This is an image I made some time ago and it lived on my hard drive for a long time. I didn’t see an image in it. Then with some attitude change I began to see something in it but it needed work. I used to restrict myself to conventional aspect ratios for a long time but I’m learning how to let that go and just use what looks best for the photo. I also added the grain on purpose, and I”m loving it!
Autumn Mood
It’s interesting to hear the questions I get asked about shooting live music. It’s a genre of photography that not everyone can just go and do so they seem to have a lot of questions. I know that I am very lucky to have the privilege to practice what I do. Colour related issues are my biggest challenge. No matter what colours are happening on a stage, I still try to get as “normal” skin tones as is possible. Red and that blue/purple light is the worst of all. Not only is there the obvious colour cast but it can sometimes rob you of detail too. I often struggle with this but this Sam Roberts show was especially heavy in the blue/purple range. I was able to get an acceptable skin tone after considerable time.
Saturday night, I had the good fortune to shoot the Rockin’ The Big House show here in Kingston. For anyone who doesn’t know what that was, it was a concert featuring some pretty big Canadian musicians and it took place inside a former federal penitentiary here in town that is currently being run as a museum and it did indeed rock! Below is a photo taken at the end of the show and features all members of The Trews, Tom Cochrane and three of the remaining members of The Tragically Hip! History was made in Kingston Saturday night………in more than one way.
I was looking through some photos the other day and noticed my first concert photography attempt was in 2006 so it’s been about 13 years that I’ve been doing it in one way or another. It’s been a fun and interesting journey and I love every minute of it. I’ve worked hard and learned a lot over those years.
“First three songs, no flash” are the instructions you typically are given prior to the shoot. That’s all you get, after the third song we are escorted back out of the venue, that’s it. I often have to explain to people that I don’t even get to watch the show, but it’s true in many cases. An exception to this procedure is festivals. Bands often do away with restrictions at festival shows.
The image below is of Danielle Nicole Schnebelen of the Danielle Nicole Band. I had the opportunity to shoot this super talented person after a long time of following her music. Most photographers I know have a bucket list of sorts that they wish to shoot and Danielle was one of mine.
Danielle Nicole Schnebelen