite, im impressed with all of them.

[twistedinsight]

thanks so much for the replies. Dwight McCann, what sharpening technique do you prefer after resizing? just curious.

if you get a chance to see them live, go for it. they're worth the 12 hour drive i've had to go 6 times to see them. :D

[DwightMcCann]

thanks so much for the replies. Dwight McCann, what sharpening technique do you prefer after resizing? just curious.

if you get a chance to see them live, go for it. they're worth the 12 hour drive i've had to go 6 times to see them. :D
I use PhotoImpact and generally just apply the least sharpening in the "menu" provided ... if you use Photoshop just ask about sharpening and ten guys will give you help! :-) I think Rene Damkot has a link to an action that he likes. But you need a sharpening step after any final resizing.

[redspyder]

Great shots of one of my favorite bands. The silhouette of Victor Wooten is great. For those that haven't seen them, they are incredible. Wooten Has been named the best bass player alive by his fellow bassist. Anyway enough about the band. Loved the shots.

[col4bin]

Nice shots. It's been a while since I have seen Bela perform live.

[Shabookie]

Awesome shots and awesome band... How did you get your camera in there?

[twistedinsight]

flecktones do not mind photography at all, they leave it up to the venue. i just walked right in with it. didn't have to hide it. i was literally leaning against the stage taking pics, bracing sometimes just 3 - 4 feet away from victor wooten himself.

security guards were everywhere . they didn't care at all.

The venue was The Pageant in St. Louis, by the way, if anyone was interested.

great place. second time i had seen them here, and gets better every time. SOOO much energy.

great croud as well.

[René Damkot]

#1, 4, 5 and 7 are very nice.
About sharpening: Google 'Manyk SRS'.

[gardengirl13]

Nice!! I love the B&W!

[MKoscica14]

Hey man,
Very nice work. I absolutely love the silhouette of Vic.
I've been a big fan of Victor for a very long time and I think it's really cool that you got to take pictures of him, non the less sit down and walk with him!
I love these pictures,
take care.

Matt.

[txdude35]

Great shots. My sister turned me on to Bela Fleck last year- never thought I would say this, but you haven't heard Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" until you've heard it on the banjo.

[thelightofsound]

very nice for your first concert. my question is, if you like music so much and you are such the photog, then why is this your first? keep it up!
i like the first one of bella and the one of vic with the fretless, the best. you can't argue that mr wooten is one of the best bass players alive!

[twistedinsight]

hah,

thelightofsound: i've been to quite a few of their concerts, and this is the only venue that has allowed photography, especially w/ an SLR. they're always scared away by them, as i'm sure most of you already know, so i never get a chance to.

thanks so much for the words of encouragement. it's very much appreciated.

[thelightofsound]

hah,

thelightofsound: i've been to quite a few of their concerts, and this is the only venue that has allowed photography, especially w/ an SLR. they're always scared away by them, as i'm sure most of you already know, so i never get a chance to.

thanks so much for the words of encouragement. it's very much appreciated.
i hear ya. if i had a dollar for every time i was told, "no professional cameras" i could buy that 70-200!! i even used to get that when i was shooting with my (point and shoot) sony f717. imho, one of the biggest challenges of concert photography is gaining credentials. if your interested, i'd be happy to give you some advise on that subject.

[twistedinsight]

i would definitely love to know any info you're interested in sharing.

jedmag at magnolia-net.com

thanks so much

[Lunajen]

All those shots were wonderful. I really like the silhouette of Victor.

And all of them extremely nice. Futureman comes into the Wolf Camera in Nashville a bit and he is always so nice everytime I see him.

But you really need to find a way to stay in this...these are great!