I need to up my game.

bass_junkie83

bass_junkie83

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,367
Name
Dave
Edit My Images
Yes
I have, for the last three months, been working three nights a week at a nightclub taking photos from each night for the clubs own promotional and advertising uses.

I've seen a slow but steady improvement in my shots and my keeper rate, part down to increasing my experience, part town to upgrading my kit. Ie moving from a 400d to a 40d, a tokina 11-16 etc.
But i seem to have plateaued, i know how i want to move forward, but i'm not sure how.

I need more atmosphere in my shots, brighter and more colourful backgrounds. I have seen a few others who manages this, but often at the expense of overall image quality, which i feel is the one thing i have going for me at the moment. I regularly get comments from revellers about how they love the quality of my shots so whatever i do i don't want to compromise this.

The town i work in is heavily covered by dontstayin, in fact i think i may be in the one club here that does not use them. I actually took over from a DSI tog and i have been made aware that they are desperate to get back in and regain 'control' so to speak.

Nightclub photography is not what i want to be doing for the rest of my photographic life, but i do enjoy it and it is a very handy steady income while i continue to develop my skills and portfolio in other areas in preperation for moving on to other things later.

If i drop in a couple of example shot i would really appreciate it if anyone could take the time to look and offer advice on how to improve.

These are some of my own shots. They are not my very best, but more my typical standard that make up the bulk of my sets.

12427_350141561993_12143046993_4234381_3581918_n.jpg


12427_350141896993_12143046993_4234404_1482060_n.jpg


12427_350142476993_12143046993_4234450_2459386_n.jpg


25952_343114026993_12143046993_4213302_3799467_n.jpg


25952_343114256993_12143046993_4213322_2774382_n.jpg



And for comparison, this is the DSI page for another club in the same town. As you can see they have a much lighter and airy feel to them, though the lighting is very different, here there its lots of bright lighting, where as at the club i work at it is very dark with pretty much the only lighting being on the dance floor itself.

http://www.dontstayin.com/uk/southend-on-sea/mayhem
 
I think on refelction, I prefer your approach as they have a more intimate feel to them - especially that first one...
And your last shot of the 'Ugly-Bloke' with the two girls is hilarious! Hope they weren't related!
 
Got agree that I prefer yours, much more atmosphere, the ones on the site look like they have been taken when the lights are switched on at the end.

The guy in the last one looks like he's living the dream! :lol:

Dave
 
You are gettin it right bud !!
 
I have to agree with the above comments. I think your are much better. I've also seen photos from top (?) London clubs that are about the same as yours. The only thing I would try would be to use a CTO filter to balance the colour temperature of the people with the background.
 
I too prefer yours, the DSI images don't really have any style, quite like yours. I'm guessing you have linked up some of the best ones, could you link up a few of the 'typical standard that make up the bulk of my sets' images?
 
Thanks guys. I admit i prefer mine too, but didn't want to say that in the opening post.
As good as it is to hear people with a good photographic appreciation prefer them, it does put me in the situation of 'what the bloody hell am i meant to do now then'. :lol:

the_doctor199 said:
I too prefer yours, the DSI images don't really have any style, quite like yours. I'm guessing you have linked up some of the best ones, could you link up a few of the 'typical standard that make up the bulk of my sets' images?
Click to expand...

Here is a link to the facebook group that all the photos get uploaded to.

http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?...993&s=0&hash=d9c602b576b0e42330ac73fa5f30fd1e

I try to keep a balance between quality and quantity. No point only submitting the best, if they are only going to get 5 images from a night, where on the other hand no one wants to see hundreds of sub standard shots.
I do find myself tilting the balance some times, if a night is particularly quiet ie most Fridays, i find i am less picky. And again, when it is a quiet night there is less atmosphere in the club and that is pretty clear from the photos.
 
Arkady said:
And your last shot of the 'Ugly-Bloke' with the two girls is hilarious! Hope they weren't related!
Click to expand...

I think its his sister and his cousin.....I dont know who the 2nd woman is though
 
For me yours are way better more atmospheric cleaner and brighter, have to agree about the last one, it made me laugh, you get one in every club
 
Had a look through the facebook group, very good also. Is it possible to move into other clubs too?
 
Nothing wrong with what you are doing, I think you have it nailed.

Would maybe agree with the comment about CTO though...

