Trans-Siberian Orchestra @ E-Center, SLC,UT 12-9-06

[MetalTom]

I had the excellent opportunity to once again shoot the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Last year I rented the 300 2.8 IS plus 1.4 TC and came away with some terrific closeups. This year I was unable to get the 300 so decided to get the 70-200 2.8 IS. This allowed for many more compositional opportunities. I also put my new Tamron 17-50 2.8 to use as well for some wide shots of the stage and full lighting rig.

As you may or may not know, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is a combination of old school metal mixed with classical orchestra playing mostly Christmas music of their own along with recomposed Christmas hymns.

The venue The E-Center is a 7-10,000 capacity hockey arena. TSO sold out two shows.

Pics may seem somewhat soft. I've yet to get good results sharpening for the web. The prints from my PRO 9000 are spectacular.

Enjoy!!

1 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_02.jpg

2 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_03.jpg

3 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_05.jpg

4 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_09.jpg

5 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_12.jpg

6 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_13.jpg

7 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_16.jpg

8 http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c108/thomasgarner/TSO/2006/TSO_23.jpg

[René Damkot]

Awsome lightshow. Some closer images would have been nice.
Give Manyk SRS a try for web sharpening.

[Permagrin]

Very cool set of shots! I like them...and these guys are fantastic! Since I've never seen them in person, I enjoyed this set even more! :D

[johnstoy]

This is neat...Wow...what a light show...absolutely super shots....love the lighting and the framing...you did all this hand held? That's exceptional...You used each lens to their best potential...

So as the name says, they are a foreign orchestra? Are they also, a full size orchestra, with all the instruments inclusive, plus the electric stuff?

[subtle_spectre]

Awsome lightshow.
Give Manyk SRS a try for web sharpening.

I just tried this action...excellent tip! Thanks Rene.

These ar great pix in this post...I would love to see these folks live!

[MazerRakhm]

That is awesome!

I've seen them here in Chicago every year since about 2000, it's kind of a family tradition now, a bunch of us all go. It's amazing how popular their show has gotten! We started out seeing it in a little downtown Chicago theater, this past year they sold out two shows in the United Center! (Where the Chicago Bulls play.)

Looks like you got the group with Pitrelli? We've had the group with Caffery, and Skolnick for two or three years now.

The past couple of years I've daydreamed about being able to shoot that show, I'm incredibly jealous!

[livewire-photography.com]

Sweet lighting, wish my local had that LOL.
great shots.
James....

[René Damkot]

Sweet lighting, wish my local had that LOL.


Nah, there wouldn't be place left for people :lol

[rab_cilbup]

So as the name says, they are a foreign orchestra?

Nah, they're (mostly) American - they started as an offshoot of a superb metal band called Savatage (who I'm a big fan of and was very lucky to see live in London years ago) - was a joint project between their producer Paul O'Neill and vocalist Jon Oliva - there's a bit of a crossover between the Savatage album "Dead Winter Dead" and the first TSO album.

It's grown a bit since then though, to the point where I heard that they actually have two versions on tour, one does the West coast and the other does the East Coast ;-)

Am hopefully shooting Jon Oliva with his current band in March next year, can't wait as he's a big hero of mine, and I loved his brother's guitar playing as well, he's still sadly missed, what happened to him was a tragedy (he was killed in a car accident by a DUI)

[MetalTom]

Thank you for the kind words of praise everybody. It's great seeing so many enjoy my pictures.

Rene, the band places the restriction of shooting from Front of House. I'm not sure of the distance, but probably some 30-50 metres. I have some closeups from 2005 that I shot with the 300 2.8 + 1.4 TC in this thread. http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=116445

I will read up and give Manyk SRS a try. Thank you.

John, yes, these are all handheld. Number 4 was shot at 1/40, 2.8, 3200. IS is a dream. They are not a "foreign" orchestra. Mostly American as Mark was saying. They do have some players from elswhere in the world although I can't remember where. They do not travel with an orchestra, but rather employ a local 8-10 piece string section in each city that they visit. In all reality, this is a heavy metal concert.

