Some random photos
I’ve been rather busy lately, photographing all kinds of things. Here’s some random photos that i’ve been posting to Flickr.
Photographing Tool
Shooting Tool perform live is a photographic challenge i was aware of before i had a chance to do it myself last night at the Big Day Out. You only get one song to shoot, rather than the standard 3, and of course no flash is allowed. For the duration of that song Maynard (the singer) stands at the back of the stage, with no light on him at all and with his back to the audience most of the time. It seems purposefully set up to hinder photographers getting a decent photo.
Of course i didn’t get anything brilliant, but did manage the one above i’m kind of happy with. It’s shot at 3200 ISO, 1/80th second shutterspeed, 200mm at f2.8. It probably won’t work in print because of all the noise.
Matt Booy being the Tool nut he is, is photographing Tool four times on this tour in three different cities. He’s a master at low light shooting, so i look forward to seeing his results.
More Big Day Out shots of mine coming soon.
Jack Awards Nominations 2007
Last night i attended the Jack Awards nominations at the Gaelic Club. I was taking photos as per usual.
The music industry crowd seemed to enjoy the free booze and networking but were rather bemused by Airbourne’s big pub rock show. I love their over the top show, fireworks and all, but most of the crowd stayed up the back chatting.
There doesn’t appear to be a ‘Best Live Music Photographer’ category this year as there has been in previous years. It’s a shame since i’m not aware of any other award in Australia that recognises that pursuit close to my heart. I guess it was just getting predictable with Tony Mott winning it every year.
The full list of nominees is after the jump.
Spank Rock MIA?
From what i gather Spank Rock, who is due to play tonight in Sydney and tomorrow at the Big Day Out hasn’t actually made it to Australia. While his DJ crew are here and performed at the Gold Coast Big Day Out, it was without Spank Rock himself. It appears that he never made it through airport security in New York.
There’s no official word yet on the band’s website or myspace, bar a comment from an unhappy punter in the Gold Coast and a reply comment from Spank Rock stating,
"I’m terribly sorry for not making it out to BDO. You should know that there is no place i’d rather be and I’ve been looking foward to the festival for months. I ran into some trouble at JFK airport and was forced to miss the trip."
So it seems fans like me who were excited about the gig tonight and at the BDO may be in for some disappointment. The Spank Rock gig last year was amazing and while his DJ’s are good, it’s no Spank Rock gig. Who knows, he may yet get a late flight, but he wasn’t in town last night so it seems unlikely.
UPDATE
Spank Rock wasn’t at the gig in Sydney tonight and may not be on the rest of the Big Day Out tour. The shows will continue as DJ sets with Chris Rockswell and Ronnie Darko with some MCing from Pase Rock.
I hear that Spank Rock was stopped from boarding his flight because he had a belt with a knuckle duster buckle. But take that as the unsubstantiated rumour it is till an official announcement is made.
Storm in a teacup
The media and publicity hungry politicians seem to have whipped up a lot of attention surrounding the Big Day Out’s discouraging of people to carry the Australian flag at the Sydney Big Day Out.
- Ban Big Day Out, not flag: Robb
- Big Day Out slammed for flag slur
- The response from the Big Day Out.
At last year’s festival there was quite a number of drunken, flag waving yobs causing trouble.
This is from Andrew G’s blog after last year’s Big Day Out,
"The main thing I got from the crowd was that there was a large, dare I say it, “Cronulla” style element. Australia Day, Beer, Yobs in board shorts yelling things. Flags. Lots of “Aussie Pride” tattoos. Scary. There were fights there. I’ve never ever seen a fight at a Big Day Out. Why would you want to fight at a day like that? All the bands and food and hot girls/guys you’ve ever wanted in once place at once, and you have to biff? Why??"
"My dear friend Ali saw a poor guy get his lights viciously punched out because he refused to ‘KISS THE FLAG’ draped around the shoulders of some pissed animal who was travelling in a cowardly pack of other yobs. This is Sydney? Kiss the flag or I’ll hit you? Please explain to me how that works? I want to know. I really do. Post below and let me know, help me understand it, please."
While there’s plenty of entirely innocent flag waving going on, that sort of behaviour is presumably what organisers are quite rightly trying to stamp out. They’ve since clarified their position, which is to request people leave large flags at home, rather than ban them outright. The media and political beat up seems way out of proportion.
