Shaonda & A Touch of Soul @ Rincon Beach Club

[DwightMcCann]

I drove 50 miles through torrential rains (and fortunately missed the several accidents that occurred on my driving route shortly after I passed by) last night to shoot and hear for the first time the band that I am associated with. They played a Christmas party gig at the Rincon Beach Club in Carpenteria, California. No stage. No lights. Crowded. Great group of folks from Ogilvy Hill Insurance. The images are on the band website which sort of dictates the size. All handheld ... I had the tripod but there wasn't much room and I didn't want to irritate the host ... it was a private party. Here we go:

#1 This is Shalonda, the lead vocalist. Excellent singer but a bit insecure yet. She is quite a beauty. There are a couple of studio shots on their website in the bio and gallery areas. This is bounce off the ceiling which thankfully was low and slightly off white.
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0014.JPG

#2 Overall shot of band setup. They were backed up to a wall with several mirrors.

http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0008.JPG

#3 Simlar shot to #2 with bounce flash:
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0010.JPG

#4 Dave Wilson, bass, vocals and sound. He is an amazing musician and sings like an angel. Gruff looking and very gently "odd" but just full of soul and sound, shot across Eric Cuellar's drumset:
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0091.JPG

#5 Billy Gonzalez, keyboards, another professional musician ... he fills in for all the instruments we don;t have with his keyboards. Another ceiling bounce flash image.
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0018.JPG

#6 Bounce flash of band from opposite side:
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0107.JPG

#7 The dance floor:
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0098.JPG

#8 And dance floor with bounce flash:
http://a-touch-of-soul.com/images/PhotoGallery/SATOS-Olgilvy-120906/SATOS-0126.JPG

Hope this isn't too dull for you guys! Ideas and suggestions for this type of shoot very welcome. Band website link is in my .sig.

[taygull]

Those are always tough shoots.

The white balance seems off a touch in #2, #4 and #7. Hmmmmmm RAW could have matched the white balance and sent it to every picture in about 1/2 second....I know I know...I'm not really preaching RAW.

[joayne]

The bounce seems to correct the WB for all of the shots...I think you got the skill there Dwight..love the bounced shots...and I am gonnin bet Dwight was shooting RAW.. I think we are getting some examples.

[johnstoy]

I see you put the 24-70mm 2.8L Lens through it 's paces...

I bet they were all very happy to see you arrive and join them...
This being a private event...you obviously had to be much more reserved than elsewhere...

Shalonda looks "hot" in # 3...It's a good thing that mini skirts haven't gone out of style...

Can you elaborate on the flash and method you used?

I just got the same lens, it will arrive Mon. or Tues., and I'll use it at a family wedding in September...

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I didn't shoot RAW. I wanted the hot light look or I would have used CWB. My flash is 580EX (I took two and thought about using one remote but again, it was a private party and I didn't want to overstep.) I tilted the flash to 45, set mode manual (setting in EXIF I would guess) and let it do its thing. Shalonda is wear shorts rather than a mini, John. I would find a mini more attractive, but she is a single Mom and very little discretionary income and her wardrobe is limited.

[johnstoy]

Thanks for the flash info...It certainly sharpens the pics some...but at the same time the ambient colors are just not there...and off course all magazines and readers just love this colorful stuff...

[taygull]

I agree John,

The flash sharpens the images, the other ones would be good if the WB was adjusted.

[johnstoy]

You know Taygull, what busts me up, is that Dwight, being so devoted and all, went for that long drive in those conditions...
I can't think of too many at all who would...

[DwightMcCann]

It is time for Chris to put his gear list in the gear list thread and link back. BTW, the "other ones" are good ... they are the white balance I wanted! Sheesh, get a grip and read. :-)

[taygull]

It is time for Chris to put his gear list in the gear list thread and link back. BTW, the "other ones" are good ... they are the white balance I wanted! Sheesh, get a grip and read. :-)

Why would you want that white balance and for them to be that soft looks like major camera shake?

Good grief, mention something critical about one of your shots and you have to find something to criticize about the person making a comment, something that has nothing to do with the thread? Touchy Touchy Touchy?:p

[johnstoy]

So Taygull, is that 50mm 1.4 lens thing finally hitting home or are you just having a long day...

