Tierra, MissBehavin' and The Bomb [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

A little Latin R&B Dance Party at the casino:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/LatinRBDance06112005/LRB8068-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/LatinRBDance06112005/LRB7740-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/LatinRBDance06112005/LRB7777-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/LatinRBDance06112005/LRB7784-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/LatinRBDance06112005/LRB8043-1000.jpg

[Leorooster]

Dwight, I really like your concert shots. They are very sharp and you've been able to capture the spirits and moods of these concerts. Great skills. Thanks for sharing.

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Leo! Tomorrow night I will be shooting the Charlie Daniels Band but won't have time to do post processing for a few days as I will be attending the Live Oak Music Festival (a benefit for public radio station KCBX) for three days where I will be shooting the performers and trying to do a photodocumentary of Joe Craven who MC's the festival each year. From that I should have a lot of very interesting images!

[BottomBracket]

Very nice! I agree, it takes skill (and access) to take these shots. Well done.

[DwightMcCann]

Bottom, absolutely ... without those All Access passes and my photoID badge this would not be possible! Although I think it may be because of the skill, demonstrated over time, that I have the access. OTOH, maybe it is just because of my connections. Or just dumb luck (my personal belief!) :-)

[ayotnoms]

Dwight, I really like your concert shots. They are very sharp and you've been able to capture the spirits and moods of these concerts. Great skills. Thanks for sharing.
...what he said
:-)

[hollow]

wow ! those are absolutely great !
sharp..., no noise...great !

[wintoid]

Dwight, you've obviously got this thing mastered. Do you still find it challenging?

Great shots as usual, by the way.

[lomond]

One word...... masterly........no, wait a minute another ones coming..... polished.

In my book that adds up to ................... professional.

[joeseph]

Lovely...

[DwightMcCann]

You boys sure know how to turn a guy's head. :-) And I thank you for your kind comments.

Simon, absolutely! Every event is a challenge, an effort, an experience, an opportunity and most of all an adventure. Yes, the lighting doesn't get any better, the performers are top notch, I have all the access in the world (almost) and I have the best equipment in the world. But, as my wife points out, once that camera is to my eye I start sweating and can't hear a thing. It is exhilerating ... my mind is going a million miles an hour ... I am looking, looking, looking for a shot, the next shot, what can I shoot that will have impact, spirit, power, energy, and use the light? Will the performer slow down enough so motion blur is not a problem? Will they move another foot in that direction so they are totally in the spotlight? Will they move or the sideman move so they don't overlap from my vantage point in such an awkward way? Can I line up enough of the action to make a statement? Is there enough light on that face to make it pop? Can I shift from P to Av mode and start pushing some DOF? Can I shift down from ISO 1600 to 1250 or 1000 or 800 and still have the shutterspeed I need? [Confession: I start out shooting ISO 1600 and P mode, watching what the camera is chosing and then slowly work my way to slower ISO and shift to Av while all the time watching the shutterspeed, then checking the histogram and image, often having to set compensation to -1 1/3 because of all the darkness surrounding the central artist. I get soaking wet!] And I really love doing it! And they pay me! And they really seem to appreciate what I do! I've been waiting all my photographic life for that and now I get it almost every week!!!

Well enough of that! I'm making myself tired and I have to shoot the Charlie Daniels Band tonight!

[wintoid]

Thanks for that, I enjoyed it :D Your pictures inspire me!

[DwightMcCann]

One day I'll post a bunch of outtakes! :-)

[jporter12]

Can't wait for the CDB shots!

[DwightMcCann]

Got 'em, but I've been camping and haven't touched 'em yet!

[mdm]

Nice pictures.

[sixshot]

These are great, especially the last one. Nice work and keep it up.

[Andy_T]

Wonderful moody images!

Canon gear put to a great use ... really glad to see everything worked out for you (since switching from NOINK)

Best regards,
Andy

[DwightMcCann]

Six, that last shot was with my 300mm f2.8 from a tripod about 75' away ... the softness is motion blur due to long exposure time.

[aam1234]

One word...... masterly........no, wait a minute another ones coming..... polished.

In my book that adds up to ................... professional.

Couldn't say it better.

Dwight, can I have your job for one day! heck one hour would be fine.

Btw, what's the name of this band, they seem to have great music.

Edit: found the name in the title :o

[DwightMcCann]

Aam, Thank you! There are about 50 people who would work as my assistant for free ... but since each of them could probably do a better job than me I only use my wife for assistance as she has no interest in photography ... doesn't know dSLR from aDSL! :-)

There are three bands represented above: #1 is Tierra, a well known latin band in this area. My daughter's pre-school teacher, Elena, who never heard of Tony Bennett did know Tierra very well! #2 is The Bomb, another local but less known latin band. #3 is Bill Avila & #4 is Shalonda, both from the band MissBehavin'. #5 is simply lovely ... she was on the dance floor, alone (unbelievable) for many songs by most of the groups. I don't publish (and usually don't take) images of individuals not officially performing but this seemed artistic and soft enough that I made an exception and I don't sell images at this point ... in fact, if you want to download and enjoy my images, have at it ... just don't sell them or claim them as your own.

