Some heavy metal images

[Pekka]

I'm probably the fastest one out there to put my concert photos online- NOT! :) People have requested to see these so here it goes. I'll add some more there in near future.

Few shots from TUSKA 2005
http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/list.php?exhibition=14

Few shots from TUSKA 2006
http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/list.php?exhibition=15

All photos are shot with 1D mark II with 70-200/2.8 IS without flash and converted with Capture One pro.

[blackshadow]

Two excellent sets of images there!

[jrjphoto]

That is frackin' excellent, man! Now I want the 70-200 IS USM even more. Am I ever going to get that 24-70L now?!?! :)

[johnstoy]

These sets are great Pekka,

Thanks for sharing...now we can study a heavy collection of detailed captures.

And the winner is?.. the profile close up of Simone Simons (Epica) ...
She is my favorite from the sets.

The face shot of the "Announcer" follows...and several more are right there, neck and neck, also near winners.

Therefore, I reserve the privilege of choosing several other favorites later... After all, these photos will require additional, scruitiny...

[Croasdail]

Love the intimate feel of the shots. What great subject matter to work with. Yet at the same time, kinda cracks me up how hard they try to be anti-establishmentary, yet end up very much all following a very scripted look. Guess I am getting old. I do like the accoustical mix in, something you wouldn't see much here on this side. All in all.... great collection... cheers.

[Pekka]

Love the intimate feel of the shots. What great subject matter to work with. Yet at the same time, kinda cracks me up how hard they try to be anti-establishmentary, yet end up very much all following a very scripted look. Guess I am getting old. I do like the accoustical mix in, something you wouldn't see much here on this side. All in all.... get collection... cheers.

It's interesting to see there how metal bands are essentially normal guys, and when they step on stage they act out the role and ventilate their emotions - but all in very honest and powerful way. Some feel "scripted" but some are really "there". None are really "faking". Pain Confessor is one band that is always a joy to shoot, you can go very close and they live the moment, especially the singer.

PS. Musically the best band I have heard there is Gojira. Excellent group.

[Pekka]

That is frackin' excellent, man! Now I want the 70-200 IS USM even more. Am I ever going to get that 24-70L now?!?! :)

Most shooters used some sort of wide angle, that's the safe way because in TUSKA smaller stages you are very close. It is very hard to get portrait like shots when bands move like crazy, and 2006 the stage lighting was quite low level. If you do not have 1D series camera there is no hope getting AF lock with 200mm. I like to take risks and go close with long lens: I can easily shoot 100 shots to have one I like (but then again I do not show those 99 :) ).

If I'll go there this year I will have a second body with a wide lens. Makes the whole view more varied, and there is no time or place to change lenses.

[johnstoy]

I think the best way to view all of these photos is by way of the Slide Shows...I'll be spooling these overnight, to catch them in their entirety...

[taygull]

Those are some great images Pekka, I can see not only the passion of the musician but also the photographer in all of these.

[bmoguy]

Great series. Thanks for sharing.

[Metalphotographer]

Very, very nice pics. I'd really like to shoot one of the big European fests someday.

[René Damkot]

It must be something they put in the water in Finland...
Very nice images!

[gcobb]

It makes me want to go back to using the Brownie Hawkeye. I am saving for the 70-200 f/2.8.

[roman_t]

i'm not hmr fan anymore but those shots are superb. looks like you have known every move and gesture of an artist was going to make. very "in-sync" shots.

[kmb]

If you do not have 1D series camera there is no hope getting AF lock with 200mm.

I'm wondering how much worse 5D - which I own - is with the 70-200/2.8 - any thoughts on that?

If I'll go there this year I will have a second body with a wide lens. Makes the whole view more varied, and there is no time or place to change lenses.

Yup, this is definitely the way to go (although I'm a bit surprised that there's no possiblity to change lenses in Tuska, too many phtographers in the pit, then?). With a (U)WA lens, I think it's easier to capture the energy of most heavy metal concerts.

I hope to see you in Tuska this year (if I get a photo pass, I'm pretty confident that I will).

[dpurslow]

Stunning stuff, thanks for sharing

[DwightMcCann]

You are one of the few that I would not suggest should crop tighter. And I have found that shooting with two bodies (or three) allows for a significantly improved variety of images ... I really enjoy the 5D/15mm fisheye combination.

After looking at the Finnish images (your and Kalle's) on POTN I wish that I had more time to work with my images. There is a down side to shooting one or two events a week plus shooting for my other two or three clients, working on learning new technologies for both images and websites on top of my day job and family ... I don't have enough time to do everything I would like. In the past few months I have done essentially no post processing on my concert and sports images. I guess all the above just says that I feel your images are art works rather than documentation. Thanks for sharing.

