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.