Rockin'
Aug, 2016Views
138
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in blackandwhitelivemusic Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Top Choice
Superb Composition
Outstanding Creativity
Absolute Masterpiece
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This was a fun night. I was at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis and there were several bands playing. I was actually writing for an online magazine at the time and I got to interview and take pictures of several bands. The mood was great and this picture spoke to me better in black and white. The band shown is Seconds Before and they are based in Minneapolis. I’m not sure if they are still together or playing, but they were good!Time
The show started in the evening and with four bands playing, it went well into the night. :-)Lighting
What a hodgepodge mashup of lighting in a venue like this. You cannot control any aspect of it. You just kind of have to get your camera “in the neighborhood” and then make fine adjustments as you go. One minute, the lighting is fairly consistent, the next it’s like your at a disco. Then it goes dark. Most of the time, the lighting is “mostly” consistent, so shoot for the majority.Equipment
I was using my Nikon D300s. I believe I had my 28-70 OS lens on. No flash. Handheld the camera and shot at ISO 3200!!Inspiration
I love music and I love photography. Two of my greatest hobby’s, habit’s, passions. I play guitar and I am usually listening to music with just about anything I do. So, to be able to go to a show like this and get paid to take pictures was phenomenal for me.Editing
I converted the image to black and white. I don’t believe I modified anything else with the photo.In my camera bag
I love my Nikon gear. D300s and a D7000 are in my bag. I only have 3 or 4 lenses anymore. I have found that a 50mm, a 12-24, a 29-70, and something like a 70-300 pretty well cover everything I need. I have 2 flashes, but I find myself using them less and less.Feedback
Have fun. A live music event, indoors, is a moving target for photography. Lights are dim, then bright. They are focused on this musician, and then that one, in the blink of an eye, just as you were about to press the shutter. Shoot a lot and keep trying. And don’t be afraid of high ISO’s. In dim situations like this (it looks bright to your eye while you’re standing there moving to the music, but you’re camera will tell you differently), high ISO’s are necessary to keep any level of adequate shutter speed. Otherwise, any movement by the musicians becomes a blur and a mess. And unless you talk to the band, the event organizers, etc., no flash. It likely won’t really do any good anyway and music is about the mood. I like the shadows and the hot spots lit by the stage lights. No need to fill it in with flash, in my opinion.
