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Anonymous
i took some pics for my friend's band.

comments? suggestions? etc?
>> Anonymous
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here come the other ones.
>> Anonymous
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>> des
>>45400
use this one
>>45402
also nice
>> Anonymous
i've seen pictures like this a hundred times. be a little more original.

also: sharpen.
>> Anonymous
Unoriginal idea, and awful models.
>> Anonymous
>>45425
But they are well executed even if uncreative.>>45400is the best shot. Sometimes an overly creative picture will work against you because people won't be attracted to it.

>>45443
It's a band. Changing the "models" would have larger consequences. That would also change who plays the music as well which is a considerable part of a band, wouldn't you say?
>> elf_man
>>45402
Has a more interesting setting than 45400, but it's so stereotypically SoCal it's painful. Seriously. Too generic. Find a setting that actually says something about the band. Actually, I think 45401 has the best setting, it's just not as well-executed as the other two.
>> Anonymous
>>45461

Agreed.>>45402is the best executed shot, but really... way, way too "painful." Try shooting more in locations like>>45401and please, please get the guy in the black jacket to stop spreading his legs out like he's some thug bouncer at a dingy nightclub.

Also camera information, plox.
>> Anonymous
The pictures are alright considering you went for what bands normally want.

But personally I think just a decent shot capturing all of their faces, at a practice, or sitting casually, would be better. Anything but the posing.
>> Anonymous
>>45400

Best shot.

Also, really glad you didn't decided to take a photo of them standing in front of a brick wall. ;)
>> ac
>>45474
http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com/hall/index.php
>> Anonymous
>>45474

they demanded one. it looks like shit.

>>45464

how do i get the exif data to show up?
>> Anonymous
>>45467

we are from the bay area in northern california.
i liked it because it was different from what othe bands in this area were doing photowise, and plus i managed to get the colors looking a lot better in that shot.
>> Anonymous
>>45400
I actually like this one, the fact that it looks sooo "SoCal" is what makes it for me.
>> Anonymous
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ok. here are the shots that my biggest competitor took. (a girl who has a lot more respect than me because she has a canon 2d or something like that)
>> Anonymous
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>> Anonymous
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by the way, her other work can be found at
myspace.com/ediphotoeye

all of her pics have that horrible barrel distortion.
>> Anonymous
>>45443

#1: fuck you. worst criticism i have ever received simply for the fact that you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.

#2: give me some fucking creative places to shoot when you are working with a budget of NOTHING and bands that dont want to leave san jose. keep in mind that i have no flash other than on camera, and that the band wants to shoot in san jose, ca.
>> Anonymous
>>45461

i know what you mean about wanting to capture the character of the band.

i am trying to set up a shoot in a bar. i want to use a fisheye lens, get a bunch of their friends in there, and then have some cool lights and shit in the background, and have all of the guys just be partying and shit with girls hanging off of them and shit.
>> Anonymous
>>45527
>>45530

She is a better photographer than you are, judging by the work you've shown us and the work she has on her MySpace page. That's not a slap at you; there's many photographers better than me and your only problem seems to be escaping the "typical band photo" look for photographs of bands. 45402, though cliched, would be a great photograph if that weren't the case. I've taken plenty of photographs of my cat that would be good photograhs if there weren't literally thousands of near-identical cat photographs out there.

The "barrel distortion," as you called it, comes from the fact she's shooting with a 16mm lens on a Canon 5D, which means she is shooting with the lens actually at 16mm. (She says this on her MySpace.) It's the effect of an extreme wide angle lens on a camera that will render it as such. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Either way, it's not "distortion" and she uses it in a small fraction of the shots she has up on her MySpace.

What camera are you using, and what lenses?
>> ac
>>45530
This is way better than your shots.

Though, in your defense, most of the problems with your shots are because of the band. Especially Tubs McWearingahoody. "I'm fucking metal because I'm wearing a hoody. Also, my mommy says I need to wear this so I won't catch cold."
>> SR !bpvX/Dj8ec
>>45547
>Especially Tubs McWearingahoody.

Most excellent, Sir.
>> Anonymous
>>45547
>Tubs McWearingahoody. "I'm fucking metal because I'm wearing a hoody. Also, my mommy says I need to wear this so I won't catch cold."

I lol'ed so hard.
>> Anonymous
>>45522
I understand Irfan view will resize a photograph and retain the EXIF data.

I know there's a way to do it in Photoshop, but I honestly don't know it.

Just tell us, or if you're lazy, post the hi-res versions. Posting hi-res photographs is, I understand, within /p/ etiquette if you've already posted the low-res versions and someone wants them.
>> Anonymous
>>45547

half of the guy's on the far left is cut out.
the food is really distracting.
>> Anonymous
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeKonica Minolta Camera, Inc.Camera ModelDiMAGE A2Camera SoftwareDiMAGE A2 Ver.1.11Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Focal Length (35mm Equiv)28 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:03:19 09:35:49Exposure Time1/160 secF-Numberf/4.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating64Brightness7.1 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModeUnknownLight SourceCloudy WeatherFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length7.20 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3264Image Height2448RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceManualScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSaturationNormalSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeDistant View
>> Anonymous
>>45547

HAHAHAHAHA. i told that guy to NOT wear the hood. most of the shots are lacking the hood, but it seems like the best shots have him wearing the hood.
i am actually still pretty angry about that hood.
>> Anonymous
>>45555
You're not doing technical photography.

You're trying to market the band and artistically depict who they are. The order of priorities is your choice.

Either way, none of that mandates that each member be in the photograph.
>> Anonymous
>>45557

got the exif data to show up.

in retrospect i overshooped this pic.
i mean REALLY overshooped it.
>> Anonymous
>>45561

i dont agree with you at all.
at the very least, having half of a band members face COMPLETELY CUT OFF is not acceptable in any way shape or form.

i dont think that each member needs to be highlighted by the photo, but cut off faces=complete shit.
>> Anonymous
>>45425

suggestions for added creativity in band photos plz.
>> Anonymous
>>45563
1. So, then, what are the goals of a photographer shooting a band?

2. Sometimes, even a 16mm lens can't get everything into the shot.
>> Anonymous
>>45564
Just hang out with them for a few hours and shoot them practicing and having impromptu jam sessions.

If they're having concerts yet, shoot one of those, both while they're setting up, during the concert, and at any sort of afterparty or other after- thing they have.
>> Anonymous
>>45567

i have already shot live stuff.
i hate practice shots.

this was a shoot for their promo package they are putting together. it will get sent to labels and the like, and i still need to convert them to B&W for the standard 8x10 that they need to send out.
>> Anonymous
>>45569
Why do you hate practice shots? They're the band at the most intimate they're going to be.

And please, don't convert these to black and white. The color is one of the few graces the ones you've shown us have.
>> Anonymous
>>45570

i have to.
labels specify what the press package has, and one of them is a standard 8x10 of the band.
>> Anonymous
if this hasn't already been pointed out, tell your models to get their cell phones and wallets out of their pockets. It looks tacky.
>> Anonymous
>>45572

we are doing another shoot soon. i am going to lay some strict guidelines down, like no hoods and what not. and yeah, the cell phone shit is tacky.
>> Anonymous
>>45571
No, I don't mean the size of the paper.

Surely they don't say they have to be in black and white, do they?

If so, shoot them for black and white. Don't shoot like you would any color photograph and expect to be able to press "desaturate" in photoshop and have them magically be the same.
>> Anonymous
>>45574

all i know is that for other bands i have worked with they HAD to go B&W.

and i dont just click desaturate, i use the channel mixer.
>> Anonymous
>>45590
Find out for these specific labels they're sending it to.

Using channel mixer is good, but the point is that a photograph works best either in black and white or in color. I never works best in either. If color is integral, you leave it be; if color is distracting, you take it to channel mixer.
>> Anonymous
i like the composition of the first one you posted, but the vehicle in the background is distracting to the photograph. the brightness/contrast is a little blown out too. i would tone it down a bit
>> Anonymous
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I think it's time to re-think your band's coolness, these guys already beat you to the idea

the colors and shadows in your photo look cool, but I still just see a generic band photo. I'd like to see a band photo that isn't pretentious, like a photo shoot with everyone doing random stuff on a playground, like the band is actually enjoyable instead of more "hot shit"
>> Anonymous
>>45615
not my band.

people always say they want a funny/fun image of a band, but thats never the case. if you have ever captured a band in a professional manner while they are doing kooky shit PLEASE let me see the pictures.

it almost always comes off as hokey and scripted and ridiculous.

so yeah, GIVE ME SOME EXAMPLES OF CREATIVE BAND SHOTS.
>> ac
>>45615
Needs moar hoodies.
>> Anonymous
>>45660

I find the serious-faced posing scripted and ridiculous.
>> Anonymous
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good example. of course it depends on the type of music the band plays. "emo" and "indie" bands get cred points for looking like zombies in their pictures
>> Anonymous
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First attempt at a photo shoot, taken for my little brother's cd liner..

