Oss237.com is two years old!

June 5, 2008 by oss237

Yes, Oss237.com – Ross Costigan Photography celebrates it’s second birthday today. Looking back on the last couple of years I’m amazed by how quickly it has flown by and how far my adventures behind the lens have taken me.

Three years ago, I started getting really into photography, with a background in film-making I got frustrated by the long process of creating things and photography meant I didn’t have to wait. Around about the same time, KenMc was setting up KilkennyMusic.com and asked me to come on board as the Resident Photographer. Combining my passion for music and my growing passion for photography, I’d never shot a gig before but how could I say no!? And in return he set up Oss237.com. He later went on to give me a loan of his Nikon D70 (for over a year) and continues to give me technical support and listen to my stupid questions on a daily basis!?

After countless hours; thinking, day-dreaming, cursing to myself, thousands of shots, hours of practicing, trying to figure things out, learning rules and trying to break them, I’ve slowly but surely developed as a photographer. I now have over 1000 live shots on display in the KilkennyMusic Galleries. My shots have been used by hundreds of bands and musicians on websites, myspace & bebo profiles, albums, E.P’s and posters. I was short-listed for an Irish Blog Award. I’ve gotten regional, national and international publications. My work with KKM has expanded into PR work, podcasting, blogging and generally being surrounded by awesome music and musicians every day.

Today Oss237.com reached 62,000 hits. Over the last two years I’ve posted just over 200 of my favourite shots, capturing not only my adventures and work, but my progress as a photographer. I’ve received hundreds of comments and feedback from people all over the world. I’ve worked with bands, musicians, other photographers, models, tattoo artists, makeup artists, fire-dancers, teachers, students, film-makers, artists, bloggers and generally got to meet the most awesome people from all over the country.

All the time just doing something that I love doing!? And whilst I’m well aware that I still have an awful lot to learn, I’m just looking forward to it and wondering where it will take me next.

Two years in, I have to say a huge thanks to KenMc for everything basically. I also have to thank my long suffering housemates Sla and Daw (Happy Birthday dude!), they complete my technical support and also answer my stupid questions on a daily basis. Finally, thanks to all the people who have visited the site, checked out my work, continue to do so and the people who have commented and shared their opinions or thoughts. Your feedback is always welcome and provides me with a constant encouragement to learn more.

TrainSpotting: I’m Rentboy

May 30, 2008 by oss237

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I’ve been waiting three weeks to be able to announce this, as Devious Theatre release individual character posters for our third production; Irvine Welsh’s ‘Trainspotting‘, my poster came out this week.

I’ll be playing greedy, self loathing, nihilistic anti-hero Mark ‘Rentboy’ Renton in the WaterGate Theatre the 24th - 28th of June. In the Devious tradition, a truly awesome series of posters are being created for the show, once again due to the skilled hands of Paddy ‘that was from Jaws!’ Dunne. The man behind the posters for ‘Heart Shaped Vinyl‘ and ‘Cannibal! the musical‘. His work continues to amaze me.

Tickets are now on sale for the show and booking is starting to pick up so make sure and book your tickets early through the WaterGate Theatre: 056 77 61674.

I’ve spent the last few weeks getting to grips with my character; reading the script, reading the book, listening to the audiobook, watching the film, working on my Scottish accent, reading about how to do Scottish accents, talking to myself out loud in Scottish, reading about heroin use and generally transforming myself into a Scottish junkie. It’s easily the most challenging role I’ve ever played, but I love a good challenge.

Over the coming weeks I’ll be posting updates on rehearsals and P.R work we’re doing for the show, and make sure to keep an eye on the Devious Theatre website for more updates, news and of course more character posters.

Book tickets for Devious Theatre’s ‘TrainSpotting’ on 056 77 61674.

Vultures Episode 2: The Scarlet Lady Vanishes

May 21, 2008 by oss237

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Ross Costigan as ‘Jack Street’. Photograph by Shane Hatton

Vultures Episode 2: ‘The Scarlet Lady Vanishes‘ went online last Sunday, following the Cast & Crew premiere in Cleeres Theatre on Saturday Night.

For anybody not in the know, ‘Vultures’ is the flagship production by Mycrofilms, it’s a web-based sitcom, that’s FREE TO WATCH on www.vulturespi.com. It follows the adventures of the three hapless detectives of Vultures Private Investigators.

The pilot episode, ‘The Kris Kringle Konundrum‘ premiered Christmas Eve and now Vultour, McGrain, Tennyson and the gang are back, with a few new characters in tow as they ‘get up in the guts’ of an Agatha Christie style murder-mystery, once again written by John Morton and Paddy Dunne.

Aside from providing behind-the-scenes shots for the show, I’m also the 1st A.D and play urban preacher ‘Jack Street’. As shooting for episode 2 took place just before my exams, it meant I wasn’t around for a lot of shooting but I did manage to get some behind-the-scenes snaps, with plenty more to be added to Vulturespi.com very soon. I don’t want to give away any of the plot until people have seen the show.

Mycrofilms have just received funding from the Arts Office, meaning we’ll be able to shoot four more episodes to complete the 1st series. Pre-production has already begun on episode three and it’s looking like we’ll be shooting it in July (more on that later) after Devious Theatre’s production of TrainSpotting (more on that later).

But for now check out check out ‘Vultures : The Scarlet Lady Vanishes‘; it’s got action, it’s got suspense, it’s got love, it’s got hookers. “And it’s still better than that film, the one with the bugs in space!”

Communications & PR 2008 – Memories of college life

May 19, 2008 by oss237

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So college is officially over… it still hasn’t really sunk in. I’ve tried several times to write this blog post, but it’s hard to capture how I feel right now. I’m overwhelmed with thoughts, memories and mixed emotions.

Four years ago, if somebody told me that I would have completed a Diploma in Print Journalism and then a BA Hons Degree in Communications & Public Relations, I would have thought they were crazy. I wasn’t the academic type. Going back into education as a mature student, I was worried I wouldn’t fit in, hell I have trouble fitting in most places, let alone because of age.

On my first day in I.T Carlow, I hesitantly walked into a room with 60 complete strangers, people from all over the country and different walks of life. I nearly died when we all had to stand up and introduce ourselves. I didn’t want to go back the next day… but I’m so glad I did.

Aside from studying a broad range of subjects and finally getting an idea of what I want to do in life, I’ve spent the last three years with the most amazing people you could ever wish to meet. I have so many different stories and memories of time with them, that I could probably set up a new blog with daily posts (maybe I will!?).

Although we were all completely different, I was accepted by them for who I was and formed friendships that I know will last my entire life. I doubt any of them actually know how much of an impact they made on me. It’s hard to pick a favourite memory from the past three years, but I can safely say I have at least one fond memory of every single person in my class, and so many people I met through them. Days spent in the TV studio or in the canteen, endless days in the library studying or trying to avoid study. Insane nights out, pub crawls and parties. The laughter. The tears. The stress. The relief. The sessions. The moments. The whole thing!

This year was easily our most stressful, as we went from projects to essays, PR Campaigns to design projects, presentations to speeches, radio adverts to video documentaries, interviews, a thesis and then finally exams. 13 hour days in the library, reading novels, plays, poetry and endless amounts of notes. By the end, we spent a lot of time wishing it would all be over, in hindsight, I can see myself spending alot more time wishing it had never ended.

I can safely say the reason I got out of bed every morning, spent hours commuting and stuck in traffic, spent days hungry because of the lack of vegetarian options, or the reason I even managed to complete the course at all is because I was doing it with these people.

Now that it’s all over and we finished it off with the expectedly awesome celebrations, I’m kind of lost. We’ve said our goodbyes, we’re all heading off in different directions. Only the 2nd class to complete the course, we’re a new breed. My class was packed full of people with different interests, talents and skills. I have no doubt I’ll see my classmates changing the ways things are done in every area of life from politics to sports, music and entertainment, you name it and somebody was good at it. I feel privileged to have spent time with them.

The above class photo was taken at the Portal statue outside I.T Carlow, just after we finished our first exam, the beginning of the end. Although not any type of artistic shot I’m posting it on the site because I want to share it with people. Firstly for anybody who wasn’t in my class, I want you to see the faces of all the people who changed my life and where I’m going in life.

Secondly, for my classmates to have (thanks for all the memories). I have a list of contacts but not all of you are on it, so if you want a large version of the shot for printing or want to meet up in the real world, then just let me know. I also have thousands of photos from the last three years and now I have time to go back and sort them out, so make sure and add my bebo or myspace profile. Finally if any of you do read this then leave a comment, I’d love to know you favourite memory or thoughts.

