The Whitlams
Tim Freedman would have to be one of the most charismatic men in Australian music. This performance was no exception, exchanging with banter on a variety and richness of topics with various audience members in between songs performed at their best.
The lighting on the night was particularly poor with the majority of it coming from the side, and some significant white balancing was needed to bring back the skin tones.
British India
British India headlined a night of in your face rock with Dead Video and Black Mustang at the Tivoli.
I only took a couple of shots of Dead Video but one has stayed in my portfolio since, as it has such a great feel to it as if it could have been taken generations ago.
Also note the guy in the crowd who took his kit off during the performance and sat on his friends shoulders. That raises a few questions – first the night was freezing, so what was he thinking getting nude in it? Then how close a friend do you need to be to have your naked friends bits against your neck as you give him a piggy back. Interesting questions I don’t think I need answered.
Regurgitator
Regurgitator are one of Brisbane’s best live bands. Their style of music suits the live performance and crowd interaction so well that to watch them play to dedicated fans is a rare joy. Not only that but their music fills me with a sense of happy nostalgia.
The Ekka show was fantastic, it seemed that the large crowd was not interested in the festivities of the Ekka at all and came merely to see their idols put on a greatest hits show. I was thoroughly amused to watch the crowd sing along to “I will lick your arsehole”, something I was not quite sure would be replicated in the typically family friendly environment.
The lighting was also fantastic. I believe the lighting for the Ekka is put together by a company called Chameleon who specialise in touring light set-ups. They constantly combine great fill light with strobe effects and luscious fog, allowing the photographers to shoot at a good shutterspeed and adding colour and drama to the shots.
Yves Klein Blue
Yves Klein Blue was really starting to hit their live show straps as they put on this live show. Having shot them before, this time around they were much more polished and tight as a unit and put on a fun and energetic show.
Contact Cover August 2008 – Ekka
The Contact cover for August 2008 highlighted the Department of Public Works (DPW) involvement in the Ekka, as well as its stall which was themed for the opening of the Tennyson Tennis Centre.
For the shoot we filled a small office room with hundreds of DPW branded squeezy tennis balls. Our model Beth laid in them and I encouraged her to throw some at the camera, and have some fun with it.
The lighting was shot into the white ceiling to provide a large front on light source, as with Beth laying on the ground she was looking at the ceiling.
Contact Article August – Efficient Lighting
This article for Contact required a quick little picture for the article. We went up to the roof top to take a photo but the weather was worse than bad, it was straight out dull. I spotted a small bit of blue sky through the gray clouds and had the two men hold the energy efficient light up, and framed the picture so that it pierced through the blue patch of sky.
Later I HDR’d the sky with the same image in three exposures, making sure that the HDR was not applied to the men. It helped transform what could have been a dull picture into something a bit more interesting.
Paul Dempsey
Paul Dempsey performed an amazing set which included some of his newly created solo pieces as well as classic songs from his band Something For Kate.
The lighting at the Troubadour is predominantly simple red light from the side (creating the side highlights on Paul Dempsey’s face above). With red light like this, it is hard to take a photo in which colour adds much. Knowing this I switched to monochrome and concentrated on capturing Paul Dempsey’s facial expressions and his intense eyes.
Bluejuice
Bluejuice and Paper Scissors perform at the Step Inn 1 June 2008. The performance was punctuated by Jake of Bluejuice (pictured) crowdsurfing, reaching the stage again, only to cut his hand open on a piece of glass that was on stage. It wasn’t a good day for Jake’s body, breaking his leg later that night/next morning. On a positive note it has led to their hit “Broken Leg” which has been getting regular radio play.
Dillinger Escape Plan
Dillinger Escape Plan bring their rampant live act to The Arena 19 May 2008. They are joined by Coliseum to get the night started.
Blueline Medic
Blue Line Medic at the Old Museum on 17 May 2008. Blueline Medic were also supported by Rialto Decibel Choir (the definite highlight of the night apart from Blueline Medic), Gifthorse, Art Vandelay and Arrows.
Young And Restless
Young and Restless performs at QPAC’s Cascade Court on 29 March 2008.
Although Young and Restless were the main reason I came to this free gig, as they are well known for their fiery live show, the lighting did become far more difficult for the headliners. The lighting consisted of either red lighting or blends of colours which don’t get along too well.
The above shot was taken by exploiting a huge spotlight that was on the opposite side of the stage. I came to the side and used the spotlight to create flare, while using the stage lighting as a fill light for the audience.
Postcards For Abby
Postcard For Abby performs at QPAC’s Cascade Court on 29 March 2008.
This was a free performance alongside Young and Restless and Flamingo Crash, and the light really came out for this particular act. I was able to shoot at a faster shutterspeed which was useful as the frontman of Postcards For Abby was making full use of the limit stage space, roaming from one side to the other, constantly gesturing with his hand.
For those music photographers that need to build a portfolio to try and start shooting for a publication, free gigs like this are perfect as the shooting rules are very flexible which allows for experimentation and capturing some of the key moments towards the end of a set.
Lior
Lior performs at The Tivoli on 28 March 2008. Lior was also joined for a duet by special guest Katie Noonan of George fame.
