I'm running a series at the moment - It's a "Music Photographer" series that pulls out the "Top Ten" in my personal experiences of the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.. and Gear, Stuff, Friends and Foe! - so, Today we visit "The Good" 1. The first time you get THAT shot where the artist has looked straight down your camera and you've just captured it, bang on...
Here's a small version, but you can catch the big version HERE
2. Hearing one of your favorite songs from so close that you could strum the guitar for them... And singing along like an idiot!
Taken from the Alice in Chains blog...
3. Despite what a music photographer will tell you, you still remember the time you get your first gig in a big pit! My first BIG gig was Wembley Arena with The Prodigy... I remember walking with the other 15 photographers down under the floor, through by all the change rooms and weird dark little corners and coming out round the side of the stage... It was dark, just before The Prodigy were due to go on stage - the crowd were electric and I was buzzing like a fridge. (what band is this line from?)
4. Every now and then, something special and out of the ordinary will happen... Meeting amazing musicians like Jarle Bernhoft, Paolo Nutini, Guy Garvey... (etc etc etc) is pretty cool, but meeting them and realising that they're ordinary, real people is so much better!
5. I've made good friends in the pit... WAY too many to list here... Actually, there's not - But I'll come on to that in a later post...
6. Despite my not enjoying some PR folk (Sorry) - I have to say that there are others that I really like. There are people that are helpful and reasonable and very nice to sit and have a cuppa with. These people in the industry make it a very cool experience. (See you tomorrow night, Em)
7. Despite the fact that I've only had one "International gig".. Being flown out, accommodated and fed was amazing, and then I had many many bands to photograph and much amazing music to listen to and enjoy (except Oasis.. Ugh) AND I was paid for it... If I could do this for the rest of my life I'd be a LOT less stressed and I'd completely LOVE my job. (Vix, you rock)
8. If you love music like I do, there's almost nothing like being at a live gig where the atmosphere is amazing - you can just soak it in... There's only one thing better - Mid song, Stop shooting for a second, turn around and look at the crowd - BUZZ! - Do it.
9. The woman in the photo to the left, Lou Rhodes, sings the song Gabriel (Spotify Users Click Here) It's been a favorite of mine for so very long. Some songs we have some sort of emotional attachment to - this is one of them. And to stand pretty much in front of her when she sang it - magic. Jobs with Benefits...
10. With challenging lighting conditions, moving targets, tricky to get passes, thronging crowds, flying beers, flying wee! and some VERY loud music - Photos can be hard to get... That challenge drives me, every gig, to try and do better... I love it and will stop when I'm dead!
So - What doesn't work, what I love.. Tomorrow we're on to "What I use and would use" Peace out.
Sime x
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