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.