Informal band shoot (C&C please!)

mehfesto2

Asked to take a few "sneaky shots" by the band themselves. Difficult enough task considering I needed to use the flash. I kept the camera to my face for ages, until they were comfortable enough with it - having normal conversations with me, and then I shot when I could!







Too overprocessed???

helios

I think #1 would have been better if the sticks were in motion, rather than the action frozen. I like the last one. I like the expression and the PP is really good too... he looks a little like David Tennant... weird...

Overdraft

Love the last one, a perfect album cover

Overdraft

mehfesto2 wrote: »

It's Bradley from Eastenders! Not that I watch it, like.

melekalikimaka

mehfesto2 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Fqiw5bPmo

one of the best photo techniques i have seen in ages on here(purely cos i love that song and have been trying to replicate it).

pray tell how?

the best way i found was the photocopy filter and fiddling with the settings

AnimalRights

I must be missing something but I found all of them disappointing.

Borderfox

Last one is a good look, plenty of room for the alum title too

Dades

Really like the effect of the last one.

Dragan

The effect on the last one is great but other than that they don't show too much of a "band", just people playing instruments, or not in some of the shots.

mehfesto2

melekalikimaka wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2Fqiw5bPmo

one of the best photo techniques i have seen in ages on here(purely cos i love that song and have been trying to replicate it).

pray tell how?

the best way i found was the photocopy filter and fiddling with the settings

Twas pretty simple, in reality. I use Corel's PSP, so I don't know about the Photoshop techniques, but esentially, it was a tweaking around with colours to get a picture with dark darks and light lights and then adjusting the the Threshold capabilities and then colouring (whatever colours you want) from then in.

I understand what you mean Dragan. The band element was refused by the lads, based on that picture with the Beatles (the four squared one) which depicts the members of the band and nothing else. Don't ask. I'll post some jmming ones up when I've them processed.

Aniamlrights, would you care to expand on that? Kinda pisses me off when people make critical (or appraisal) statements of photos without critiquing them, even a little. You don't learn anything about growing as a photographer, merely that they're 'disapointing'.

AnimalRights

Hi. was being polite as possible but since you want to handle the truth!

If they were a very famous band then these non musical pictures might mean something...
Alas I've never heard of this band and someone who photographs a lot of gigs (although not mainstream or commercial bands) I find it odd that only 1 of the pictures shows an actual musical instrument and even in that pic there is no action or vibrancy, the guitar strap on the other guy doesn't count..:p





The band just seem to much of a Louis Walsh type pose for the cameras type band.

FX Meister

If it was a band I loved and when in Tower to buy the album I saw that last flick on the cover then I'd go home and download it instead.

AnimalRights

I don't get ya, while nothing special it's far better than the previous images.

TelePaul

AnimalRights wrote: »

2 pics above

I don't see how these shots differ drastically from the OPs first shot, certainly not in terms of action or vibrancy...tattoos and pained facial expressions, yes, but calling the latter 'far better than the previous' pics isn't really being honest.

Op, the processing on the last pic is great. I'd look into scheduling some kind of portrait shoot - which is kinda what you seem to be leaning towards anyways - with the other members of the band. Treat them to the same style of processing, maybe stitch it all together. I think what's limiting these shots is the fact that they've been taken in a rehearsal space, not at a gig. You get alot more interesting things happening under stage light.

AnimalRights

Think there is wires crossed, I was referring to the OP's last pic compared to the previous pics.
I put up my 2 pics to show what drummers are normally like, Maybe the band he has photographed are not a rock band so maybe I was being a wee bit harsh but it is C & C.
If they are a rock band then there is more life in the house of Lords!

mehfesto2

TelePaul wrote: »

I don't see how these shots differ drastically from the OPs first shot, certainly not in terms of action or vibrancy...tattoos and pained facial expressions, yes, but calling the latter 'far better than the previous' pics isn't really being honest.

Op, the processing on the last pic is great. I'd look into scheduling some kind of portrait shoot - which is kinda what you seem to be leaning towards anyways - with the other members of the band. Treat them to the same style of processing, maybe stitch it all together. I think what's limiting these shots is the fact that they've been taken in a rehearsal space, not at a gig. You get alot more interesting things happening under stage light.

Yeah, that was the initial plan, when I finished processing the one seen in 'cartoon' B&W here, but the rest didn't work as well under this processing system.

AnimalRights, thanks for the more honest opinions. I respect that. If someone thinks it's ****e, I just want to know why. Not everyone likes The Beatles! (note: not comparing my photography to the music of the beatles. That' be stupid! , it's just a saying we have here.) The band are Kaiser Chiefs-ey. Big happy headed lead singer with a solid band behind.
To be honest, I don't think the pics you posted supported your point very well, though, but I know what you mean. Cheers.

mehfesto2

Also, these any better?

kensutz

The last one could've done with a diffuser on your flash to get rid of the harsh shadow behind the guitarist.

TelePaul

I think you need a bit more room to compose well.

AnimalRights

2nd drummer pic is better action wise, but taken from wrong angle as cymbal is covering him and you seemed to have focused on the cymbal...not being bitchy I learned all this from posting here!!
My pics are how I expect drummers to be, crazy and full of action..then again you said Kaiser Chiefs indie style and hence the slower paced action.
Would like to see some pics of future gigs that you attend of this band, nifty fifty lense I find is grand if it's a pub type gig.

OctoberFall

Are you using a 50mm for all of these?
I think you should invest in a wide prime lens.

mehfesto2

Used my 17-55mm for all these shots.

DotOrg

some nice shots, well processed (though i don't like the last one, it looks too much like a photoshop effect for no real reason)

they aren't quite portraits of the band and they aren't quite documentary as one doesn't really see the location or any interaction between the people

the shots will work well as part of a bigger collection but on their own, they seem a little disjointed