The 88 - Seattle Tonight

Hey all! It's been a while, I've been really busy as the concert season is kicking into gear. Anyways, I thought I'd share some images from tonight of the band The 88 (www.the88.net). I was tasked with hitting the lead singer.

I took these about an hour ago, so there is no post processing/real cropping done. Cheers!

Camera: 1DmkIIn (M mode/ISO1600)
Lens: 70-200 2.8L IS w/1.4x II tele

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Great shots. Lots of personality!The last one is my pick of the four.

Really nice shots..I am wanting one of the 70-200 IS lens really bad. I just can't hold the dang thing steady with the slow shutter speeds needed for my music photo's.

Very nice, especially considering that you had the 1.4TX on there...

Thanks guys!

Steve, I hear you, this is one of the rare venues (The Crocodile) where the lens/tele combo works for center stage only. They have two cans at 30 degree angles into the center. It's completely unusable for stage right/left. I lucked out last night wiith the ligthing.

That last shot was actually 1/125sec f5.6 @ 260mm (with the 1.4x tele), IS on.

I just had a chuckle.

Aside from the obvious quality of the photo, I've also taken notice of the fact that I really, really take a good, hard look at what gear someone is using; in this case, a Gibson ES-333. Having been a gigging musician, a retailer, and now working for a manufacturer, I guess I just can't help myself...

Other than the microphone obscuring his face in every shot these are very good. This range is one of the reasons I got my 300mm f/2.8. I also think you could shift the histogram a notch to the right (levels, curves, whatever.) So, tell about what you were doing, for whom, and where it is going ... please.

Thanks Dwight! Your comments are always appreciated, and I'll take your compliments! I agree on your observations. I posted these without tweaking them last night, except for a minor crop on the first one. Yeah, that darn microphone! I've actually learned to tolerate it, in some scenarios. After all, it's all about story telling.

The main reason for not being able to escape the mic was the venue. The Crocodile Cafe is a Seattle area icon. It's very intimate, low key, and has bigger "rising stars" coming through. Because of this, it's considered to be one of the premier spots to see tomorrow's stars on a smaller stage. The down side from a photographer's perspective is the small amount of room to work, which includes stage clutter, and a packed crowd. It makes you use the clutter in the shot!

I'll let the cat out of the bag...I shoot for Gibson Guitar's Entertainment Relations. If you look at my past shot threads you'll see the common denominator. At least I know Steve will!

Right now I'm focusing on the "up and comers", and shooting the occasional "big name". The destination of the photos is pretty diverse...ranging from Gibson use, to editorial use for/by Billboard, Rolling Stone, and by the bands themselves...CD inserts, websites, etc...It's fun and it keeps me ahead of the curve for who is trendy and not had much media exposure yet. These are the bands that you would see on Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, etc...before the make it to Leno/Letterman.

I recently had a shoot with Buckethead that was scheduled for use nationally in Best Buy, but other logistics fell through on that. Currently I have images being reviewed by Getty for representation...we'll see

Thank you! It helps me to keep perspective. One of the things that Steve has helped me to see is that I have the best of both worlds with my current situation. When I found out his relationship to Taylor and that it provides some entree into talent management I was pretty jealous. I have been lead to believe that it is management and labels where some relationships can be formed that may pay more than the pittance that bands can usually afford. Steve pointed out that I already have most of what it is that can be had in this area, plus I don't have to travel all over the place, and I don't have to worry about when the next paying gig will be!

Before coming to this realization, my promoter friend, Rick Barker of Nashville to You Acoustic Radio Tours told me that he knows lots of artist management and is in fact currently part of a small record label, Big Machine Records, and would put out my work for all to see if I wanted to get more work. I do have some great images and in addition to just general marketing he could show my images to the big names that I have shot at the casino. Well, I have a day job and a family and having to travel to shoot would really be difficult ... so Steve was exactly correct that what I have now is perfect for me. So, I explained this to Rick and he said to just let him know when I was ready. So, I really have everything a guy could want and just have to choose ... and for now, I'm not ready to devote my life to this. BUT, I am still always interested in what is going on for other guys in this very difficult to break into market.

Hey Screamer!

I like the saturated quality of your shots - however I think that may be what Mr MCCANN is referring to when he says tweak your levels.

Sigh.

I'm often on the other side of the fence - but then, I'm looking at pictures mostly from a graphic design point of view and these pictures look rich and warm.

They definitely tell a story and the slightly over saturated look adds its own tale.

And good luck with flogging to Getty and let us know how you get on. (If only to make me jealous!)

I just read that The 88 is going to be playing locally here in San Diego. Unfortunately, I'm going to be in Canada (again), so I'll miss it...