Whatever the case – i’m psyched for photographing the Big Day Out again this year. Hopefully it’ll be less agro than last year.
bluejuice photos
Taking photos of bluejuice was probably one of the funnest shoots i’ve ever done. I mean, look at that photo above. One of my favourites ever.
And it was all too easy. I turned up at this office space and the guys are there and ready with all sorts of outfits to try on. Or take off.
After the fun stuff we thought it might be wise to get some straighter stuff too.
The band are almost ready to unleash their new album. Keep an eye out.
2007 – So far so good
Thanks to a Flickr user in Brazil i discovered my Foo Fighters picture was used in Rolling Stone Brazil.
It was quite a fortunate story with those shots. I took them for a local magazine, but i owned the photos. Then Foo Fighters management got in touch asking to purchase them, so of course i said yes.
They’ve since run in a number of magazines, including this example and also Rolling Stone Australia. They’ve joined the official press shots so i really have no idea where they end up unless people tell me.
This year already looks like it’s shaping up as a good one for photos. I’ve done band promo shoots for Kid Confucius and Bluejuice. And next week i’m very busy, shooting the Jack Awards nominations, The Big Day Out plus sideshows from Spank Rock and Diplo, The Killers and Hot Chip.
At this stage i’m also booked in for the Laneway Festival and going to be the official photographer for The Great Escape festival.
Not to mention a trip to Texas for South by Southwest…
Kid Confucius photos
Here’s some photos of Sydney funk/soul/hiphop outfit Kid Confucius i took last Sunday.
They’re something a little different to the usual indie rock bands i shoot, but that’s a good thing. They’re a great band, recently winning ‘Best Urban Act’ at the Dance Music Awards.
With 8 people it was quite a challenge arranging people, getting the light right and getting a shot where no one’s blinking or looking a goose. We did a few different setups, some dark and moody, some bright and fun.
After the photos they also filmed a performance for a new music video. It was fun watching a private performance of the 8 piece band in the confines of a small studio.
As usual it was all shot at the excellent space of Blue Murder Studios.
UPDATE
Here’s the video which was partly shot in the studio. It’s rather good.
Homebake 2006 – Part 3
And the third and final installment of Homebake photos. It was Silverchair’s year to headline, playing some of their classics as well as a number of songs off their coming album Young Modern.
Surprisingly The Vines were one of my highlights of the festival. Craig seems to be really enjoying himself onstage these days, not like the tortured soul of years gone by.
See more photos of Silverchair, Red Riders, Eskimo Joe, The Presets and The Vines.
Homebake 2006 – Part 2
Round 2 of Homebake photos. That shot above was the crowd during the Hilltop Hoods set. While i was sheltered with the St Johns Ambulance folks they would have been pelted with rain.
Have a look at the gallery for more photos of The Valentinos, The Buttefly Effect, Wolf and Cub, You Am I, Gotye, Die! Die! Die! and more.
Homebake 2006 – Part 1
Here’s the first batch of my Homebake Festival photos.
There’s so many great Australian acts these days you’re spoilt for choice of things to see. Even the torrential downpour later in the day didn’t dampen spirits. But they did stop my photographing for a while.
In this set are shots of Young and Restless who scored their slot on the bill after their Unearthed win. At the other end of the spectrum is Hollywood actress Toni Collette, whose set began just as the skies opened.
Take a look at the album for shots of Young and Restless, British India, Little Birdy, Something with Numbers, The Basics, Midnight Juggernauts, Whiskey Go Go’s, Children Collide, Toni Collette and more.
Back from holidays
It’s been a bit quiet on the blogging front since i’ve been away from the internets. I’ve spent the past couple of weeks on holidays in Melbourne, Daylesford (in the Victorian countryside) and at Blueys Beach, on the NSW coast about 5 hours drive north of Sydney.
It’s been bliss spending time with friends, without a worry in world, just lazing about, eating, swimming and watching Dexter and season 1 and 2 of Carnivale. Not too much partying bar New Years eve and a night with some Sydney pals in Melbourne.
Things have been quiet on the photo front, i took the odd photo with my cameraphone but nothing too exciting. Nothing much on till the Big Day Out rolls around again. I’m confirmed to shoot the Sydney Big Day Out plus The Killers and Hot Chip sideshows. Stoked.
I’ve got a few things to post in the interim so it won’t be too quiet here. I’ve got a big batch of Homebake photos, plus i’ll be posting that article about concert photography across a series of blog posts.
Hope you all enjoyed your holiday breaks. Back to the grindstone.
