Los Lobos @ Chumash, January 3, 2008

[DwightMcCann]

Los Lobos, a Latin band out of East Los Angeles and very popular in southern California, and which has provided inspiration for literally hundreds if not thousands of small bands including my own, Pepe Marquez & The Latin Soul Review (http://latinsoulreview.info/index.html) [Disclaimer: I am the photographer and website support only and don't play an instrument or attend most gigs ... they are way past my bedtime!] had large and very enthusiastic turnout at the Samala Room. On the other hand, the lighting was as lackluster as the music was hot so the images are kinda sad, sigh. I wish they didn't feel compelled to spread out across the entire stage ... heck, they could have setup in a ten by ten area and still had plenty of space!

#1 Obligatory collage:
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobosCollage.jpg

#2 They all seem to do lead-something and vocals:
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos004.jpg

#3
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos007.jpg

#4
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos035.jpg

#5
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos046.jpg

#6
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos055.jpg

#7
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos057.jpg

#8
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/LosLobos01032008/fullsize/LosLobos062.jpg

All images shot with 1DMIII's. There are a few more in my gallery at http://dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/LosLobos01032008.html.

[roman_t]

they look like jazz band to me (if not their "gypsy" guitars). i expected to see something hot! i know their la bamba and collaboration with john lee hooker. back to photography - images are good but sad as well.

[DwightMcCann]

they look like jazz band to me (if not their "gypsy" guitars). i expected to see something hot! i know their la bamba and collaboration with john lee hooker. back to photography - images are good but sad as well.

Yes, they are very well known but look like they just got back from Saturday afternoon grocery shopping!

[Brikwall]

La Bamba!

[R_Metzel]

Nice shots! Love these guys! "The Wolves" just a cool name in my book!

[Kagemaru]

Great shots Dwight! Coincidentally, I've been listening to them a lot lately!

[johnstoy]

Looks crisp and sharp to me Dwight... Nothing wrong with these... A very solid set.

I noticed you used the 300mm... And is it the 70-200mm for the rest of them? Your Canon EOS-1D Mark III is serving you well.

I've got one of their popular CD's... Still need to pick up another favorite...

Off topic:
Lou Diamond Phillips who played Ritchie Valens in LaBamba, lives down the road from my favorite older sister. But then so does Francis Ford Coppola... I guess I could go to their village, hang around my favorite coffee shop, and ask to get a picture with them?
Guess not. Don't mind me, I'm just bored this evening. Cheers.

[DwightMcCann]

Great shots Dwight! Coincidentally, I've been listening to them a lot lately!

Hmmm, you don't look Latino ... oh, wait, yes you do! :-)

Looks crisp and sharp to me Dwight... Nothing wrong with these... A very solid set.

I noticed you used the 300mm... And is it the 70-200mm for the rest of them? Your Canon EOS-1D Mark III is serving you well.

I've got one of their popular CD's... Still need to pick up another favorite...

Off topic:
Lou Diamond Phillips who played Ritchie Valens in LaBamba, lives down the road from my favorite older sister. But then so does Francis Ford Coppola... I guess I could go to their village, hang around my favorite coffee shop, and ask to get a picture with them?
Guess not. Don't mind me, I'm just bored this evening. Cheers.
Yes, I hauled the two 1DMIIIs around with 300mm on one and 70-200mm on the other. I don't think the images are as sharp as with 1DMII[N] ... I was going to sell them, but now I'm reconsidering ... maybe do some testing but I let the old bodies go.

Bored? Nah, it's just biorhythms ... I've been having the same trouble lately and I have tons of interesting fun stuff I could be doing and I've been bored, too. Probably just a matter of age.

[bsmotril]

Nice shots, great to see them around again.

[karinne]

Like johnstory said, nice and crips shots! So much lighting :p

They don't look like they are having to much fun up there tho?! Glad to see, however, that they are still up an about again.

[DwightMcCann]

Like johnstory said, nice and crips shots! So much lighting :p

They don't look like they are having to much fun up there tho?! Glad to see, however, that they are still up an about again.
No, they didn't look like they were having fun ... they looked tired and blah ... but the music was pretty good and the crowd roared!

[René Damkot]

No, they didn't look like they were having fun ...

My main problem with these images. That and a few cut off feet where I wouldn't have.

[DwightMcCann]

My main problem with these images. That and a few cut off feet where I wouldn't have.

