Tierra, MissBehavin' and The Bomb [Large Images Warning]

A little Latin R&B Dance Party at the casino:

Dwight, I really like your concert shots. They are very sharp and you've been able to capture the spirits and moods of these concerts. Great skills. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Leo! Tomorrow night I will be shooting the Charlie Daniels Band but won't have time to do post processing for a few days as I will be attending the Live Oak Music Festival (a benefit for public radio station KCBX) for three days where I will be shooting the performers and trying to do a photodocumentary of Joe Craven who MC's the festival each year. From that I should have a lot of very interesting images!

Very nice! I agree, it takes skill (and access) to take these shots. Well done.

Bottom, absolutely ... without those All Access passes and my photoID badge this would not be possible! Although I think it may be because of the skill, demonstrated over time, that I have the access. OTOH, maybe it is just because of my connections. Or just dumb luck (my personal belief!)

...what he said

wow ! those are absolutely great !
sharp..., no noise...great !

Dwight, you've obviously got this thing mastered. Do you still find it challenging?

Great shots as usual, by the way.

One word...... masterly........no, wait a minute another ones coming..... polished.

In my book that adds up to ............... professional.

Lovely...

You boys sure know how to turn a guy's head. And I thank you for your kind comments.

Simon, absolutely! Every event is a challenge, an effort, an experience, an opportunity and most of all an adventure. Yes, the lighting doesn't get any better, the performers are top notch, I have all the access in the world (almost) and I have the best equipment in the world. But, as my wife points out, once that camera is to my eye I start sweating and can't hear a thing. It is exhilerating ... my mind is going a million miles an hour ... I am looking, looking, looking for a shot, the next shot, what can I shoot that will have impact, spirit, power, energy, and use the light? Will the performer slow down enough so motion blur is not a problem? Will they move another foot in that direction so they are totally in the spotlight? Will they move or the sideman move so they don't overlap from my vantage point in such an awkward way? Can I line up enough of the action to make a statement? Is there enough light on that face to make it pop? Can I shift from P to Av mode and start pushing some DOF? Can I shift down from ISO 1600 to 1250 or 1000 or 800 and still have the shutterspeed I need? [Confession: I start out shooting ISO 1600 and P mode, watching what the camera is chosing and then slowly work my way to slower ISO and shift to Av while all the time watching the shutterspeed, then checking the histogram and image, often having to set compensation to -1 1/3 because of all the darkness surrounding the central artist. I get soaking wet!] And I really love doing it! And they pay me! And they really seem to appreciate what I do! I've been waiting all my photographic life for that and now I get it almost every week!!!

Well enough of that! I'm making myself tired and I have to shoot the Charlie Daniels Band tonight!

Thanks for that, I enjoyed it Your pictures inspire me!

One day I'll post a bunch of outtakes!

Can't wait for the CDB shots!

Got 'em, but I've been camping and haven't touched 'em yet!