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Big Day Out Sydney 2012

Daniel Boud — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:59:00 +0000

Another Australia Day, another trip out to Homebush for the Big Day Out.

Like my first time photographing Big Day Out back in 2006 i was shooting pictures for SPIN.

Homebake 2011

Daniel Boud — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:47:32 +0000

Grinderman headline Homebake

I almost skipped posting these, but i’ve got 6 years of photographing Homebake here, so i ought to keep up the tradition. It’s also the first music festival i ever photographed so i have a soft spot for it.

Any time you get an opportunity to see or photograph Nick Cave it’s a treat.

Shooting officially, you only get one song, not the standard three. But he gives a more visceral and compelling performance in one song than most bands do in their whole set.

A festival is largely about the crowd and atmosphere of the event, so i always try and capture that. I’m not keen on shooting hundreds of social snaps, i try for a more candid approach.

Anyway, back to the bands.

Cut Copy

Pnau

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Icehouse

Ladyhawke

Gotye

VIVID Live photos

Daniel Boud — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:22:06 +0000

It’s been almost a week since it wrapped up but i’ve just found a moment to come up for air to blog some Vivid Live photos.

I was shooting for the Sydney Opera House and some days felt like i had the best job in the world. Going to work each night at the magnificently adorned Sydney Opera House and seeing incredible shows. The Cure, Bat for Lashes, Odd Future, Cut Copy, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Azari & III…

More than previous years it felt like Vivid transformed the Opera House into a real party venue bringing in loads of punters who’d never normally set foot in the place.

To showcase the photos i put together a DPG powered photo website, much like i did for Laneway Festival. You can check out loads more photos there.

Sydney Writer’s Festival photos

Daniel Boud — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 07:52:06 +0000

I’m more known for photographing festivals of the musical variety so it was somewhat of a change of pace shooting Sydney Writer’s Festival the other week.

It was a very civilised affair, meandering between the wharves at Walsh Bay, enjoying superb Sydney sunshine and listening to snippets of writer’s discuss their work.

Kerry O'Brien and Bob Carr

Instead of the usual festival punters i’m used to it was largely frequented by women who resemble my mother. Greying baby boomers, ABC 702 listeners, Herald readers and left leaners with an affection for Kerry O’Brien.

But there was something for everyone, the food lovers had AA Gill and Anthony Bourdain, the FBi listeners had a live taping of All The Best, there was The Chaser, John Howard, David Hicks, economists, screenwriters, photographers, designers, musicians, journalists, comedians, scientists, etc…

I really only managed to skim the surface.

An astonished Mike Carlton

Big Day Out Sydney 2011

Daniel Boud — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 10:22:08 +0000

Here’s some of my snaps of the Sydney Big Day Out last Thursday.

I spent the bulk of my time backstage shooting portraits for FasterLouder but ducked out a few times to catch some performances for Time Out.

Like five years ago when Iggy Pop’s performance blew my mind at the 2006 Big Day Out, he did it again this year.

From the very moment he pounced onto the stage he was mesmerising. Shirtless and with more boundless energy than frontmen a third of his age, Iggy and the Stooges stole the show without needing the theatrics of acts like Rammstein.

Kim from Matt and Kim surfs the Lilyworld crowd

Die Antwoord

The act that most fascinated me on the Big Day Out bill was Die Antwoord. I tried my darnedest to get them into my studio, asking every publicist and record label rep who’d listen, but to no avail. So i wasn’t going to miss their live show.

Andrew WK

I did get to shoot Andrew WK in my studio set-up, and he was so awesome there that i just had to see his performance too. I missed his mainstage act, but he did a little solo set at the Lilyworld stage, just him and a keyboard, playing cover songs, telling stories and chatting with the audience.

Nick Cave with Grinderman at the Enmore Theatre

Like Iggy Pop, Nick Cave provided a lesson to every other younger act on the Big Day Out tour on what it is to be a frontman of a rock’n'roll band.

I shot Grinderman at their Big Day Out sideshow, and only got permission to shoot one song, but it was all you needed. Nick Cave performs like a man possessed.

Splendour Studio – Day 2

Daniel Boud — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:18:13 +0000

Florence Welch

By day two of the FasterLouder Splendour Studio i’d just about lost my voice. The combination of festival dust, tiredness and a day of barking instructions took it out of me. So i hoarsley rasped my way through the following days, prodding musicians to do this and that.

