Tom Jones [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

As with Tower of Power, I am not too happy with my Tom Jones images. As I noted in the Tower of Power thread, my 1D Mark II and 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM had apparently fallen while I was using the indoor plumbing between performers and the lens will have to go back to the factory ... it's making a terrbile noise when shaken gently. Also, rather than the three songs that even the most delicate of performers have allowed in the past, Tom [technically his tour manager, but it's all the same to me] allowed only two songs and they weren't his best. So, I threw on my 300mm f2.8 L IS USM, shot off a few rounds and switched to my 24-70mm f2.8 L IS USM and did the best I could ... ever the professional, eh? That said, here's Tom:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TomJones/TJ9902-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TomJones/TJ9849-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TomJones/TJ9811-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/TomJones/TJ9804-1000.jpg


As always, there are a few more images from this concert at my website at http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/TomJones06242005.htm

[DwightMcCann]

Tom looked very good although he moved a bit slowly and awkwardly. I agree he doesn't look like he's had a facelift so I guess it must have been very good! :-)

I think the photography limits have evolved to where they are simply "a standard condition." I think that at a large show in a stadium or field they get twenty photographers for media, etc., who run around like idiots trying to get position to get the images they want while standing with their bellies against the stage and being a significant distraction. So, the tours made up the "first three songs" rule, after which, no photography. Or, just to show their muscle, Tom Jones people made up a "first two songs rule." In the casino where I have the only cameras and am very circumspect about distracting or interfering with the audience it would make sense for them to give me free rein or as Tony's people did to let me shoot from back or sides after the first three songs. But, it takes time, thought, consideration and care about the venue and most of the expensive talent's people have none of that. I heard that one of the managers for one of the tours I am currently displaying here on POTN told several of the undercover guards (the guys with the big Glocks who would get between a nut case and the talent if there was a problem) to '**** Off' after they had made an arrangement to meet the talent through the talent buyer. OTOH, I also hear stories of guys like Charlie Daniels, whose politics I don't like, who does what he can for everyone he can, never overlooking the little guys and the little things and treats everyone with respect. So, I guess the talent business is like the University (where I work) ... there is a whole distribution of types and a lot of them aren't very nice! :-)

Oh, the casino has no scheme. Their lights can do anything. All that red was what they had on very early for Tom to keep the sidemen/backup vocalists minimized before Tom came on but it was the only chance I had to shoot them ... you will note they are not playing/singing, just waiting for the boss to show up.

[d'homme]

I really enjoy your photos man...

[BottomBracket]

Dwight, great pics as usual. I love TJ, the first album I ever bought (vinyl record back then) was his. I really like your work. McCann is the man!

[DwightMcCann]

I thank you, Man.

[JLynn]

Hi Dwight!
Your photos of TOM JONES are amazing.:) You managed to nail his eye/hair color even with the crazy lighting! I don't see any noise in these shots or the ones on your site.

I am an amateur photographer who is still practicing from the audiences of concerts. Very frustrating. How did you make the jump? What are you doing for settings/whitebalance...as things change so quickly in these settings.

If you do feel there is noise have you looked at plugging NOISE NINJA into Photoshop??

[floydianslip6]

Great work as usual man. Just looking at the photos it seems effortless. It's cheesy to say but they are just so vivid it's like time just stopped for a second. Maybe it's lame but I thats the feeling I get

[DwightMcCann]

JLynn, first, welcome to POTN! Second, I thank you for your kind words about my humble photography. Third, you can find out how I got into this mess by reading http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=63580. Fourth, you can learn all of my secrets by sloughing through http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81761. Fifth, if you didn't peruse my website, you can find lots of concert images here in the Urban Living section by using the Search facility on my userid ... in fact, I'm curious as how you tripped across Tom Jones! Sixth, I leave all the EXIF data in my images, normally, so you can always see what I was doing. Seventh, I don't worry about "noise" ... it is simply part of the gestalt of Live Performance photography. This is not to say that I don't savage my original images for the sake of art ... I remove blemishes from the ladies, sometimes clone out water bottles and white towels, and do all sorts of other things when the muse moves me! I do not generally perform these tricks when providing newspaper images since they border on Photojournalism. Eighth, I rarely use Photoshop even though I own PS CS and have read several tomes on using it ... I have used for years and continue to rely upon Ulead's PhotoImpact as it has a number of features that I find indispensible.

