23 - Live/Promo Shots + IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LOCAL MEDIA
Published by admin March 16th, 2008 in KilkennyMusic, Live Shoots, Music Photography, Other Activities, Promo Shoots
For over two years now I’ve been shooting live gigs in Kilkenny and constantly struggling to get shots of bands who are either badly lit, or not lit at all.
At the moment, Cleere’s Theatre has two working lights; a crappy white spotlight and an even crappier yellow one. The
Zoo club has one four-colour light, which only lights the back of the stage and two of the colours are pretty much useless to shoot in. It leaves very few options to keep gig photos interesting. On the plus side it means I have to be constantly re-inventing my approach to shooting gigs if I want to avoid all my photos looking the same.
Over the past few months I’ve started branching out in styles and learning lots of new techniques, in particular studio photography. When I heard 23 were playing the Zoo, I saw the perfect opportunity to try adapt some of these techniques to a live environment. Last time I shot 23, they were awesome and I knew that they’d provide the perfect display of energy and what I like to call “rockin out” for me to get the shots I had in mind.
I already knew the shots I wanted well in advance of 23 taking to the stage. As I shot the support bands I was making little mental notes of angles and positions I needed to be in. During Na Damanta’s set I played
around with the flash, figuring out settings and for Chemical Addiction, I was figuring out angles and how to use the crap light to my advantage.
The only problems being I would have to avoid people constantly flying through the air and I would have to reverse everything I was doing if I was to get the studio effect to work. For most of the gig I climbed up on the amps at the side of stage and sat waiting for the shots I wanted to happen in front of me. With 23 “rockin out” throughout the set, I didn’t have to wait long.
Using the flash to direct where I wanted lit I could darken most of the background in the frame. Instead of getting the background to white out, it would black out. I’m not sure of the correct technical terms but tech-talk is the reason I don’t talk to a lot photographers in this town. That and most of them won’t talk to me. (I’ll get to that in a minute.)
I did have to remove certain things from the shots afterwards, for example that horrible orange poster at the back of the stage which was impossible to get the effect on. But overall the effect worked perfectly to provide a series of studio-style live promo shots, that I’m quite happy with.
On a 23 photo related matter that I would like to rant about; last week three local newspapers printed my photographs to promote the upcoming gig. Whilst I was asked for photos which were printed in two of these newspapers I gave them under certain terms; I did stress that as I was not being paid I wanted to be credited for the photos. Once again I was not.
The third newspaper didn’t even have the courtesy to contact me and instead took one of my photos WITHOUT PERMISSION. I believe the correct term is “stealing”. How do I know it was mine, well two reasons; the first being that it contained the oss237.com watermark. The second being that all the newspapers PAY and CREDIT other 
photographers in this town every week. Photographers who I must point out don’t bother their asses to cover the Kilkenny music scene and even when they do, they sure as hell don’t take shots like I do. I must also point out that most photographers paid by papers to take photos in this town take photo’s your grandmother could take with a phone and then throw me dirty looks!? (Note: I said most photographers. Hi Dave)
So if the local media wants quality photos that obviously aren’t being provided to them, then why not give me a job!? You
obviously think I’m good enough if you’re stealing my photographs and you’re reading my blog! And I’m actually more qualified than some of your journalists!
However, if you’re not going to extend professional courtesy by crediting me for my work then you simply will not get any of my photographs from now on. The next newspaper to print one of my shots WITHOUT PERMISSION will win themselves a prize; I’ll visit your office and explain to you the principles of Irish law, in 
particular terms such as copyright infringement and how you now owe me money!
As I’m on a bit of a rant. Local venue owners and gig organisers; whilst your lack of buying lighting for your venues and gigs means I must be creative when shooting gigs, I seriously doubt that is your intention. The words “being cheap” come to mind. Despite several factors such as elitist crowds boycotting any band that doesn’t contain their friend, Kilkenny has an awesome music scene, with awesome bands like 23 (who rock!) continuing to visit us. You make a lot of money from this music scene so how about actually putting some of
that money towards decent lights!? So the bands play in venues fitting of their high quality and music fans can actually see them. Hey, if the venues are better quality, more bands will want to play, maybe more people will come to gigs, you’ll make even more money and maybe the papers will credit me for my hard work.
To my normal blog readers and 23; sorry about the rant but it was necessary at this stage. I hope you like the shots and I’d really appreciate feedback on this new style of live/promo shots.
17 Responses to “23 - Live/Promo Shots + IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LOCAL MEDIA”
- 1 Pingback on Mar 16th, 2008 at 7:06 am
- 2 Pingback on Mar 16th, 2008 at 7:14 am
- 3 Pingback on Mar 16th, 2008 at 8:31 am
- 4 Pingback on Mar 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 am
- 5 Pingback on Mar 27th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Leave a Reply
Search
Categories
- Black & White Photography (1)
- BodyPaint Photography (1)
- Film & Theatre Photography (2)
- In the Media… (4)
- Music Photography (3)
- Live Shoots (1)
- Promo Shoots (3)
- News (11)
- Other Activities (9)
- Devious Theatre (7)
- KilkennyMusic (1)
- Mycrofilms (1)
- Promo Photography (4)
- Random Thoughts (2)
- Uncategorized (2)
Damn right Ross - on all counts. Printing a photograph without the consent of the copyright owner is just the same as a TV station logging on to the Mycrofilms website and broadcasting Vultures to fill space in their schedule without asking our permission.
