Just a quick and dirty post to show off some shots I took of Vakien at one of their gigs last month.
Just a note to all bands I photograph: Please, for the love of god, play in places that have decent lighting. I know you can't help it, but man, that venue that Vakien played was ridiculous. Candle light would have been better. And the last thing I want to do is use my flash. Because, as we found out when WBC played two months ago, the results are this. And that's ugly. Also, flash is distracting.
I've been taking a bit of a self-imposed hiatus from photography lately -- that Vakien gig a month ago was my last bit, aside from photographing some ex-votos for the Doc -- because I've just been feeling so burned out by the entire process. Part of it has to do with the amount of time involved, which I think people don't realize. It's not just the photographing of the actual event (which itself is time consuming), it's also hours of sitting at a computer and sifting through the shots, editing the salvageable ones, burning back-up copies of my data, and then uploading everything. My digital workflow takes ages to get through, partly because I'm so trigger happy and bracket all of my shots for safety. I think people don't realize the time suck involved with all of this. A few months ago when I took some shots for an acquaintance, he began bugging me 48-hours after the gig for the photos. I had taken a lot of frames, probably about 200, and I hadn't yet had a solid time to sit down and work my way through them yet. It took a lot for me to not to lose my shit on him right then, because, for real, it was was like two days, I work full time and go to school part-time, to say nothing of the fact that I was doing all of this for him for free. Simmer down, dude.
Part of it probably comes down to me -- I should learn to edit more in-camera, be more conservative with my shots, stop bringing my damn camera everyplace I go, stop letting people take advantage of me, start charging, etc. But a lot of it is also expectation. I am also feeling like I am starting to get stuck in a rut. It's been all bands, bands, bands, work stuff, work stuff, bands, bands, bands. I would like to get back (if "back" is indeed the right word -- was I ever there?) to doing some more artistic shots, and portraits. Next weekend is Karen's 30th birthday* at Dave and Buster's, plus a sweet little lady is coming to PA for her first visit. I plan on taking my camera to both events, and remarkably, find myself excited at the prospect of taking photos not because someone asked me to or because I am expected to, but rather because I want to.
*Lord, everyone is turning 30 this year.We're You're all so old.
Just a note to all bands I photograph: Please, for the love of god, play in places that have decent lighting. I know you can't help it, but man, that venue that Vakien played was ridiculous. Candle light would have been better. And the last thing I want to do is use my flash. Because, as we found out when WBC played two months ago, the results are this. And that's ugly. Also, flash is distracting.
I've been taking a bit of a self-imposed hiatus from photography lately -- that Vakien gig a month ago was my last bit, aside from photographing some ex-votos for the Doc -- because I've just been feeling so burned out by the entire process. Part of it has to do with the amount of time involved, which I think people don't realize. It's not just the photographing of the actual event (which itself is time consuming), it's also hours of sitting at a computer and sifting through the shots, editing the salvageable ones, burning back-up copies of my data, and then uploading everything. My digital workflow takes ages to get through, partly because I'm so trigger happy and bracket all of my shots for safety. I think people don't realize the time suck involved with all of this. A few months ago when I took some shots for an acquaintance, he began bugging me 48-hours after the gig for the photos. I had taken a lot of frames, probably about 200, and I hadn't yet had a solid time to sit down and work my way through them yet. It took a lot for me to not to lose my shit on him right then, because, for real, it was was like two days, I work full time and go to school part-time, to say nothing of the fact that I was doing all of this for him for free. Simmer down, dude.
Part of it probably comes down to me -- I should learn to edit more in-camera, be more conservative with my shots, stop bringing my damn camera everyplace I go, stop letting people take advantage of me, start charging, etc. But a lot of it is also expectation. I am also feeling like I am starting to get stuck in a rut. It's been all bands, bands, bands, work stuff, work stuff, bands, bands, bands. I would like to get back (if "back" is indeed the right word -- was I ever there?) to doing some more artistic shots, and portraits. Next weekend is Karen's 30th birthday* at Dave and Buster's, plus a sweet little lady is coming to PA for her first visit. I plan on taking my camera to both events, and remarkably, find myself excited at the prospect of taking photos not because someone asked me to or because I am expected to, but rather because I want to.
*Lord, everyone is turning 30 this year.
Labels: Photography
2 Comments:
I think by sweet little lady, you are referring to my daughter, but, yeah, I think you picked the wrong link. The guy looks nice enough though! See you soon. Teresa (& Lilly)
Whoops! You were right, I picked the wrong link. Fixed now. And that guy? Doesn't hold a candle to the cuteness of your kid.
I can't wait to see you!
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