Wille Nelson at the Chumash Casino Resort [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot Willie Nelson Friday night (May 6, 2005) at the Chumash Casino Resort with whom I have an agreement to shoot their events. It was the first time I dared to use my 1D Mark II rather than my Fuji on a major performer.
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3256-800.jpg
On this one I cloned out a piece of another musician from the lower right corner but decided to leave the American flag in.
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3402-780CZ.jpg
This is my personal favorite. Just below where the frets start (I'm not a musician so the terminology may be wrong) is an inscription, "To a True Gentleman", which I thought said it all. There are other autographs but I wouldn't know the names even if I could read them.
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3383-800.jpg
I like his facial expression in this one.

Just as a matter of interest, I used my 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM with both a 1.4 TC and 2.0 TC (at 400mm) handheld and they were crisp and sharp. I have a few more I'll add if there is interest or you can go see 'em at DwightMcCann.com.

[neil_r]

I love the pics, was he on form ?

N

[Vetteography]

I am so jealous. I love Willie Nelson, was raised on his music, attended his 4th of July Jamboree a on his ranch outside of Austin. I would love to be close enough to take some shots in concert!

[DwightMcCann]

Neil, he warmed up kinda slow and he doesn't move like he did twenty years ago, but the voice is still there.

Vet, it was just the luck of the draw ... I shoot what they bring in ... next week it will be Loretta Lynn!

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3505-800.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3669-800.jpg

[Wavy C]

These are excellent photographs - I mean really excellent!

That first one would make a great poster.

[pdrow]

Wow! Great shots. Loretta Lynn, huh? My 12 year old daughter loves her. Coal Miner's daughter and Lousiana Woman are her favorties. Please post some of those next week.

[BlueTit]

Fantasic shots, I love Willie Nelson, him and Johnny Cash are the greatest. I like the second one best it is brilliant.

[DwightMcCann]

Wavy, thank you very much. I am not sure just what the casino may do with them ... they lease the unconditional royalty free use of my images (handshake deal with loose conditions including I may also use them as I see fit, too) to which I retain ownership and copyright. They are fantastic to work with and do everything they can to provide me with the best opportunities the artists allow ... with Willie I was unrestricted but asked to minimize any "on stage", behind the scenes presence simply to reduce security risks. Some of the performers limit photography to the first few songs which I expect is the result of being in venues where there are lots of photographers. The casino does not allow cameras and monitors for use of cell-phone cameras during performances. I wear both a casino photo ID badge and an All Access pass while shooting, make sure I have introduced myself to all the uniforms before every event (I normally arrive an hour early to touch base with everyone and get any specific instructions) and most particularly the supervisors and plaincothes, armed security that the casino provides for all events. So, for not being my "day job" I feel as though it is still pretty professional. Here's a shot with my 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM with 2.0 TC at 400mm:
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3396-850CZ.jpg

[eminaddiesmom]

i love the color in the first one. Great job!

Erika

[DwightMcCann]

I am always amazed by the extreme diversity of tastes of those who view my images: some like the warm saturated look (I'm in that group) while others abhor anything where the light temperature isn't noontime (very hard with stage lighting but that doesn't seem matter to them) and some like the 'realistic clutter' that accompanies musicians such as taped together cables, towels on the microphone stands, all the water bottles (or beer cans/bottles), reflections, guitar necks from other musicians, while others don't want any deviation or hint of "imperfection" to the extent that the entire background must be a single, undisturbed tone/color, preferably perfect black (I'm middle ground on this scale ... I clone out water bottles, Kleenex, and other incongruous objects but leave in most music paraphenalia.)

Anyway, the casino wants a collage from each event and here's Willie's (at this point):
http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChumashCollages/WillieNelsonCollage1000.jpg

[tim]

Gerat photos! The 400mm ones look slightly soft to me, but nothing a little USM couldn't fix.

[PeaPicker]

These are great shots! First time I saw Willie live was in 1975 at one of the parking lots at the old Dallas Love Field airport. The band stood on top of the toll booth and everyone sat on the pavement. Big fan since.

[DwightMcCann]

The recurring theme I hear about many of the performers I am shooting is, "Man, (s)he sure looks old!" Makes sense if Pea saw him in '75, eh?

