DECCADE - Unsigned Band Manchester Accademy UK

I have a friend in this band and did a shoot for them at an unsigned band gig at the Manchester Academy last week.

Only the second time I've shot in "gig" conditions as most of my usual work is commercial but any constructive C&C would be appreciated:

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Serious lack of contrast. AVerage action. Too bad eyes closed in first. Second okay if that's the best you got, I usually do not post shots where face is blocked. Check my Switchfoot set and compare quality and compositions to yours.

Yeah, know what you mean about the lack of contrast - problem was they had flooded a small stage with dry-ice smoke and as I said I don't have the experience in this type of photography to get around it. How would you get around a set with heavy smoke?

As for action - well I can only shoot what they did - they are a young group (6 mths old) and are refining their stage presence - as yet there is no planned stage choreography:

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Nightstalker wrote in post #8644226
How would you get around a set with heavy smoke?

Mind the lighting (when backlit, smoke can work nice), don't use flash (that will just make the smoke light up and show more), post process (add contrast)

Nightstalker wrote in post #8644226
Yeah, know what you mean about the lack of contrast - problem was they had flooded a small stage with dry-ice smoke and as I said I don't have the experience in this type of photography to get around it. How would you get around a set with heavy smoke?

As for action - well I can only shoot what they did - they are a young group (6 mths old) and are refining their stage presence - as yet there is no planned stage choreography:

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"you can only shoot what they did ..." - you mean the guy had his hand up blocking his face the whole time? Holy cow.

I will be glad to reply further but have you checked out my pics.

Nightstalker wrote in post #8644226
as yet there is no planned stage choreography

I've never met a real band that actually had choreographed anything on stage... well, excluding Ok, GO!

And no, I do not consider anything created by the Disney Channel (Jonas brothers, Miley Cyrus) a real band.

londonblue007 wrote in post #8648317
I've never met a real band that actually had choreographed anything on stage... well, excluding Ok, GO!

And no, I do not consider anything created by the Disney Channel (Jonas brothers, Miley Cyrus) a real band.

OK - pardon my ignorance - I should have said that in the few times I have seen them they have never done anything repeatable and they are not the most energetic group on stage.

A typical pose of the lead singer :

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Rock Photo Star wrote in post #8648242
"you can only shoot what they did ..." - you mean the guy had his hand up blocking his face the whole time? Holy cow.

I will be glad to reply further but have you checked out my pics.

Thanks for the constructive Holy Cow!!! and yes, I have looked at yours and like 1, 6 & 7. I looked to be a much better / bigger set to shoot.

As I said up front, most of my shooting is commercial / product and this is a new ball game for me - I suppose it would be easier to get better shots if the venue's were bigger / better lit and the band more experienced.