“TA-LI-CA! TA-LI-CA!”
When BLUNT magazine asked whether I was “keen to shoot Metallica at the weekend” I thought it was a joke. Three months ago I’d not shot a single band in Sydney, so to be given the chance to cover a show as iconic as Metallica’s World Magnetic tour was more than an incredible opportunity. So I thought I’d share the experience with you. Also I reckon this is a good time to launch the ‘new look’ blog, which is a little more rock n roll than the old style 
The blog has been pretty quiet recently, not because I haven’t been shooting bands, but because the mags who assigned me to the shows don’t want the photos published before they hit Ctrl+P. No matter: content is on the way, most notably shots of Metallica at Acer Arena the other week, which was a real gem to photograph.
It was for the Metallica gig that I rented Canon’s new 70-200mm lens, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS II USM to quote its frustratingly verbose title. Ironically enough, I didn’t actually need it for Metallica, but it was fun to play with nonetheless. I immediately wanted to keep the lens forever when, shortly after collecting it, I pointed it at the moon and fired off a handheld frame with a wide open aperture, at 200mm (equivalent to 320mm on the 50D) and 1/60 s. At 100%, the sharpness was very impressive (especially with the atmosphere in the way). I also snapped handheld shots of Centrepoint Tower and an Indian Myna bird.
“You guys are doin’ fuckin’ exceptional.”
Sheffield-based lads* Bring Me The Horizon stirred up a mosh storm at Hordern Pavilion last week in their warm-up set for Bullet For My Valentine. Highlights for me included witnessing a huge circle pit, an even bigger wall of death** and hearing 6,000 people scream “FUCK YOU!” on demand.
Lighting was as poor as usual for a support band, but the redeeming factor was the allowed use of flash. So I clipped on my Speedlite and caught a few moments, even if the bare flash light does look a bit flat (and hazy).
* I refer to the UK definition of the word ‘lad’.
** The wall of death is where the crowd splits to form two walls of people at opposite sides of the floor with an empty space between. Then, when the word is given, the two walls run as fast as they can at each other, clashing at some arbitrary midpoint and causing much merriment and pain.
Sold out, and well lit!
Once again the bar has been raised for me in terms of the largest show I’ve shot: Welsh metal group (lol – doesn’t sound right does it?) Bullet For My Valentine sold out Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion last Friday, which has a capacity of nearly 6,000. This kind of ‘mini-stadium’ show was a bit of a new experience for me, and was *the first gig I’ve ever shot which had followspots* as part of a fully fledged lighting design. Oh man this makes life much easier; a welcome diversion from the dim clubs I usually shoot at. Because the conditions were so different, I found that I had to alter my technique a bit throughout the three song window, but all-in-all the results were good. Next time I shoot a show like this I’ll nail it though 
A heavy blast from the past!
Soulfly put great effort into deafening me despite my professional ear plugs, and very nearly succeeded. It was awesome. Like the genre or not, Soulfly’s show was an epic moshfest.
Three songs, no flash, with several other shooters in front of the barrier doing their best in the conditions. Lighting was a bit contrasty, but powerful. There was disappointingly little movement from the band members during the allotted photo time; perhaps a sign of their age, bless ‘em…
This was probably my ‘biggest’ gig so far, and by far the busiest in the photo pit. There must have been ten or twelve photographers bustling back and forth, many of whom were sporting two high end SLR camera bodies and lenses to match. But I pressed on, trying to be undaunted by it all, and shot three songs (as per the rules). I’m actually pretty disappointed with my results; I don’t know whether I panicked a bit, or whether my technique was a bit off that night, but I missed many of the ‘moments’. I guess it happens to everyone from time to time. Anyway the show was fantastic and the crowd was amped – certainly a great atmosphere!
I like the Enmore Theatre. Lighting was good for this show, with some nice colour washes and a very reasonable level of front-light.
Brother and sister act Angus and Julia Stone played three sold-out shows at The Enmore last week, and I was lucky enough to be shooting for four songs on Friday. They may be from Sydney, but apparently these guys are being met with open arms all over the world. Not knowing what to expect, I was a little disappointed when they came out and stood in front of a curtain, awash in a deep purple light that my camera didn’t like one bit. Imagine my surprise when half way through the second song the curtain rises to reveal three other band members and – best of all – scenery comprising a Victorian lamp post and a huge tree covered in fairy lights. From then on the show only got better (and the air hazier). The music was brilliant, and a pleasant diversion from the heavy stuff I’ve been shooting recently.
But the most important thing is this: I can now honestly say that I’ve photographed The Stones.
Currently on Australian newsagent shelves is BLUNT magazine’s 92nd issue, featuring – *drumroll* – four of my images from Blood, Sweat & Beers 3 at the Annandale in July! This is my first magazine feature, so naturally I’m very happy Even better is that the next issue of blunt will include even more of my photos from other recent gigs 
Admittedly I’d never heard of Shihad until I was asked to shoot them at The Annandale last week, but I find that I’m often out of the loop over here, what with being a POM and everything. Anyway, it turns out Shihad are huge in New Zealand (where they’re from) and in Oz. Not only that, but this gig was the second of two shows at which they played, in order, the entire track listing of one of their early albums: a bold move that only the best can get away with. And the crowd loved it – including the groupies, one of which had a tattoo and everything, and it was her 58th Shihad gig! Whaaaat?!
Florida boys Surfer Blood played to a large crowd at Sydney Uni’s Manning Bar the other week. At times it was interesting how much the singer sounded like a young Morrissey. Anyway here are some shots.
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