Probably what you've arrived at though is more to do with "what else can I do with this as a photographic subject". You could get weird and whacky, develop your "own style" (I hate that term) into something that makes people look like cartoon characters or whatever, but would this be actually what your customers want? They are the most important part...

Is your issue that you are simply not challenged by the subject being fairly static? (I appreciate that learning to do what you do must have been a challenge, but now its all the same old same old?)

Oh and btw, your photos have a lot more artistic creativity to them than the other outfit you mentioned - theirs are more like my attempts would be! Definitely you have got more out of the subject, much more atmosphere!
 
the_doctor199 said:
Had a look through the facebook group, very good also. Is it possible to move into other clubs too?
Click to expand...
If it came to it, maybe. I'm not looking to leave where i am now, i'm just aware that others would like to take my place and i am half expecting some unsportsmanlike behaviour.
There are four reasonable size clubs here that i would say are able to warrant paying a tog including the one i'm at. All the others i believe are covered by the other outfit, so should they persuade my club they would be better, i don't see them dropping their guard at any of the others.

oli said:
I like yours alot.

Sorry off topic but
what kinda setting and equipment do you use? looks like some rear curtain on some?
Click to expand...
I am using a 40d with a tokina 11-16 and 430ex flash, often with a stroboframe rotating flash bracket.
I don't use rear sync, iso 1000ish, f4 so i don't have to worry too much about dof and shutter generally between 1/4th to 1/13th depending on the situation.
For the dance floor i'll often move to manual focus and live view to be able to get more interesting angles.

desantnik said:
Nothing wrong with what you are doing, I think you have it nailed.

Would maybe agree with the comment about CTO though...

Probably what you've arrived at though is more to do with "what else can I do with this as a photographic subject". You could get weird and whacky, develop your "own style" (I hate that term) into something that makes people look like cartoon characters or whatever, but would this be actually what your customers want? They are the most important part...

Is your issue that you are simply not challenged by the subject being fairly static? (I appreciate that learning to do what you do must have been a challenge, but now its all the same old same old?)

Oh and btw, your photos have a lot more artistic creativity to them than the other outfit you mentioned - theirs are more like my attempts would be! Definitely you have got more out of the subject, much more atmosphere!
Click to expand...
Cheers, i'll look into the CTO.
I have got it down to a pretty standard formula now so there isn't a great challenge. My exposures are pretty consistent and i have developed a recipe of adjustments in lightroom that only need the odd tweak here and there over a whole set. My main area of concentration lately has been getting my composure and framing better in camera to cut down on the amount of cropping i do.
I love the social aspect of it more than anything, its a paid night out without a hangover the next morning. :lol:
 
Did the comparison you suggested before reading everyone elses posts. For a side by side comparison yours nail it. They reflect the good moody lighting in a club and really capture the atmosphere of the place and the others are just snapshots by comparison.

If this isnt your best work then maybe you could take a moment to post up a few good ones. Keep up the good work and if anything you should be looking to expand rather than worry about having your place taken.

:thumbs: :clap:
 
I have to agree with most. Yours are far better. Makes me wanna go clubbing. Trouble is I'd end up "dirty old bloke" pictured:lol:
Show your employers the other crowds photo's. I'm sure that alone would secure your services. Oh and while your at it, show the other clubs in the town your shots. You may find yourself expanding..:thumbs:

bass_junkie83 said:
I love the social aspect of it more than anything, its a paid night out without a hangover the next morning. :lol:
Click to expand...

Plus you get lots of fit birds smiling at you all night.I'd do it for nowt:naughty::naughty:
Ian..
 
Marcus Geezer said:
If this isnt your best work then maybe you could take a moment to post up a few good ones. Keep up the good work and if anything you should be looking to expand rather than worry about having your place taken.

:thumbs: :clap:
Click to expand...

I did/do have plans for taking it a bit further. But it all revolves around creating a suitable website, which with my computer skills is a problem. I do have someone helping, but there have been a few snags so it's slow going.

I have a few personal favourites. There is nothing i have done that is any extra to what i normally do, it's just a few where i have been lucky and everything has come together.