Here’s my photos from day 2 featuring Clare Bowditch, Two Door Cinema Club, Florence and the Machine, Jonathan Boulet, Band of Horses, Band of Skulls, Magic Numbers, Bluejuice, Tame Impala, Paul Kelly, The Drums and Midnight Juggernauts.

Clare Bowditch

The first act of the day was the delightful Clare Bowditch. She also made up one of the trio of gorgeous redheads i photographed, with Ana Matronic and Florence Welch too.

Clare Bowditch

Jonathan Boulet

Jonathan Boulet wasn’t really into props, but when the idea was put to him to smash his face with glitter he was more than happy.

Stav and Jerry from bluejuice

Band of Skulls

Magic Numbers

Tame Impala

Two Door Cinema Club

The Drums

While i was photographing The Drums i had a strong sense that i’d photographed them before – even though i knew i hadn’t. Turns out i’d snapped two of the members in their former band Elkland five years ago in Austin.

The Drums

Wolfmother

Florence Welch

The act who i was probably most nervous about shooting at the whole festival was Florence Welch. She has the potential to make a beautiful photograph and i didn’t want to stuff it up.

She was very nice, but reserved and quiet. Quite at odds with the booming presence she has on stage. Perhaps she preserves her energies for the performance.

Florence Welch

Paul Kelly

Art vs Science

Band of Horses

Midnight Juggernauts

See all the photos from day 1 and 3.

Splendour Studio – Day 1

Daniel Boud — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:40:59 +0000

Temper Trap in the Splendour Studio

At Splendour in the Grass i had one of the best assignments i’ve ever had – shooting backstage portraits of the bands and artists playing at the festival for FasterLouder.

FasterLouder had a tent in the media compound backstage that i set up with a white paper roll and some studio lights (with help from Elleni). Over the course of the three days over 30 bands visited to get their picture taken. Some i took indoors in a simple classic style, some i plied with props and accessories to get them loosened up and have fun, while others i took outdoors for a taste of the lush green surrounds of Woodfordia.

For many years i’ve documented festivals, concentrating on the performances, the punters and the festival atmosphere. So this was an exciting evolution, shooting one-on-one portraits with the artists.

Here’s my photos from the first day.

Ashley from Operator Please

Taylor from Operator Please

First band of the day was Operator Please. They’ve come a long way since i first photographed them in 2007. They’ve toured the world, released two albums and become much more snappy dressers.

Taylor from Operator Please

Amandah from Operator Please

Operator Please

Robert and Leah from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The next band to shoot was Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It was just two of them, i was told other member Peter was “busy fiddling with his guitars”.

There’s not much time for small talk in these situations, you just have to start shooting, and when i began i thought Robert must’ve been pissed off at something. Me perhaps? He was all scowls, no eye contact and general moodiness. After a while i had a moment of realisation – this is his photo schtick and he’s actually posing for me. If you look at any BRMC press shot you’ll see that sullen James Dean-esque vibe.

Sure enough as soon as i put the camera away he was all smiles and thanks.

2/3rds of BRMC

Dan Sultan

I’ve shot Dan Sultan a few times now, and he’s such a gentleman. Even though he persists in calling me Danny.

Dan Sultan

Lisa Mitchell was lovely and took it in good humour when i told her that she spoiled my photo assignment for Rolling Stone by being overseas when she won the AMP Award. You can hear her sing on Andy Bull‘s new song Dog.

Lisa Mitchell

Megan Washington

Love Megan Washington. She didn’t flinch when i asked if she’d put on a moustache. Legend.

Megan Washington

Scissor Sisters

It was such a joy photographing Scissor Sisters. So nice. So photogenic. A class act.

And it was a nice moment of reflection for me – four years ago i was shooting them onstage at Splendour, today i had them one-on-one in a studio portrait shoot.

Scissor Sisters

Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters

Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters

Foals

I was kind of nervous about shooting Foals. They strike me as a serious band who make serious music and i was concerned they’d be serious and boring in a photo. But those expectations couldn’t have been further from the truth. The minute they walked in they were in high spirits and couldn’t wait to get messy with glitter and bubbles.

Foals

Yannis Philippakis of Foals

Jimmy Smith of Foals

Temper Trap

The last band on the day long shoot was Temper Trap. Like Foals i was concerned they might be a bit uptight – but not at all. They had no problems goofing around with props for the camera.

Temper Trap with Mumford and Sons

After shooting Temper Trap they went back to their dressing room to rehearse a song with Mumford and Sons. I took a happy snap of them before they played Down River together that night.

Or see all the other photos from day 2 and 3.

Vivid 2010 recap

Daniel Boud — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:00:08 +0000

Laurie Anderson in front of Sydney Opera House on a cold winter's night

After posting some other photos of Vivid Sydney events like the lighting of the Opera House sails, Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson’s press conference, the concert for dogs, and Creative Sydney, here’s some other photos from my time shooting Vivid Live for the Opera House.

A salute to the devil. Not a common sight at the Opera House.

Lou Reed performs at Noise Night

Holly Miranda at The Studio

A Tai Chi Seminar in the foyer of Sydney Opera House

Lou Reed assists a woman with her Tai Chi technique

Melt Banana

The Studio at the Opera House was transformed into a rock venue

Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond rehearses with Blind Boys of Alabama

One of the joys of my photographing the festival was sitting in on the rehearsal backstage at the Opera House with Blind Boys of Alabama and Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond. Shara was heavily pregnant and appeared so excited to be performing with these old soul legends. Their combined voices sounded amazing.

Blind Boys of Alabama rehearse

A lyric sheet for Lou Reed's Perfect Day

As i was taking a sticky beak around the rehearsal room at the Opera House i spotted the lyric sheet to Lou Reed’s Perfect Day. After playing such a challenging set with Metal Machine Trio, the idea of Lou performing one of his hits was appealing. He performed it as a duet with Emily Haines of Metric a couple of days later.

Marc Ribot with an E-bow

Doveman aka Thomas Bartlett toasts the crowd

Douglas Scott Streater in The Shipment

The Shipment

Vivid Sydney 2010

Daniel Boud — Sun, 30 May 2010 23:11:24 +0000

The Sydney Opera House decked out in a design by Laurie Anderson

The next couple of weeks i’ll be photographing a number of things for the Vivid Sydney festival which kicked off with the illumination of the Sydney Opera House sails last Thursday.

Guests on the balcony of the Overseas Passenger Terminal at the Vivid Sydney launch party

The Vivid launch party was sprinkled with models from 'Australia's Next Top Model' who were being filmed for the show

Boris

Japanese band Boris were the first act to perform at Vivid Live, the musical component of Vivid curated by Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson.

Lou Reed speaks at the press conference to launch Vivid Live

Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson held a press conference to launch Vivid Live. Laurie was charismatic and charming and despite a reputation for being very prickly with the press, Lou was relatively congenial.

Laurie Anderson and Lou Reed

Inside the sail, guests mingle in the Opera House foyer

Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio

Last night Lou Reed unleashed his Metal Machine Trio on the Opera House audience. The improvised noise performance is based on his 1975 album Metal Machine Music. Music critic Lester Bangs called it, “the greatest record ever made in the history of the human eardrum.”

But perhaps a more common reaction at the time was from a 1979 Rolling Stone appraisal, “a two-disc set consisting of nothing more than ear-wrecking electronic sludge, guaranteed to clear any room of humans in record time.”

The performance last night almost seemed to offer such a challenge to the audience – do you dare sit through the meandering and deafening feedback noise with no songs, melody or vocal?

I left after snapping for about ten minutes and was met by a number of people already leaving who evidently couldn’t bare it any longer. One woman remarked that it made her feel physically sick.

I only wish it provoked such a visceral reaction in me. I was simply bored.

Lou Reed performs with Metal Machine Trio

There’s plenty more accessible/enjoyable performances on offer for the rest of Vivid Live.

Sydney Festival 2010

Daniel Boud — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:07:22 +0000

Summer Sounds in the Domain

I love Sydney in January. There’s that post-holiday glow that still remains, the exceptional beach weather (between torrential downpours), and then there’s the festivals and gigs.

The Manganiyar Seduction

One of the great pleasures of my job is getting to photograph those festivals, the biggest and most diverse of which is Sydney Festival. I love it because i see things i wouldn’t normally. Like a German language performance of Hamlet, a dance work with puppets or 40 odd Rajasthani musicians performing in stacked up red boxes.

Here’s some of the photos i took for Time Out Sydney.

The Manganiyar Seduction

Al Green performs at Festival First Night

Hamlet

Todd McKenney at Smoke and Mirrors

Hamlet

Vieux Farka Touré

The Rogues Gallery chorus

Dark Matters

Wet punters beneath the Opera House sails for Rogues Gallery

Sydney Festival director Lindy Hume

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Big Day Out Sydney 2012

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