This would have to be the first post in over a month

Hello everyone. I'm back. And i return with tidings of This Is Menace.

The last month and a half have been absolutely crazy with starting uni, settling into life in my new city, making new friends, and generally a lot of partying.

Now ive finally begun to sit down and get things sorted. Including some more gigs lined up. So here we are.

Im photographing Music Live in birmingham this weekend. Here's the first set of american metal supergroup This Is Menace.

I'd really appreciate some constructive criticism, this is the first shoot in a month that i've done, and i hope i havn't let too much slip.

Peace out,

1

Under-exposure in number 5 doesn't look nearly as good as it does in the others. I really like the under exposed look, just try not to make all of your shots that way (if possible). Looks like they were in some difficult lighting conditions.

3 is my fav.

Thanks for the crit john. Yea im still tackling the underexposure issue there. Partly my fault , and partly the fact that my monitor still isnt calibrated properly, seem to mean a lot of my shots are a bit dim and when i revisit them i can pull them up to the correct brightness.

Shooting in a black room with almost all the light behind the performer never helps either.

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Btw, your website is broken for me...

when i hover on your opening swirling text thing it cuts to a blank page saying "a:hover { text-decoration: none; }"

Sounds about right, it screwed up pretty majorly this evening, it's back up now.

x

IMO the gems are #1 and #3. I love the way you've composed both these shots. I love the raw emotion in #1 and how it's framed with the star light to his right. Did you use a star light filter or Photoshop in the star light effect? In any event the star light really works well in this shot. In #3 the performer looks contemplative. The deliberate underexposure of him with the lights so bright overhead and then outlining his shape has a mysterious feel to it. Excellent shot. And black and white was the right choice for both 1 and 3.

4 also has nice energy. The brightness on the audience with the underexposed band has a moody feel to it -- and B&W is also perfect for this shot. I'm not as fond of 5 and 6. The underexposure doesn't seem to work as well in these shots. I don't sense the same moodiness as with the ones I've previously mentioned. It makes me wonder if maybe you're onto something with the black and white contrasty shots -- with these dull color ones just not offering that same feel. Maybe try converting these ones to B&W and see what happens? 6 does seem to have some emotion. 2 is the only color shot that I think works, probably because the orangish glow manages to offer some mood.

I hope these comments are helpful. Overall I think you're onto something, and these performers ought to be proud of what you've created for them.

Very nice captures. B&W in the right places too...
Good job!
HP

ThomasOwenM wrote in post #4246319
Did you use a star light filter or Photoshop in the star light effect? In any event the star light really works well in this shot.

That's just how the lens captured it. Sigma 24-70mm f2.8

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I'm happy you are sorted and with us again and that the rains didn't wash into the sea! I like 1, 3 and 6 ... everything is very contrasty and you're losing too much shadow detail. I'm also glad SHE didn't take you off with her to foreign lands.

Cheers Dwight,

Contrast was intended to create a moody effect, theyre a very moody band, but i see what you mean about shadow detail, you have a good point as always.

Has anyone heard from SHE?

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