[pradeep1]

Very nice. Even though I am working secretly to get all world governments to ban the spread of country music, I have to admit I like Willie Nelson. When we first came to America in 1979, we didn't have an FM radio in our car...all we had was AM...and I grew up listening to country music as a result. Only later did I realize that most of my childhood trauma and brain damage was caused by exposure to that music. :p

[DwightMcCann]

That's exactly how I feel about Rap Music ... except there are no exceptions! :-)

[jfrancho]

I love the first one. I'm a real sucker for fog machines. You did a nice job of capturing the mood in the fifth - looks like he may have been playing a balled here. Did you notice whether the fog helped or hindered the exposure? In the small clubs I frequent, it really helps scatter what little light is available. Again, nice job in a tough setting.

[marie]

they are way out wonderful pictures http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_cool.gif
congratulations

Willy Nelson is a firm favourite

( edit:lol:
I said Ricky Nelson by mistake earlier ) :lol: :lol:

I think my favourite song of his is 'I'm not trying to forget you anymore'

wonder did he sing it and I wonder was his sister playing the piano at the concerthttp://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_confused.gif

really excellent pictures
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif

[Dirty Shirt]

Those are really great!

[BottomBracket]

Those are crisp. clean shots. I love them!

[roanjohn]

Great pics!!! Thanks for sharing.

Ro1

[Ballen Photo]

Hi Dwight, There's not much I can add to what's already been said, and these ARE some Fantastic shots. :D
That sounds like a pretty sweet gig you have with the Chumash Casino as well. ;)
-Bruce

[PeaPicker]

Hey! Willie looked old in '75. I've seen videos of him in '65 looking young and clean cut singing the same songs just like he does today.

[chucksberg]

I saw him around 1976 in West Virginia. Same guitar, strap...similiar clothing. This was when concert photography was in its prime. If you had a good camera, the "bouncers" would let you down in front of the stage to shoot a few picks, listen to a couple songs, and move on. I took a couple of pictures, he looked down at me and winked, of course I yelled Wiiillllieeee. He bent down and shook my hand.

[DwightMcCann]

Sorry to have taken so long to reply ... hardware failures at my day job, sigh. So, from memory: Yes, Willie's sister was playing the piano, way over in the corner, hiding under her large hat. I do have a pretty good picture of her when he made her stand to take a bow, but other than that she kept well hidden.

I like the fog, don't think it cuts into the available light, and does wonderful things with the light beams from the $750K lighting system the casino has installed.

Yes, apparently the same old guitar, worn clean through right under his finger tips.

I will be shooting Loretta Lynn tonight and will surely post here with links. You can see all the images above and more at my website (http://www.dwightmccann.com/) under the Chumash Casino project link (http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/ChumashIndex.htm) by clicking on the small collage images, although only the last couple of events have more than just the collage.

[DwightMcCann]

Just reminescing ... this was the first world class performer I shot with my Canon equipment, a bit over a year ago. I've come a long way since then.

[queenbee288]

Neil, he warmed up kinda slow and he doesn't move like he did twenty years ago, but the voice is still there.

Vet, it was just the luck of the draw ... I shoot what they bring in ... next week it will be Loretta Lynn!

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3505-800.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/WillieNelson/WN3669-800.jpg

This is my favorite. Great shots.

[PORSCHE118]

Great shots. Now I know why I do something different for my living. I think I just found someone who can answer some of my future questions. I will be looking for more of your posts. Thanks for posting.

[KaplanMultimedia]

Wonderful images as always Dwight. You're a very talented and lucky man to have that gig at the casino. :D

[DwightMcCann]

Great shots. Now I know why I do something different for my living. I think I just found someone who can answer some of my future questions. I will be looking for more of your posts. Thanks for posting.

Read the Q&A pointed to in my .sig and then keep up with me via my blog. Anybody can do it! :D

[DwightMcCann]

Wonderful images as always Dwight. You're a very talented and lucky man to have that gig at the casino. :D

Thank you, Joel, and believe me, I know it.:lol::lol::lol:

[hauff]

Top drawer Dwight. Excellent captures. You've said that the Casino treats you well, but obviously you treat them very well in return. nice job sir.

[DwightMcCann]

Top drawer Dwight. Excellent captures. You've said that the Casino treats you well, but obviously you treat them very well in return. nice job sir.

Well, go look at the KISS pictures! I think they are pretty good, too! :lol::lol::lol:

[René Damkot]

Just reminescing ... this was the first world class performer I shot with my Canon equipment, a bit over a year ago. I've come a long way since then.

Yeah, there is a visible difference..... Wonder where it will end. I mean, you can't keep on getting better, right ;)

[DwightMcCann]

Yeah, there is a visible difference..... Wonder where it will end. I mean, you can't keep on getting better, right ;)

Hmmmmm, that's a good question ... about which I have no idea. :rolleyes: