Acute, Holly Ramos @ The Double Door, Chicago - 6/10/07

These are the two acts opening up for Jesse Malin on the Death and Taxes magazine tour (haven't processed Jesse yet).

1-3 = Holly Ramos (more here)
4-8 = Acute (more here)

I'm trying to break out of my M mode comfort zone, so I shot these in Av mode with -EC, center weighted metering. Lighting was very red/yellow, but pretty easy to work with and somewhat boring overall.

Let me know what you think!

1. Took this shot with my friend Dwight in mind...

Something about these don't work for me ... I have groups like this at the casino, too, and there's little to be done ... they're just listless somehow ... even #1 with the interesting, um, er, ah, well, as my daughter would say, "Nummies", doesn't seem to have much energy. You know I like your pictures but these guys need some 'Blood, Sweat and Tears'.

Well, I don't think it was as listless as the photos appear to be. I think maybe my compositional juices weren't flowing so much. I think I tend to shoot a lot of conservative angles with the 100mm when that happens. It is true though that not all musicians are performers, and not all performers are musicians. The third act (Jesse Malin) was much bigger in the stage antics type thing (great stage act...mmm, okay music)...hopefully those photos will show a little more energy.

In #1 I'ld like to have seen what she's playing: Keyboard, guitar? Then it would've been nice.
#2: Why not go overboard on post processing: Add a boatload of contrast and noise. Now it's a bit flat.
#3: Cute, but a bit much headroom. The subject helps
#4 & 5: Okay. Darken the BG a bit and/or lighten the person locally, to get the viewers attention where you want it.
#6: Somehow I like it. A bit more head would have been nice.
#7: Too tight on the right side, and head behind mic.
#8: Nice.

Agree that a bit more energy would have been nice.

I just realized I would like to have seen a wide angle shot of the stage area, etc.

René Damkot wrote in post #3363253
In #1 I'ld like to have seen what she's playing: Keyboard, guitar? Then it would've been nice.
#2: Why not go overboard on post processing: Add a boatload of contrast and noise. Now it's a bit flat.
#3: Cute, but a bit much headroom. The subject helps
#4 & 5: Okay. Darken the BG a bit and/or lighten the person locally, to get the viewers attention where you want it.
#6: Somehow I like it. A bit more head would have been nice.
#7: Too tight on the right side, and head behind mic.
#8: Nice.

Agree that a bit more energy would have been nice.

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

DwightMcCann wrote in post #3364563
I just realized I would like to have seen a wide angle shot of the stage area, etc.

Yeah, good point. I think I have a few that I haven't processed yet (shot w/ the 28_). My 17-55 should be here tomorrow!!! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself...using a zoom and all.

as rené says, 'these don't blow my hair back', although the 1st one is quite excellent, and would be better if you could see what she's playing; probably works better as part of a set, where one photo establishes she's playing guitar, then this follows as a tighter crop.

for #3, i'd have no qualms about cloning out the mic

6 is good, i agree.

bacchanal wrote in post #3364693
Yeah, good point. I think I have a few that I haven't processed yet (shot w/ the 28_). My 17-55 should be here tomorrow!!! I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself...using a zoom and all.

You'll manage somehow, I'm sure.

oohh i totally missed this thread, sorry about that.

I really like 2 3 and 7, Nice set over all but they stand out, Nice framing.

and she is pretty cute! lol
Cheers

Thanks for the feedback, I re-processed 2,3,4, and 5.

Better!

I would have to echo the ohers, but i must admit, i didn't see them pre-reprocessing.

Rob