So, I was asked to photograph a band during their gig at 'Zwarte Cross
' Festival. The total festival drew a bit over 93000 visitors (!)
I was photographing on the second day of the festival, which was less crowded, and at a small stage.
Not really my cup of tea, so not too much images apart from this band. Since it was a paid job, I did select a bit coarser then usual, to give 'em something to choose from...
All images here: Click
#1: Another location on the festival: "Buikschuiven" (belly sliding): Take a table, wet it with beer, take a run, and slide as far as you can....
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#2: Audience before the gig. As you can see, the previous band didn't draw too many people... The band was a bit worried at this stage, since they would be recording a DvD:
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#3: They did bring some cheerleaders:
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#4: So the audience did show up in numbers... The band threw inflatable guitars into the audience....
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#5: From the sound table:
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#6: Singer:
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#7: Brass section:
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#8: Girls again:
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I had access all ereas, which was nice.
The stage wasn't too high, and there were some 'steps' on the inside of the barricades of the photopit. So I could get some shots from a bit higher viewpoint, by holding myself on the barricades, standing on the steps, while holding the camera with the other.
Stage is bigger then I'm used to, and I found out that that causes you to need to move around a lot more, and also gives the band more space to run around in. Not neccesary making my job any easier...
Also getting from backstage to the front was time consuming, so I just jumped off the side of the stage into the photopit a few times when in a hurry...
(Naturally I was backstage the first time the cheerleaders came up and started throwing the inflatable guitars; next time ask the band a bit more questions about their timing)
Lighting was so-so at best: One front light was defective, and the LJ didn't do too good a job IMO.
All in all it was fun to do, a lot of stress (since IMO, I had to capture *all* of the gig, not just some close up shots. Then again, I did have about 45 minutes to do it in. It proved to be a close call.), and the band is very pleased with the images.
I think there's definately room for improvement...
Yes, big stage requires more movement ... I probably walk500 meters while shooting the average group to different vantage as the lights and their positions change. The sound table shot is a winner although I don't see the horns!
