I love my music, I love my photography and for the last two years I’ve been combining those two things in my quest to become a music photographer… Well, I got what I wanted and I’ve had an amazing time doing it! I wanted to be that guy, the one in the pit in front of the crowd, nothing to distract me from the band, just me and them and my camera and that was that.
My very first music photograph - The Rushes
I’ve decided to give my little project the weekend off, let it out to pasture. I’m done with music photography for a number of reasons and I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved in the last two years.
My highlights, well… Alice in Chains was special, Metallica was powerful, NiN was sombre, Counting Crows was electric, Dave Matthews Band was invigorating, Lou Rhodes was emotional, U2 was large… The list goes on and on (well, for another 90 or so bands)
Further down the track - Stefan | Dave Matthews Band
What did I learn? Most bands don’t even know you’re there, PR agencies think they’re god and are part of what is wrecking the music industry, You don’t need a really good camera but it helps, It’s hard to focus sometimes when you’re singing, Alcohol and photography are not friends, Photographing festivals is tiring and inspiring and some artists, the ones that do see you, and encourage you and engage you, they’re awesome. (There’s one like this, I’ll be shooting her again – but for the love of it)
Like I said in podcast four, Maybe it’s time to check out other areas of photography, I don’t like being stuck on the one country road for to long, so maybe it’s time to get that baking book that my friend Nicki gave me out and start baking and snapping – though, we already know just how good I am in the kitchen!
I'm awesome in the kitchen, awesome...
that I used came out “in half” – 
As you ALSO know if you follow me on Twitter, I’ve picked up one of the cute little INQ Mini 3G social mobiles! Well, I thought, I know, I’ll get me a bit of extra memory, whack a few tunes on it and listen away – BUT OF COURSE, I’ve forgotten my headphones (The ones that come with the device) and I can’t use any others… You know why? Because the headphones that come with the INQ Mini have a Mini USB connector…. I understand why INQ took that decision, but seriously… The good will generated by fitting in a 3.5mm stereo jack… VAST! What about incorporation a 3.5mm stereo jack within the USB plug? Or Vice Versa.. Odd, I know…Hey – I could be onto something there!
Then there’s 
, but then since that have become a fan of pretty much everything they’ve done. I was 17 when I first heard Metallica, I purchased it as my first cassette on the train trip from Coffs Harbour down to Melbourne when I “left the nest” I shelled out for it and a purple Sony Walkman with the last $80 dollars that I had spare – the train trip from Sydney to Melbourne was amazing.. Me, Metallica my dads old guitar and a bag of clothes… I was living!
Tonight is the first in hopefully many Songkick meet-ups. I’m going along to meet the people at Songkick and see what “all the fuss” is about. How would I describe Songkick? I’d call it “The amazing music diary” or “The musical timeline of my life” or something equally as corny (You know me…) – What they say about it… “Songkick allows you to organize and track your favorite bands and track concerts and dates. Get instant tour dates from your music library” And it’s true… And it’s brilliant!