So Dwight...Taygull...
you guys won't believe how many Forum members from the US were on line early this morning...and I'm talking 3:45AM till about 6AM...strangest thing...slept all morning after that...

later

[taygull]

So Taygull, is that 50mm 1.4 lens thing finally hitting home or are you just having a long day...

So Dwight...Taygull...
you guys won't believe how many Forum members from the US were on line early this morning...and I'm talking 3:45AM till about 6AM...strangest thing...slept all morning after that...

later

Not sure what you mean by hitting home. The extra two stops are nice but the quality of the lens, the slow focus make it a bit more of a challenge.

I'm thinking mine is having problems, it will focus nice on something bright with a lot of contrast but take a face with dim light and it won't get a sharp shot.

[DwightMcCann]

Taygull, the mention of Gear List was unrelated to anything else. But I do wonder why you have a problem with others liking anything different than what you like? I say that's what I want and you go right on and ask why I did it that way ... I did it that way because that's the way it SHOULD be done! Boy, are you ever touchy! You need to go back on your meds.

[taygull]

Taygull, the mention of Gear List was unrelated to anything else. But I do wonder why you have a problem with others liking anything different than what you like? I say that's what I want and you go right on and ask why I did it that way ... I did it that way because that's the way it SHOULD be done! Boy, are you ever touchy! You need to go back on your meds.

Now Dwight,

I ask because I really want to know, trust me with some of the creative stuff I do I know there are those who will not like it. I would really like to know why you chose to shoot it that way, not to define if it is right or wrong, but from a creative stand point.

Help me understand your point with "that is the way it SHOULD be done". The shutter speed was very slow, it looks as though it was hand held, you wanted that look of a WB being set for flash but taken with out flash. I am curious what exactly you were after, I honestly mean that.

[johnstoy]

Not sure what you mean by hitting home. The extra two stops are nice but the quality of the lens, the slow focus make it a bit more of a challenge.

I'm thinking mine is having problems, it will focus nice on something bright with a lot of contrast but take a face with dim light and it won't get a sharp shot.

You sound bummed out...Your collage looks great, (disregard all that fire stuff from me all together)... but you also say 98% of your photos were out of focus...I'd be furious with the lens situation...

And Dwight, here...is probably stressed out after the long and eventful evening...

It's Monday morn. now...my 24-70mm lens should be here today...I hope it has a good reputation for sensoring in low light...and distinguishing contrast when focusing...

you guys hang in there...I don't quite understand what the specifics of your post processing you guys debate about...but I look forward to getting good at it, too...

[René Damkot]

I'd have dragged the shutter some more (for instance in #3 the Xmas lights seem off). Say at least a stop. Also I'd had filtered the flash, to get closer to tungsten, and set the WB to tungsten. The yellow cast is too much IMHO. Eve with the WB to tungsten it would have looked yellowish...

Last bounced flash image has the best balance between flash and ambient , so you are learning quick ;)

[DwightMcCann]

First I need to say that I was kidding with Chris ... he and I are friends. Second, while I shoot lots of world class performers and some smaller concerts, I was not really in concert shooting mode here and I didn't do well technically. Whatever the next gig I will: (1) use CWB at least part of the time, (2) use a tripod at least part of the time, (3) use FEC to reduce the flash at least part of the time, (4) try some shutter drag and (5) try some flash techniques in the dancers. I was not sure how the partyers were going to take my shooting but they seemed fine with it. I did have tripod, gray card, two flashes, etc., etc. with me.

[johnstoy]

First I need to say that I was kidding with Chris ... he and I are friends. Second, while I shoot lots of world class performers and some smaller concerts, I was not really in concert shooting mode here and I didn't do well technically. Whatever the next gig I will: (1) use CWB at least part of the time, (2) use a tripod at least part of the time, (3) use FEC to reduce the flash at least part of the time, (4) try some shutter drag and (5) try some flash techniques in the dancers. I was not sure how the partyers were going to take my shooting but they seemed fine with it. I did have tripod, gray card, two flashes, etc., etc. with me.

That's fine in hindsight...but the reality was that you just drove through harrowing road conditions...were at a stranger's dance party...and there was hardly any lighting to speak of...

So you did the courteous thing... you continued to be very careful...and stayed out of the way of the party...that said...now, after all is said and done, you know they didn't mind, and next time it will be a lot easier...

Well...How did I do on my crystal ball readings Dwight, OK?