Day in the life, Part Two...

Continued from part one.... "I usually start off around iso800 and work my way up (or down!) depending on the lighting, and slowly am learning how things go at a regular concert…" Is where we left it yesterday, talking about the regular day of a concert photographer - I guess what I should have called it was "Just one gig..."

So, we've had the support and the main act has just exploded onto the stage (not exploded ON the stage - we're not talking about Spinal Tap here!) and you're in Awe - I have been every time since I started - and then you focus and you're prepared and you know your gear back to front and you're away!... WHOA THERE, A couple of shots to start, check your exposure, watch your histogram... make sure it's somewhere close to the middle if possible - though, this isn't always (nearly never) the case as you always have spikes and troughs with concert lighting.. So just use it as a gauge, rather than a "damn, I buggered that up" because you probably haven't.

Take a few shots, check and double check... One thing I used to do was let the music "take me" right from the word go - not ideal!... you're shooting, forgetting to check your settings, just trusting that the lights haven't changed hugely since they came on - not always the case... You can need iso400 and then iso2500 between the verse and the chorus!.. Usually though, I just (as I said) wander up through iso800 and then usually end up at around 2000 and vary the light with my aperture or shutter speed - depending on what look I'm after. So, you've got your metering set to spot (this is what I use mostly - average can play tricks on your camera) and you meter the light off your subject, be it the lead singer / drummer / bass player / kazoo artist... You set your shutter / aperture and then frame your shot when you've got your focus lock. There are many thoughts on framing, and it's true - they change depending on what you're shooting for. If you're shooting for a magazine, a lot of the time they're going to want a certain shot and they're going to want space for captions or text, so you need to keep that in mind. Most of the time it's best to get your shots nailed and then muck about being arty...

Most of the time you could be happy if you get a portrait of the lead singer / guitarist / bass player etc.. A wide shot of the whole band.. A couple of shots of different (if you will) arty type stuff - the guitarist doing a back flip from the top of the speaker stack, the drum setting himself on fire - that sort of thing... And you're covered for press / magazines... If you're after a big poster for your wall - Think about what would look nice / what your client thinks would look nice - the space the image has to go - if there's branding to be involved, or if the shoot has a sponsor that's looking for branded shots (include the banners and stuff in your shots) An example I can use is a gig I shot at a little club last week, they've been given a Soundcraft mixing desk... I popped a couple of shots of the desk in their photos and they / Soundcraft really appreciated it - if nothing else, it creates good will and that, these days, is key!

This is (not) one of the shots of the desk that I sent them.

If you’re after a great guide on sound controllers, take a look here -> click

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So - you've planned in your head what to shoot, you've gone in and shot it... (This is all *my* day, remember - you can do it differently)

Three songs, the security is upon you, ushering you out of the pit - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL YOUR STUFF - I always find that after three songs I'm buzzing and excited and I rush to grab my thinkTank and get out to see my shots... If a lens has rolled out of your bag and is swimming in pre-thrown beer - you want to make sure that you take it home with you! Check around your bag, zip up and make for the door...

Home James! ...or IS IT? (That was my best Welsh impersonation)

Some times if you're shooting for press, a publication, an agency like Getty or some such nonsense, you're going to be asked to "upload from the gig" So, you shoot, you run to the nearest flat surface and post your images via ftp or web to the agency concerned and THEN you're free to go... If you're asked to do this, you either have to have your own 3G type card, or you need to organise with the venue (very few will have a press area) to use the press area / their wireless right after the gig. I am currently using a MiFi device - This is a little silver surfer from 3MobileBuzz that is just like a little wireless access point, but that is already connected to the internet. (I uploaded the images above and below to this post via it, and indeed am writing this in a cafe using the MiFi right now) If you're going to agree to upload from a venue - you need to make sure that everything works first and based on the performance of this MiFi device from 3 Mobile, I will be getting one. (I've just had a twenty minute conversation with a guy in the cafe about it and he's getting one, as well!) So, it not being the case that you have to upload from the gig, and you're not staying for the rest of the show to review or enjoy, you're off home and you're inserting your flash cards into the card reader like a man or woman possessed! Seeing what you've come away with is the best part - the screen on the back of your camera will tell you a lot, but not as much as your computer screen.