I’m already looking forward to the class reunion…

Road Safety Awareness – Promo Shoot

April 11, 2008 by oss237

5 Comments

This week was Road Safety Awareness week in I.T Carlow, with a whole host of activities and things going on to promote and raise awareness of road safety.366 people died on Irish roads last year, it’s the equivalent of 1 in 8 students in the college. Having travelled up and down to college every day for the last three years I more than welcomed the event. It’s ridiculous some of the stupid risks people take on the roads and the amount of times I’ve seen people nearly kill themselves and others because they won’t slow down.

Around the college, all week you could see the remains of cars that had crashed on the roads. All of them ridiculously crushed and tour apart, leaving little hope for the thought of the driver actually surviving. Inside the college there were various stalls, video displays, reaction tests and general road safety activities.

On Wednesday I was asked to take promo shots for a car crash re-enactment in the college car park. With hundreds of people gathered to watch, various speakers including model Vivienne Connolly opened the event, followed by the release of 366 white balloons, one for each road death last year.

After that I made my way to the roof of the college library (I’ve always wanted to get up there) to get some shots looking down on people lying, covered in white sheets, in the shape of 366. Then quickly back down to snap the road-crash re-enactment scene. I had also been asked to get some production promo shots for a group making a road safety video who would be filming the re-enactment and for the Carlow Fire & Ambulance Services.

The re-enactment began with the arrival of the Gardai, Fire & Ambulance Services on the scene of the crash, with two victims trapped inside a car which had been hit by another. The driver of that car lay dead having come through the windscreen because he wasn’t wearing a seat-belt.

It was both scary and awesome to be so close and shooting the car crash scene, as the firemen secured the cars and set about saving the survivors. It was also pretty eerie with hundreds of people standing around watching in silence. I need to get rid of my manners when trying to shoot something at the same time as other photographers. Whilst trying to stay out of the way of all the fire and ambulance crew doing their jobs, I was trying to compete with several other photographers and film crew for the best angles. With only seconds to get shots before something/somebody gets in the way, I found that being polite obviously isn’t high up on the list of things to worry about (at least with some photographers).

Slowly but surely the crews secured the vehicles and took them apart piece-by-piece, always ensuring the victims were safe. Constantly moving and thinking, some were cutting the car apart, others were talking to the victims and holding their heads securely, they were always working together. It was amazing to watch them removing the roof of the car and then slowly removing the survivors on spine boards before treating them on the road. Finally, it seemed to get even quieter when the hearse arrived and the body was removed from the other car and placed in a body bag.

I’m still in awe thinking about the amazing jobs these people do everyday. That firemen who don’t get paid, volunteer their time and witness horrible things to try their best to save complete strangers. It’s sad to think how many times they have to do this because of stupid things like people not wearing seat belts or simply driving too fast (as for drink drivers; don’t get me started on those selfish/stupid bastards!).

Hopefully this demonstration will make people think and be more careful, hopefully people will look at my shots and take every precaution so they don’t end up just another statistic of Irish road deaths.

Finally I have to say a huge thanks to I.T Carlow P.R Officer Paula Pollard who always thinks of me when she needs a photographer and of course to Niall Walsh for getting me to and from college safely for the last few years. You can check out all of my photos from the car crash re-enactment here.

Clive Barnes – Promo Shoot

March 31, 2008 by oss237

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I met up with Clive Barnes (legend!) for a photo-shoot yesterday morning, with Clive looking for promo-shots to use for upcoming tours and me only too happy to get him in front of my lens.

As we’ve said on the Sound System Podcast, myself and Ken will be providing some P.R services for Clive’s upcoming tour with Australian legend Jeff Lang this July. We had initially planned to do the shoot last weekend but with the unpredictable weather we had to post-pone, giving me time to do some research and get some practice before the shoot.

Over the past few months I’ve been looking at a lot of different music promo photographers, with so many different styles and techniques to try. One of the great things about this shoot was Clive knew exactly the kind of shots he wanted and was able to give me plenty of suggestions on work to check out. The only problem being that he wanted some black and white promo shots, which firstly I’ve never done and secondly I tend to stay clear of black and white when I can.

It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s just that I think it’s very hard to do well. A lot of photographers tend to simply shoot normally and then change an average shot to black and white to make it look a little better. It’s more attractive to the eye. But it just isn’t the same as shooting with the intention of getting good contrast black and white shots!?

My next problem being that we’d be doing the promo-shoot outside in natural lighting, yet another thing I hadn’t done. So with the shoot being delayed a week, it gave me time to get in some practice. Taking short breaks from working on my thesis, I played around with shots using natural light coming in a window to get a feel for how to go about the shots.

