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View Full Version : Flogging Molly, Glasgow Barrowlands, 3rd Nov


mono55
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 04:24
The Eastpak Antidote Tour comes to Scotland and where was I?

I don't know if it was because of something Richard (Blackshadow) said (a bit of foreshadowing perhaps?;)), but my daughter received emails last week within ten minutes of one another that she was down for passes for two shows on the same night! When she texted me about it, I jokingly replied, "Well, you can shoot one and I'll do the other."

So that's what we did.

According to the venue's website, doors were at seven, however as soon as I arrived I discovered it was actually 6.30, which meant that 30 seconds after I walked into the hall the first band were up.

I took a deep breath, walked towards the photo pit, and this was the sight that greeted my eyes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/ObstaclesIMG_6025.jpg

Okay, it's almost two years since I've been at the Barrowlands' Ballroom, but I think I would have remembered an obstacle course between the barrier and the stage!

Basically it meant that moving around was awkward at best and by the time Flogging Molly came on I was sharing the area with six security guys and their supervisor. I really wasn't surprised (and rather glad) that no-one else showed up to shoot the show.

The lighting was really poor at the start, but did improve by the time the headliners appeared. Still, the performers at the extreme left and right of the stage were either under an extreme white light or in semi-darkness. Anyway I did what I could with my 30D and the 50 f1.8 (Shiona had already nabbed the f1.4:cry:).

Constructive criticism appreciated even though I may never be doing this again.

mono55
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 04:35
1. Daniel Dart of Time Again

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/TimeAgainIMG_6018.jpg


2. Mike McColgan of The Street Dogs

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/TheStreetDogsIMG_6031.jpg


3. Mike again, trying a spot of hurdling

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/TheStreetDogsIMG_6075.jpg


4. Benji of Skindred

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/SkindredIMG_6107.jpg


5. Dave King of Flogging Molly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/FloggingMollyIMG_6179.jpg


6. Robert Schmidt and Denis Casey of Flogging Molly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/FloggingMollyIMG_6178.jpg


7. George Schwindt of Flogging Molly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/FloggingMollyIMG_6184.jpg


8. Bridget Regan of Flogging Molly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/FloggingMollyIMG_6183.jpg

rab_cilbup
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 06:43
Barrowlands was like that the last time I was there. Looks like a right nightmare.

Am off to Glasgow on Sunday, (probably) shooting Marillion at the ABC which has a tiny pit from what I remember as well.

londonblue007
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 07:41
Leave it to irish/celtic punk rock! I haven't had the pleasure yet, but I've heard some stories about shooting Dropkick Murphy's at a show in boston during the st patty's day shows....

mono55
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 09:16
Barrowlands was like that the last time I was there. Looks like a right nightmare.

It certainly was. Stepping over bars while ducking under other ones is not my forte!

Am off to Glasgow on Sunday, (probably) shooting Marillion at the ABC which has a tiny pit from what I remember as well.

My daughter was shooting at the ABC on Monday and the previous Saturday and she feels that the pit there is actually quite a decent size. I look forward to seeing your pics from the show.

amareica
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 10:22
Whoa. Talk about a workplace hazzard! =] Given the working situation I'd say you did aces!

blackshadow
6th of November 2008 (Thu), 16:43
Now that's a photo pit!

I do two shows in a night occasionally - if the timing is right and the venues are close enough.

Nice composition on your shots but for some reason they look a little soft.

I think #1 is pretty good - would have been better if you had been able to squeeze the end of his hand in.

mono55
7th of November 2008 (Fri), 06:31
Now that's a photo pit!

I do two shows in a night occasionally - if the timing is right and the venues are close enough.

Nice composition on your shots but for some reason they look a little soft.

I think #1 is pretty good - would have been better if you had been able to squeeze the end of his hand in.

Thank you for your comments, Richard. I know the thrifty-fifty isn't the sharpest lens on the planet, but I worry a lot about oversharpening images for the web and possibly tend to err on the side of caution. My Photoshop skills are ... well ... minimal as you all can see.

Yes, it is a pity about the end of the hand being missing in the first pic, but I posted that one because it was about the only shot where he didn't have his eyes squeezed tightly shut.

Kat

narlus
7th of November 2008 (Fri), 20:52
good set! 1, 2, 4 and 5 are nice. 4 would have been better had it been a bit looser

A.ROW
7th of November 2008 (Fri), 23:31
great shots!

mono55
8th of November 2008 (Sat), 04:44
good set! 1, 2, 4 and 5 are nice. 4 would have been better had it been a bit looser

Thanks narlus, I actually cropped 4 slightly to eliminate one of the bands' guitarists from the bottom left corner as I felt he was a distraction from the main subject. I think I'm still struggling sometimes to decide how much room the artists should have in the frame.

Here is the original shot

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v437/monokatt/SkindredIMG_6107_2.jpg

narlus
8th of November 2008 (Sat), 12:12
sorry, i meant #5! to get more of the guitar in the shot.

mono55
9th of November 2008 (Sun), 03:46
sorry, i meant #5! to get more of the guitar in the shot.

Oh okay, I see what you mean. There are probably a few shots from the night where I should have zoomed out with my feet, but I was scared of tripping over the lower bars of the pit, and possibly taking out a security guy at the same time:oops:.