Festival shoots - not for the novice

I've been reading a lot around the Soundwave Festival forum of people that want photo passes. If they had experience they need not to ask it, so I assume they are new to it.
Sure, at first glance shooting a festival sounds like a fun experience but for me being a punter and a shooter are two completely different experiences. There are things one must know such as the basic rules; three songs no flash, take photos from where security/promoters tell you to, and the unwritten rules of respecting other photographers. If you don't know about 3 songs no flash (which is the amount of time a photographer can shoot a band for) then you really aren't experienced enough for a festival. I found out about 3 songs no flash at Coca Cola Live n' Local 2006, and back then it was really hard for me to get any decent photos in that short time. Now that I'm used to it I can be done in two songs or less.
Respecting security is something I reluctantly do. I don't want to give myself or the comapny I shoot for a bad name. So, suck it up and just do what they say, unless they are in the wrong, e.g at Soundwave Sydney 2008 they wouldn't let us in the photo pit at stage 2 so we had to go find their boss to set it straight. When it came time to take photos of Motion City Soundtrack they still wouldn't let us but Matt Booy came to the rescue.
Don't be a snobbish shooter: move out of the way if another photographer wants to shoot from where you are standing. Do not shove them, but politely say ''cuse me" which I find works quite well. If you accidently bump them or get in their shot say sorry. Manners are very important in the photo pit. At gigs and festivals especially there's a lot of waiting time so take the time to chat with the other photographers and ask who they are shooting for. If you are rude to the other photographers then your reputation is on the line.
Something else that novices may not consider is what equipment to use. At Soundwave 2008 my earlier shots didn't work out that well and I had to play around with my settings a bit. I was using the very heavy but brilliant 24-70m f/2.8 L lens, which is great but when the light gets too low it starts to fail. A 50mm f/1.8 or 1.4 is good for when the light gets low. I did manage to get a few ok photos with my 24-70 at night. Actually for my next festival shoot I might just purchase the 85mm f/1.8. It's a beaut!
Flash photography isn't allowed at festivals but some shooters get away with using a hot shoe flash (not a built in one - never use that at a gig with such spectacular lighting). Even though I'm a non-flash person I do encourage the use of a hot shoe flash if you know how to work it. Using a lens between 1.2-1.8 will get you better results because you'll be able to see the stage lighting a whole lot more.
Another point to consider is your health. Festivals are usually on very hot days and a photographer will have to be on their feet the whole time, with barely any time for lunch and dinner. Make sure you eat something though. I recommend eating well, exercising and lifting weights a few months before you shoot a festival (L glass is very heavy).
A few alcoholic beverages are ok, but if you're shooting for a magazine/website then don't overdo it. If you screw up your shots you may never get the chance to shoot for that company again.
Most importantly make yourself a shooting timetable. What I did was calculate how many minutes I'd get to shoot (10-15) and work out how much time I have to get to the next stage. Organising a break time is very important to.

Deadlines: a deadline for a festival shooter is something like 9am the next morning, or some companies may give you a bit more time, but nothing over 24 hours. I was fortunate to not get one with Bombshellzine but I still sent my photos off a few days later.

So you see not everyone that wants to shoot a festival can. It's stressful, tiring and feels more like work than fun. A punter just has to obey venue rules and pretty much do what they want. Get drunk? Yeah whatever. Getting to shoot can be hard to. Not only do you need a good portfolio and you need to convince your editor that you're reliable but you have to get in before another photographer does. If you haven't heard back in weeks or months don't fret - you will probably hear back a week before the event, or in my case the day of the event. It's a stressful job but the photos are rewarding enough.

I have contacted two comapines to shoot Soundwave 2010 for. If that doesn't work out then I still have two more to contact.

Don't Call This a Comeback

So, LTTL must be truly back. Just shot a gig for Faster Louder. Mmm, got given a piece of plastic gold (photo pass). I shot the Grinspoon gig at The Factory on thursday night. I never thought I'd ever go and see them, not because I don't like them (I do and have for 8-9 years) but I guess I was just too much into the punk scene to give them a chance. 

The two support acts (Bridgemary Kiss and Philadelphia Grand Jury) were great as well. BMK were the typical Brit indie band, even though I'm sure they were just putting the accent on. PGJ were a whole lot of energy. What was weird though was all the between-song-banter was pre-recorded. At first I didn't know who was talking.

I didn't know what Grinspoon would be like live so I watched them on Rove and that was a really tame performance. Then when I saw them perform at their own show I was quite surprised. The first few minutes was a blur to me because all the band members were just moving so fast around the stage. Then I tried to focus and eventually was able to get some good photos. I thought I had only taken photos for two songs when security ushered me out of the photo pit but it turns out the first song was just very short.

I stayed for a few more songs, but I wasn't getting into Grinspoon like I do with other bands so I left. Maybe a few more drinks would have made me stay. I was very glad to be in a bed though, because I had to get up early to buy my Soundwave ticket. So far I know I can at least attend. I'm not sure if I'll get to cover it for any music magazines yet. I would like to.

While I was in Sydney I did a bit more experimenting for the Canon Photo5 contest and I ended up damaging my bokeh hood. I think I've got a final photo that I'll enter into the competition. I like it but I don't think it looks like a winner. Only time will tell. 

The next gig is October 3rd and it's either Kisschasy or Wolf & Cub. I hope it's Kisschasy because I've been listening to them a lot. I just want to take it easy and work towards finishing my portfolio for Disability Week and do more for The Pictures street team that I run. 

For more Grinspoon photos check FasterLouder.com.au

Canon Photo5 Competition

So I got my box today, twenty or so minutes after I found out that I have another photo project, but more on that later.

The Canon Photo5 Competition starts with a cardboard box and inside there are 5 different photographic categories. For example there is an action one where you must capture paint splattering, another is a close-up of hundreds and thousands and another involves a person and a pair of spectacles. I'm racking my brains right now trying to figure out how best to present these. It's going to be a lot of fun though.

What I need is a volunteer for the spectacles/ portrait category. If any of my friends want to be involved in that let me know. It'll have to be done in the next couple of weeks. Entries close November 1st.

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt the Bokeh/ experiment category. 

The prize is a Canon 5D Mark II, which is perhaps the best model Canon has. 

The other news is that I have been chosen to display some live band photos for Disability Week in December. So I have to print out some more images to show Essential Personnel (my job network).

Tight Jeans 'n Slippers

My taste of music has changed a lot these last couple of years but I'll always have a soft spot for pop punk. The last gig I was at had just a bit of everything I love about pop/punk and post hardcore bands (note: I'm awful with band genres so don't correct me - I'm looking at you Josh).

I went to see and photograph Angela's Dish at Hopetoun Hotel last friday. Angela's Dish are a band I've seen so many times I've lost count. The supports were brilliant too. Mayhem Addition sounded like my favourite Welsh band Funeral For a Friend and Me Vs. You were just one awesome and energetic rock band. I've actually put off seeing them until that night, and I shouldn't have. They were awesome.

I got to the gig early, I'm talkin' I was the only one there not in a band or that worked at the venue. It was all good because I got to watch Angela's Dish soundcheck and had a very long chat with Josh the guitarist and good looks of the band (pictured: left)

I wrote a little review for The Dwarf and here it is:

September 11 is a memorable day for two reasons; one because it is a day of tradegy that changed the worls forever and two because so many bands play on this night in Sydney that it's hard to know what gig to go to.

There was a small crowd Hopetoun Hotel for this reason. The headliners Angela's Dish usually pull a pretty big crowd. Or perhaps they have a large under 18's following or they have suppoerted such international act as Anberlin and 30 Seconds to Mars?

It was their first Sydney show in a year so they decided to be generous and let the first fifty people to contact them on their guestlist.

The opening act was Mayhem Addition from Penrith. The band seemed to be quite influenced by Funeral For a Friend down to guitar riffs and even the lead singers mannerisms. All he needed to do was swing the micropone around a bit and he's have Matt Davies down pat.

They had some catchy songs including Shout My Reply and had a song about the Victoria bushfires called Black Saturday. If you like going to Hot Damn for the bands then you'll like these guys. They are a band that are definitely going to go places.

Me Vs. You were the next band up. They've had a big following for a couple of years, They're an active band on stage with a lead singer that could be an ethic Ian Curtis, a beardered guitar player that loves rock moves and another guitar player with hair that makes him look like cousin It when rocking out on stage.

If their infections rock doesn't get you at least nodding your head along to the beat you must be a narcoleptic. 

To end this already superb night was Angela's Dish. All three guitarists had long hair and looked more metal than pop/punk or looked like they were more likely to play Nirvana covers. Singer Mick and bass guitarist Pete looked like identical twins with their hair and same dark shirts. Mick also sported a pair of slippers - how very rock n roll. He was in full form tonight with rock moves and Mick Jagger facial experessions.

They previewed some new songs as well as playing some old favourites including Soft November and On A Sign. There were a few changes in the band including guitarist Josh proving that he's more than a pretty face when he sung lead vocals in some of the songs.

Call them pop/rock, emo, whatever. You can't deny this is a band that knows how to rock out on stage.

Yes, it was a great gig and full of many memories. I met the singer of the first band who gave me a bit of info on his band. 

I was actually supposed to be at KRAM. I feel bad for letting down my editor again but there's no way I regret going to Hopetoun Hotel last friday.

You know where to find photos >www.thedwarf.com.au

Tim Rogers @ Heritage Hotel, Bulli

This was the last gig I shot at, and I'd be mad not to post a photo from it. Last friday, september 4th Tim played at The Heritage Hotel in Bulli (near Wollongong) to an intimate crowd.
I don't know if it's just me making weird comparisons again (see my Darran Coredeux and Dave Larkin comparison) but Tim reminds me of the 1960's left-wing folk singer Phil Ochs; they're both acoustic artists that use witty banter when they play live, except Phil is more about mocking politicians and Tim just makes comments about the crowd, or anything really.
It's probably the closest I'll get to seeing Phil Ochs live so that makes me happy.

Anyway, it was a great gig with a great set list. I don't think I've ever heard Berlin Chair acoustic before - I like it.

More photos can be found at www.thedwarf.com.au

VB RAW test sesh

I had been waiting about a week for my Canon photo5 Box, so when when the delivery man came to my door with a large box I thought 'yes, finally - can't wait to get started on this beauty.' But then the delivery man said someone sent me some grog. Really? What? Who? Huh? "Well you did something right" he says as he leaves.
It was grog - beer! I had signed up for a taste test of the new VB RAW. I put the bottles in the fridge to get them nice and cold. Then I got some Doritos, opened up a bottle and put on some music. It was a pity my friends were still at work or I would have shared it around.
The beer was great. The lower end of beer for me goes: VB, Tooheys New, Carlton Draught (you know when you're down on your last buck but you want a drink so bad you go for the cheap ones). This is one of those beers I'll probably have as my regular beer (like TED or Coopers). I'd definitely have this during a gig or at a club. I usually hate the aftertaste of beer but it's barely noticeable with VB RAW.
I got a few more bottles left that I just might have on the weekend.

Off topic post? Kinda, but they say they may put a few gigs on. Knowing me I think I told them to put You Am I on.

Re-introductions

I had a photography blog long ago, but being me with a fabulous memory I forgot both ID and password. The old blog ended with me having a whinge about not getting anywhere in the band photography world, but now I'm back and really I don't care if I never take photos at a festival or inside a massive arena, because I've been there and it ain't that great.

Late last year I had some problems, mainly getting stressed out at gigs. Turns out I have Asperger's syndrome which is a form of autism. It was a lot to deal with at the time, but I'm pretty cool with it now. Going to gigs is still tough especially with my hypersensitivity to sound.

You can read all about it here: http://latedx.wordpress.com

I've been taking photos of a lot of bands this year, nothing compared to a few years back but it's a competitive industry. 

Oh yeah, wanted to at least call this blog LTTL but that was taken, so I threw in another of my 345 nicknames.

Stick around, hopefully I'll get to add some photos to this blog soon.