Smokey Robinson [Large Images Warning]

[DwightMcCann]

I shot Smokey "Ole Green Eyes" Robinson last night at the Chumash Casino Resort. They used the smoke machine a fair amount and I was only allowed the first three songs but I managed a bit over 300 images, using bracketing quite a bit, and was very pleased with what I got. Shot with 70-200mm f2.8 IS (I think the IS works even better since I dropped it ... and had it repaired) and 24-70mm f2.8. Some are at ISO 1600 and some at ISO 1000. First thing is the collage I made (I will remind everyone that this isn't for an advert ... it is simply for the executives to hang on their walls and to give to the tribal members if they should want a souvenier.)

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/ChumashCollages/SmokeyRobinsonCollage-1000.jpg


And the bigger versions of some of the images that appear across the bottom, although this first one isn't Smokey, I really liked it:

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/SmokyRobinson/SmokeyRobinson0458-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/SmokyRobinson/SmokeyRobinson0524-1000.jpg


http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/SmokyRobinson/SmokeyRobinson0542-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/SmokyRobinson/SmokeyRobinson0653-1000.jpg

http://www.dwightmccann.com/Images/SmokyRobinson/SmokeyRobinson0609-1000.jpg

If you want to see more images of Smokey's performance, there are some on my website, including the dancers, at http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/SmokeyRobinson07152005.htm

[wintoid]

Dwight...... wow!

Personally, I'm not into collages, but the individual images are breathtakingly good!

[kenyc]

Very Nice, Dwight! Great job!

KAC

[bachscuttler]

WOW!

#4 is my fave...immaculate!
I'd get your copyright on them quick if I were you.
I was listening to a web replay of a BBC Radio documentary on Smokey as I viewed this thread.

He's looking good for his age too.

These are soooo good. :)

[DwightMcCann]

As always, Simon, thank you. Thank you, Kenny. And thank you, Bach. So, what does one do for this copyright thing? I am paid for the images (even if the artist doesn't let me take them) by the casino so I don't really worry about them being "stolen" but perhaps I am just being naive. I am aware that they are automatically copyright by me under the law but I get the impression that there is more that can be done. Is there a discussion here at POTN?

[bachscuttler]

I was thinking along the lines of watermarking them so they can't be leeched ;)

They are very leechable!
I've heard of major organisations (that shall remain nameless and who you would least expect it from) 'borrowing' photographs from peoples' galleries.

[jfrancho]

I like the thumbnails across the bottom of the collage. I think that is a little different for you? The shot of the keyboard player is great. So is the one of Smokey right below it.

[DwightMcCann]

Bach, thanks, yes, I should look into the hidden watermark technique. It is just that up until the beginning of this year I had never been paid hardly anything for my photography (mostly because it wasn't all that great) and am having a hard time thinking my stuff as "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY". That's a great idea and I will pursue very shortly.

JF, I always try to find something to do differently and this is what I came up with this time. After seeing it, I am thinking about doing one with the entire border being such images, although maybe a bit smaller. Any thoughts you should ever have on variations would be most welcome.

I am just about to go try my hand at a bike race:
"THE EIGHT ANNUAL SISQUOC ROAD RACE AND CALIFORNIA/NEVADA JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS". The Bike Barn is a race sponsor and it is owned by friends of mine. If I get anything I'll post in Sports.

[4nR]

those are awesome shots (as usual) dwight. i especially like the one where the keyboard player is hidden by smoke and the one where smokey is looking right at you. keep them coming!

[DwightMcCann]

Thank you, 4nR. Those were the two I liked best, too. I just shot a bicycle race so I've got about 800+ frames to that look at ... it was just a "practice run".

[Learner]

I've been admiring your photographs for a few weeks now and finally must say "WOW" you capture amazing shots, please keep 'em coming!!! They are very inspiring:)

Learner

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Learner! I am just thankful for the opportunity.

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Bloo ... just three songs but I think I stopped after two ... got confused ... so only got around 300 frames! :-)

[AjP]

Dwight, you are as always showing us amazing concert pics, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Grimnar]

With all respect..
The singer sure looks like a doll, plastic fantastic:rolleyes:
Thats all I have to say.:lol:

[DwightMcCann]

I really should comment on the concerts! Smokey Robinson was top notch with a good show, although I gotta' tell ya' that I still don't know why he had the two dancing girls with him ... maybe to distract the guys as he was sure reeling in the women the whole night long. I couldn shoot it, but about halfway through he sensuously unbuttoned and slid off his jacket then worked off his tie, all the while still singing. Later on, during some really suggestive number, he was flexing his hips and unbuttoned his shirt and you could hear the estrogen screaming to get loose ... one gal did clambered onto the stage but security knew she was coming ... Smokey didn't miss a beat as she was "encouraged" off to the side.

Late in the game, after they had let the throngs belly up to the stage, he divided the room in half using two little darlings in the very front as "captains" and had them competing in singing the refrain from one of his tunes. He had 'em SCREAMING, all, men, women, boys and girls (remembering that one must be 18 to get into the casino.) And his voice hasn't lost much of anything.

Friday night I shoot a boxing match. I'll post that in Sports, too. And I have to put a quick plug in here for some "practice" bicycle racing pictures I shot yesterday: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=86321

Oh, Bloo, no, the smoke seems pretty innocuous ... considering that all the stage people breath a lot of it I expect it is something very simple.

[Wavy C]

Wow, great shots!

