This was probably my ‘biggest’ gig so far, and by far the busiest in the photo pit. There must have been ten or twelve photographers bustling back and forth, many of whom were sporting two high end SLR camera bodies and lenses to match. But I pressed on, trying to be undaunted by it all, and shot three songs (as per the rules). I’m actually pretty disappointed with my results; I don’t know whether I panicked a bit, or whether my technique was a bit off that night, but I missed many of the ‘moments’. I guess it happens to everyone from time to time. Anyway the show was fantastic and the crowd was amped – certainly a great atmosphere!

I like the Enmore Theatre. Lighting was good for this show, with some nice colour washes and a very reasonable level of front-light.

Music

Click here to check out the music.

Gear

Canon EOS 50D Body, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

Settings

ISO 1000-2500, f/2.8, 1/100-1/250 s

More Photos

Check out the full set including support act Parades here.

Brother and sister act Angus and Julia Stone played three sold-out shows at The Enmore last week, and I was lucky enough to be shooting for four songs on Friday. They may be from Sydney, but apparently these guys are being met with open arms all over the world. Not knowing what to expect, I was a little disappointed when they came out and stood in front of a curtain, awash in a deep purple light that my camera didn’t like one bit. Imagine my surprise when half way through the second song the curtain rises to reveal three other band members and – best of all – scenery comprising a Victorian lamp post and a huge tree covered in fairy lights. From then on the show only got better (and the air hazier). The music was brilliant, and a pleasant diversion from the heavy stuff I’ve been shooting recently.

But the most important thing is this: I can now honestly say that I’ve photographed The Stones.

Music

Click here to check out the music.

Gear

Canon EOS 50D Body, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

Settings

ISO 1000-1600, f/2.8, 1/100-1/160 s

More Photos

Check out the full set including support act Luluc here.

Currently on Australian newsagent shelves is BLUNT magazine’s 92nd issue, featuring – *drumroll* – four of my images from Blood, Sweat & Beers 3 at the Annandale in July! This is my first magazine feature, so naturally I’m very happy :) Even better is that the next issue of blunt will include fourteen of my photos from other recent gigs :D

This just goes to show how important it is to have an internet presence even if your experience is limited, as BLUNT only got in touch after seeing my (rather small) online portfolio. It’s also a reminder that user-contributed websites such as FasterLouder and MusicFeeds are an incredibly important part of the music media industry: they might not pay you anything, but what you gain in return is priceless for any photographer trying to build a portfolio.

For interest’s sake, below are the original images…

Admittedly I’d never heard of Shihad until I was asked to shoot them at The Annandale last week, but I find that I’m often out of the loop over here, what with being a POM and everything. Anyway, it turns out Shihad are huge in New Zealand (where they’re from) and in Oz. Not only that, but this gig was the second of two shows at which they played, in order, the entire track listing of one of their early albums: a bold move that only the best can get away with. And the crowd loved it – including the groupies, one of which had a tattoo and everything, and it was her 58th Shihad gig! Whaaaat?!

Music

Click here to check out the music.

Gear

Canon EOS 50D Body, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens

Settings

ISO 800-2000, f/2.8, 1/100-1/250 s

More Photos

Check out the full set here.

Florida boys Surfer Blood played to a large crowd at Sydney Uni’s Manning Bar the other week. At times it was interesting how much the singer sounded like a young Morrissey. Anyway here are some shots.

Click here to check out the music.

Settings

ISO 1250-2500, f/2.8, ~1/125 s

My Two Penneth

It was difficult to navigate the crowd at this one; no barrier meant the punters were pressed right up against the stage, and a low stage meant they weren’t always too pleased to have a photographer as tall as I blocking their view. At least they weren’t moshing. Anyway the lighting on the band was so-so, although it broke my heart to see a set of moving spotlights go unused!

More photos

Check out the full set including support act Papa vs Pretty here.

Dreadnaught hit the stage before Testament at Sydney Uni last week, and they were a blast to photograph. Three songs only, but that was plenty to capture the drama.

Click here to check out the music.

Settings

ISO 1600-2000, f/2.8, 1/125-1/160 s

My Two Penneth

The great thing (one of the great things) about Dreadnaught is that the frontman is a vocalist and nothing else. Combine that with a low stage and you have the perfect recipe for me shoving my camera in his face and getting some really engaging shots :)

More photos

Check out the full set from the night here.

There was a lot of excitement surrounding the return of US metalheads Testament to Australian shores, and having got up close and personal with them I can see why. Also, this has to have been my most dangerous shoot yet – by the third song there were punters raining down on photographers like asteroids; shortly afterward we were all pulled from the photo pit for safety reasons. Hell yeah. Anyway (and this is why it pays to strike up a fragmented, earplugged, shouted conversation with security) I was allowed to continue shooting for a little while longer from the side of the stage, balanced on top of a barrier.

Click here to check out the music.

Settings

ISO 1600-2000, f/2.8, 1/125-1/160 s

My Two Penneth

No complaints really. The lighting was basic but it was there – you just had to wait for it. Testament had that effortless energy about them, and with screaming guitar solos at the very front of the stage the crowd were lapping it up.

More photos

Check out the full set including support acts Contrive and Dreadnaught here.

“I’m Scottish born and Australian bred!” sum’s it up really. The Rumjacks blasted onto the stage at the Oxford Art Factory to warm up for Hell City Glamours last month and I’ve been meaning to give them a shout out ever since. At the risk of offending them and/or their fans by making sweeping generalisations that are perhaps disloyal to the band’s inherent nuances, they reminded me of the Dropkick Murphys. Of course the Dropkick Murphys are American, and their name sounds Irish to me, but heck who’s counting? In any case I’d suggest that you check out The Rumjacks if you like Celtic punk, which I definitely do.

Why not listen to this while browsing the photos?

Settings

ISO 1000-1250, f/2.8, 1/60-1/100 s

My Two Penneth

It’s the OAF’s Christmas colour scheme again! Oh well, I might have clipped the odd colour channel but the band were energetic enough to provide half-decent photos nonetheless. And if you look good in green, you look good in just about anything.

More photos

Check out the full set from the night here.

What nice people. Apparently they took a fan bowling the other day after that person was shunned by the White Stripes, having waited hours to meet them. Anyway, coverage of this gig was my contribution to the ongoing media coverage of Splendour In The Grass, which is an Aussie music festival and a pretty big deal; yeah. As expected, this gig was subject to the “three songs, no flash” rule which, if you don’t already know, means that both blinding the band and outstaying your welcome are completely disallowed, punishable by being collared by security and thrown headlong into the mosh pit. Anyway, what this means is that you have to take photos quickly and, above all, efficiently, which is quite a skill in itself. The good news is that you (and the other photographers, and in this case a film crew) can sprint merrily up and down in front of the crowd barrier.

Settings

ISO 1600, f/2.8, 1/80-1/160 s

My Two Penneth

For a ‘mainstream’ show such as this, I would have liked to see more interesting lighting. Having said that, there was enough front-light to get decent shots, and The Magic Numbers had all the charisma you’d expect for such a successful band :)

More photos

Check out the full set including support acts Cloud Control and Guineafowl here.

The Widowbirds opened for Ash Grunwald at The Metro earlier this month. I really enjoyed their set: a great stripped-back feel and sweeeet sounds :)

Settings

ISO 2000-2500, f/2.8, 1/80-1/100 s

Excuses

As you can see from the settings, this was high ISO work. But you know what? I didn’t CARE. The light had a great quality (for the central performers at least), with some simple front-lighting (YES! FRONT-LIGHT!) and colourful washes behind. Simples.

More photos

Check out the full set of photos from the night here.