Talent contest

My hometown has some local celebrations every year. There's usually a cheesy talent contest where kids of ages 12-20 may participate. It's mainly girls doing it, and they all end up singing. I've been in it at the age of 14 I think, but I played the piano.

Anyway, this year I went to watch and took some pics. Remember, these kids are quite young and really haven't learnt anything about using the stage. They mainly just stood and sang apart from a couple (boy and girl) who danced a tiny bit and a girl who was very energetic when singing.

This girl sang alright, but I've already forgotten what she sang.

Sounds like a local version of American Idol. Even if the talent wasn't great at least your photos are!

It is so refreshing to see some nice, clean cut, well dressed, refined kids without tattoos, piercings, worn out jeans and weird costumes ... kids just putting their ass on the line for all to see with all those pretensions! I am sure I will take some flogging for saying that, but I do enjoy knowing humanity still has some dignity somewhere! Very nice, although a little small!

I saw the local paper's photos from the event today. At the event I had a feeling it was the woman I saw trying to photograph the stage with a kit lens who was representing the paper. She had a camera and note pad in her hands and went very close to the stage, and to the very left side of it. It just looked like she would end up with weird shots from the angle she was standing and with such a short lens. I was right. Mine were better. I sent these samples off to the Editor actually on Monday offering the high res for publishing, but never heard back from her. Her loss. hehe

Really nice photos; I especially like #3. So many photos of singers end up with more detail of the teeth and tonsils than you might really want; #3 shows that she is signing without that problem!

regards,
/alan

I have some experience with shooting beside publications. If the publication is not big, they often have the writers doing their own shooting, often with their own equipment. Whenever I see Rebels or 20Ds I know the images are unlikely to be very good because it means these guys are not photographers (most of the time.) When they show up with 1D's or D2X/H's and monopods then I know they know what they are doing. But I still get much better images.

Nice shots Nouna man. You captured some good expression there which is always good to see. The boy and girl doing the 'feel up' thing is amusing.

Steve Parr wrote:

Yes, yes, I know! These are publication people, like newspapers, that simply aren't top notch, not Live Entertainment or Concert Shooters. My comment was predicated on the understanding that the casino does not permit cameras except from credentialled publications. I know we have a lot of folks here that have 20Ds and 30Ds that do great work. But some of the folks that have shown up at the casino had non-working equipment or run down batteries and all sorts of things that would never happen to our people!

Whew!

Thanks for the clarification. I was getting ready to dump all my camera gear and start buying guitars again!

Ya! I'm not known for my social skills.

DwightMcCann wrote:
... When they show up with 1D's or D2X/H's and monopods then I know they know what they are doing. But I still get much better images.

That's because you mostly have the super secret weapon; you have seen the act before and can pick the eyes out of it. Knowing the venue also helps lots.

I rarely know the performers but you are certainly correct that I know the venue ... I've shot about 60-80 events there. But I do tell them everything I can think of ... as I have pointed out elsewhere, I always extend myself to other photographers no matter what I think of their equipment. If they have compatible equipment I offer to share what I have including lenses and batteries. I even tell them where and how I plan to shoot and offer to let them come around with me. They never do and usually act as though they totally self sufficient. Oddly, I rarely see the same photographer twice.

I've worked for my local paper & yes, it's not a big one & the writer also takes the photos. That's how I got my editorial work published! LOL

They owned a 10D at that time I think & two lenses. This woman seems to do casual work for them & it did look like she used a Rebel with kit lens. Still, her angle was crap! She even looked uncomfy & unsure when taking the shots. The result was profiles from below & far away.