I can't help but imagine trying to shoot something like this - must be quite a lot of pressure knowing you only have three songs to get a selection of shots for the casino. You have all the problems of low lighting, crowds milling around etc. That IS lens certainly seems to be working well. You did a great job!

And 300 shots during three songs - wow to that too!

[DwightMcCann]

Wavy, Ya', the first six or eight events I shot there were no restrictions and I assumed that since I was the "house photographer" that it would always be that way. Then suddenly this "rule" was invoked, out of nowhere as far as I was concerned. Anyway, I was quite shaken that first time (with all of ten minutes warning) and nervous the second time and a tad uncomfortable the third time, then someone invented a "two song rule" and I just shrugged it off. Not much I could do when Lyle Lovett invoked the "no song rule!" Anyway, yes, there is some pressure ... I arrive anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes early, touch base with everyone, then go over my equipment checking all those settings that I have forgotten to check on several occasions. If the sidemen come out before the headliner I move out front and start shooting them to make sure the equipment is all functioning as it should and also to get some fill-in images. When the headliner arrives I start blasting, moving, shooting, moving, shooting, usually at 3 fps with my 70-200mm f2.8 IS. When I think I've got some good tight images of the main attraction I switch to my 24-70mm f2.8 and shoot a bunch, move, shoot a bunch, move and shoot some more. Then I switch back to my 70-200mm and move slowly away from the stage all the while shooting. If there is any time left, I move up one side or the other from my back-of-the-room position and shoot, shoot, shoot ... not just randomly but watching for the light and positions. I have learned that it pays great dividends to shoot until you can't shoot any more ... because of storage or rules. When there aren't song rules, I will take more time, use my tripod and 300mm f2.8 plus TCs from the back of the room. Now that I have that 20D I'm thinking of just setting it up with the 300mm on a tripod in the back of the room and getting my wife to stand behind it and shoot. I expect to get a 500mm f4 within the next year and will switch to that on the tripod in the back when I have it. Actually, shooting with the 300mm handheld from the front gets some awesome head shots!

[Leorooster]

As always, they are all amazing shoots. Sounds like it's a fun concert! Keep them coming, Dwight!

[DwightMcCann]

Bloo, I usually put the 70-200 on, pick up my 24-70 in my hand, and walk, from my speaker-table (yes, I still use it but am more careful!), over to the front row and sit in an empty seat, often next to one of the tribal members I have come to chat with at the beginning of the shows. I put the 24-70 on the floor next to me. When I move I pick it up with me. I often wind up sitting on the floor in the center isle and that's usually one switch. I leave the 70-200mm sitting upright on its lens hood. When I move again I just pick it up. If necessary I can leave it anywhere: in the isle, on the side of the stage, with a guard, with anyone in the first row ... everyone is cooperative and helpful to me ... it is quite amazing. Of course, there are 20+ guards in the room plus surveillence cameras. :) If the songs are long, and sometimes the first three songs go on for ten or fifteen minutes, I crouch down (to give the impression that I am trying to stay out of the way) and go back over to my case when I make it back up to the front and get my 16-35mm. At this point it al depends on how much time I have and what's going on with the performance. Every event is a little different ... a bit of an adventure. Aint' life grand. :D

[BottomBracket]

Once again, McCann is the man! Great shots, I love the detail you get under trying circumstances. Dwight is the concertmeister :)

[DwightMcCann]

Oh, Bottom, you just think I'm cute!

[DwightMcCann]

The Hampton, Virginia, Daily Press just used one of my images from this concert for an article they did on Smokey Robinson. They are sending me a copy but I haven't seen it so I don't know which one they took (after asking.) Anybody live there and seen the article?

[Michaelmjc]

Very impressed Dwight, you got some awesome shots!

[graykita]

Great pics

[DwightMcCann]

Hmmm, I guess my query acted as a bump ... I thank you guys for looking and commenting ... I will have many more great images of top talent in the future.

[DwightMcCann]

Michael, thank you very much! I was real pleased with these, too!

[DwightMcCann]

Gray, I thank you, too. It was a great concert, too. :-)

[Steve Parr]

Dwight, as always, that's top-flight stuff, man. I know their lighting system cost three-quarters of a million dollars, but you always completely nail it.

That last shot is just crazy...

Steve

[elTwitcho]

They're really nice Dwight, but honestly I think your best shot was one you didn't include.

This one here
http://www.dwightmccann.com/ChumashCasinoResort/SmokeyRobinson071505/SR0573.htm

[René Damkot]

The shot of the keyboard player is very nice, the third shot of Smokey is fantastic!
I like the tgumbnails at the bottom of the collage, but maybe you should adjust the cropping on some of those pictures a bit: now the heads of the different people are at very different heights in the frame, which is a pity IMO.

[DwightMcCann]

Rene, just going back over unanswered comments ... I agree about the heads across the bottom but had a limited number of frames across all those shown to work with. This is one of the reasons that I dislike the "three songs rule" ... not enough raw material to work with.

[Shabookie]

Nice images. WOW...
Thanks for sharing.

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Shabookie! I will hopefully get something useful from tomorrow nights Brooks & Dunn concert, too.

[GyRob]

Just spoted these and wow they are great really caught the atmophere of the gig great work.
Rob.

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Rob! Turns out I got great shots at Brooks & Dunn so they are now in the pipeline.

[rutt]

The second and last ones with the great lights really work. Very dramatic!

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, rutt!