Yesterday morning, Clive picked me up and we drove to a quiet railway crossing just outside Bennettsbridge, hoping the rain would hold off long enough. The sky was clear and perfect for what I wanted to do; getting it to completely white out. We were both kind of surprised by how quickly we got shots we were happy with. Shooting on a 50mm (cheers Ken. I’ll give it back…someday), using the small depth of field to throw focus on the background and using the train tracks for forced perspective, I got plenty of shots. Then I just removed the colour and adjusted the levels slightly for my first series of black and white music promo shots.

It wasn’t long before we were back in the car and on our way to Woodstock in Ennistioge, for the second part of the shoot. I won’t go into the exact details of conversations in the car but I have to say that Clive has some of the coolest and funniest stories I’ve ever heard and upon arriving in Woodstock I discovered that he also has a surprising amount of knowledge about trees!?

Our first stop was in an avenue of huge monkey puzzle trees (Clive told me!), with the idea to use the background like the train tracks for forced perspective. But the sun had gone on us and the trees were just too big to get the shots we wanted. So we moved on to a small wooden cabin type structure, just in time for the sun to reappear and provide great natural light beams and awesome colours in the background. Clive took out his guitar and did his thing whilst I got out the camera and did mine.

Waiting for bursts of sunlight through the clouds I once again got shots we were happy with, very quickly. Straight away dismissing the idea of black & white for these ones, meaning I could try out another completely different style of promo shots. I could have played around for hours but the clouds said no. We made our way home and just as I got in the door, the rain came down in buckets.

I ‘d really love feedback on these new shots (comments, criticism, anything) and you can check out the full series of shots here on Clive Barnes MySpace Profile, where you will also see a long list of gig dates all over the country. I’ve seen him live three times so far and he’s awesome. I’m looking forward to seeing him again over the summer and hopefully getting him in front of my lens again.

Bio-Organic BodyPaint Shoot

March 18, 2008 by oss237

3 Comments

The last few weeks have been crazy with primary research due on my thesis, a long list of assignments as well as a whole host of photo-shoots and work. But, I’ve slowly but surely been making my way through my huge backlog of shots from my adventure.

And so I present the latest series of shots; full-body Bio-Organic designs by tattoo artist Sean Boon of the Vibe Studio, Mullingar.Once again transforming Ani’s kitchen into a paint shop (you’re a legend); with half-naked people walking around covered in paint, everywhere you looked (you’re all legends!).

It took Sean over 5 hours to paint the bio-organic design on Tanya (thank you both so much for your patience). As he began with the outlines; myself, Ani and Mark went on a separate paint-shoot in an amazing forest (photos coming soon). By the time we came back, Sean had most of the outlines done and had colour-coded areas so people could then lend a hand.

For the shoot, we once again moved to Helen’s house, and once again I rearranged the furniture in her sitting room, to try take advantage of the white walls (cheers Helen, I still want your cat!). Just like the Puzzle Shoot, all of the shots were taken using natural house lighting, shot using a 50mm lens at f1.5 (cheers Ken).

I did some initial test shoots using my 18-135mm lens and SB 800 flash, but like the Puzzle Shoot couldn’t get the “white out” effect on the background and the flash instantly killed the vibrant colours of the paint, so I had no choice but to shoot with the 50mm. The main problem being with the limited shooting space and lighting, I now only had a very small depth of focus, which made getting full-body shots with a background burnout next to impossible. And I couldn’t get a good shot of the awesome bone designs on Tanya’s legs.

To compensate for all of this we used a large mirror, which helped to bounce the light around the room and gave me a little more room to work. From then on it was just a matter of finding angles to capture as much of the designs as possible whilst still managing to get the background to burn out. I did have to remove one of two objects but overall I think the series looks like it was shot in a studio enviroment.

At this point I would like to say a huge thanks to Sean for his awesome designs and hard work (I hope you like the shots and I’m sorry I couldn’t get more of the leg patterns), and of course a huge thanks to Tanya, Ani, Helen, Mark and all the gang from the madhouse. You’re all legends and sorry about the huge delay!

There’s still plenty more body-paint shots to come, just as soon as I can get through them but for now comments and feedback on the Bio-Organic series would be greatly appreciated.

23 – Live/Promo Shots + IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LOCAL MEDIA

March 16, 2008 by oss237

18 Comments

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.