Been a while...

Yeah.. wow. Last post August 2012. Ha. Can't be fucked typing out everything I've done since then so visit my photography FB page if you're interested; https://www.facebook.com/becreidphotography or the site I shoot for a lot http://musicfeeds.com.au/photos/

I felt the need to GRR about a few things in the world of music photography so here goes;

[Disclaimer; I remember being a newbie at this shiz. I made mistakes. I still do! Generally not etiquette-wise though. How did I learn? I googled a lot, and I read. The most important thing I did was LISTEN to those around me. Shit I still do! Always learning... Fuck something up once, fine. Do it again and again KNOWING there is a better way? That's retarded. Just photograph flowers or something, I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass when your photos suck]

These are the things that irk me in music photography

Constantly blaming bad lighting. 
 I know there are circumstances where anything BUT full-frame and wide aperture lenses just don't cut it. If it's that bad, and you're not willing/able to shell out for new gear, don't shoot there. If other people are getting decent photos in the same circumstances with similar level gear,, then it's not your gear, it's you. Learn to use your freaking camera or GTFO.





Stop. Photoshopping. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Your. PHOTOS!!!
Seriously, WE CAN TELL. If it's shit to begin with, it's going to stay that way even after an hour of fiddling in Camera RAW. I see the burn marks, I see the blur from extreme noise reduction. I see that you clipped your highlights and thus lost detail...
Edit less, work on technique more. Don't be lazy (says the laziest photographer ever...) but still. If you edit it that much that it's no longer a photo, say so. Don't go OMG look at this awesome shot I took!

Speaking of RAW...

Shoot or in RAW or GTFO
Unless you're that good that your shots need zero editing and you're not as anal as I am about storing the originals... or think you'll ever need the Raws for anything, ever. I'm a girl scout when it comes to files. I MIGHT NEED THIS. That's how I have a bazillions hard drives and cf cards and blah. No wondr I'm poor.
 JPEGS are not simply SMALLER files, they're LOSSY. If you don't know the difference, Google it.

AF-Assist Beam. Turn it OFF. NAO. 
Are you for real? You know the 'no flash' rule, but think that laser-like beam into the artist's eye is fine? Lul. Go home, you're drunk. Regardless if you shoot next to me in a pit with yours on, expect me to say something. If you don't listen, expect me to make sure you leave said pit fairly shortly after that.

White Balance. Am I speaking Chinese here?
Seriously. Do you know what this is? If not, please learn it. If you do and still don't bother to use it correctly (or at all) WHY?? I KNOW that artist's shirt was green, not grey. I know because I balanced my colours correctly in post. That's the other thing about shooting in Raw... but... ugh. Why bother if you're not...

Happy shooting.

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!

It's that time of year...

Yeah - THAT time. Christmas time. The busiest time for me in my day job, and not completely dead in the photography work side either! Also my website has had a bit of a facelift, I now have a Facebook page for my photography (here! Like it!)

I just recently covered the IGA Brisbane Lord Mayor's Carols in the City. I didn't seek that one out - and I am NOT a fan of carols and the whole santa thing...but I had a blast! There were some seriously talented Australians on stage that night (Marina Prior, Troy Casser-Daly, Paulini, Peter Shurley, ...etc) fantastic lighting (I think from the same people who do Easterfest each year? THEY ROCK!) and a really nice atmosphere.

It was challenging, I'm not used to dodging video cameras that are being operated remotely - at things like Easterfest there it usually a human attached to them so they're quite easy to avoid. A few times I might've popped my head up at the wrong time - but we'll see on Christmas Eve when the whole thing will be on TV! (for locals, channel 10 from 6pm, I believe) actually I might not watch it...how embarrasing if my head does pop up!


Anyway, a few days after that I photographed Explosions in the Sky at the HiFi. Not a bad performance.

Now I am done for 2011! Unless you count a performance I am set to photograph at 11:30pm on new year's eve. That will be fun...I absolutely LOVE Dead Letter Circus - and this will be my first time photographing them on a proper stage with an actual barrier! SO looking forward to it!!! After that I've got something in early Jan, possibly something else on Australia Day and not too long after that a little thing called EASTERFEST! P.O.D. are coming in 2012 - can't wait to photograph them!

Almost forgot, my camera went in for it's servicing last week (I have the best camera repair guy, he is awesome - Anderson's in Capalaba for anyone who needs a Nikon or Canon fixed/cleaned) had a sensor clean and a general check-up. I have a pic of my sensor before and after the cleaning, bit of a difference! Done 40, 000 actuations too. Generally a D700 can do 150, 000 I think so nearly 1/3 of the way there... After that - shutter mechanism replacement? I'm not sure. I hope it lasts for a long long time.




Well that's me for this post. Time to head to my boring day job. Here's a couple shots from the Carols thing (Marina Prior, Justice Dance Crew, Random Dancing Girl )

Bec Reid - International Photographer?

So I've been offered a HUGE opportunity. It means going overseas. The pay won't even come close to covering my expenses to get there and back, but it would be AMAZING and HUGE and FUN.

Can I do it? Should I do it? Might have to go off and have a look at both my budget and my feelings over this one.

*enters a deep contemplative state*

Six days = Five bands, 4 different venues, very little sleep...

Over the past 6 days;

Fri- Shapeshifter (@ The HiFi)
Sat- These Kids Wear Crowns (Old Museum)
Sun- Destruction/4arm/Mortal Sin (The HiFi)
Mon- They Will Have Their Way - a tribute to the Finns- w/ Sarah Blasko, Claire Bowdith, Paul Dempsey, etc - QPAC
Wed- Kings of Leon + Band of Horses (@Gold Coast Co. Centre)

That's right...one day off in that period. I worked most of those days at my regular day job, too.

Today is Thursday...and I'm off to work. As I will be the next day, and then the next, and then I have to go find some new shoes - because mine will have melted by then.


/dead

Organisation...has thus far evaded me.

I am a very disorganised individual. Between my day job, my various photos jobs and other miscellaneous commitments... I have double-booked myself a few times.

Thinking of getting one of those huge desk planner/blotter/spreadsheet things with nice big white spaces for writing stuff in. Only thing is, I have next to no space on my desk surface. I have a little Doctor Who calendar on the wall but it's quite tiny.

Any recommendations for desktop organiser-type things would be appreciated!

Off to triple-check some dates!

The newest addition to my arsenal; Think Tank Retrospective 20

Forgot to mention this in my last post - the Lynchmada album launch was the first trip out (aside from the trip from shop > my place) for my new bag - the Think Tank Retrospective 20  (many cool features on the site - far too many for me to mention here)

(not my photo, just a  generic image of the bag and a camera which definitely isn't mine!)

When I started this gig, I chose the smallest version of the Lowepro Slingshot to carry my gear around in. Good choice at the time, and I still use it now and then, when I don't need the kitchen sink. For that, I'd take out my second bag - the biggest version of the Slingshot, the 302. My my...thats a heavy bag. Some people have complained about the weight of the empty Retrospective 20 but it is NOTHING compared to my empty Slingshot 302.

As you can see, it's a backpack-style (but only has one strap, it slings diagonally across the back) has a fair few straps and clips and junk, and looks every inch like a camera bag. It screams; "STEAL ME!" 

That was my main prerequisite when choosing my next bag - it had to not look quite so much like a bag that might house a few thousand worth of gear. I pretty much decided that when walking through a dark back street in Fortitude Valley at about 11pm after the Simple Plan gig.

Let's give this black & white thing a go... + Lynchmada album launch

In previous posts, I have mentioned my distaste for concert photography done solely in black and white. I consider it somewhat lazy to not bother fiddling with the white balance. That said, I have made a few of my photos b&w. This isn't because they look horrible in colour (well, not all of them...) it's mostly because sometimes a photo can just look better in b&w. Especially on a stage surrounded by other people, equipment and junk - a b&w of a singer leaning into the mic stand can really pop more if colour is removed.



