Poison the Well + Fear Before

Another gig I wanted to shoot and got to was Poison the Well at Manning Bar, October 23. I was a bit moody so didn't feel like taking social photos like I normally did. It was great to get in front of the barrier again.
I've been a fan of Poison the Well for a few years, nothing really obsessive and I've only heard a few songs by Fear Before. But they were awesome. I thought I'd get head spins from the music for sure (sensory sensitivity) but nothing like that really happened.
Ambrosia and Homewrecker were the two local support bands and they were brilliant. The singer of Homewrecker reminds me of the singer of Takedown. It brought me back to the day where I saw hardcore bands in churches and record stores and had to avoid being knocked over by the lead singer. I'm talking 'bout you Eamon.
Not really much else I'd like to add, so here are some photos:

Upgrade time!

A few things I'm covering in this post: took photos for a local band called Tzar Bomber, researching new photographic equipment and a little bit about the next band I want to shoot.

Paid gigs are kind of a rare occurrence for me, so I was excited about taking promo and live photos for Nowra band Tzar Bomber. I may be taking some photos for a Kiama band too, and if I haven't scared them away with my inflated price - a band from Sydney that wants me for a few gigs.

I may also be getting a grant for my photography so I may be finally upgrading my equipment. I could just jump in and get a Canon 5D Mark ii with a 70-200mm lens or I could get a camera and a few lenses that will be able to give me the kind of images I need.
The Canon 7D looks promising. Might be 2-3 grand and not full frame though it has a very high ISO, a bigger viewfinder and is 18 megapixels which is 8 times greater than what my 40D is. There only seems to be a bit of noise at 12800 and on my 40D I get noise at 3200.
The lenses I am thinking of purchasing are a Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro, a 20mm f/2.8, and maybe a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS.
I would love the 100mm for up-close photos and to get good drummer shots. I'm doing ok now but once I get into a arena the drummer does get a bit further away.
The 20mm is good for portraits and well wide angle shots.
The 70-200 is an ideal festival lens. It's a must have for any band photographer, and I think it's about time that I got one.
Even the 17-55mm f/2.8 IS could be a great addition to my kit.
I need to think about what I'd use the lenses for more and if I want to get into studio work. So far I'm doing good at live band photography but I'm a novice at promotional photography. And maybe I should upgrade my 430 EX flash. I'm doing a lot of flash work now, so I should just go for the top range. Is it 580? It's probably way higher than that now.

The next gig I'm keen on shooting is Poison the Well and Fear Before, which this friday at Manning Bar. I haven't shot a heavy band like this in a long time. I should be ok as long as I bring out the 1.8 lens.
Anyway, I'm going out tomorrow to purchase the PTW 2 cd set and will cross my fingers that I get approved for the shoot.

Filth Festival photos

All last week I had been planing just to take photos of After the Fall, then a day before the gig I find out it's a festival that starts at 1pm rather than 8pm. So after a week of working all day I have to get up at 7am on a weekend and catch a train to Sydney.

I was pretty much just there for After the Fall and Calling All Cars but I did enjoy a few other bands at the festival including The Vignettes, Alter Ego Mania, Royal Chant and The Protectors.

I don't really know much about The Filth but I was impressed with the festival that I'd probably go to a few more shows.

On with the photos. I haven't had much time to edit these properly because I'm working so much. I haven't even got time to say who's who in the photos.

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Kisschasy

I've been lucky these last few weeks because I've been getting to shoot gigs that I've planned to. Normally it doesn't all work out this good. There was the White Album concert, Tim Rogers, Angela's Dish, Grinspoon and now Kisschasy.

I've been a big fan of Kisschasy for years, since the United Paper People days. I was never really into them at first because people said they were boring live, so I decided to check them out for myself in 2005 and they were amazing. I got into them more since then. I became more of a fan after Hymns For the Non-Believer was released, shot some gigs then my obsession died down a bit. Their albums got played a lot on my iPod still.

After the single Generation Why on Seizures was released it took some time for me to get used to it. The verses sounded very Green Day and I was still in love with Hymns. After a few listens to the album I got used to this new Kisschasy sound and I think that has to do with the way Darran writes. He's a funny man-boy.

So I shot the Wollongong Uni Bar gig for Faster Louder, which means I have to take out my flash gun for social photos. I was always apprehensive about taking social photos, not because like other band photographers I found it a real bother to take 10-15 social photos, but because I have not had best track record with socialising. Ask my family, friends or teachers what kind of person I am and they're most likely going to say 'quiet, reserved, nice, shy, socially-awkward' etc.

I had problems taking social photos at Grinspoon. A lot of people didn't want their photo taken, so I didn't have the most confidence about going around and asking to take peoples photos. But at the Kisschasy gig people were more willing and so I ask a whole lot more people, and I think I spoke clearly and confidently. Taking social photos for Faster Louder may actually improve my social skills.

Hytest were the opening band, a local Wollongong rock band that always put on a great show. I photographed them a few years back at Waves in Towradgi and I seriously couldn't stop taking photos. They were just so entertaining.

After them Regular John played. I heard a lot about this band but never saw them live before. They were great. I don't know how many more shows I'd go to if they play near me again, but they had some alright tunes and were pretty good to photograph.

Kisschasy were brilliant as always. I think I sang along to every song between taking photos of them. They played a lot of songs from their last album and Seizures, with some UPP in there and an EP song. I got some really great rock shots of them. Definitely need to update my band photography portfolio too.

I met a photographer who was shooting for J Mag. He was cool. We talked cameras and lenses and how bad the lighting was (even though the photos still turned out alright).

Another great gig. Next weekend is my favourite band to hassle After the Fall at Annandale Hotel.