Again, welcome and please feel free to ask me anything and to fiddle with the images that I link to POTN.

[greg20d]

Great shots as usual .... :)

[DwightMcCann]

Floydianslip6, who beat you up so bad you feel you need to denigrate yourself when you give an opinion or reaction? We're all friends here! Well, most of us are and the rest just forgot to take their meds. ;) Anyway, it is effortless:rolleyes: ... just stand in front of the stage and hold that 300mm f/2.8L IS USM lens connected to a 1DMarkII, point at the talent and pull the trigger!:lol: That's how I got Tom's head shots. Of course, you must hold very still as well as shoot at just the right instant and ignore the pain in your arms and wrists from the weight of this particular combination. :p

[floydianslip6]

I'm used to auto forums where I have to deal with bratty kids day in and day out. I forget how positive this forum is :-p

So are you hired by the location of the concert or by the performer?

[jfrancho]

Dwight, the second one is quite nice. Without knowing better, I'd say it was a skillfully made candid portrait rather than a performance shot. I have been captivated by these types of shots since you suggested trying tighter headshots. In fact, I sometimes shoot too many of them! As usual - top notch work. Nice to see you use the lighting in the trumpet player shot.

[DwightMcCann]

Floyd, I have an ongoing handshake agreement with the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, and they pay me ... very promptly as it happens. Almost anything you would want to know can be found in my Q&A session over in Talking About Photography ... it is a sticky so it will always be near the top of the listings ... and I provided a link in my response to JLynn above. And if it's not in there, just ask.

[DwightMcCann]

Greg, thank you! :-)

JF ... thank you.

Now I am wondering why all the activity here since this thread was posted in June! :-) Just 'cause it was bumped?

[jfrancho]

I missed it when it was new. It was just sitting there at the top of the list - ripe for posting!

[DwightMcCann]

Ah, yes, the result of a 'bump'. It is interesting because within minutes of this activity someone emailed me about using some of these images on a fan website ... curiouser and curiouser! :-)

[GSH]

Greg, thank you! :-)

JF ... thank you.

Now I am wondering why all the activity here since this thread was posted in June! :-) Just 'cause it was bumped?


Possibly because as of about 3 hours ago it is now SIR Tom Jones..


He's been knighted in the Queen's New Year's Honours list.

Great Shots :)

[DwightMcCann]

Geoff, Ah, yes, that makes sense ... there must be a lot of Google searches going on and I do show up with a few good images there. Thanks for the tip! :-)

[MDJAK]

I must have missed this when originally posted. I saw Tom Jones last year in Vegas and it was a great show.

Your pictures are fantastic. And you used my dream lens.
mark

[DwightMcCann]

Mark, you can borrow mine any time you are in town! :-) Thank you.

[JLynn]

HI Dwight!
Thanks for the warm welcome! Being a newbie on a board is not always received so nicely!

I followed all your links for info on your jump from "taking" photos to "shooting" photgraphs. The path sounds a little familiar. So I am encouraged by it all! Funny I didn't even think to check the file info on the photos! I assumed you took it out!! Thanks for keeping it real!

I inherited an old Canon and some lenses from my dad. SO I've stuck with the brand through film and now digital as my lenses were still usable. A nice thing for someone who is looking at two kids in college simultaneously.

Besides an inborn love of the medium, I got restarted into photography while taking my kids to boy-band concerts 8 or 9 years ago. I would sneak in my 70-300 zoom and shoot from my seat. It seemed I had a knack for anticipating rare exciting moves on stage.

This summer we had 2 family weddings that I saw as an opportunity to practice with my first digital camera, the Canon XT rebel. I sent cd's of the photos to the wedding couples and they thought the photos were better than those of their hired photographers.

GOOGLE GOOGLE GOOLGE....To answer how I stubbled upon your TOM JONES photos!!! Once I saw your work I was intrigued. You combined two of my passions...photography and Tom Jones, now Sir TOM! I've been a fan of his for 40 of my 47 years. so I am always looking for a great shot to sketch (my other passion) Some venues won't allow fans to take in a decent camera, so I've had to shoot with something small or get nothing.

