Dan Baird / Big Jeezus Truck @Atak, Enschede

Been a while since I posted, but been a while since I shot something I liked.

These were shot when Dan Baird performed at Atak, Enschede, on november 5th.

Support band was "Big Jeezus Truck" and another band (no shots of them, kinda boring)

All images: Here

1) Big Jeezus Truck, singer:

Hellooo!

I checked out your C&C link so I thought I'd give it a go ...

#1 could benefit from shifting the figure up in the frame, using one of the non-central AF points to keep focus but also shift the framing - not easy in low light, sometimes the auxiliary AF points don't want to play ball, I grant you but I do think he should be full frame rather than topped with negative space. (I'm not under any illusions that you don't know how to do this, by the way, I'm sure you're quite capable, just suggesting it.) Other than that, strong image - good expression, pose and light.

#2 I can't find fault with ...

#3 should be shifted right just a small amount, there is space around the background figure where the bassist/singer (and primary subject) has his leg clipped.

#4 I like the idea of and still think the image is okay but could use a bit more clarity in at least a certain area. The goggles are nearly there but, just need a bit more ...

#5 I really like, the expression you've captured (especially in his eye) is brilliant. Best of the set for my (hypothetical) money.

#6 doesn't do it for me but apart from the tiny clip of his arm there isn't anything really wrong with it that I can put my finger on, certainly not a bad image and the expression captured is again very strong.

#7 is very good, quite creative use of the smoke and light effects with enough interest in the performer's visible features - works well with his appearance too.

#8 I'm not sure on the expression but then, imagining other expressions in its place, not sure I dislike it either.

Please post your thoughts on my thoughts ...

Yours, on my own private Three Mile Island,

Owain.

P.S. Great Images!

Hey, thanks

• #1: Agree.
  
• #2: Thnx
  
• #3: Yeah. Was pretty hectic. Sequence is here: 9:20:19 till 9:20:49. So that's about one image a second. In very changing light (I think 1/200 to 1/1000s, which is why I shot so much) (full exif, including LR develop settings is in the images)
  I was using the 50mm at the time, and didn't dare to stop and change lenses or move because I didn't want to miss the moment. In hightsight, I probably should have taken a few seconds to move a bit back.
  
• #4: Technically, it stinks. Was way overexposed (1/20s) with dramatic white balance. But I like the feel.
  I was switching between M and Av quite a bit that night because of the changing light. Been quite a while since I'd used Av, so I wasn't quick enough to turn the back dial the right way to -EC (I think a shot later was even more overexposed). (which is why the next shot in the series is at M again) Would be nice if it were possible to switch the rotation direction on a 1D series in whichever mode I like to whatever direction I like... Now, M and Av work "in different directions". Screws up my muscle memory.
  
• #5: Like the eye as well, that was a pleasant surprise.
  Would have been nice if there had been a bit less smoke.
  
• #6: Lighting sucked. This was the best I could make of it. Left side is completely black, right side clipping red SOOC. But yeah, "okay-ish"
  
• #7: Thnx.
  
• #8: Yeah. While shooting I had thought I'd captured better expressions.
  But some images were killed by lighting (the red #7, or this)
  

René Damkot wrote in post #11308397
Hey, thanks

• #1: Agree.
  
• #2: Thnx
  
• #3: Yeah. Was pretty hectic. Sequence is here: 9:20:19 till 9:20:49. So that's about one image a second. In very changing light (I think 1/200 to 1/1000s, which is why I shot so much) (full exif, including LR develop settings is in the images)
  I was using the 50mm at the time, and didn't dare to stop and change lenses or move because I didn't want to miss the moment. In hightsight, I probably should have taken a few seconds to move a bit back.
  
• #4: Technically, it stinks. Was way overexposed (1/20s) with dramatic white balance. But I like the feel.
  I was switching between M and Av quite a bit that night because of the changing light. Been quite a while since I'd used Av, so I wasn't quick enough to turn the back dial the right way to -EC (I think a shot later was even more overexposed). (which is why the next shot in the series is at M again) Would be nice if it were possible to switch the rotation direction on a 1D series in whichever mode I like to whatever direction I like... Now, M and Av work "in different directions". Screws up my muscle memory.
  
• #5: Like the eye as well, that was a pleasant surprise.
  Would have been nice if there had been a bit less smoke.
  
• #6: Lighting sucked. This was the best I could make of it. Left side is completely black, right side clipping red SOOC. But yeah, "okay-ish"
  
• #7: Thnx.
  
• #8: Yeah. While shooting I had thought I'd captured better expressions.
  But some images were killed by lighting (the red #7, or this)
  

I suppose this is the most "friendly" or "flattering" expression I have of him.

P.S. Thanks for making me think about my own shots a bit more

In the probably quite mortal words of Kris Roe/The Ataris: "Not a worry in the world!"

#3: I had a look at the sequence and there's some pretty obvious lighting changes in the ones you posted from the 30-odd sequence. I also know the lens conundrum well - you're not entirely comfortable shooting the prevailing sequence with what you have on, but if you change - you'll miss it completely. It's easy to think of moving afterwards but in those 30 seconds less so ...

