Hi all,
been a while.
I've shifted a bit my view to music photography. I've started seeing myself as an artist in the narrower sense of the word. That is, I more often am in the concert to create art, instead of "taking music photographs". I don't know if that makes any sense. Anyway, the point is that not many music photographers try to create something unique or really explore the possibilities. My goal is to show something new in the field which is so widely photographed. I draw most of my inspiration from non-music photographers, such as Anton Corbijn (that is, specifically his non-concert shots) and Henri Cartier-Bresson. I think the principles those photographers use (hone your intuition, the notion of the definitive moment, compositional tension) are applicable to music photographs.
Anyway, here are some recent shots. I hope you enjoy them. Finnish bands unless otherwise mentioned.
1. Rytmihäiriö (and the Pit)
2. Pintandwefall's drummer backstage before the concert
3. Lapko
4. von Hertzen Brothers
5. Disco Ensemble
6. Dark Tranquility (SWE)
7. Apocalyptica
These are great. I like the approach and what you are going for. This is what will make music photographers stand out from "fans with credentials" who give away their stuff. I was just writing to NashvilleSam in a PM that the only way we will make money as professionals is to really stand out from the freebies that fans and amateurs will throw at bands and record labels. Let fans decorate their fan sites with their garbage. Stun publications with really creative work that is just so impressive that they simply can't ignore it. Once your work gets in one publication and people see it, other publications will follow. They will not want to be bested.
I absolutely love #4. Good action on the performer. Lots of open space to bring in atmosphere (and that editors can use for text).
Good to see you back. Keep up the great work!
Walter Rowe - Rowe Images
Professional Photographer
Columbia, Maryland - USA
Numbers one and four.
Different from the usual concert work we see all the time.
Jamie "Shooter" Taylor
TailWind Imaging
"Away you will go sailin/In a race among the ruins/If you plan to face tomorrow/Do it soon." -- Gordon Lightfoot
http://www.myspace.com/tailwindimaging
http://tradewindimaging.photoreflect.com
Great as always.
I especially like that pic with the backstage girl, and Von Hertzen brothers. I shall give more thoughts how I can make the best of recent Jalometalli pics :)
Askar Ibragimov - middeneaht.deviantart.com
Love em' I've always thought of your photos more of great photos instead of great concert photos. Concert photos get boring but your photos don't.
Some great images.
I like the first five. #1 in particular.
Been to long since I last was here :)
Just got these up from the Loki Festival. George Clinton of the P-Funk All Stars' newest band's first ever live performance took place there. The band is called The Big Ol' Nasty Getdown!
Loki Festival Photos
Deerfields, Horseshoe, NC
October 10-12, 2008
photography galleries and services
Live Music Photography Services and Galleries
Concert Photography by David Oppenheimer
I just got this gallery online of Grace Potter and The Nocturnals. Grace was fun to spend time with to take the backstage photos.
Grace Potter and The Nocturnals photos
October 17, 2008
The Orange Peel - Asheville
Live Music Photography Services and Galleries
Concert Photography by David Oppenheimer
Hello everyone, I'm new here.
I just wanted to say that the first shot is one of the most stunning live photo's of crowd/band combo I've ever seen.
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www.dannynorth.co.uk
#4 is awesome!!!
on the topic, recently shot Slipknot & done my homework of their last few gigs...everyone else is packing their 70-200's for a shot of drummer with tree hands & I figure every man n his dog will have that same shot, so I had the fish-eye out because I knew the first few seconds the singer will be standing there with a few explosions going off in the back ground, anyhoo while everyone else got the same shot, I managed to get this badboy
but the others will probably make sales (*shakes fist at getty*)
ps welcome Danny, wanna trade jobs...you sit bored in my office n I'll tour with Kaiser Chiefs ya ok good :D
Like these a lot. For me they are great performance shots (artistsic or not). Hard to pick a favourite but I think the first black and white one is exceptional from an artistic and technical point of view.
Tony
These are all great, it's hard to pick a favourite - I like them all a lot but I think number 1 is exceptional. Kudos to you for not going for the obvious, which is easily done especially when you have one eye on getting published the tendency is to go for safe shots - and by the time you've got your quota of safety shots usally the three songs are up. Sometimes it's hard to break out of the routine but you have done so admirably. Nice work.
Phil
1 and 4 do it for me. They are magnificent. Fine examples of not-so-usual stuff. congratulations!
Others are not so my style. I, personaly, don't like unnatural post-precess, but that's a matter of taste: originals look pretty amazing too.
All the best. Dena Flows
#1 is a great shot, love the perspective.
I more or less agree with you. I don´t concider my photos as pure documentation as I try to make something more out of them. Of course commissioned works is another thing. I don´t know if I´m succeeding in this my pursuit of mine to create something more, but I try. What has driven me to this pursuit is from the beginning a lack of interest in basic "man and guitar" photos. Well, if you go and check my gallery, you´ll find vast amount of those basic photos, but hopefully in the future there are less of these basic photos.
I haven´t ever concidered my self just a photographer as I have graduated as an artist and my full time profession is AD, so I challenge myself visually every day. I don´t let myself easy in photography either.