Hi, I'm new.. here's a few of my pics! :)

[Sara729]

I don't claim to be some fantastic photographer, so feel free to criticize me all you wish :p ...anyway, hi! i'm Sara.. i'm 20 and i went to the Oklahoma School of Photography last year, and hope to eventually do concerts as more of a career move, rather than just a hobby.. working at a portrait studio at the moment :) anyway, here's some pictures i have from the 'Sleeping With Giants' tour.. (The Academy Is, The Rocket Summer, Armor For Sleep and Sherwood) i did the big no no and used a new lens for the first time on a major gig (meaning in a bigger venue with good lighting, with a pass, etc) versus in a club, whoops :o heh. anyway, these were all taken with the Canon Rebel XT and the 50mm f/1.8 lens (ISO at 1600):

1. http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9418/bryceqh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

2. http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6395/feetxj0.jpg

3. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y48/Sara729/armor.jpg

4. http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2890/boys107gq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

5. http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/4104/boys065bq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



comments? any welcome wishes? ha.

[The_Camera_Poser]

Welcome! Very good use of the "Nifty Fifty"! Number 3 seems a bit out-of-focus, but I dig it- I think it's better that way. I really like that one.

[bacchanal]

These look nice, and you have a good variety of shots from a single focal length.

Welcome to POTN, and I look forward to seeing more of your stuff. I think you've come to the right place for advice. Photography and career wise, there is a lot of knowledge on these boards.;)

[thelightofsound]

welcome to potn!

i think your first one is the best by far. maybe a tighter crop taking some off the top and left. the middle ones don't do a lot for me and you'll learn cutting off guitar heads is the biggest pet peeve of this board. i think the last one is a pretty good shot but would have benefited from moving the frame down a bit to not cut off the bass drum and have less dead space at the top.

are the keyboard, guitar, and drummer all the same guy? LOL

[mono55]

I like one and five best ... anyone who gets a clear shot of the drummer always deserves extra points. Did you by any chance get pics of TAI? I haven't seen those guys since August and I miss them a lot.

[Sara729]

thanks for all the comments! i agree about the last one's cropping, he doesn't play drums for very long so i just snapped a few! ill probably crop it in closer to just be a face shot, and i'll play with that first one a little as well :)


and yes, they're all the same guy except the 2nd one.. his project is called The Rocket Summer, he writes and records the guitars, moogs, keys, drums and vocals for his cds then takes a touring band out, and he likes to make his way around the stage during his set... he's a favorite to go see/shoot for that reason :) ..check him out if he comes near you, you'll get some great shots and his management is really lenient with giving out photo passes


and yeah, i got some of the academy is, i'll go through them really quick.. their lighting was pretty harsh/extravagent, so only a few came out and they're most of william, because he had the best light of anyone (of course, ha) ....getting any of the butcher was hopeless, his drum set had lights in it so he looks underexposed in all of them, ha. could never get any that looked quite right!

[stathunter]

Welcome and congrats on your shots. I do mostly wedding work but still get calls for band work........I enjoy doing them and find that when the right shot comes and lighting works that sometimes the shots really do well.

Yes make sure you get all of the guitar in the shot........the band members love shots of themselves with their instruments. Go out and shoot a few bands for free learn and shoot again. Then contact the bands publicity or mgmt team and sell them on why they should hire you to take concert photos. You will have fun with it.

[Sara729]

i'll keep that in mind :) it's great being able to get advice from people rather than just talking about it, my instructors in school always liked my shots but could never offer any valid advice because they were all portrait photographers, for the most part. i'm just glad i finally got a new lens even if its just the nifty fifty, i'd been using my kit lens for over a year, worst mistake ever! ha.

saving to get the 40D right now, should i just get the body or should i spring a few hundred more to get the kit that comes with the f/3.5-5.6 IS lens? its 1500 with lens.. i do portraiture too, so keep that in mind! i won't be using it for a concert lens unless it's outdoors ;)

[stathunter]

In my opinion you should get a used 20D for 450 and spend the rest on lenses................the lenses will make more more of a difference than the camera.
Heck shoot with your XT and invest in more glass.

[Sara729]

my xt is on its last limb though, haha.. if anything, i need to turn it in to best buy's insurance and either get some repair done or get it replaced, i have full coverage... then i could sell it and get something nicer, ha. what lenses do you recommend as far as for shows goes?

as for pics of the academy is, i'll just post one.. not overly excited about my pics of them, ha.. turned it black and white because the color is too harsh!

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5587/williambz3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


...i'm gonna crop in a little more on it, but the editing software on this computer really SUCKS. ha.

[The_Camera_Poser]

Sara- don't under-estimate the nifty- it can do you some good pictures.

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa128/bobthefish_album/IMG_8713_edited-1a.jpg

[HighPixel]

I think those are very good...Nice work!
HP

[Sara729]

Thanks guys! I just got offered a pass and ticket for a show at the same venue next week (mewithout you, brand new, and thrice) so I should have some new pics to share asap :) ...I've wanted to shoot mwY for years so I'm very excited!

[Grace]

Congrats on the pass Sara! Good luck! I think you have a nice series here.

We have another member here from OKC - thekid24. Excellent photographer, super fun guy!

keep posting!

[mono55]

Thanks for posting the pic of William. He was wearing that shirt the first time I saw the band in October 2005!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/CNV00020.jpg

Congratulations on getting another pass, but I hope that Brand New have better lighting than they did the last time my daughter saw them in London. It was so poor that the band could only be seen as silhouettes. The pics accompanying the reviews in the UK music mags were (understandably) terrible.

[Sara729]

The venue its at has really good house lights, so it should be good.. Its a ballroom/not a club, so.. Should be ok! My pass is only for mewithoutYou though, dunno if ill try my luck.. Last time I shot there they let me shoot every act's entire sets, it was awesome! Haha

[thekid24]

[quote=Grace;4263159]Congrats on the pass Sara! Good luck! I think you have a nice series here.

We have another member here from OKC - thekid24. Excellent photographer, super fun guy!

CHK CHING
Welcome to POTN, not gonna lie, I thought the first pic was of hanson...shhhh we keep that one under raps.