If you had just let them off without saying anything the chances are they’ll just come back next week and do the same thing. You have to respect their taste though. Using one of your photographs is going to make them look good.
The “white-out” & “black-out” technique makes the photos look as though they were taken in a heavily controlled studio environment. You’re capturing the rawness of the live performance without directing or interrupting your subject and NEVER compromising lighting or composition…. Just like David Attenborough! Imagine if he had to bring a hundred bison into a studio for photo session…. I’m meandering now, but what I’m trying to say is that you make it look effortless. High quality images just using whatever lighting you happen to have at the time… No wonder you’re being plagiarized, you’re a Photojournalist, and there clearly aren’t many of them around… mostly just people with a nice big camera.
Tis a fine rant too,English
Cheers Sla,
Good to see I’m not the only person who thinks it’s out of line!
Meandering or not, thanks also for one of the best comments I’ve ever received for my work, it’s not often people take the time to provide an in-depth comment on what they think of it.
For example; see Ian’s comment! =P
But Ian, it’s the thought that counts I suppose so cheers for the comment!? lol =P
Well, you know what I think about people not crediting your work!
Fingers crossed we’ll be able to fund those lights and brighten up this town
Ross,
The very same thing has happened to me.
I know plenty of venues in Belfast with terrible lighting that often makes me feel embarrassed about using flashing and brightening up the venue whilst blinding everyone.
My photos have also been used before without credit. It’s not nice though I think it happens to us all. A lot of newspapers dont seem to believe in crediting photographers - something I would love to be changed.
You would think it was such a simple request. “this photo was taken by…” It something i havnt experienced yet, mainly because no-one has ever really publish any of my work!!!! Bar a lighting tech guy up in dublin who did very nicely ask for permission. Conditions were simple, all i asked for was a little credit and i got it. Sound. I dont mind people taking pieces for their bebo and what not, as long as the watermark/email/signature stays on it and they refer me to people who ask but, if someone was to put my pieces in print, i would be very strict about the conditions. Papers and such have become very mean in the last number of years and it seems like they have forgotten about copyright laws in their attempts to reduce the price paid to photographers.
Have you looked at adding creative commons on your site dude?
It’s a disgrace to see newspapers stealing,and that is the right word to use,some of your work.
Hard work like yours should be rewarded because you are not just pressing a button hoping for the best!
Your pictures are amazing and we all know that you are working on tuff condition between shity light and stage divers.
As I said at the beginning:It’s a disgrace.
Joey
“we all know that you are working on tuff condition between shity light and stage divers.”
Man, the 23 set was a bloody war zone!! I still have bruises!!!! I have to say, it is very difficult to shoot in those conditions. I would love to see some of the photographers for local papers give it a try!!!
Fair dues have to be given Ross all around he’s the only person in this town I know apart for Ray who bothers coming to local gigs and taking photos of the bands not only that he stays at the gigs and actually listens to the band, plus he promotes the band by writing a blog about the band or commenting about them in a podcast.
Most local newspaper photographers take two pictures at a gig, which they’ve been told they have to go to and then fuck off.
He provided photos to papers on many occasions and a cant believe they decency to even credit the man on his only photos, he should getting paid for the pictures they use just like any other photographer.
Wow, a great response to this topic!?
Okay my responses;
To Ken:
I know dude, I just think it’s sad that KilkennyMusic has to spend precious funding we receive on things that venues and promoters who are making money should provide as standard!
To Phil:
Yeah, although I’ve only got a new flash I am wary of it being annoying or distracting during gigs. And a lot of the time it will kill any atmosphere provided by the poor lighting.
As for papers not caring about photographers, well legally they have to dude! I’ve never asked to be paid by any of them but if they aren’t going to extend the same courtesy they extend to all the other photographers in this town then I’d rather they didn’t use my pics. Getting them printed is great but not if they are taking them without permission. It’s a tricky situation to be in!?
To Ray:
Sorry dude, but what are creative commons? I’m lost!?
To Joey:
Thanks alot dude and I’m glad ye like the photos! Come back to KK soon!
To Ray again:
Yeah, it was a pretty difficult set to shoot, people flying everywhere! lol
I think the reason they don’t shoot it is because of the difficulty trying to shoot gigs like that. Like T said, they want to be able to show up, get a quick shot and leave. They can get paid and credited but do as little as possible.
To T:
Thanks a lot dude. I love doing what I do, and I’ve always tried to help out bands with photos, blogs, podcasts, whatever I can do to help. I’ll continue to do so but I’m just not standing for this type of thing anymore.
To you all: Thanks for your comments and it’s great to see people feel strongly about this. =)
Hey Ross, Creative Commons is like an online form of copyright. http://creativecommons.org/ Its as good as the copyright symbol but can offer a little more flexibility and pretty much puts you on a register from what i can see.
When you go to the site, you sign up, add the website/blog/name of project/whatever, you pick what people are allowed to do with your content, they give you a snippet of html code and you add it to your site. Now it doesnt stop anyone from actually taking your files and using them but it does give some legit come back.
I also use the html it gives in a text file when putting work onto CD’s.
The feckers. Sincerely, if this happens again, let me know. I know some legal types. Feckin’ feckers!!!