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeFUJIFILMCamera ModelFinePix S5100Camera SoftwareDigital Camera FinePix S5100 Ver1.00Maximum Lens Aperturef/2.8Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaMaker Note Version0130Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2006:12:31 16:55:54Exposure Time1/400 secF-Numberf/4.0Exposure ProgramNormal ProgramISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/4.0Brightness7.8 EVExposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length5.70 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width2272Image Height1704RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandardSharpnessNormalSubject Distance RangeUnknownSharpnessNormalWhite BalanceAutoChroma SaturationNormalFlash ModeOffMacro ModeOffFocus ModeAutoSlow Synchro ModeOffPicture ModeAutoContinuous/Bracketing ModeOnBlur StatusOKFocus StatusOKAuto Exposure StatusOK
>> Jen
>>45721

That's true. Makes them look more HARDCORE.

Without knowing the style of music they play or anything, I'll give some ideas that I've been thinking about while browsing all of this. It's already been said that if you need to have the final image in B&W, then you should shoot it in B&W instead of converting it later. It's also been said that greater control over what the band is allowed to wear should be followed, and it sounds like you are already doing this.

If you don't know whether the 8x10 needs to be in B&W or color by the next photo shoot, then do both. With the shots I've seen so far, the band tends to fade into the background instead of being a more crisp shot. Most likely the band will wear blue jeans, so get them into a scenario that doesn't have much blue. This will require staying away from skies that aren't multicolored from either a sunrise or sunset. I would also reccomend looking at a color wheel. Choosing complimentary colors to whatever they're wearing will probably turn up better results. Stay away from sunlight, unless you're going for a special effect with it, like light filtered through a tree onto the band. Whatever scenery is in the background should be less interesting than looking at the band. If this is in color, then the band needs to be shot in a setting where your camera will bring more warmth of color into their bodies. Right now they look rather cold in most of the pictures you took.

If the picture you're taking is in black and white, then look for light whitish values, a midtone grey, and dark, blackish values. If you get all three of these working correctly in a black and white shot, then they may seem to have some color in them even though they have none.

There are some B&W photographers that have done remarkable work in their field. I would reccomend looking at Dorthea Lange's work, especially Migrant Mother, the work of Ansel Adams, and the Zone System that Adams developed.
>> Anonymous
>>45615


o GOD IVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR FREAKIN EVER PLEASE TELL ME THE BAND NAME.

I KNOW IT'S LIKE THE DARKEST BLACK OR ROSE OR SOMETHING--TELL MEEEE!
>> Anonymous
>>45759
>>45759

i understand about shooting for b&w. i am just not practiced enough at it to be able to implement said techniques while shooting a band.

but thanks for the tip to stay out of sunlight. i kinda thought that was a problem but i will focus on staying in artifically lit areas/the shade

one question though: my first pic seems pretty warm. i dont know of a location that would naturally warm them up even more than that. any suggestions?

right now my biggest struggle is that of wardrobe. these are bands, not models, and i have no makeup artist or stylist.

my photos are a little on the cold side, i guess its because i used to have the problem of warming everything up WAY too much.
now i undershoot i guess.

what i am going to work on next time is to not have them look so posed while still staying away from the novelty look like "jumping photos" and the like.

we are going to be shooting again, and i am going to give them all explicit instructions to plan their wardrobe out so that they all look coordinated.
>> Anonymous
>>45721

boring setting. looks horribly amateurish. i know mine dont look much better, but i am trying to do more than "everyone get in this room, do something unique, and i will take a picture" sounds like a winning formula, but trust me, it takes a shit ton of skill to pull that off.

i would rather have mediocre posed and serious shots that fall short than mediocre funny unique shots that just look like the band mom took the picture.