Photographing Live Shows - Wild Powwers
Lesson 19 from: Getting Started in Music Photography with Red Bull Photographer Todd OwyoungTodd Owyoung
Photographing Live Shows - Wild Powwers
Lesson 19 from: Getting Started in Music Photography with Red Bull Photographer Todd OwyoungTodd Owyoung
Lessons
Class Intro to Getting Started in Music Photography
01:13 2Live Music Photography
13:40 3Camera Settings
09:34 4Tip & Techniques for Capturing Live Music
09:14 5Research & Preparation
06:20 6Challenges & Pain Points
00:40 7All Access
16:29 8Shooting for Editorial
03:15Capturing Music Festivals
03:58 10Using Speedlights
07:44 11Photographing Drummers
07:44 12Gear
25:39 13Location Scouting
19:57 14Artist Portraits
06:56 15Artist Portraits - Stairwell
06:48 16Artist Portraits - Outside
12:04 17Sound Check with Low Hums and Wild Powwers
05:12 18Photographing Live Shows - Low Hums
06:29 19Photographing Live Shows - Wild Powwers
05:22 20Getting Started
10:15 21The Photo Pass
19:38 22Photo Pit Etiquette
06:29 23The Business of Music Photography
12:02 24Post Processing Workflow
26:02Lesson Info
Photographing Live Shows - Wild Powwers
Now we're going into our show with Wild Powwers. This is a show we're putting on with the band. So, we're bringing the crowd and we have a lot more control over the show, in terms of the lighting, the treatment, and the access even. And so, this is a great opportunity to have even more of an all-access kind of look at shooting music photography. It's still going to rely on the same space here at Barbarossa. So, again, the same stage, the same overall lighting treatment, the same rig that is; the lightning package. But because we have more control we had both dial it in. Maybe, even have it brighter And so, this is going to be just another look at live music photography and hopefully be able to make some great shots with this band. (drum sticks hit together) ♪ (soft rock beat plays) ♪ ♪ Is that what you want it to be ♪ ♪ Lying face down on your love ♪ ♪ Trying to pick up your feet ♪ ♪ But you just can't seem to get it out ♪ ♪ You're just so (speaker drowns out music) ♪ Now because we ...
put on this show with Wild Powwers we had a lot more access and control over the overall output. So we can put in lighting requests, what color tints or not that we wanted for the show. In addition, with access we were pretty much granted carte blanche to go and do whatever we wanted. Including with German Lupe's permission, getting on stage, getting up in her face, shooting behind her. And so these are all huge points when you're working directly with a band. And particularly for all the teaching points of producing a show like this: Having that access and really reproducing the effect of shooting for the band with their full permission and authority to basically do whatever you want as a photographer. ♪ (band music grows louder) ♪ ♪ When you so straying ♪ ♪ That's the - [Todd Owyoung] ♪ So for Wild Powwers while we did have complete control over their set, it was just a real set that was playing straight through. So with about 10 songs or so with me shooting about half of the set there are considerations of time. Time is a huge limitation and me as a music photographer I'm still trying to maximize the time I have available doing a set. So if I'm shooting four, five, or six songs I'm going to try to change lenses, get different perspectives, shoot at different distances, shoot both on stage and off stage. Really vary up my approach as much as possible so that I can create images that are as different as possible. Kind of tell that story of the show in the fullest way possible. ♪ Is that how you want to feel ♪ ♪ We can stress things out ♪ ♪ And now this can't be real ♪ ♪ Is that how you want it ♪ ♪ Tell your stupid stress ♪ ♪ That jobs can't pay fair ♪ One other consideration for Wild Powwers is that new bass drum kit was set up in a very open kind of low way. ....the word. From the front there was a very direct kind of open window to her sort of speak, which was great for photography. Drum kits vary by drummer preference. You know,some drum kits might be super stripped down and basic. Others might be varietable like mountains in front of a drummer and so it really varies. You have to feel it out and you may not know what to expect. But for Lupe's kit it was great and perfect for photographing in from front of stage. ♪ (Rock music continues) ♪ Another consideration with Lupe is that she also sings in the band. So with the microphone positioned on the stage's left side she would favor that when she had vocal duties. So, if you're accessing the stage from one side or another or shooting from kind of one side or another, that has to be consideration. And you might notice doing one song where she has vocal duties, she's singing, you're going to need to shoot from, in this case stage left. Because that's kind of how her body was angled, how her head was tilted and you're gonna get a different level of readability when you're gonna have to consider a singer who is also a drummer. ♪ (Band grows louder) ♪
Ratings and Reviews
Alexandra U
I highly reccomend this class for any one who would like to get started or dip their toes in the concert photography scene. This class has many useful tips and trick for any level of photographer, not just beginners. I have been in the music scene for over 10 years and I was able to gather so much information in every chapter. Watching this video boosted up my confidence as a photographer because it validated that I am already succeeding in my concert career. Thank you for this amazing stream. It sparked my creative soul once again.
Kris Comer
Wow, this was awesome! I have been a concert photographer for almost 3 years now and I still learned some great tips! I loved that he covered different ideas for promo shots which is one of my weaknesses. Any beginner should definitely check out this course! It is straight and to the point with all of the most important steps.
a Creativelive Student
I have been taking Creative Live classes since 2010 and this is at the top with the best classes t I have taken. This may have been the first time Todd taught a class, but you would never be able to tell. He doesn't just brag about the high profile clients he has shot, he also makes sure to relate to the photographer just starting out. I really enjoyed the two live shows as well as the additional portrait shoots. His concepts on location scouting, playing with distortion, multiple poses in one spot, speedlights, etc. can be applied to all kinds of photography, not just music photography. Highly recommend!