Nothing I can do if they aren't having fun, sigh. But the feet issue is interesting an never came up for my first three years ... so now I gotta' go back and see if my style has changed for the worse on those feet. I now that getting feet is very tough ... requires standing up nearer the stage or shooting from back on the elevated seating area and even then those damn monitors are all over the place. Oh, well, worth some research and consideration ... maybe full body shots from near the stage just aren't a good idea.

[Nouks]

Pretty good photos, but I have to agree with René on the feet-part (again ;)) on #4 and #6. Think I would have cropped #7 a little tighter, while I'd have shot #4 and #6 a little wider (or maybe lower in some cases). I like the full-body shot #3 much better, even though there's a leg behind the monitors. I personally prefer to be able to see a person actually *has* got feet ;)

Those guys not having fun is not your fault indeed, I guess you've got chosen the better moments already (or would have chosen the better moments if they were there) ;)

[DwightMcCann]

Pretty good photos, but I have to agree with René on the feet-part (again ;)) on #4 and #6. Think I would have cropped #7 a little tighter, while I'd have shot #4 and #6 a little wider (or maybe lower in some cases). I like the full-body shot #3 much better, even though there's a leg behind the monitors. I personally prefer to be able to see a person actually *has* got feet ;)

Those guys not having fun is not your fault indeed, I guess you've got chosen the better moments already (or would have chosen the better moments if they were there) ;)

Well, as I said, to get the feet I've gotta' shoot from back farther ... note that #3 is 300mm shot, sigh, and while I like 300mm for headshots I don't like the compression for full body. Maybe I'll see what I can do with my new 14mm f/2.8L USM II and getting my belly up to the stage front ... although that's generally frowned upon. ;)

[bsmotril]

My main problem with these images. That and a few cut off feet where I wouldn't have.

I really have to disagree with that. When shooting musicians, the focus and interest lies in the facial expression and in the instrument they are playing. In a lot of cases, the feet and surrounding clutter on a stage detract from the overall interest and focus of the image. I much prefer a tigher crop or shot that captures the intensity (and these might not be the best examples of intensity ;-) and emotion than one which steps back to get their entire body while sacrificing the detail of the facial expressions and instruments themselves. I confess, I'm a "foot chopper", and will continue to do so because I like it !!

[DwightMcCann]

I really have to disagree with that. When shooting musicians, the focus and interest lies in the facial expression and in the instrument they are playing. In a lot of cases, the feet and surrounding clutter on a stage detract from the overall interest and focus of the image. I much prefer a tigher crop or shot that captures the intensity (and these might not be the best examples of intensity ;-) and emotion than one which steps back to get their entire body while sacrificing the detail of the facial expressions and instruments themselves. I confess, I'm a "foot chopper", and will continue to do so because I like it !!

I like to thoroughly consider the opinions of those who have demonstrated their own ability (versus those who criticize but don't post ... none in this thread) and be open to change (unlike many here who won't bracket and have significantly lame excuses about why not!) I can certainly see preferring to have feet rather than ankle cut off but do have to agree that it is way down on the list of priorities ... unless you happen to have a foot fetish or be Dutch ... or both!

[Nouks]

As said over here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=4651152&postcount=8);

Anouk

About the feet: I absolutely don't mind cropping body pieces, in fact I do it myself all the time. But when cutting/cropping off pieces I personally just *don't* or *drastic*, and not just such a little piece of the body.

Just don't like those little pieces of a human body chopped off.. I prefer some good chops or no chops, so that would be no chops in case of full-body shots ;)

[roman_t]

never had problem with chopped bodies of performing artists. sounds crazy :-).
sometimes we just can do nothing from our spot. mics and stands, speakers etc. but almost every shot can be cropped reasonably. when artist acts like "dead" on stage all my ammo and skills doesnt matter. then its time to capture emotions in the crowd if its not Chopin's piano concert.

[bsmotril]

never had problem with chopped bodies of performing artists. sounds crazy :-).
sometimes we just can do nothing from our spot. mics and stands, speakers etc. but almost every shot can be cropped reasonably. when artist acts like "dead" on stage all my ammo and skills doesnt matter. then its time to capture emotions in the crowd if its not chopins piano concert.
That's a great idea, and something I'm going to make a point of applying next time I'm shooting a show. Thanks for the tip.