Help me get a photo pass - Nickelback

I wrote a quick piece on "how to get a photo pass" a while back, it's had a lot of traffic to it, infact, it's one of the most widely read bits of trash on my blog - "trash god amongst trash" or some such thing... Well, Debbie made a comment last night and I've decided to, as I can't really go out and shoot right now myself, try to help her out - I may fail, but I won't know unless I try, right?

So, To get a photo pass for Nickelback, the first thing we're going to need is a commission of sorts... I have a couple of ideas, here they are;

1. Local Newspaper coverage - Find something unique / Local interest 2. Music magazine - Nickelback, as much as you don't want them to be, are "Band of the Decade"

According to chartattack.com, Nickelback has been declared the band of the decade by Billboard magazine. They have sold more records than any other band from 2000 to 2009, which consists of more than 30 million albums worldwide from the four albums they have released over the decade.

Now, I know a few of the guys that are going to be at this one, they're people that have been shooting music here in London for a long time, they're very good at what they do and they mostly "have it covered" so it's going to be difficult to slot someone in that a. doesn't have any previous experience, b. has not photographed music "from the pit" before and c. doesn't have a commission - but look, if you don't try, if you can't help someone out - what good are you?

Watch this space...

Sime

Shalamar - A shadow of their former selves?

I (body) popped along to photograph Shalamar, a Disco group that kicked things off in the 70's, when I was born, and have been body popping their way around the world ever since - basically. I really didn't enjoy the support - Tuning, Timing, and most other things that go along with general musicianship were missing from the pair that were swirling around the stage. The unenthusiastic crowd only waiting for them to leave and for Shalamar to get on with getting on with it... I created a couple of photos of the support - they're below.

Shalamar, Well, I didn't know their stuff "back then" and I didn't recognise it on the night, either. I didn't enjoy the style of music or the delivery. Maybe I wasn't in the mood? Maybe I really don't like rebuzzed 70's disco music - yeah, that's it... Anyway, A handful of images form that performance, I wish them well... more after the jump...

To coin the phrase of someone who got bored and had nothing more to say "That's all we've got time for folks..."

But seriously, I have around 100 Shalamar images, they're all available for purchase - get in touch

Top Ten things to LOVE about Music Photography

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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LAMB ✡ OF ✡ GOD

LAMB ✡ OF ✡ GOD (I dunno, the stars just looked cool.. now shut-up already) Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia, formed in 1994. The band was originally known as Burn the Priest, but changed their name shortly after the release of their self-titled debut album in 1998. Lamb of God consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler and is a member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.

Since its formation, Lamb of God has released six studio albums, one live album, and three DVDs. The band's cumulative sales equal almost two million in the United States. In 2007 the band received a Grammy nomination for their 2006 album Sacrament. Lamb of God has toured with the Ozzfest twice and appeared on Slayer's The Unholy Alliance Tour in 2006. They have also played at many other major festivals around the world including Download Festival and Sonisphere Festival in the UK, Soundwave Festival and Gigantour.

Formation and Burn the Priest (1994–1999)

In 1990, guitarist Mark Morton, drummer Chris Adler and bassist John Campbell started a band named Burn the Priest. The band members knew each other from the college they were all attending, Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, Virginia. Morton left the band soon after its inception to receive his master's degree. Adler and Campbell replaced Morton with Abe Spear. For the next five years, the band practiced in Adler's house and around Virginia. In 1995, the band released its self-titled first demo. After the demo, Burn the Priest recorded two split albums with Agents of Satan and ZED respectively. After the band's first three demos, Burn the Priest added vocalist Randy Blythe to its line up.

In 1997, Morton returned to the band. Two years later, the band released its first full-length self-titled album, Burn the Priest, through Legion Records. Mikey Bronsnan of Legion Records saved up $2,500 for the recording and then broke them in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through DIY shows. The album was produced by Today Is the Day guitarist and vocalist Steve Austin. Spear left the band, leaving an open position for a guitarist. Adler's brother, Willie Adler, became the band's second guitarist a year later, and a deal with Prosthetic Records was signed. After being banned from playing in certain places (some venue owners believing the band possessed an "evil" name), Burn the Priest changed their name to Lamb of God**

*images taken from "Sonisphere 2009 in Images" **text taken from wikipedia (I'm not that smart)

Ginuwine & Joe at Indigo2

Latest shoot was last night at Indigo2 in the form of Ginuwine, an American R&B singer and Joe, American Grammy award-nominated R 'n' B singer and record producer AKA Joe Lewis Thomas at the good old Indigo2 out in the middle of nowhere... (not really, it's only a 50 minute commute from Hammersmith - each way!) But hey, I'm not complaining... Anyways, Images...

The Support - I didn't catch this guy's name, but you have to shoot support, right? I mean, they need all the support and help that you can give them...

Ginuwine was up next with some "booty shakin' goodness" ...as I said, before the break, Ginuwine was up next... here he is

...and then there was Joe, with a real band and less yelling and hip thrusting, here's Joe...

...oh, and here's the proverbial "booty" see what I have to put up with! having people poke their tongues out and so on... hmmph!