[VikingPhotography]

The last month has been a very quiet one for me; I've managed to rack up just three working shoots and only one other occasion when I picked up my camera.

First off, the 18th birthday party of a relation was as good an excuse of any to take one of my cameras along. This shot of my poser of a 19-month-old son was taken using a D2X, a 28mm f/1.4 lens @ f/1.4, 1/40 sec exposure and ISO 1600.



Next, my first working night for February: The Smashing Pumpkins playing at Glasgow SECC on the first night of their tour.



A few days laterr and it was a quick jaunt through to Edinburgh to catch the infamous Katie Price a.k.a. Jordan as she signed copies of her latest book for eager fans.



Finally, indie band The Hoosiers played at the Glasgow Carling Academy last night



I was supposed to be shooting Alicia Keys at the start of her european tour tonight but that gig was postponed to a future date on account of her coming down with laryngitis. Here's hoping that March is busier for me

[marcinklysewicz]

VikingPhotography your concert photos are absolutely amazing. but you are pro so what can i say.

[VikingPhotography]

Originally Posted by marcinklysewicz

VikingPhotography your concert photos are absolutely amazing. but you are pro so what can i say.

What I can say is that all pros started out as enthusiasts, amateurs or hobbyist photographers... and there are a good many of those in the Pixalo community that could put the work of many 'professional' photographers to shame.

Anyways - as far as I'm concerned, I'm only a professional insofar as the fact that I get paid for my work. I learn something new every time I pick up my cameras

[ray]

Id like to see larger photo's

[VikingPhotography]

Ray.

I hate to state the obvious, but you do know that if you click on the thumbnail sized shots in my original message. you'll view the sames shots at 900px res in my gallery??

If you are in fact referring to wanting to see shots larger than 900px on a side then I'm gonna have to dissapoint you. Most wire agencies don't have previews larger than 600px on a side since they deem that to be large enough for an accurate impression of the shot.

[ray]

ok fair enough but i still say there too small, ah right i see what you mean but why have we got to go your gallery when your posting here

[VikingPhotography]

Originally Posted by ray

why have we got to go your gallery when your posting here

If I were just posting one shot, I'd link it in at full (900px) size, but for multiple shots I prefer to link to the thumbnails... it conserves bandwith and allows viewers to look only at the shots they want to.

[ray]

Originally Posted by VikingPhotography

If I were just posting one shot, I'd link it in at full (900px) size, but for multiple shots I prefer to link to the thumbnails... it conserves bandwith and allows viewers to look only at the shots they want to.

Thank you for the easy to understand explanation

[robbo]

VP,

You shoot all the concerts of bands that play in my car all day (I travel a lot for work)! As a non-photo ?, are The Strokes any good in concert? Do you have any shots of Belle and Sebastian on your personal site? I am guessing they would be fun to shoot.

[VikingPhotography]

Robbo,

The downside of working as a concert photographer is that you don't really get to enjoy the gigs... you're so busy looking for angles and working with whatever light that's available that you simply don't have the time to take it in - it all gets lost in the haze.

There have been a few notable exceptions

My all-time most memorable and favourite gig shoot was the late James Brown playing at B.B. King's Blue's Club and Grill in NYC; I had the obligatory "first three songs, no flash" rule but his Page Ranking had also scored my wife and I a pair of tickets. Since I didn't have a pressing deadline, I shot the gig and then sat down to a steak dinner at the front of the club, watching the rest of the performance. Absolutely priceless memories

Another one right up there was getting exclusive access to the first night of Anrea Bocelli's UK tour. No other photographers were allowed in. The show was split into two halves and the production manager said - "you'll need to stay for the last number of the first half, since all three singers (Bocelli had company that night) won't be on stage at the same time till that number" - so I got to enjoy at least half of that concert

Lastly, there was my first ever gig shoot: the Black Eyed Peas at Glasgow Carling Academy. Talk about surreal... most folks cut their teeth shooting small, unsigned acts in dingy venues but noooo - I got thrust into the deep end shooting a major act on what was the very first date of their European tour. They say you never forget your first time and I must admit that I felt as high as a kite when I came out of the venue!

To address your two questions

1. The Strokes were very energetic in their performance which made for an interesting shoot. They were my fifth gig shoot and, as such, I was still cutting my teeth when I shot them. The crowd were well into it but I don't remember much about the music - sorry!

2. I've never shot Belle & Sebastian since my agency has never asked me to. They'll only put me forward for gigs when they think or know there's a sales opportunity for the pictures... go figure.

[robbo]

Great stories! Money is king and when you get to concerts for free there is no sense in questioning the logic behind it. Well, I will be at my first dingy bar shooting a friend's band to cut my teeth as I stated in my email. No BEPeas, but they play a mean Modern Engligh during their 80's cover set. There lead guitar actually was a successful studio guy. He has played with Dylan, Michael Jackson's band, a spin off from members of Earth, Wind, and Fire, Duke Ellington Orchestra (he is a lot older than me!) and had a band called Dead River Band in NYC. He is fun to watch as my bonehead buddies try to keep up with him.

I look forward to any advice you have to offer in response to my email. BTW, I do have an all access pass.