Lacking Inspiration

[Steve_o]

Hi all,

Do we have any band photographers on the forum?

I regularly photograph a band full of my workmates. I photograph them each rehearsal just as practice for myself really.

They don't do gigs at the moment as I don't feel confident enough in front of audiences.

So I photograph them once a month in a hired room.

I'm struggling to take any different, inspiring photographs. I feel like I've exhausted my creativity. I've photographed their instruments, attempted effects with lighting...etc.


Any suggestions?

 

[Pookeyhead]

Theme your shots maybe? Imagine you were shooting for a CD single cover. What is the song about? Listen to the lyric.. talk to the band... how do they "see" it if it was a video.

Then go shoot that

 

[martsharm]

Hi Steve,

The reason your shots are lacking in inspiration could be because the band themselves are lacking. If they're beginners without the confidence to play live then I imagine they're pretty shy in front of the camera. It's a great pleasure and honour to shoot someone who really knows how to work the audience - and therefore the camera - and come out with some exciting shots. This sort of thing:


<< Miles Kane @ NME Tour 2013 - O2 Academy Newcastle 07-02-13 >> (12 of 14) by martsharm, on Flickr

There's nothing more soul-destroying than trying to come up with something decent when all the performers are doing is looking at their guitar fretboard trying to remember the next chord change. You might be doing them a favour to get their confidence up and performing juices flowing by encouraging them to throw some shapes and jump around a bit, particularly the frontperson.

I don't think the environs of a practice room is really going to give you anything particularly exciting, even with the best lighting in the world. Hopefully that first gig will come along soon enough, if not I would suggest trying to do some promo shots, preferably on location with instruments. Then you can try some mixed natural light / off-camera flash with the group. Maybe this would help their confidence.

Any why restrict yourself to this one band? If you want to get into music photography get yourself down to some small gigs at venues without a photography policy, whack the ISO up to 6400 and give it a go Just try and ignore the fifty other photographers up the front doing the same thing

 

[Steve_o]

Hi Steve,

The reason your shots are lacking in inspiration could be because the band themselves are lacking. If they're beginners without the confidence to play live then I imagine they're pretty shy in front of the camera. It's a great pleasure and honour to shoot someone who really knows how to work the audience - and therefore the camera - and come out with some exciting shots. This sort of thing:


<< Miles Kane @ NME Tour 2013 - O2 Academy Newcastle 07-02-13 >> (12 of 14) by martsharm, on Flickr

There's nothing more soul-destroying than trying to come up with something decent when all the performers are doing is looking at their guitar fretboard trying to remember the next chord change. You might be doing them a favour to get their confidence up and performing juices flowing by encouraging them to throw some shapes and jump around a bit, particularly the frontperson.

I don't think the environs of a practice room is really going to give you anything particularly exciting, even with the best lighting in the world. Hopefully that first gig will come along soon enough, if not I would suggest trying to do some promo shots, preferably on location with instruments. Then you can try some mixed natural light / off-camera flash with the group. Maybe this would help their confidence.

Any why restrict yourself to this one band? If you want to get into music photography get yourself down to some small gigs at venues without a photography policy, whack the ISO up to 6400 and give it a go Just try and ignore the fifty other photographers up the front doing the same thing

What you are saying makes a lot of sense. As it is just practice sessions, none of them throw some showmanship in there. Just standing there and concentrating on their playing.

But the environment of the gig room is getting a little tedious.

I'm not particularly looking to get into Music photography. My equipment isn't good enough yet. I'm using a Canon 1000D with a max ISO of 1600 and a Flash Unit that doesn't communicate with my camera. lol

 

[pjmcbear]

I posted on a band forum that I was looking to try some gig photography and that I would supply edited images for free. I had to close the thread less than 24 hrs later, after 22 bands expressed interest.

I've shot 1 band so far and I'm shooting again this weekend.

Want to see? Sorry, it's a facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/PJP.Ltd?ref=hl#!/photo.php?fbid=511112952272094&set=a.511112925605430.125354.169584669758259&type=1&theater

All shot on a Sony A200, Minolta 'nifty 50' at F2.8 (didn't want to go any lower), ISO 1600.