Hard to photograph with Influenza!

As the title suggests, I've been unwell lately. For about 5 weeks, actually. It SUCKED. Bronchitis, followed closely by influenza A. Darn well knocked me for six! Luckily, I only had one job booked during that time, and another that popped up on a night I was actually feeling better (this was all before being diagnosed with the very contagious - and Notifiable!- Influenza A!) Greazefest 2012 was awesome fun! A few photos here.

Recovered now, THANK GOODNESS! Lucky, since I have a few really good gigs coming up this week and next. 

Also thinking of adding to my lens collection.

Music Festivals....I think it's my preferred environment!

Been thinking about this a bit lately. I believe I achieve a larger percentage of good shots at a music festival or event, rather than an individual concert. I wonder why this is... it might be that I am slightly more relaxed at festivals (just am) and the physical environment. Festivals are usually heralding larger stages, so more room for photogs. Also better lighting is usaully present.

So now I know, bring on the festivals!

Slack Attack

Okay...last post in FEBRUARY! Wow...I suck. I didn't even do an Easterfest 2012 post! Nor will I. Mostly trying to forget that event. Not that it wasn't great photo-wise, but there was a slight confusion concerning my media pass ad...ugh just a long, ugly story that did end happily in the end but never should have happened in the first place.

So let's move past Easter. After it I shot August Burns Red / Blessthefall at the HiFi. GREAT gig. As usual, lighting could have been better (and less red) but worth the trip. Missed out on Mutemath, but got AntiFlag at the Zoo in Fortitude Valley. Then a big favourite of mine, Dead Letter Circus. Stoked to get that one... AWESOME show. First time I'd seen them at the HiFi.

This weekend I have a sports event (over four days) then coming up I have Steel Panther, Hilltop Hoods, The Bamboos (not in that order) and some other stuff I forget.

A LOT going on at the moment, outside of photography. Big changes.

What the hell has happened to Blogger, anyone know? All my photos are goneski. Ah well. All are on Flickr anyway.

 I recently went through the Lynchmada album launch show from late 2011 as I felt I hadn't given the photos my proper attention the first time around.  So those are on Flickr now. Check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccareid

A Very Switchfoot -ey Few Days

Have I mentioned that Switchfoot are one of my favourite bands? I probably have. If not, well now you all know.

I've also probably mentioned that they were at Easterfest 2011. Amidst a LOT of rain. So I only managed a few snaps of them from my precarious position to the side of the stage (under cover...) and that not being able to get the kind of shots I wanted of them was a huge regret of mine...

So I was a little excited upon hearing of their proposed return to our shores. A bit less when I heard it was with Soundwave - as I wasn't going to be photographing that. I crossed my fingers that a Sidewave would be announced - and it was! Not only that, but also a free acoustic gig at the City Beach in Brisbane CBD. I photographed and reviewed that for FasterLouder.com.au (and there was the beginning and end of my reviewing career...) see here.

 I could have stuck with the pack of photographers there that day, but I attempted to combine my desire to be there as a fan (IE: not in the band member's faces...) and the requirements of FasterLouder and get some decent shots. I liked my position and I'm glad I stayed put.

I had sort of planned for that to be my chance to just be a fan - not a photographer...but in the end I was happy with how it turned out. Plus it made me even more excited for the Friday night gig!

I don't blame the band for the torrential rain...not really. It's just a strange coincidence that both times they've been in the country the last two years has resulted in some serious wet stuff falling from the sky. It was really coming down from the second I got off the train, until I legged it to the station (no cabs available) several hours later. Nevertheless, I made it to the Tivoli (only slightly saturated)

Pics pics! (a more complete photographic documentation of the night in the gallery I posted to FasterLouder here)

A small selection a very large set. Seriously, gotta stop using burst mode so much. Takes me too long to sift through afterwards!

So happy I got to do this. I really do love Switchfoot. I was excited to see they had a spot performing live on Sunrise this morning (breakfast TV show) it's like; 'Australia MEET SWITCHFOOT!' which I am happy to see happen. God knows we need more decent music on the radio. If I hear Gotye one more freaking time.... *insert picture of head exploding* :P

So that's me for now. I have another gig to photograph this week (A Day to Remember / The Used / You Me At Six) then Future Music Festival next weekend. Psyched! Easterfest's a comin' too...

