post edit photos
Monday, July 27, 2009
So finally had time to edit my band shots, this was my 1st band shoot, and it wasn't anything fancy.... but I had a blast. I'd really love to have some feedback from you, esp anyone with previous band photography experience!
posted by Christina @ 9:00 PM,
3 Comments:
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At July 28, 2009 12:06 AM,
Joshua Kelly said...
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Christina...in a case like this I have to ask a simple question. Is the work about the band, or about the special effects?
I'm a believer that special effects and filters should be used to enhance an already excellent photograph though the shots like that nearly always stand on their own...what I see in these shots is what I would term "over processing". There comes a point when adding to the image actually has a negative effect on the shot.
I do give a lot of latitude knowing full well that this was not a professional stage show with professional lighting or seasoned "performers/entertainers" but that being said some filters and effects can beef up a shot but don't loose touch with what the subject is. The key here is to find the decisive moment and capture it...then process it to how you saw it or how you want it to be seen.
Don't get me wrong I like much of the stuff you have done and the images have stronger colors and a bit more punch then what you showed before but the images are drifting away from being about the band and being more about the art of PS.
To give you another perspective...when I see where you were and who you were shooting if it had been me I would have gone a bit grittier. I would have really used the B&W and introduced some grain in the images like the old Kodak 3200 ISO films...(I think I just dated myself a bit there) but I would keep them true to their subject. I would try to capture the feel of being of the location the smell of beer mixing with stale air if you get my meaning. I also would have looked for more extreme angles and really pushed the photography to the edge. This is sometimes very difficult in some places so there is a fair amount of "you get what you can in the end". This band looks rather static in their positions and certainly they are on a small stage so that does make it rather tough to create unique images with different angles.
That being said I do really like the guitar and amp shot with the effect, and the shot of the lead guitarist with the zoom effect. I also really like the shot of the guitarist with the audience in the background which gives a real feel to the scale of the performance and adds them as a unique element showing that they are not just jamming in a garage (more of an up close and personal feel)...though I'd scale back the effect some...it looks like it has some movement and that can add a fun element to the shot as well.
The thing to remember is people approach their subject and the craft of photography differently and to that end there is not just one way to shoot something or someone. In the end what matters is...are you happy, is your client happy, and did you make the sale?
Just for background one of my good friends used to shoot rock and roll in the 70's and 80's and has the wall of photographs to prove it. He got his start photographing Led Zeppelin and selling bootleg photographs illegally at the shows...and turned it into a full time job with full credentials working for rock and roll magazines during the week while shooting the 49er's during the Joe Montana years on the weekends. Though he no longer does either it's fun to see the images from his days as a rock and roll photographer and the sports shots of Montana, Jerry Rice and the like at the top of their game.
Keep practicing and if you are looking for some inspiration look up Lynn Goldsmith rock and roll photography...she's been in the business many many years and has a very unique eye I still see her from time to time at shows. -
At July 30, 2009 4:26 PM,
Christina said...
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thank you so much for you candor. it was really ust a shoot because my boyfriend is the keyboardist, it was a 'favor'... something for me to experiment with band photography. To start, the lighting wasn't even close to great, and i only had canon xt, not external flash, and one lens. So basically I didn't havfe much to go with. So I played with flash on camera and draggin the shutter. I had fun shooting, but I was disappointed with the results... just in a professional sense. but everyone that has seen the photos loves them, so I do have some satisification it that.So then I took my medicore photos, bedazzled them with PS, basically dusting off my skills. So overall, I do like the photos end result, and again truely appreciate you advice. Thank you.
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At July 31, 2009 10:20 PM,
Joshua Kelly said...
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Knowing that now I'd say it was a great use of what you had and a great example of turning lemons into lemonade...I'd say complete success if everyone likes them. Keep posting...I'd love to see more of what you do in the future.