Yes, my latest try was with a point and shoot (don't choke) at a concert I took the Canon A620. It's nice as it let's you make a custom setting and is "fast" for it's class. The results were very so noisy with a 400 ISO that even CS2 couldn't help them. Canon suggested shotting in a "less fine" file to lower the byte compression. Superfine has a 5 compression, fine is a 3 and normal is a 2. The advice seemed counter inutitive. For a better photo, shoot with less information?? I didn't even know that there was byte compression, the XT doesn't do it in any setting. That's when I found Ninja noise, it saved the photos for printing at least an 8x10. An area photographer suggested a lower ISO. I'll have to play with the camera for the next camera-unfriendly venue.

Hopefully the next concert hall, which is more liberal with cameras won't mind my XT from the front row. Maybe then I'll have something to share.

You should submit your photos to his site tomjones.com . I know they would love to have them. You can find my autographed sketch on TOM JONES official site, http://www.tomjones.com/site/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=9386-11161759-37080.jpg&caption=Sketched+with+love+by+JLynn+..Signed+after +31+years+of+trying%21+Thanks+TOM%21%21%21tomrocks 65%40optonline.net+submitted+by+Janet . In fact, would you mind if I did a sketch on one of them. Are there other TJ shots that I could look through for sketching purposes??

Thanks again for being so forthcoming! IT's very refreshing!
Happy New Year!!
JLynn

[DwightMcCann]

JLynn, interesting story. I just gave permission to tomjonesinternational.com fan website to use my photographs last night ... after six months of no interest by anyone. :-) You certainly have my permission to use any of my images for sketching purposes. If you have been to my website and seen the rest of the four headshots of Tom then you have seen the best of what I have. As for offering them to TomJones.com, I rarely waste my time offering my images to the big talent ... first, I am not a fan (of any of the entertainers I shoot) ... second, the few times I did try to contact some website maintainers I didn't even get the courtesy of a reply. I am really, really busy and since they don't pay me I have better things to do with my few spare moments.:lol: I do have some images on some websites, usually fan websites, because fans trip on my images and ask if they can use them.

I'll be watching for your images!

[DwightMcCann]

Well, I just got contacted by the Tom Jones organization about using images on their official website. Nothing definite. But I did try to be clear that I would want standard rates for use. And while answering that email I got another from a newspaper back east that would like to use a Smokey Robinson image of mine. Don't these people know I can't give up my day job yet?

[DwightMcCann]

I added this to my Q&A thread in Talking About Photography, but I know many of you are not subscribed to it so I thought I'd share the email I received from Tom Jones organization today:

Dear Dwight

We came across your photography website and saw your excellent photos of Tom Jones at Chumash.

We would like to put some more live photos of Tom on his official site for his fans, and wondered whether we could put some of yours online? Unfortunately we would not be able to pay for them, but we would of course credit you as photographer.

And my response:

Thank you for the compliment. While I regularly provide courtesy images for editorial use to a number of newspapers and have provided about a dozen fan sites with uncompensated images (not to be sold), I am a professional, this is a business and I require payment/licensing when my work is used in a "for profit" or promotional environment. Tom Jones clearly falls into this category. After Brian touched base with me about my photographs I reviewed the current Tom Jones official website and feel that my images are significantly superior to those currently listed as Professional Photographs there. I intended to have made the requirement for compensation clear when Brian contacted me so I apologize for the miscommunication. Should you require professional Live Entertainment photography services in the future I hope you will consider contacting me.

So, I have put my money where my mouth is and would like to hear opinions.

[I Simonius]

I added this to my Q&A thread in Talking About Photography, but I know many of you are not subscribed to it so I thought I'd share the email I received from Tom Jones organization today:

Dear Dwight

We came across your photography website and saw your excellent photos of Tom Jones at Chumash.

We would like to put some more live photos of Tom on his official site for his fans, and wondered whether we could put some of yours online? Unfortunately we would not be able to pay for them, but we would of course credit you as photographer.

And my response:

Thank you for the compliment. While I regularly provide courtesy images for editorial use to a number of newspapers and have provided about a dozen fan sites with uncompensated images (not to be sold), I am a professional, this is a business and I require payment/licensing when my work is used in a "for profit" or promotional environment. Tom Jones clearly falls into this category. After Brian touched base with me about my photographs I reviewed the current Tom Jones official website and feel that my images are significantly superior to those currently listed as Professional Photographs there. I intended to have made the requirement for compensation clear when Brian contacted me so I apologize for the miscommunication. Should you require professional Live Entertainment photography services in the future I hope you will consider contacting me.

