Hilltop Hoods at Big Top in Brisbane

[SakeMan]

What an absolutely amazing night this was for me can not really be explained in words, I was hoping the images I got on the night would do the show justice but sadly I have to say I feel I bombed out big time on this one. I have shot the Hilltop Hoods a few times before, this was the first time I was not shooting them from the crowd though, having been a huge fan of theirs for over 10 years now, I was just too caught up in the moment being in the pit and too busy singing along and party to concentrate on my photography. Quite annoyed about this now but what can you do.

Through a really strange set of circumstances the boys got a hold of my last set of images that I took when they were in Brisbane playing at HiFi, I sent a few emails back and forth with them and after hitting them up about coming to shoot the next gig in Brisbane they agreed and told me a photography pass would be waiting for me at the box office, fast forward to friday night the night had finally arrived and I got my first AAA pass.

I ended up spending the whole gig backstage alternating between talking to who else was backstage, a couple of the guys from funkoars, their tour manager, lighting guy and of course their girlfriends, Carli (Suffas girl) was on stage most of the time with an SLR taking shots herself which was cool to see and enjoying the show from the edge of the pit infront of the speaker stacks as the sound was a lot better there then backstage, something that makes sense to me now but I never realised. Then finally got to meet the guys in person briefly something that will stay with me for a long long time, it's Sunday and I am still buzzing, it's crazy.

Either way, enough talk, here are a couple of shots that are ok, as I said I really am not that happy with them but that's only a minor detail of one of the best nights of my life. C&C very much appreciated as well if you can be bothered, haha.


1.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop01.jpg

2.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop02.jpg

3.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop03.jpg

4.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop04.jpg

5.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop05.jpg

6.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop06.jpg

7.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop07.jpg

8.
http://www.coolpc.com.au/images/hilltopbigtop08.jpg

[trt-reece]

They put on a hell of a show hey! When I shot them a few weeks back, I had to consciously tell myself to concentrate on the task at hand (photos). Lucky you getting an AAA pass! Number 4 was a shot I would have loved to have a go at!

8 is an awesome shot, the only thing putting me off it is the shirt, which has managed to block his mouth and show too much skin on his gut. That said, it's still good. Looks like you did alright, I think

[René Damkot]

I really like #1.
#2 is nice as well.

[BJWOK]

nice story champ, good to see the boys looked after you :)

carli is nice and has got some great shots of her own too!

while these are the strongest set I guess it does teach you one lesson: don't let celebrity status affect your work! :) celebs are no different to the rest of us, and certainly with the hoods they don't subscribe to a higher than thou notion. they are just guys like you or i doing their thing! (and doing it damn well!!)

i'm shooting the sat show here in adelaide - should be a blast!

[Banno]

Nice couple of shots mate! Glad to see the boys looked after you. They are top guys, Mat especially

As Benon said, they definitely dont hold themselves above anyone. They regularly drink down my local pub and slide in without much of a fuss. Most people there know them and dont feel the need to hassle them. Its just another night at the Ed having a beer with a couple of good guys always up for a chat! In actual fact they are more likely to introduce themselves to you (always as Mat, not Suffa) than you to them

Hope you get the chance to shoot them again and grab a beer with them after :)

[SakeMan]

Nice couple of shots mate! Glad to see the boys looked after you. They are top guys, Mat especially

As Benon said, they definitely dont hold themselves above anyone. They regularly drink down my local pub and slide in without much of a fuss. Most people there know them and dont feel the need to hassle them. Its just another night at the Ed having a beer with a couple of good guys always up for a chat! In actual fact they are more likely to introduce themselves to you (always as Mat, not Suffa) than you to them

Hope you get the chance to shoot them again and grab a beer with them after :)

Yep you hit the nail on the head. Man now I wanna move to Adelaide! Need to check out the Ed one day, maybe Rally SA next year haha.

Would be mad to have a beer with these boys.