Tony Bennett at the Chumash Casino Resort [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

Tony Bennett played at the casino Friday night. They didn't put up the usual crowd barriers ... they were afraid people would catch their walkers on the posts and hurt themselves ... and the security people stood back twice as far as usual to give the "rushers" an even break! :lol:

Truth to tell, Tony was much better than I had expected and looked absolutely great ... which did bring out a lot of 70 year old swooning! Anyway, here are some of my images:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TonyBennett/TonyBennett102-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TonyBennett/TonyBennett143-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TonyBennett/TonyBennett219-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TonyBennett/TonyBennett382-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TonyBennett/TonyBennett556-1000.JPG

You can see more of my Tony Bennett images on my website at http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/TonBennett06102005.htm

[bikerider]

Wow, really nice images and they are shaaarp.......you've done this before haven't you!
Roger.

[jgbeam]

Quite a nice series. You had some very good lighting to work with there. I like the side lighting, which almost creates a portrait-like effect. I'm sure it's all designed to show Tony at his best.

Jim

[DwightMcCann]

Bike, the camera does the hard part, but yes, I've shot a couple of live performances before. In fact, there are a couple of threads here and in People.

jg, the $750K of lighting is designed to show ANYTHING at its best! :-) Thank you.

[SurfKahakai]

Dwight...they look great as always but someone should tell Tony to iron his suit.

Considering the fact that you always seem to shoot from far away, I think you should give me your 16-35 L. I'll come pick it up today.

[DwightMcCann]

Surf, Yes, all the motherly types (plus you) have mentioned his suit to me and I agree 100%! He should look his BEST for me. Actually, I don't shoot everything from far away and use my 24-70mm quite regularly. The shots with 16-35mm don't make it much of anywhere ... they include the stage and the audience taken from the side of the stage as the casino likes to see some audience but they are not very artistic so I generally don't publish any. However, did shoot some Saturday night (Tony was Friday) with my new Canon 300mm f2.8 L IS USM and 2x TC from a tripod about 100' away "in the back" that I liked and have decided that I will probably get the 500mm f4 or 600mm f4 (like the latter) as my next lens ... I think a 500mm with the 1.4 TC would be almost perfect!!! But I'll tell you what ... if you can get your camera into the casino Thursday night I'll let you use my 16-35mm to shoot Charlie Daniels Band with me!

[wintoid]

Dwight, your shots are consistently excellent. Thanks for sharing this. (I'm still recovering from your wonderful Chaka Khan shoot)

[SurfKahakai]

Wow...I've been compared to "the motherly type." Actually, I''ve been in the military for almost 6 years so wrinkles jump out at me when I see them.

I won't be there for Charlie Daniels tonight (saw him at Camp Humphreys, Korea a couple years back) but I will be there for The Beach Boys and I might have to borrow that 500mm +TC.

[DwightMcCann]

Surf, the wrinkles jump out at all of us! I may not have the 500mm by the Beach Boys (I don't even have them on my schedule ... when are they coming?), but if you can get your 20D through the door (which I doubt) I'll loan you the pick of whatever lenses I have ... they will all be with me!

[BottomBracket]

Dwight, those pics are just alive. Great work! Err... do you need an assistant? Any NYC gigs you're gonna cover soon? :)

[exposingmyself]

Tony is so classy. Looking at him makes me want to break out in song.

I love the first image esp because of the cropping. Though the second one is just as nice he faces looks like a tomato :o

Of course, I'm jealous you saw Tony live and managed such beautiful photographs. :D

Love your work!

[DwightMcCann]

Bottom, no, I have more than I can handle as it is! Expo, thank you. Bloo, no, I have no clue how to contact anyone ... but now that you mention it, I am cultivating a positive relationship with the talent buyer for the casino and she is probably the person to discuss it with. I'll have to see what I can do ... hadn't even considered it! :-)

I have Charlie Daniels Band from Thursday night on my harddrive. I have Tito Jackson from the Jackson Family's Thank You party for loyal fans and supporters that numerous Jackson family members attended but I cannot publish any of the family images (they aren't good and don't include Michael so it's no big loss) also on my harddrive. I will look at these tonight. I will be shooting Little Big Town at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Maria tomorrow night, Tom Jones and Tower of Power Friday night and Starship on Saturday night. Then I get to catch up for a week and will shoot Lyle Lovett on July 1. Of course, there is an endless schedule behind these and I expect to share everything. A reminder that I put more images on my website than I link in here so if there somebody you like you can go always go there, too.

[Rendezvous]

Some nice images there

[SurfKahakai]

...the Beach Boys (I don't even have them on my schedule ... when are they coming?), but if you can get your 20D through the door (which I doubt) I'll loan you the pick of whatever lenses I have ... they will all be with me!

My girlfriend told me they're not on the public schedule yet but are slotted for October. We will see how that pans out but I'll definitely try to sneak my camera in. I don't know if workers get any special priveledges but maybe she can sneak it in for me.

[Ballen Photo]

... and the security people stood back twice as far as usual to give the "rushers" an even break! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dwight, These shots are GREAT, as usual.
Looking forward to your shots of Charlie Daniels. I'm curious to hear if He closes with "The Devil went down to Georgia". ;)
-Bruce

[BrandonSi]

Was there any noise reduction done? I got instantly jealous when I saw that ISO 1250 ;)

[DwightMcCann]

Surf, they confiscate! One person lost their video camera at the Jackson Thank You Party as well as being escorted off the reservation ... remember, this is a separate nation and normal 'due process' etc. may not apply. No, employees get no special camera privileges. So, let me correct my earlier statement and say that I would urge you not to consider bringing your camera ... it could cost your girlfriend her job.

Bruce, I think so! I was too busy shooting to listen.

Brandon, no noise reduction but the combination of good exposure and black background would tend to mask it. I do get noise at those ISOs particularly when the lighting is heavy in the blues.

I have Charlie on my harddrive and hope to have him done in the next two nights (I have a day job, too!)

[SurfKahakai]

Surf, they confiscate! One person lost their video camera at the Jackson Thank You Party as well as being escorted off the reservation ... remember, this is a separate nation and normal 'due process' etc. may not apply. No, employees get no special camera privileges. So, let me correct my earlier statement and say that I would urge you not to consider bringing your camera ... it could cost your girlfriend her job.

Thanks for the warning, Dwight. I will leave the toys at home.

[DwightMcCann]

Surf, HOWEVER, when you come, find me (I'll be the only guy walking around with a camera ... I also look pretty much like my current avatar) and you can maybe shoot a few with my gear and I'll email you the images.

[SurfKahakai]

I don't know if I'd want to embarrass myself that much but I'll definitely come say hello.