So, I have put my money where my mouth is and would like to hear opinions.

I think you have done right - there is no reason they can't pay you

perhaps they don't know what the 'rates' for such shots are? (what are they?:D )

[DwightMcCann]

Simon, yes, they called the casino to complain about me and the casino just said they would pay the fees ... but I never heard back from them. The rate depends on the use. I use an online calculator that I have book marked at home or I'd list it.

[I Simonius]

Simon, yes, they called the casino to complain about me and the casino just said they would pay the fees ... but I never heard back from them. The rate depends on the use. I use an online calculator that I have book marked at home or I'd list it.

They complained??? - the cheek of it!

Any chance of posting the online calculator link sometime when you're home? ( just to get an idea)

[DwightMcCann]

Sure, but I imagine you could just Google it. :-)

[danster]

I added this to my Q&A thread in Talking About Photography, but I know many of you are not subscribed to it so I thought I'd share the email I received from Tom Jones organization today:

Dear Dwight

We came across your photography website and saw your excellent photos of Tom Jones at Chumash.

We would like to put some more live photos of Tom on his official site for his fans, and wondered whether we could put some of yours online? Unfortunately we would not be able to pay for them, but we would of course credit you as photographer.

And my response:

Thank you for the compliment. While I regularly provide courtesy images for editorial use to a number of newspapers and have provided about a dozen fan sites with uncompensated images (not to be sold), I am a professional, this is a business and I require payment/licensing when my work is used in a "for profit" or promotional environment. Tom Jones clearly falls into this category. After Brian touched base with me about my photographs I reviewed the current Tom Jones official website and feel that my images are significantly superior to those currently listed as Professional Photographs there. I intended to have made the requirement for compensation clear when Brian contacted me so I apologize for the miscommunication. Should you require professional Live Entertainment photography services in the future I hope you will consider contacting me.

So, I have put my money where my mouth is and would like to hear opinions.

Hi Dwight, long time reader and first time poster to your threads. I'd like to start by saying that your photos are awesome, shame that photography is not your primary stream of income.
I totally agree with you that you should be paid for the photos, top notch equipment like yours are very expensive to purchase and maintain. I'm sure TJ's management could do alot better than to "credit you as a photographer". Hell, TJ even got free publicity from your posting here!

[DwightMcCann]

I don't believe the attitude is specifically Sir Tom's, but rather family management ... often happens with less than top line professionals and particularly family members ... but as I have said, it is a business case and there is no way to demonstrate that they could profit handsomely by licensing my images and selling them. They are using images shot by one of their PR staff who has neither the equipment nor experience for truly high quality results. I believe the English phrase is "Penny wise and pound foolish".

[jfrancho]

I believe the English phrase is "Penny wise and pound foolish".My grandfather, a successful restaurateer, likes to say, "Pay attention to the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves." I always reply with the pennywise expression.:)

[I Simonius]

My grandfather, a successful restaurateer, likes to say, "Pay attention to the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves." I always reply with the pennywise expression.:)


In for a penny , in for a pound - I always say!:lol:

[DwightMcCann]

In for a penny , in for a pound - I always say!:lol:

Thank you, Simon! :-) I guess there are a lot of versions of this saying, eh?

[jfrancho]

I like my father's advice before my first date: "Watch your wallet, son."

[DwightMcCann]

I like my father's advice before my first date: "Watch your wallet, son."
That is utterly, utterly precious! How many of us wish we had had the wisdom to appreciate its value! Since I now only have a daughter to whom I will be able to give advice for a first date (she is only four at the moment), what do you think your Dad would say?

[jfrancho]

I can't remember what his advice was. My sister's first "date" was a movie at our house, so they could get to know the young man a little better. I think my father and I were cleaning the guns when her date arrived. Before my mother left the room, she said, "I'm gonna tell you two the same thing I tell your father every night. No sex in this house!"

[René Damkot]

I think my father and I were cleaning the guns when her date arrived.
That kinda sets a mood, now doesn't it :lol:

[DwightMcCann]

I LOVE IT! I have guns to clean! But I'm afraid that other remark would never be made in my house ... which is why I became a Dad at 56! :evil: