Emma gaala 2007 (the Finnish Grammy-Awards equivalent), pt. 1

[kmb]

Some live shots from yesterday's event. The venue was Kulttuuritalo ("House of Culture") at Helsinki.

This was actually a rather hard event to shoot, and the fact that each band played one song did not help.

So, some live shots first (more to come, from other bands as well):

1 Lordi
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0715.jpg

2 Lauri Tähkä ja elonkerjuu
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0766.jpg

3 Lauri Tähkä ja elonkerjuu
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0777.jpg

4 Don Johnson Big Band
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0817.jpg

5 Don Johnson Big Band
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0837.jpg

6 Don Johnson Big Band
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0840.jpg

7 von Herzen Brothers
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_0928.jpg

8 Lovex
http://kuvat.huumakuva.net/albums/userpics/10002/_MG_1218.jpg

[Liam:]

wow!!
The lighting looks amazing!!!!!

[shesgotthepic]

I was just going to say "Damn! The lighting looks amazing!" but someone beat me to it.

So I'll say: KMB, those shots are stunning. Feels like I am on site watching tthe event.

[bmoguy]

As always, great stuff! I noticed a couple of them you dropped to iso800 and those were at 1/60, was that just to lessen noise? Still great shots, I was just curious.

[kmb]

Thanks!

As always, great stuff! I noticed a couple of them you dropped to iso800 and those were at 1/60, was that just to lessen noise? Still great shots, I was just curious.

Well, basically, yes. Noisefreeness would fit the mood of such event (in small/medium sized clubs, noise basically often says "rock!", but in larger events where there is candy-lights, I see it less fitting). Yet again, I regretted dropping to ISO800. In hindsight, that was a very, very bad choice - one song per artist to shoot, and now I have a lot of blurred shots (despite the IS - one part of the equation was that I didn't have the time to eat properly, so I was feeling a bit shaky, and of course some unintentional motion blur)

[shesgotthepic]

(despite the IS - one part of the equation was that I didn't have the time to eat properly, so I was feeling a bit shaky, and of course some unintentional motion blur)

the IS can only do so much. It will stop you shaking but it won't stop the person on stage from moving away.

I don't have IS on any of my glass. A friend of mine who does press photography doesn't either. He told me to get a monopod. When I said I have one he screamed "Well start using it then!"

Still - camera stability won't prevent the person on stage from moving. Nothing we can do about that.

She

[kmb]

Still - camera stability won't prevent the person on stage from moving.

Actually, a well-aimed rock might do the trick ;)

In any case, often IS (for what its worth) is more usable than a monopod in concerts for a multitude of reasons. Had I known the situation, I would've brought my monopod anyways. Anyway, this was a learning experience for me

[shesgotthepic]

Actually, a well-aimed rock might do the trick ;)


I think a bottle of JD and something to lean on would work. I don't know who should have it though - photographer or artist. You decide ;-)


In any case, often IS (for what its worth) is more usable than a monopod in concerts for a multitude of reasons. Had I known the situation, I would've brought my monopod anyways. Anyway, this was a learning experience for me

Yeah, I can't see the use of a monopod in a pit. In a club - yes (and I did use it there) but in a pit - no way. Unless you want to use it to whack the potog's who get in your way ;-)

It's sunday and I have overdone it on the tea. I think I need to lie down.

She

[René Damkot]

#3: Wow.
Very nice.
5 and 8 are nice as well. You were unable to move? (Everything from one point).

IS is no substitute for a monopod by the way...

[kmb]

#3: Wow.
Very nice.
5 and 8 are nice as well. You were unable to move? (Everything from one point).

Everything from one point basically yes. I was told by the security people not to shoot in the stairways (there's an amphitheatre-like seated part in the back), so I could quickly find only one spot where I could stay (the gala went forward like a train because it was televised, so I didn't have any time to see if there was another spot where I could stay. 96% of the images are taken from the exact same spot. for #6, I did a quick trip to my right to be able to compose that crane and camera into picture. Most of my time went for hunting compositions where there were no TV-camera men (they had a nasty habit of often staying behind the lead singer, and although the lighting seemed to be designed so that they were only dark figures in the background, they still often messed the picture space too much looking from the point I was "camping" at), and for the wider shots I had to wait for the crane to go away.

IS is no substitute for a monopod by the way...

And the other way round, as pointed earlier ;). So, IS AND monopod is the way to go :)

[René Damkot]

for #6, I did a quick trip to my right to be able to compose that crane and camera into picture.
Worked well...

And the other way round, as pointed earlier ;). So, IS AND monopod is the way to go :)

Working on that: Allready have the monopod ;)

[DwightMcCann]

I think they are over sharpened! #1 and, of course, #3 are stunners ... I love the GWARTH (or whatever that name is) look and I am particularly fond of female fiddle players in beautiful outfits and great stage lighting.

I vote for IS followed by monopod even though I generally only us a monopod (or better yet, tripod) for 400mm f/2.8.

[thelightofsound]

nice work, once agin. 3,5,7,8 are my favs of the bunch. and i'll chime in on the monopod/IS. i try and not shoot my 70-200 without the monopod. even in the pit i find it easy to get around and easy to get the shot. nye i had two bodies one of which was on the monopod and a packed pit. i made it work and didn't seem to get in the other photographers way. and i LOVE it for the balcony. when i don't take the monopod, i wish i had it.

[johnstoy]

I've been trying to download this page of pictures, on and off for two days, and finally, after unclutering my desktop, I see what all the excitement is all about...these pics are hot...Way to go Kelle... You do know when and when not to apply noise...

I have the IS on my 70-200mm 2.8L but won't leave it to chance by relying only on it...it just might be too riskey... we'll see... have to use it a lot more to be comfortable...