Anyway so I thought I'd do a short series of b&w shots from a recent concert I photographed at the Hi Fi in West End, Brisbane. There was 4 or 5 bands on that night; The Construct, Down Royale, Tyrants!, and A Breach of Silence....finally ending with Lynchmada. All of the bands were heavy-ish, one was particularly head-bangingly so (with the long hair and everything!) so b&w suits the genre, one could say. It was a great gig. Tonnes of energy from the stage, a few sloppy moments amongst a couple of the supports but no one minded as long as they flicked their hair and shredded their guitars, heh. I went home wearing roughly a litre's worth of various alcoholic beverages....but I wasn't too phased.

 

Both of those shots look good in colour. Particularly the bottom two (the middle on is in colour on my Flickr page)

After doing those, I started thinking about past photos I've taken, made b&w but never shared (my whole b&w = cheating mindset)  Here's an oldie....from Easterfest 2009;

Almost no light, incredible amounts of noise...but the expression on Sam Walker's face plus Jeremy's hand gesture in the background makes this shot stand out to me. The band is New Empire, however Sam is no longer in it. Last seen as a roadie on Amy Meredith/Tonight Alive tour.

Edited to add; two more b&ws. Both from Soundwave Counter Revolution. Both members of Alesana.

A bit more about Soundwave Counter Revolution...

I thought I'd write a bit more about what it was like at Soundwave CR on Saturday.

The music! Wow. Almost all of the bands there definitely 'brought it'...'it' being whatever it is that makes an audience member think; "Wow, this band/singer definitely wants to be on this stage, and loves performing!" A couple didn't really seem to so much, but I won't name names (it could have been jet-lag)

Some of them really liked the camera too. The guys from Alesana, Story of The Year...wow. Thanks for the poses. Young Guns were just plain fun. All Time Low was tricky (singer loves his mic and lead guitarist just constantly RUNS around the stage. Haha.

Yellowcard were definitely the stand out for me. Definitely going to get their music now. Love that they have a violinist in the band. So rare!.

Down to the actual 'shooting environment'.

It was set up fairly similarly to the recent Youth Alive event (both were at Riverstage)
Nice deep photo pit, of course the stage is the same height/location. The only reall difference is that there were two stages, a temporary one was just to the side of the main stage. One band would play on the big stage, then after their set the smaller stage would start up, then back again.
Was pretty good - meant there was rarely any 'dead time' between acts. The audience was like a slow moving wave between the two stages.

Weather was just about perfect. Warm, not a cloud in the sky, nice glaring sun...hehe. I managed to only get slightly sunburnt, probably becauseI didn't venture out into the crowd very much. The mob I was shooting for didn't require crowd shots so I didn't take many. I hate bothering people.

Turned a bit cool in the evening but I didn't care - I warmed up during my dash over the Goodwill Bridge to the Convention Centre Southbank for Alice Cooper.

Everyone was lovely and clean when I showed up at 10:30am. By midday we all reeked.

Bands, security, shooters, crowd especially. I think that's when everyone really started getting into it - when they all realised "Heck, my makeup is ruined anyway - might as well DANCE!" The general mood gets more fun then. Everyone picks up on a carefree, fun, happy crowd.

I'll be honest...I took too much equipment.
 Speedlight - unnecessary. The few crowd shots I did were during the daylight - and couldn't use the flash for anything on stage.
50mm 1.4 - never took it out of my bag. I'm so used to shooting at places like the HiFi - with poor lighting, that I take it everywhere 'just in case' Well the lights at SWCR were enough that it wasn't required, and the 50mm focal length was covered by my 24-70 - which is the lens I used most.
Batteries - not that they're heavy....but I brought three and only used two.
D90 - this was my back-up body. Doesn't weight much without a battery in it, but I didn't need to bring it anyway. In hindsight.