Screen shot 2009-09-19 at 12.42.13

Let's look at the process for the edit... As I have been talking about recently it's easy these days with the MegaPixel war in full swing to keep every shot and swiftly run out of drive space... So you have to be smart! I use Adobe Lightroom - and love it - I shoot RAW and have a 21MP camera which means that every image takes up about 20MB depending on the complexity of the image... When you start Lightroom and stick your CF card in the reader, the import utility pops up and asks you what you want to do (SEE ABOVE) I import to another location, my primary G-Raid, and I also Keyword and Delete crap at this point... Tick the "preview" button on the bottom of the import dialogue and you can see your images on the right of the screen... Delete the crap, I do, and then suck them off the card and into your primary working drive. (Make sure you back up to a second G-Raid - All drives die sometime)

You've got your images in Lightroom or your preferred edit / developing software, go through and flag the ones that make the cut and then prep them for delivery! - That's really it.

Things like the decision to shoot in RAW, the best format for delivering to press or a magazine will all be covered in upcoming topics.

All the best! See you tomorrow... (Well, Monday - Tomorrow is, after all, the day of rest!)

Sime

Bass Players of the world unite

I'm a bass player, have been for ages, I play a Musicman Stingray four string bass and also have an acoustic Washburn four string which I love. I wanted to pool together a couple of images of Bass Players for you, that I've taken and appreciated whilst they played.

Why am I a bass player? No idea, I loved the way it looked when I was 8, so I saved and saved and got one - A $140.00 Emporador Fender P copy... I played it and played it and played it... (I didn't have an amp then) I've had a few different instruments between then and now, and now I play through an amp, it's a Phil Jones with an external cab - it's an 8x5" That means it has eight five inch speakers, that may seem silly, and, to look at you would think it is - when you hear it, you're tone changes (And so does its)

This be her...

Well, this post is about paying tribute to some of the bass players that I have photographed in the last year... So, let's start with the most recent, shall we? (After the jump, folks)

I love the sound of my MusicMan yet, she's not been out of her case for months... I just don't get to play her like I'd like to in the one bedroom place in which I live - no space, small big amp kills small children and ten yards. Are you a musician?

Do you want to be photographed looking HARDCORE? - Please get in touch and we'll work something out... simon [ @ ] gtvone [ . ] com

Ray LaMontagne, Did I mention him?

I love Ray LaMontagne's music... I know he's playing at Royal Albert Hall this month and have emailed the people at 14th floor to ask if they'd consider including me on their photographers list. I have also mentioned that I will be shooting for an upcoming book on Music photography and how it's changed with digital photography... I posted on "where from here" and had some great replies from my friend Christie and another from my friend Brad - Two different comments, both more or less saying the same thing... Let me quote some of Brad's comment "On that point of the industry being devalued by amateurs/weekend warriors, I always find it interesting to compare related matters… do you buy a newspaper or do you now just pick up the free papers in the morning and evening? do you insist on paying full RRP (£14?) of all the music you own or do you get it cheaper either via the internet, mass general retailers (Tesco), by paid download (Itunes), industry freebies or illegal downloads? do you get all your equipment from UK businesses paying full RRP, search for the cheapest UK deals, import it cheaper from abroad declaring it at UK Customs or getting it abroad and try avoiding paying any duty on it? Photography is no different."

Well? Valid, does it make you feel bad? Everyone's in that same leaky boat... Or are they?

So - I have decided that I should start using my work in different ways, there are too many people in pits these days, and I have to say, given my experiment of the last couple of years, that a lot of the time those people are not there for any other reason than "they want to be"

What does this mean? Does it mean that I will no longer be shooting music? hell no - that's what I love... I am and have already started writing a book on music photography, due for release just before Christmas this year - The book will be a pictorial journey through my little journey from the mosh to the pit...

Sime

Imogen Heap // Ellipse - The Review

This album isn't so much a departure from the Imogen we all know and love, and as such can be two things - either boring and more of the same or comforting and like an old friend. Some of the tracks on this new 13 track album album are, to me, boring and one or two of them are the best I have heard from Immi in the last few years...

Imogen Heap // Ellipse

They say (whoever "They" are) that musicians need to evolve and change and.... release better or worse albums than their last, I am not sure Imogen has evolved, maybe more matured? ...on with the music!

I listened to the album four times, once on a plane, once in a deck chair, once at the beach and once walking home from work (slowly!)

Track One - First Train Home // 4:13 // One Star Started my review with 1505 miles to go, travelling at 355mph and 3029mtrs up... (At -3c for those plane geeks reading) - SO very reminiscent of older Immi, much use of "pop tech" self harmony and twists and turns of the lyrical variety. Much twittering and "community building" in the build up to this album made me so expectant and this first track - if indeed it was the first I heard - would have let it down for me... I don't like it, I'm sorry - it's not so strong and I would have started the album somewhere else.

