[Photographer profile] #19 * AnimalRights

AnimalRights

I am a bit unlucky to be asked to follow on after someone as talented as the previous profile Mikka631!

Anyway, I came along pretty late to photography at the ripe old age of 43! I had started using my camera phone at gigs more and more and although I always had the eye for a picture, and the composition, the limits of the phone pushed me to make the decision to step up to a 'proper' camera so I purchased a Canon 400D that Xmas of 2007, I then proceeded to go through the 450D, 40D and a 5D mk II all within 12 months!

I tend to be different from 90% of other photographers in many ways. I'm self-taught and have never enjoyed the work of the “famous”.
My only real influences were Barry Delaney from here, I immediately loved his gritty street photography, and a guy called Wally Cassidy who photographed the Punk movement in the early 90s.

My favourite types of photography as most of you will know are Gigs and Street Photography (and here I also include Pub shots)
It goes without saying that I far prefer candid in these areas.
I also love portraits and some of my gig shots reflect this.

Two things get up my nose, people who use signatures, such as "John Smith Photography" when they are barely shooting a few months or when they are, at best, average and people who do gig photography and focus more on the lighting than the artists. They tend to be flash snobs and just follow the path that they think is the industry's norm.

AnCatDubh

Yeah, fantastic work Janer (as ever).

We kinda got used to you after about 5 years of posting didn't we? :eek: but the photographs were always on an edge that no one else was on and that had to be admired.

I don't know if you'd agree but to me your photography is more than just capturing the moment. IMHO it is part and parcel of what you are/what defines you and that's in large part why your photography is unique(ly you).

Admire your work greatly. Well done.

thebaz

your music images are way up ther with the very best - and if I ever get married again , you'd be my first choice wedding phtographer, keep up the great work , and glad I helped you in some small way.
b

dirtyghettokid

"I'm self-taught and have never enjoyed the work of the “famous”."

ditto! and i would concur with ancatdubh's thoughts!

(any moarrr doggy pictars? )

.Longshanks.

Fantastic post Janer!

DGK - did you mean to move this thread to the Cameras & Accessories section?

dirtyghettokid

i moved it by accident. it was still clicked from when i stickied the thread while i was moving two others into that forum, and didn't see it. it's fixed now.

Jim

When Janer first told me he was thinking of getting a camera to take gig photos I laughed in his face and said "You are the most unartistic person I know". Now he's my favourite gig photographer and I have this hanging in my apartment. After seeing the results from his gig photos he pushed me to get a camera of my own.

Cheers Janer!

Splinters

Fair play, you're without a doubt one of those people that whenever I see your name popping up I know straight away its going to be a very unique and edgy shot. You also have a real knack for capturing a moment that really provokes a bit of thought. Thats a much overlooked skill.

A great read, and well deserved too.

AnimalRights

AnCat would be right! and thanks for all the kind words and DGK here is some more Doggies!

steoc

Love looking out for your photos. They have a really raw/gritty feel to them.
Very Unique style.

Balfey1972

steoc wrote: »

Love looking out for your photos. They have a really raw/gritty feel to them.
Very Unique style.

Have to agree with steoc, your photos always seem to tell a story. Always much more to them, gritty journalistic feel to the shots. Love your gig work. Also the shots on the homeless guy death, something that would have just slipped by to the world otherwise, certainly touched me.

Keep up the great work.

pullandbang

Love your stuff Janer and twas great craic having the few pints with you and Jim back all them years ago! We'll have to do it again one of these fine days......

homerun_homer

AnimalRights wrote: »

Two things get up my nose, people who use signatures, such as "John Smith Photography" when they are barely shooting a few months or when they are, at best, average and people who do gig photography and focus more on the lighting than the artists. They tend to be flash snobs and just follow the path that they think is the industry's norm.

Well then I must get right up there so.

I never, ever considered or had a desire to use a sig on my pictures until a friend, who is a promoter/works for 2 big Dublin venues asked me to cover a gig in place of their house photographer and advised me to use a signature for when they share it. As a result of this I started using sigs on anything that I officially shoot, be it for a promoter or for an online music site I shoot for.

In relation to people being "flash snobs", you don't get the option to use flash in most of the gigs that are going. It's three songs, no flash and stop shooting, end of story. It's only small bands in smaller venues that you will tend get away with shooting a full show and potentially using flash. From all the photo passes I've gotten, only one gig did they say flash could be used, that was Adam Ant and there was tonnes of lights on stage so that none was needed IMO. While I appreciate your frustration, wouldn't you be equally annoyed (even as a punter) if everyone did use flash throughout every gig. You've got your shooting style for gigs and your pictures are sticking out from the standard shots you tend to see from most gigs as a result, which I love to see, but you can't chastise others for not taking chances with flash when it would get them booted out for doing so.

AnimalRights

The signature as I said was aimed at newbie/poor photograpers.

The flash comment was for people not using flash at gigs where it was needed not big gigs that you refer too where ofc the lighting is good enough.

adox

AnimalRights wrote: »

The signature as I said was aimed at newbie/poor photograpers.

That would be me then(well newbie at least:)). I just put a copyright symbol with my name on my shots, goes on automatically in Lightroom. Just seemed the right thing to do on the off chance that someone eventually uses your images.:)

Love your photos by the way. You certainly have a distinctive style which is a compliment in itself.

Ricky91t

I will just say, I would disagree with the whole signature thing, some people start photography and captures an amazing photo or something that capture a defining moment within a few months, that gets popular and copied a lot to other places.

Without that signature the person would not get the credit he or she deserves and not be recognised as that person, which I feel is a great shame.

Speaking from experience, I had photos from rallies early on that were just copied and used, I didn't mind but in future months this came back to bite me in the ass.

Anyway, saying that, I've always enjoyed your photography and since you joined you've brought up some interesting debates and posted some even more interesting photos, so keep it up!