Charlie Daniels Band is coming, honest! Along with Tito Jackson. And I shoot Tom Jones tonight and Starship tomorrow night. My life is brutal!!!

[aam1234]

... but since each of them could probably do a better job than me...

I highly doubt that. Your skills and talent are very obvious.

Btw and out of curiosity, does the casino pay you per photo or per event or any other arrangement. Of course you don't have to answer that but was wishing that they pay you well enough.

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks ... it is more work/effort than skill/talent but I like my results, too.

I have a handshake deal with the casino's Director of Entertainment to shoot all their events, where event is grossly defined as entertainment held in the Samala Room and includes muscial performances, poker tournaments, boxing matches and whatever else may come up. We agreed on a price for a normal musical performance in which they have unlimited royalty free use of the images I provide but the use is not exclusive and I can use the images. When I broached the subject of being paid more for events that take more time, such as poker tournaments and boxing matches I was told, "Just send me an invoice." They also give me meal vouchers, and if my wife comes to assist me she gets an All Access pass (this means much less than it sounds like) and a meal voucher. They seem to really like and trust me ... whenever I ask for guidance the usual response is, "You'll work it out" meaning that they believe that I will be able to interface with the talent's management or promoters or the talent buyer [who is usually Lori of SignatureEnt and is fantastic to work with!] What they usually get for their fee is 15-30 hand corrected digital images and a collage/montage with their logo, my name (in big red letters down the side!) and the talent's name. I usually make two or three 11x17 prints of the collage plus two or three CDs with jpgs of all the images in two sizes plus the collage material. As for how much they pay me, I'll keep that to myself, but I put in many, many hours for each shoot, maybe 16 hours for a normal concert, that I only make about $30 an hour. But it all goes back into equipment so I can write it off. :-)

I am also frequently asked what the casino does with the images. They have sent a couple as 'Courtesy Photos' to the newspaper and used half a dozen on their website. They also print off copies, usually of the collage, for tribal members, managers and the sometimes the talent. One CD of each set is held for historical purposes.

And finally, I am often asked how I protect my images on my website. My dirty little secret is that I don't protect them at all. After all, I can't sell them because I don't have model releases from the talent. So I want people to enjoy them. All I ask is that they don't sell them or claim them as their own. I find websites where every image has a big COPYRIGHT BY JOE BLOW 2005 scrawled across the middle as pitiful egotism. If they are worth something, don't put them on the web ... or put a tasteful signature/website address [which is what I plan to do when I get time.]

[aam1234]

Thanks Dwight,

I have to admit that I'm somewhat surprised by your answer. It appears to me that for the effort you put and the time you spend on shows, not to mention the cost of your equipment (your skills are hard to quantify in $ terms) it seems the compensation is somewhat modest (IMO of course). You are a first class professional and was hoping they compensate you as such. But at the end, if you are happy with the arrangement and you are enjoying what you do then nothing else matters.

I hope they compensate your wife when she is assisting you. she is putting a lot of effort from your description.

[DwightMcCann]

Aam, the truth is that they wouldn't have me do all these if I was charging them the going rate. They might not have me doing anything at all. And yes, I do enjoy it. And can you imagine the protfolio I will have when I have been doing this for two or three years ... I've been doing it for about six months. I am almost 60. I would like to retire from my day job in five or six years. My first wife took half my retirement, money and service time credit, when we divorced. I have a three year old daughter with my current wife. I will need a retirement business to retire before I am 74. And while I could probably do much less and still get paid, that's boring! I really love doing this ... I originally said that I would do it for free but they had no interest in that at all. I keep asking my wife if I actually died when I had my coronary bypass last December and this is heaven?

[aam1234]

You truly enjoy what you are doing and that's a fulfilling compensation.

I hope you show your portfolio somewhere else soon so you can get a more deserving financial rewards.

My best regards to yourself, your wife, and your little kid.

[Sonsey]

I've just joined the forums as I'll be getting my first DSLR in a couple of weeks (EOS 350D/Rebel XT) and this thread has to get my first post :)


Absolutely wonderfull pictures Dwight, picture #3 is the stand out for me, the portrait of Bill Avila under the spotlight capture's the art of performance perfectly (I'd be surprised if he hasn't ask for a copy himself!!)...

...Inspiritational.

EDIT: Just seen the Chaka Khan selection you posted a while back... Brilliant!!!

Regards,
Iain.

[martin-images]

Wonderful and amazing photograpths, exposure and colour is just spot on, love all, if i had to pick one i would say hmmmmmmm :-)

Martin

[DwightMcCann]

I thank you all, once again. I just posted Charlie Daniels Band from last week and am working on Tom Jones and Mickey Thomas/Starship.