Seal in Concert [Large Images Warning]

These images have been a long time coming but I have been VERY busy ... shooting high school football with Surf, then for a parent and likely soon for the local Santa Barbara paper. I have also been asked for a few images by the local Santa Ynez Valley paper. Yesterday afternoon I shot "Day in the Country" in Los Olivos for the local Santa Barbara paper. Came home, downloaded and emailed images, then packed up again and off to Solvang Theaterfest (the name of the theater in the round place) to shoot Nashville Nights country music benefit (which I hope to post when I get to the images.) Those images are for Rick Barker, Nashville to You Radio Acoustic Tours, the Santa Ynez Valley News and the Santa Barbara News-Press, all of whom want their own exclusive images. Good thing I shot over 500 frames! So, I just finished a new webpage for the Harvest Festival I shot last Saturday for Casa Cassara Vineyard and Winery (that I can't seem to upload to their web host) and then built and uploaded Seal onto my website .... so I'm ready for a break from real work and am posting here. Without further ado, the collage (as required by my contract):

And, as always, there are more images from this concert on my website at http://www.dwightmccan​n.com …noResort/Seal10​072005.htm. BTW, the concert was superb. Seal is a superb singer and a fantastic performer ... had the girls swooning just like Tony Bennett (although younger girls this time) and shouting, "Take your shirt off!" Seal said that he really couldn't anymore as he has to try to be a role model for his kid! I guess that was a feature of his act before he got married, eh?

As usual, OUTSTANDING work Dwight. But, I want to see your 85 1.2L pics NOW!What did you use for these? # 5 is really nice. Here is a link to three in the People session. That lens is holy.
http://http://photogra​phy-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=105443

Dwight.... I reckon you need to pick up a bit more work... sounds like things are real quiet at the moment

These are great. The lighting looks excellent (if it ever can be at a concert!) and I really like the geometric patterns that spots make behind the man himself (in the last pic in particular). As always, you've captured the atmosphere of the gig and given an insight into the performance - can't ask for anything more.

---- Gavin

Mike, I shot a few at Nashville Nights benefit with the 85mm f1.2L that will be along in a few days.

Gavin, thank you ... but somebody can ALWAYS want something more ... often images that look like they were shot in a studio!

Here's another:

Dwight
Usual standard, superb What lens did you use here? Was it the f1.2 85 you were referring to ? Thanks again for sharing these.
Ricky

Ricky, all were shot with 70-200mm f2.8L IS or 24-70mm f2.8L. Info should be in image EXIF. I didn't have the 85mm f1.2L when I shot this.

Good voice.. not the most attractive man though.. Nice photos none the less.

Interestingly enough, Nidz, the the ladies seem to find him quite sensual, if not erotic! You would have enjoyed watching them dancing around his runway.

Wow Dwight, Although I've only seen a few sets from you these are definately the standout best of what I've seen. Really impressive work, that first shot would make a great portrait let alone a shot in a dark concert hall

El, thanks! In a studio I would have gotten the "front" of his face sharper, a touch less highlight on his right and a bit more separation from the background on his left ... but when I saw this I immediately thought of a studio portrait, too. He was another of the entertainers who went out of his way to pose for me and in particular look right into the camera several times for a few seconds ... unfortunately I wasn't ready for him most of the time, sigh, but I'll get better as I go on.

Wow, Dwight, super shots as usual! I think you captured him perfectly! On the collage though, at the middle leftmost picture, the green paint strokes seem plastered on his facial scar. Just a small thing but it looks a bit weird. I really like the shot of him on the runway! Was Heidi Klum there?

Bottom, thanks! On some of the images in the collage I merged the objects with "if lighter" ... always trying for something different. I don't know Heidi Klum so wouldn't know if she was there. She a singer or his wife or what?

wow!!

number 3 really does it for me (4 if you count the collage as one!)

superb work Dwight...as usual!

Your pictures are great...I am very impressed with the collage...

Cheers,

Outstanding Dwight as always. Your images are just a work of art. Umm....Heidi Klum is a super model and I'm not sure if they are married or just a couple. But I'm pretty sure they just had a baby together or soon to have. Something like that. But nonetheless........EXC​ELLENT work!!!