This was a bit of fun, an inflatable night with a bungee run taking up half the dance floor.
20677_315658641993_12143046993_4130438_7490855_n.jpg


20677_315658396993_12143046993_4130414_5479629_n.jpg


Some of my faves are when you get the motion blur of the background just right.
20677_315658276993_12143046993_4130399_1725627_n.jpg


Girls with unmarked concoctions of drinks.
26298_334508046993_12143046993_4190993_6412802_n.jpg


And people who really really don't like or want having their photos taken, only to be pleasantly surprised.
25952_343113516993_12143046993_4213257_2337676_n.jpg
 
I really like what you're doing there so personally I'd advise not to try and change things too much for fear of actually going backwards. Yours are a lot better than the DSI ones, which look a bit lifeless to me.

Keep it up, good stuff.
 
Yeah, they were all taken with the 11-16.
I have tried using a longer lens when it hasn't been too busy for a kind of 'candid' effect so i could get more action/dancing shots. Normally when someone sees a camera they stop dancing, grab a mate and pull a pose. Gets a bit boring after a while.
But with the longer lens you really suffer with haziness and loss of detail if the club uses a smoke machine.

I use a flash firing straight forward with a stofen. I have been using one of these brackets to good effect.
http://dcam.dc-accessories.com/cflip900x.gif

But at the moment i am playing the the flash back on the camera as it makes throwing the camera around and shooting one handed much easier and i can normally get in quickly and grab a shot before they realise.
 
these are great i do a similar thing in a uni club. similar setup but using a 50D and 10-22 with the 580 ex with diffuser. I dont point directly in their face but facing slightly upwards.

i love the radial lines whith the motion blur rather than my linear blur, do you mind if i nick that approach?

here are some of mine:

c22.JPG


c31.JPG


c53.jpg


Lee
 
I think that's your next step - rather than wait for the other outfit to try and muscle you out of your venue - do it to them first.
Go to the other clubs, point out that your product is better and that they'd be idiots not to employ your exclusive services.
 
Never tried club photography, so I am looking at this from a "would I buy it?" point of view. Yours, yes I would buy, they really suggest a fun night in a club. The don't stay in photo's, no I wouldn't buy, they look like snapshots from a point and shoot compared to yours.
 
Can't see your doing much wrong there, the first set I would have removed the the blokes head in No1 and the light in No2, but I know what your saying "with 150 shots to do you can't mess around to much". The motion blur in the 2nd set is really good (2nd Curtain sync?" or are you doing something that you would like to share.
All the posts I've read have been positive, which must be a boost, good luck in the future, you've earned it.
 
dont stay in only requires a digital camera, no real experience is required, yes there are some good togs on there but i wouldnt worry for your photos are superior!
 
33L said:
these are great i do a similar thing in a uni club. similar setup but using a 50D and 10-22 with the 580 ex with diffuser. I dont point directly in their face but facing slightly upwards.

i love the radial lines whith the motion blur rather than my linear blur, do you mind if i nick that approach?

here are some of mine:
Lee
Click to expand...
I like those. Never had much success with zoom blur myself.
I hardly pioneered the the radial blur technique, you need no say so from me. :)


Arkady said:
I think that's your next step - rather than wait for the other outfit to try and muscle you out of your venue - do it to them first.
Go to the other clubs, point out that your product is better and that they'd be idiots not to employ your exclusive services.
Click to expand...
I like the idea, but for me to get into another club for a night would mean dropping a night where i am now. It won't be muscling anyone out, more just swapping places. :lol:

BobinPeterboro said:
Never tried club photography, so I am looking at this from a "would I buy it?" point of view. Yours, yes I would buy, they really suggest a fun night in a club. The don't stay in photo's, no I wouldn't buy, they look like snapshots from a point and shoot compared to yours.
Click to expand...
Thank you, this is promising as it relates to a little project i have had on the back burner i want to bring to life.
 
Well a small update. To those of you that suggested the CTO filter, pure genius! :D

Will edit last nights photos when i get in tonight, but just on the camera screen i could see some good improvements.
 
I love your photos aswell. Yours are much more atmospheric. That flash bracket is very weird! I'm guessing you hold one hand on the camera and one on the bracket. Is it just to make the camera easier to spin than with the flash attached directly?

P.S. Love the last photo Lee, its epic :thumbs:
 
your pics are very good....do you find that flash bracket a bit unwieldy whilst you work though? also have you tried off camera flash? i've tried it a few times before but with mixed results as manual flash can be a bit challenging in a crowded environment i find.
 
How do you get that circular blur in the background? I love your style.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top