GIg photos feedback C+C welcome.

[33L]

Hi guys.

Been asked to do some photo gigs and i could potentially get paid for it! i did a trial run in not the best of locations and out of 20 images taken while trying only liked these 3 images. The lighting was dim however i have been told that the venue i took these at is not as good as where the groups are going to be performing.

I have 4 groups that wouldnt mind my services so really want to nail this one!
I wasnt very close and could of got closer but since i didnt actually know this band i didnt want to put them off! this was probably shot at 4-6m away. ISO 1600 is just killing me!

1.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1696/img6646sts1.jpg


2.
http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9016/img6634sya6.jpg


3.
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/6727/img6641sqz0.jpg

TIA 33L

[Walczak Photo]

Well this is just my very humble $.02 worth so please take it as that, but I do have a couple of comments for what they're worth.

First and foremost, I'm not really crazy about the b&w on these...that's an artistic choice of course, but I think most bands tend to be "colorful" to begin with and that that should reflect in the photography. On the other hand, I'm personally very selective about what shots I choose to desaturate to begin with...if this is simply your style, take that comment with a grain of salt.

Now the next thing that catches my attention here...you said "I wasn't very close and could of got closer but..."...unless you're shooting with a really low resolution camera, don't be afraid to crop to get the image "tighter". According to your EXIF data you shot these with a Canon 40D, so you have plenty of resolution to crop these in a bit and still leave enough for decent 8x10's. I don't know why, but a lot of people seem to think that they have to get the framing perfect at the camera and that cropping is some kind of sin or something...and that's just silly. One of the first rules of thumb when it comes to good composition is to "get in tight" and isolate your subject and if you can't do that with the camera, do it in post.

With that said, the cropping on that first pic could be better. The lighting is actually really nice on it, but I'd come in from the bottom right hand corner and take it up to just above the guitar players head...take off most of the top "nothingness" and a little off the left.

The second shot is pretty nice, but it could be sharper...I'd use either some USM or Focus Magic to put some polish on that shot. Again I'd bring it in tighter too.

The third shot is just out of focus. It's not real bad and you might be able to fix it with Focus Magic or something similar, but I don't think you're going to get outstanding results with it. Again on this shot you have a lot of space around the performer as well...a whole lot of nothing on the top and the bottom of the image. I'd really take that shot in a lot...you don't really need the headstock/neck of the bass in that shot, so take it in to the performers body to just below the bottom of the body of the bass. Also watch your highlights under the stage lighting...the bass player's face looks a little "hot" in this image...as long as it's not actually blown out, you could probably bring down the contrast or use a little "Highlight/Shadows" tool in Photoshop to even it out a bit.

Seriously...if you can't get close enough with the camera, don't be afraid to crop...bring those shots in tighter and make sure your focus is sharp...those are the two best suggestions I can make.

Peace,
Jim

[René Damkot]

Well, I think Walczak Photo said it all :)

The B/W can be nice, but the first B?W conversion can done be a lot better I think: Looks gray now.

[33L]

Thanks alot for the comments dont be scared to just say they are rubbish as i am on a learning curve. It was a 400D that i shot these on. I will be lot closer to the act next time. All of these have been cropped a bit! Hopefully i will be able to get faster shutter speeds and not worry too much about handheld blurring.

I know they are not perfect but are my first attempt at such and in order to make any money from future ones any advice is taken onboard and hopefully i can come back with some imporved shots.

[Walczak Photo]

dont be scared to just say they are rubbish

Actually I don't think they're "rubbish" at all...I've seen much worse and honestly if I thought they were that bad, I probably wouldn't have posted at all :D. Usually if something is bad enough that I consider it rubbish, I assume the person who shot the pics knows it too so it's not usually worth being that rhetorical. In fact except for the crop, again I think that first shot especially is really pretty good...very nice dramatic lighting.

Also, there's nothing wrong at all with being on a "learning curve"! As both a photographer and a musician for over 20 years, I am ALWAYS trying to learn new things. The day I say to myself "that's it, I've learned all there is to know" is the day I take up stamp collecting (or maybe basket weaving)! LOL!!! You actually seem to be on the right track here and I look forward to seeing more of your stuff.

Peace,
Jim