rockstars and press passes

I never thought about what would happen if I combined two of the things I loved most in my life photography and music. Growing up its the only thing I ever wanted to do, capture moments and listen to really good music preferably at the same time. It wasn't as if I thought that one was mutually exclusive from the other I just could never envision trying to interpret music with my camera. When I go to a concert I am all about hands over my head closing my eyes and jumping up and down until I can not feel my feet underneath me. Some people like handbags I'd rather buy good concert seats. Some people like booze I find a a good riff to be equally intoxicating. That's what I love so much about music it changes how you feel. I could not imagine trying to harness that feeling within the confines of a box with a mirror and a lens.

Last fall I was granted a press pass to photograph two bands I would gladly eat mac and cheese for a month to see play live, Duran Duran and Foo Fighters.

Equally unnerving I had to completely remove myself as a spectator and think along the lines of a photo journalist. It was one of the most challenging jobs I have done and absolutely one of the most fulfilling. When you shoot a concert you typically get the first three songs, that's it. You get in get your shots off and get out. The bands don't pose. If you are lucky they will give you your "Kodak Moment" but don't hold your breath they are there for the thousands of fans where you have just placed yourself squarely in between. You work fast there is no time to think or play around with settings, do that during the opening act.  Did I mention its dark? There is little or no available light. You are lucky if you catch a good strobe.

Low light and fast moving musicians was my biggest challenge. Opening band Cage the Elephant was especially tricky. The lead singer reminiscent of the late Kurt Cobain would run full speed stopping short of jumping right off the stage. He thrashed back and forth whipping himself into a frenzy keeping a step ahead of the chasing strobes. All I wanted was to capture that quintessential rock star maneuver, the head bang. My neck hurts just thinking about it.

rock on!
Lindsey aka modchik

When I came across  and was drawn to the softness of the light and how it shone through the girls ringlets and reflected off her long fingers. I imagined her playing a controlled classical piece in perfect tempo. A completely different performance photograph with equally stunning results.

auld lang syne by mapleeye