Hi all, from SA.

[Headbone]

Hi to all here. New to this forum.
Name is Ryan, from South Africa. Amateur photographer who wants to specialise in live band photography. I am a photographer for Zeplins Nightclub and previously used a varying selection of "point and shoots".

Recently started my own little company called Headbone Photography due to demand from bands for pics of live shows.

Some shots of the Club and bands, all critique welcome.

1. Main dancefloor early in the evening:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0048-2.jpg

2. Vocalist for "Exit Stranger":
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0058-1.jpg

[CJinAustin]

love the colors in the second shot...

[jgrussell]

Welcome to POTN! Those are both nice strong shots.

[Headbone]

Thank you for the positive comments!
Just some info:

I take various styles of photo's for the Club and for the bands.
I refuse point blank to use a flash when taking shots of bands, rather taking advantage of the lighting. Sometimes I will use the flash to get a good shot of the crowd on the dancefloor.

[Headbone]

Some other random pics of various bands.
Please note, these pics are the ones the bands chose.

1. Dwayne, guitarist and vocalist for "Laconia":
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0004-5.jpg

2. Francois from "V.O.D.":
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0201.jpg

3. Francois again. This pic was chosen by a local newspaper for an article on V.O.D.:
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0223.jpg

4. Simone, drummer lady from "Runica":
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0378.jpg

[jetboy]

I refuse point blank to use a flash when taking shots of bands, rather taking advantage of the lighting. Sometimes I will use the flash to get a good shot of the crowd on the dancefloor.

You have quite a few good shots here, but, I don't know why you would "refuse" to use flash. This photo could have used a touch of fill just to add in some actual detail
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r58/skully70/IMG_0004-5.jpg

Every photographer has a shooting style and preferance, but, to just refuse to use a tool that can gain you a much better result (the pic i referenced imo is completely unusable and could be done with a camera phone). Or, do you refuse to use flash because you haven't figured out how to get the exposure without killing the stage light colors? Maybe test it out and you might like to use it once in a while.

[Sisyphus]

I'm glad you reposted 'Francois from "V.O.D."' -- the color shot. You posted this originally and then deleted it but it's one of my favorites. I like to see the faces of the musicians, generally, and not shadowed out too much.

[Headbone]

Thanks for the comments jetboy and Sisyphus. Much appreciated.

I have used the flash for a bit of fill before and in my opinion, the pics came out looking stunning but the bands I take pics of all prefer it if I do not use any fill in whatsoever.
They prefer a "darker" look to their photo's.
That's what they want and I can't argue with the bill payers!