#4: Not that I always nail every single exposure, but this is why I always use M - because I feel most comfortable doing so and know what everything's doing when I make adjustments. I've seen extensive arguments about the fact that EC in Av mode versus 'slavishly' using "Full Manual!" but I just feel comfortable with Manual and my mind works in an "I need to adjust the shutter speed/aperture" way rather than an "I need to adjust the EC" way - out of habit perhaps but, why change it? The other thing with Manual is that you can adjust the aperture if you need to keep the shutter speed constant to retain sharpness of action, or adjust the shutter speed if you wish to keep the aperture constant - adjusting the exposure in a way that suits the conditions. In my head, EC doesn't work quite as well for this - though I'm sure some could argue that it does ... either way, I'm sure you'll work out what you feel most comfortable with.

Back to the shot at hand - ultimately, it's your photograph and if you like it then that's a good thing, I wouldn't want to be the one saying otherwise ...

#6: Can see the left side is still very dark, and it does look like you've really pushed to get it this far. I have my opinions on excessive use of coloured light, especially in theatre performances it can make life very difficult. Saying that, a company I know called Idle Motion use a lot of blue and red but their shows (beautiful in their own right) always photograph beautifully so perhaps it's more than just the colours but how they are used - all I know is it often doesn't look too hot ...

#8: The friendly expression is quite nice but, the shot you posted initially is a better image. I'm increasingly of the opinion that whilst the expression isn't one I'd like to be on the receiving end of, it doesn't sit too badly in this context ...

Yours, always happy to elucidate,

Owain.

Owain Shaw wrote in post #11313721
#4: Not that I always nail every single exposure, but this is why I always use M - because I feel most comfortable doing so and know what everything's doing when I make adjustments. I've seen extensive arguments about the fact that EC in Av mode versus 'slavishly' using "Full Manual!" but I just feel comfortable with Manual and my mind works in an "I need to adjust the shutter speed/aperture" way rather than an "I need to adjust the EC" way - out of habit perhaps but, why change it? The other thing with Manual is that you can adjust the aperture if you need to keep the shutter speed constant to retain sharpness of action, or adjust the shutter speed if you wish to keep the aperture constant - adjusting the exposure in a way that suits the conditions. In my head, EC doesn't work quite as well for this - though I'm sure some could argue that it does ... either way, I'm sure you'll work out what you feel most comfortable with.

Comfortable with both. I mostly use manual, but in this case the lighting was changing so fast I sometimes used Av / spotmetering. Works well for close portraits, but the only downside is the "backward" rotation of the EC dial compared to M mode.

Only way around that is to set a CFn on the 1D3 which switches rotation direction of both dials in Av. In other words: Screws up the camera completely
Tried that for a while, but gave up on it: Can't get used to rotating the front dial right to open the aperture...

Owain Shaw wrote in post #11313721
#6: Can see the left side is still very dark, and it does look like you've really pushed to get it this far.

Not all that far
I left the dark side dark, but did do a bit of editing to remove the excessive red:

Owain Shaw wrote in post #11313721
#8: The friendly expression is quite nice but, the shot you posted initially is a better image. I'm increasingly of the opinion that whilst the expression isn't one I'd like to be on the receiving end of, it doesn't sit too badly in this context ...

I agree.

I've just had one of those "aaahh" moments where you work out what an acronym you keep seeing means ... SOOC.

Switching both dials would do the same for me, if that function exists on my 20D then I've not been near it ...

Looked like you might have needed more drastic measures, leaving the dark side dark threw me I think. You've done a good job keeping the general exposure of the image roughly the same whilst introuding a lot more detail and contrast ...

When I come to upgrade my laptop, I'll be getting on board with Lightroom 3 but I think trying to install it on Bernard (my current laptop, so named because of his age and generally decrepit nature that relies increasingly upon stuff being plugged in and because saying "Bernard!" sternly to him, is in my mind, better than swearing) would be a mistake (or at least less productive than would be desired) and I'd only really be using Lightroom to replicate what I'm currently quite happy doing in Photoshop CS2's branch of Camera Raw ... I don't think Bernard would cope well with the size of Raw files my planned camera upgrade will be delivering either so, this should hopefully work nicely together. This is of course a tangent ...

Yours, as always neglecting sine and cosine,

Owain.

Really like all set. There is a lot of energy and great face expressions. Well suited with type of music.
If a had to choose probably stage overview, no. 3 and no. 5.

A mostly blue set, Rene!

great set!

Thanks all.

D.A. wrote in post #11317281
If a had to choose probably stage overview, no. 3 and no. 5.

Why those?
Not 4?

Like face expressions and moments.
In fact No4 is nice because there is a lot of energy in that motion.

I'm not expert and don't have to much technical knowledge and in the end
not professional photographer although people for some reason (sometimes)
like my photos.

What I like in music photos are emotions, energy and face expression of the artist so
photographer goal is to bring that joy of music and energy to viewer.

In the end I need a lot to learn so every comment is welcomed.
Sorry for my English.

Nothing wrong with your English, and thanks for the explanation

Great faces and compositions... Cheers!!!

Update on the LR2 bug: It still exists in LR3, if you use PV2003. PV2010 does work correctly.
I don't think Adobe will fix it, but filed a bug report anyway.

Nice set Rene!