Track Two - Wait it out // 3:58 // Five Stars Beautiful vocal layers, engaging lead vocal... I've just flown over the English coastline on my way to somewhere else, this track my soundtrack... I don't even begin to know what Imogen's vocals are about, but this track is like an elevator ride to the sun... I could and can and am listening to it over and over... Track Three - Earth // 3:35 // Two Stars I think the English'ness of Immi's vocal does something weird to my ears in this little number, something reminds me of Lily Allen and I flick the next track - every time. Old School Heap at her finest, not my cup of tea.

Track Four - Little Bird //4:09 // More stars than I have Little Bird is one of Imogen's best songs to date IMO. The separation of all the sounds, a stunning breathy vocal and some of the harmony lines (1:34... and my fave at 2:02..awesome downy uppy thing going on) Again, I don't even pretend to know what she's on about, but I know she used lots of gizmos and whatsits to creat all this amazingness... This is a sweet, sweet tune.

Track Five - Swoon // 3:54 // Three Stars Crunchy and Chewy.. Bang, Straight out of Little bird into this and my Shure's are giving my ears the good news... Lovely melody but then, in the chorus, I find myself wanting to dance like a crazy ghost to those eeeery wooooooOOOOWWWWwoooooOWWWWW sounds... you'll know what I mean. Quite enjoy the vocal chunk in the chorus... you're welcome to be my shipmate anytime, but you can keep your lotion to your self thank you missus!.. oh la la Imogen!

Track Six - Tidal // 3:52 // Four Stars The faux Cello start reminds me of "Just for Now" some parts of this album will naturally be recycled thoughts from previous works of art... Phrases, Loops... Still, an upbeat track with a typical Immi vocal that sends me skipping down the beach.

Track Seven - Between Sheets // 2:54 // One Star Maybe I was in a bad mood when I was listening to this the first time and it stuck with me, but this whole album (almost) says to me "with him, without him" sometimes it's fine, sometimes it's not... And, I guess that is fine, but ...I don't know, hell, I just don't like this track - It's "nice" but offers me nothing new...

Track Eight - 2-1 // 4:42 // Five Stars I was lost on this one, I don't know what to make of it. An amazing amazing (yes, I meant that twice) mix of vocal and machine... Will you be ready and BOOM you're away... stunning! Quickly becoming another favorite of all time, with the downturn at 3:00 making it quite magical... Then, at 3:34 I'm transcended in the movie, Braveheart? - Things are not always as they seem

Track Nine - Bad Body Double // 4:07 // Four Stars Something slightly different? Part Kate Bush, Part Sheryl Crow... Not sure if this one works for me, the funny little guitarish bit and that "scream" are quite cool... An interesting track, gets itself four stars for a touch of difference.

Track Ten - Aha! // 2:27 // Ah? A star? Wow, I'm in Cirque Du Soleil... Um whoa... Not sure what this is? Power ballad meets spy sound track meets Russian drinking game? - I close my eyes and I'm on a crazy film set and then, at the end the "Oy" ...nto a fan, it throws me about and makes me think though... SO? - Can't rate this one!

Track Eleven - The Fire // 2:00 // Seven stars Donnie Darko meets St. Germain? A-MAZ-ING.... Imogen, can you set the scene for me, where was this played? how did it come about? - I need to know more... I know it may be just a filler? Maybe just something you love playing and wanted to add... Seriously brilliant stuff... (In my notes I wrote "Five stars, no, Six!")

Track Twelve - Canvas // 4:55 // No Rating If I were in a lavish mountain cabin with the snow beating down outside, a fire blazing and good friends around me - I would want this as the soundtrack to that night. Absolute Aural Pleasure... (And the video is no slouch, either)

Track Thirteen - Half Life // 4:01 // A load of remaining stars (Let's call it seven) Half Life leaves me wondering "where for Imogen next" I think it's time for another collaboration - some different sounds, some different people... It's like the closing track to your favorite screen play, it's a brilliant closing song for a darn good CD, and, in this case - this is just what it is. Sure, at 2:14 I think I'm in an Airline commercial but hey, that's not detracting...

"There may well be others, but I still like to pretend that I'm the one you really want to grow old with"

Overall this album is really very pleasing and a great listen...

I implore you, actually, go buy it because we NEED artists like Immi... Get it here Imogen Heap // Ellipse

You can find Immi on Twitter and on Facebook...and in a Mustang on her way to see Hawksley Workmen... you go girl...

Calm Descends

Some time to wind down, time away from the busy every day manic'ness... (a new word?) of regular London life while our flat is torn apart by family members that are using it as a base... Calm, descends.

Sitting looking out over the bay in Santorini, Listening to Imogen Heap's new album, Ellipse (Bonus Track Version) -- Currently "The Fire" ....Calm descends....

*full album review coming soon*