Basically it was just D700, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8 and my new 32GB CF card all night. Could have taken the smaller LowePro afterall! Probably better to be prepared though. I am definitely a 'Boy Scout Photographer' Prepared for anything... tiny roll-on sunscreen, 2 Snickers bars, iPod, Sharpie... everything but the kitchen sink.

I recall one funny incident. I was desperate for some water, so I went to scoop some out of the big bins of water the security guys use for the crowd. One guy saw me, stopped me, and went and got me an actual sealed bottle of CHILLED water from the crew's stash. So grateful to him.

Well taht's about it for now, I have a pile of editing awaiting my attention.

Young Guns

SOUNDWAVE COUNTER REVOLUTION! + Alice Cooper

What a BLAST! I'd forgotten how much I love festivals.

Tonnes of waiting around between sets, 3-song rule, but still....so much fun. Also discovered a few new bands to listen to. Alesana, Yellowcard, Story Of The Year. Never really heard any of their stuff before yesterday.

Met some interesting people, saw some interesting stuff, got some great photos.

Alice Cooper was also amazing (what a showman!) but my detour to his gig was about 15 minutes out of almost 9 hour day.

Story of the Year

Crazy times ahead

Today will be one of the busiest and craziest I've ever had! First up I have Soundwave Counter Revolution from 11am . Then at 8:15pm I am racing over the bridge to Alice Cooper. Then back to Soundwave CR (hopefully...fingers crossed) ffor the tail end of Panic! At The Disco's set.

Might as well glue my camera to  my face now! Haha.

Despite the insanity that is sure to occur, this is going to be a blast. Of course I'd rather have them on two separate days....but what can you do? Nuffin.

Bag is packed, all three lenses coming with me, as well as 3 batteries (no grip, was planning to finally buy one this weekend but was out of stock and all hire places are also out) and 3 CF cards (8gb, 16gb, 32gb) as well as my trusty ol' D90. Planning to use it mostly for the daytime crowd shots as well as just in case (God forbid) something happens to my D700.Also two nut bars and one Snickers. And iPod. Just in case there's a huge lull...

CHOICES + Loyalty

An upcoming shoot I've had ont he cards for awhile is a bigg'un. Alice Cooper.

On the same day is a gig I applied for and missed out on, Soundwave Counter Revolution (All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco, Story Of The Year, etc)

So I'm puttering through the days, waiting for my big Alice Cooper gig. Which is quite late at night.

Then all of a sudden I get the call...can you do Soundwave CR? Um. I have Cooper that night.

Can you do both?

Um. Okay.

Etiquette.

Not sure if I've touched on this subject before...but I will give it a post of it's own anyway.

There are a set of unwritten rules and regulations amongst photographers...I think. I must have started my photography thing with the world's most polite, accommodating shooters. 'Coz it's gone downhill lately.

 It's pretty simple. Basically, 'Do Unto Others...' applies here. Would you like to be stepped on? No. Have someone move in front of the shot you're framing? No. Therefore, don't do it to other shooters. If you do...accidentally (it happens - less than 2 feet of space to share with 5 photogs and 3 security guards? Yeah tripping definitely happens) just apologise.


That said, you really do need to have an eye in the back/side/top of your head. When you've got a camera pressed to your face and 100% of your attention focused on the stage...SMACK! Oops..someone's just kicked a piece of stage equipment into your head. Or worse, your lens. BAM! Security just pulled a naughty crowd-surfer over your head and you copped a Doc in the eye-socket. SMASH! You just tripped over the shooter next to you, ending up on the floor.

It's virtually impossible to know what's going on around you when you're focused on the one subject...but it'll help in reduction of bruises, broken equipment and pride.
Trust me....I ended up on my butt in front of not only thousands of screaming fans
but also Aaron Gillespie and a whole bunch of other media/artists/security. In that case though, there was no contributing factor other than my own lack of balance and coordination.
Then there was that memorable shoot of the Oh! Sleeper set at Easterfest 2011. Lead singer just barely missed my head in one of his many attempts to stage dive...it was a tad scary!