Mazer, it IS a dream come true to be fortunate enough to shoot these guys. Both years I have shot I have been the sole photographer. My family and I also have made this show a tradition. I'm looking forward to the tradition of shooting them every year as well. [Crosses fingers, toes, and eyes!]

Yes Mark, we have the west tour with Al Pitrelli. His wife Jane plays the piano with them as well. I must admit, I blew the most important shot of the evening though when Al came over to Jane and kissed her on the forehead. The shot is overexposed somewhere about 3 stops. Highlight recovery and exposure adjustment barely salvaged the pic, but it isn't good enough to show here.

[DwightMcCann]

That lighting is stunning! About four or five times what we have at the casino by the looks. I remember your previous shoot ... marvelous. Yes, these are too soft to do them justice and I would urge you follow Rene's suggestion. Next year you should invite me and I'll bring along my 400mm f/2.8 and we can put the 1.4 on it! Is there room for a tripod in the shooting area? :-)

[Metalphotographer]

I've shot this group a few times and the last time time they required that I shoot from the back of the venue by the soundboard. They also allowed photography during the first song only making it impossible to shoot any of the many vocalists they employ.

However they do have what I consider to be the best lights and pyro in the business. Your photos captured the impressive lighting very well, particularly the lasers. If you feel like checking out some of mine here they are:

First time (2004) with an SLR (20d with 17-85 EFS) and the first time they requested that I shoot from the back of the Key Arena : http://www.mortado.com/gravemusic/live/tso122604/index.shtml

2003 with an Olympus 4040d shooting from my 2nd row seat, they gave me three songs then: http://www.mortado.com/gravemusic/live/tso113003/index.shtml

[MrWills]

Got 3 CD's of there I love them.

[SuzyView]

Tom, good to see you are around. Those pictures are fantastic for so far away. My nephew played the violin at the concert and said it was great. Didn't get any shots of a skinny Chinese kid, did you?:)

[Mount Airy Ed]

I just saw the TSO at the Verizon Ctr in Washington DC last night. What an encredible show. My ears are still ringng, but it was well worth it!! OF course, no cameras allowed for us "non-credentials" types. I would have loved to have my camera.

[greenlight]

gimme a break! I HAD to see this band when they worked at my club. Every holiday season we are thankful that at least we don't have to work another TSO show.

[DwightMcCann]

Green, could you be a bit more specific?

[MetalTom]

That lighting is stunning! About four or five times what we have at the casino by the looks. I remember your previous shoot ... marvelous. Yes, these are too soft to do them justice and I would urge you follow Rene's suggestion. Next year you should invite me and I'll bring along my 400mm f/2.8 and we can put the 1.4 on it! Is there room for a tripod in the shooting area? :-)

Thank you for the offer Dwight, but after much consideration I must politely decline. I just can't risk losing this gig to the master. :)

Last year there was room for a tripod, actually a little spot cordoned off just for me. This year there was no room. I was actually instructed to shoot from the soundboard area, not within the soundboard partitioning, yet not in the aisles either. :confused:


gimme a break! I HAD to see this band when they worked at my club. Every holiday season we are thankful that at least we don't have to work another TSO show.

That was mighty brave of you to venture into your tortured past and contribute mightily to this meager thread.

[BiikeMike]

I Really want to see them! I'm a lighting guy, and i've heard their shows are just unbelieveable! These pictures really show what they are talking about!

[DwightMcCann]

Tom, I'm not too sure I'm setting the mark these days ... Kalle, Rene and Chris seem to be taking over the high end ... I'm just happy they are all in foreign countries so I don't have to worry ... at least I think the Republic of Texas is foreign! :-) I got some decent lighting effects from my New Year's Eve gig but not quite up to this spectacular!