susannagross

REO Speedwagon plays Belly Up in Aspen

I waited many hours to be right next to Keven Cronin's microphone, and I had to defend the stage from drinks. Never have I seen such a big band in such a ...
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I waited many hours to be right next to Keven Cronin's microphone, and I had to defend the stage from drinks. Never have I seen such a big band in such a tiny venue!
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Aspen, Colorado, US

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Sep, 2022

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Same photographer See all Behind The Lens

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Just messing around with my mirror lens on a Pentax KP, you get donut shaped bokeh!

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From our July backpacking trip, 2022 I was carrying a camera, but took this with my cell phone, using 1.8mm focal length (13mm equiv)

This photograph was taken from the Rio Grande National Forest, with snow on the ground, but having melted off the trees.

Behind The Lens

Location

I was in Belly Up, a basement bar in Aspen Colorado. I came there because they hired my favorite band, REO Speedwagon. I had seen them the night before in Littleton, Colorado, and driven my RV to Aspen that day. While I was waiting, Bruce Hall gave me a hug. This is an absurdly small venue, so small they had no room for the piano box. They put Bryan in a cage, to damp down the drums, and there is no backstage!

Time

This picture was taken at 10:40PM, according to the camera. This was part of the guitar solo from Back on the Road Again, in which Bruce Hall, the bass player, center of the frame, sings lead vocals. The band always has a lot of fun with this song. I took 5 pictures that minute.

Lighting

Stage lighting is extreme, highly variable, and completely out of your control as a photographer. Generally, flash is banned. Usually cameras with lenses that can be removed are banned. REO Speedwagon was very generous for this show. They told Belly Up that video was OK, and even flash! I always disable the flash on my camera, from the front row, flash would be obnoxious.

Equipment

I used my trusty Olympus TG-4, in P mode, no tripod, center spot weighting, and darkened so the subjects would not be overexposed and blurry from movement.

Inspiration

I love REO Speedwagon and take hundreds of pictures of them each year. I'm always looking for interesting expressions, good composition and workable lighting. Generally bodies are packed tightly around me, and I cannot move to alter the view, but I can aim and zoom for individual portraits. For this shot, I missed out on including Neal, he's seated behind Kevin, left side of the frame.

Editing

The main thing I did is select my favorite images. I took 291 photos that evening and selected 64 to make into a photo album. This one got the title "All but Neal".

In my camera bag

I have a compact Tough Olympus camera, for both rock concerts and backpacking. Lately I have also started taking a few pictures with my phone.

Feedback

Look for the smaller venues, where the band is close enough to touch. Take lots of pictures! Use a camera with a fast CCD/lens combination, instant response to the shutter and good optical image stabilization. Get very familiar with it.

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susannagross

REO Speedwagon plays Belly Up in Aspen

I waited many hours to be right next to Keven Cronin's microphone, and I had to defend the stage from drinks. Never have I seen such a big band in such a ... Read more

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow susannagross

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I waited many hours to be right next to Keven Cronin's microphone, and I had to defend the stage from drinks. Never have I seen such a big band in such a ...
Read more

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Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.