Al Green in Concert [Large Images Warning]

I shot the Reverand Al Green last Thursday and just haven't had time to post until now. First three songs only photo rule and he didn't do much in that time so the variety isn't too good. First is the collage ... as always I will say that this isn't for an advertisement and I'm not looking for suggestions on how I should include my name ... it is a requirement of the contract so that the managers can put these up on their office walls.

There are more of Al on my website at http://www.dwightmccan​n.com …esort/AlGreen08​172005.htm for your viewing pleasure. I shot James Brown last night ... a truly marveous event and will try to get images uploaded here this weekend.

God Dwight, I love your shots! Man your shots are always sooo sharp and perfectly exposed. Do you ever shoot a bad shot? LOL J/k As usual Dwight fantastic shots! Always makes me feel as if I'm right there.

Keiffer, ROFLMAO ... I shot over 300 frames in the first three songs and threw away probably half of those to start. Yes, I shoot A LOT OF BAD IMAGES ... but I shoot so many images that there's almost always a half dozen good ones. The 1D Mark II and IS lenses make it a lot easier than it could be but I can remember back when all my stuff was always a bit blurry or uninteresting, etc. It's taken me a long time to learn to get these shots ... plus the best equipment in the world ... and the Chumash Casino Resort management and staff are absolutely the best there is. Last night at the James Brown concert (images in the pipeline) they even moved an artificial tree out of the way for me and a few concerts back they moved the U.S. flag six feet over for me.

That man sure likes his gold.

Very nice, as always Dwight. Hey I'm pretty bored right now and am looking for something to shoot. Do you have any reccomendations for evening/night photos around the area?

Surf, that's what I thought! As for shooting ... there is a thread here somewhere on "What does your main street look like tonight?" You could drag your tripod downtown and shoot a series of street images as the sun goes down. Or you could drive "over the hill" to Hwy 135 and drive down to my house (I'm only going to be in it two more weeks ... I'll make you help pack if you come) ... and we could both shoot Bell Street tonight! Email me off one of my websites if you want to do this option. Another idea but far away is to take Hwy 154 to the top of the pass and go West on West Camino Ceilo (toward the gun club) and shoot off the top somewhere down onto the ocean or go East and see if there is a vantage point with ocean and Santa Barbara (I really need to go there myself to check it out.) I think the moon is only about half, but on a full moon shooting Santa Barbara from the foothills should be awesome. I'm sure that off Hwy 154 itself there are places to shoot the city and ocean. But, Hey, the Beach Boys are coming!!!!

More shots:

Wow 300 shots in the first 3 songs huh. Like most I know its always better to shoot away and have a few good ones out of a lot. But the few you get are truly perfect! I love your work and you are truly an asset to this forum, not only for your great shots but your willingness to share your work,stories and insight on photography. Keep up the great work! And yeah it "rocks" when an employer goes above and beyond for "your" comfort and needs to do ones job.

I feel kind'a silly making any suggestions to someone who takes pictures of this quality but you asked a question about signing your name.

Have a look at how I handle it here . . .



http://www.lwsdesign.c​om/contents/picweek.ht​ml



It's no big deal, but I have created a psd that is straight text on a transparent background and named the file WaterMark. All I do is open both the watermark and the image I want to add it to and drag the Text layer in to the image file. Then I resize it to fit, while on the Text Layer I select the text tool, select the color option and then use the eyedropper to select a prominent color from the main image. As well I add a shading style consistently. “Drop Shadow size 2 and distance 2”.



Let me know what you think.

Nice work, Dwight. Its great to see you have such a good relationship with the venue. There are obvious mutual benefits.

Medalta ... no, I said I didn't care about feedback about my name! That's the way I have done it for them since I started. I normally don't put anything on my images (as you can see from all the others.) But I keep getting people telling me that what I am doing "is not professional" so I try to cut it off at the pass ... I really don't mind as they pay me anyway and no one at the casino has ever made any negative comment on it. I will, however, check out your signage!

More great shots!! Got my new lens last week.. so now I have to go find some concerts!!
.. Lee

(some time I have to try this collage thing... very nicely done.)

Keiffer, you're a hoot! I shot over 600 in the "first three songs" for James Brown last night ... although his songs seemed to go on and on and on! I'm going through them now and have tossed out a third already, but there are lots of dupes that I have not trashed. I was shooting at 3fps with +/- 2/3 bracketing. I'm thinking that I will bump the bracketing to use two above and two below! And there's still only a handful of good ones.

Very nice Dwight. What lens is your favorite for this kind of show? Also what settings or mode do you shoot in ?

Lee, yes, but try to find a well lighted venue if at all possible ... it makes a world of difference! And shoot until your cards are full. And bracket. And use a monopod if possible (do what I say, not what I do!) EXPERIMENT!!! And share with us, both successes and failures.

mdm, I always start with my 70-200mm f2.8L IS, ISO 1600, Av f2.8-3.2 and adjust from there. I chimp like a madman! I think the EXIF is in all the non-collage images and you are always welcome to copy them off, adjust them, whatever makes them useful to you ... except claiming you shot them, of course. My second lens is usually my 24-70mm f2.8L. And if I get a chance, I love to mount up my 300mm f2.8L IS, but that's rare with a first three songs rule in effect! If you go to my website and look at the Tom Jones images, the four head shots across the top of the collage were shot with the 300mm. I am planning on using my wife in the back with the 300mm and 1.4 or 2.0 TC on my 20D on my Wimberley during the first three songs when I get a bit more organized and she can make it. And I have a 500mm f4 in my equipment plan that will serve a similar purpose. I'm also thinking of picking up a 200mm f1.8 if they come out with an IS version.

Thanks Dwight..
Got the monopod, and the QuickRelease is already welded to the lens!!
Never bracketted much... I always shot Manual / RAW, and had 2 up or down with pp. Guess I'll try that. my throw aways were not usually due to exposure, more because of movement, out of focus, bad framing (due to lack of good zoom lens...)
I also wanted to ask about the lighting on your shots.. because the background blacks and colors are great!! The places I shoot always seem to have too much smoke...
There may be a concert around this weekend.. I'll see what I can find.
.. Lee