[kmb]

After looking at the Finnish images (your and Kalle's) on POTN I wish that I had more time to work with my images. There is a down side to shooting one or two events a week plus shooting for my other two or three clients, working on learning new technologies for both images and websites on top of my day job and family ... I don't have enough time to do everything I would like.

For me, it has been a choice between having a life and concert photography (and post processing). You can guess which one I have chosen ;). Concert photography (and really trying to create the best images possible) is by far the worst addiction I have encountered. I also don't have a wife and kids...

[DwightMcCann]

For me, it has been a choice between having a life and concert photography (and post processing). You can guess which one I have chosen ;). Concert photography (and really trying to create the best images possible) is by far the worst addiction I have encountered. I also don't have a wife and kids...
Ah, no wife & kids ... that's like cheating! :p The thing that keeps me from being depressed about this is that I am acquiring the best equipment in the world (a piece at a time), building a huge portfolio of world class performers, will shortly be taking a digital workflow seminar using Photoshop, will be able to afford many more seminars in the future to aid in converting over to PS and RAW, have the best mentors/tutors in the world for concert photography right here at POTN, and when I retire in 5-1/2 more years I will be able to do this full time and become an artist rather than a technician. I cannot tell you how many comments and PMs I have gotten complaining that my stuff is too sterile and "documentary" (although that is what I am paid for, sigh) and I have no good response.

[René Damkot]

my stuff is too sterile and "documentary"
Nothing wrong with that. There is enough emotion in most of 'em IMO.
A lot is depending on the performers and lighting as well....

[DwightMcCann]

Nothing wrong with that. There is enough emotion in most of 'em IMO.
A lot is depending on the performers and lighting as well....

Aw, Rene, you just like me!

[johnstoy]

Say, you guys (gals too), did you notice Rene' is turning over his Post # At 5K, to the next level ranking...and so is Taygull/Chris at 2K...Don't forget to give them a warm welcome in their sucess...and thank them for their invaluable contributions... ;)

[superdiver]

That is frackin' excellent, man! Now I want the 70-200 IS USM even more. Am I ever going to get that 24-70L now?!?! :)


Another Battle Star Gallactica fan I see....LOL...I wish that show were more predicatble when it comes to being on the air...

[livewire-photography.com]

Some stunning shots there for sure, i like the first set with the guy on the Cello, really great set, they look very pro.

[livewire-photography.com]

http://photography-on-the.net/gallery/photo.php?photo=1278&u=934083,10

that is stunning, Very different but really captures Metal.

[johnstoy]

Congratulations Rene' ...You're now the Cream of the Crop... May you enjoy your new status... and still find time to talk "down" to us from "up there" in the upper altitudes...

[Compact Diss]

Those are some truly amazing shots!
I have work to do! I want to be on your level!!

Wow!

Nice!

Joe

[A.Ulleri]

Some amazing shoots there. Not one I don't like. Makes me want to go out and shoot a concert...but I have a feeling they wont be as good. Good work.

[-Justin-]

Absolutely amazing set of pictures.
I still have a great great deal to learn.

This might be a stupid question, but here goes. I noticed, that ALL of the pictures were basically crystal clear. I saw that the iso on alot of them was around 1600. How did you go about getting such clear pictures with such a high iso?

[blackshadow]

Absolutely amazing set of pictures.
I still have a great great deal to learn.

This might be a stupid question, but here goes. I noticed, that ALL of the pictures were basically crystal clear. I saw that the iso on alot of them was around 1600. How did you go about getting such clear pictures with such a high iso?

I can't speak for Pekka but in general the way to get clear high ISO photos is firstly to nail the correct exposure and then spend time post processing to bring out the best in the image which may involve using some noise reduction software. Taking the photo is only the beginning... learning to post process properly makes a huge difference to the final image quality.

[cosworth]

Most excellent.

[dzstudios]

I've seen some of these wayyyy back - and can't remember where... perhaps on the gallery? Anyway - they are absolutely cool.

[kmb]

I can't speak for Pekka but in general the way to get clear high ISO photos is firstly to nail the correct exposure and then spend time post processing to bring out the best in the image which may involve using some noise reduction software. Taking the photo is only the beginning... learning to post process properly makes a huge difference to the final image quality.

Also, since it is an open air festival, the odds are that in most cases you don't need to boost the blue channel (choose a low color temperature) to get good skintones (the blue channel is apparently most prone to noise, for some reason).

Tuska Open Air 2007 will start next week's friday. I'll be on the better side of the fence :)

[Zeineth]

I am just in awe of these images. Metal bands seem to be the best to photograph and get very colorful and descriptive images of, if that makes any sense. I get to shoot my first outdoor show this coming weekend, nothing heavy metal but should be interesting.