Damn you, Nikon.

I have been a fan of Nikon (over other brands of DSLRs) for basically my entire photo-taking lif. 

Recently, however, I am questioning their smarts.

The D700 is the go-to camera for Nikon-using sports and music shooters (at least, for those of us who don't have the dosh for a D3s!) it has amazing low-light capabilities (#1 reason for me)

So when Nikon announced the successor (D800)  yesterday, I was excited. It could only get better, right? Was hoping for increased fps, perhaps a nice new (larger) sensor, maybe a very slight jump in megapixel count. No way could they stuff this up.

WRONG!

36 megapixels = too many. A lot of people are under the impression that more megapixels = better photos. *ahem* not quite. Of course, a higher count would allow for printing larger sizes and some serous cropping (if needed) without image degradation. However - there is such a thing as TOO MANY MEGAPIXELS! Gizmodo has a good article written on just that subject.

There are other points also, that make it unsuitable/wasteful for my kind of photography, but they'd be better explained by a more technically proficient person than myself. 

Regardless, it's just a waste. For the kind of shooting I do, anyway. Also the video function. I don't see the point in my having to cart around the extra weight and pay the extra $ for the HD video capabilities which I will rarely/never use. I just don't do video.

In my mind, the successor of my faithful D700 is a studio camera. Not one you grab on your way out the door to shoot a live band.

The D4, however (successor to the D3/D3s - my wet dream camera) seems a smart choice. A more expensive choice. Therefore, Nikon is forcing us poor concert photographers to pay the extra if we want to upgrade to a better camera than our D700s (which have been discontinued now) 

At just 16.2 megapixels, it's just about perfect. The only thing that would make it better is the option of purchasing one without video capabilities. The other thing that worries me is the battery life... but other have posed the question of whether or not the Nikon press release (probably written in Engrish, as Nikon is a Japanese company) was wrongly quoted. If it wasn't, we're looking at about 40% less shots-per-charge than it's predecessor, the D3.

*sigh*

I now know what the older photogs were talking about when they mentioned Nikon and Canon 'leapfrogging' one another over the generations of DSLRs. This must be Canon's turn to shine.

Grandfather

My Grandad was pretty much the first person I met that did more with their camera than taking happy snaps on holidays, or quick pics of people. He is definitely the only photographer in my family (unless you count me) He mostly takes Macro photos. For a long time, he was focused on bugs and insects and such. You can see some of his work here.

While I find it fascinating and beautiful and the way he makes boring little bugs look colourful and alive really does make him an artist- I could never have the patience to do that. So I respect the ability to do so a lot.

Along with not having much luck with creatures smaller than my little fingernail, I also don't have much patience for landscapes. I gave it a shot at the Japanese Gardens yesterday, when my husband, brother and I all trekked up to Toowoomba to visit my Grandparents.extreme glare, yesterday, and a uniform white sky.

Ahh not sure I should share this - but it is what it is.

Paul Colman Trio!

First of all - I need to say how awesome this band is. Aside from being very talented - they are the nicest guys I've ever met in the music industry.


I had really good access at this gig (another nod to the Trio - lovely people that they are!) so getting a lot of great shots was definitely do-able. I posted a whole bunch on my photography Facebook page here, let me know what you all think.

I had an absolute blast. Was pretty much like hanging out with a bunch of mates. Instead of the glares I often get from performers who spot me taking their photo - I got grins and thumbs-up gestures and other nice things.


 PC3 - currently my favourite band to photograph!

Exactly how I wanted to ring in 2012...

Watching Dead Letter Circus on stage at the Coolangatta Hotel, with a camera in my hand. I don't think it gets much better than that! (would be poetic to say I also had a drink in my hand but I rarely drink alcohol at all, let alone when photographing)

The band was fantastic - as usual! (DLC always are) the venue was actually surprisingly nice (heard bad things about the Cooly Hotel before I got there) and I had no issues getting in. I couldn't find my confirmation email before I got there (wifii is patchy on the M1...) but I rocked up to the front door and no probs! On the list. Always a good thing (!)

Didn't catch much of the support band, Jericco I think they were called. They sounded okay though.

DLC though...always blown away. It was my third time shooting them, my fourth seeing them live. Hoping for more in 2012!

Tonight it's the Paul Colman Trio at Gateway Baptist. Can't wait!