This is a slightly different post, just to show you some of the other work I do with photography.
Thankfully I landed myself into helping out with a weekly, music podcast. All filmed in SERC Bangor, Northern Ireland, live from their music studios.
This is my final year at the college, and I began life there at a sixteen year old music student, only wise to the words of AC/DC and many of the other typical bands worshiped by guitar obsessed, long-haired, (occasionally wasted or high) musicians! These were great days! When music is your life, it is nice to use education as an excuse to be participating in it someway or another for most of your day (and night.)
Anyway, we are now quite a few years on and I was invited down to the music department to help out and fulfill the roll of full time photographer for the podcasts.
It's a great way to spend an evening a week. For me, I get to reminisce in the music department, whilst dusting off the skills I'd acquired many years ago during Music Technology and Sound Production class.
The team have a band in once a week. Usually varied in style and image, but all local artists from around Northern Ireland, starting to get their name and music to the front.
Check out the official website here:
Since this is a photography blog, I should probably talk a little about the situation.
Firstly, my gear.....
I don't need much for this. After the first couple of weeks photographing what was going on, I learned what I could do with and what I could definitely do without.
One of the good things about working in the same location, with generally, the same lighting and people positioning each week, is that you get to know what settings work best for you.
I know now that for the bands I work with an ISO of 1600 as the room is quite dark.
I also use a telephoto lens sometimes, so with the lens length, I'm loosing F stops the bigger it is, and with a shutter speed of around 1/80 - 1/125 it is restricting only haveing certain apurtures avalible.
Situations like this is when an understanding of what each function on your camera does, is when the knowledge becomes the most beneficial. You are left standing looking confused and missing the best moment, instead, you capture what you want, and more. Leaving with some great images to add to your portfolio of work.
As far as lenses are concerned, as said, I use a 70-300mm zoom lenses. This is great for close ups without distracting the performer - which helps capture their real moods and attitude during their particular performance.
The second lens I bring with me is a standard 18-55mm. Why? Because it's a great all-rounder for the job.
Second reason is they are lightweight and relatively cheap to buy compared to the other lenses I use.
This was, when working in low lit situations, with sometimes a lot of other people walking around, it isn't only to be a big deal if this lenses were to be damaged by accident.
As for the use of the lenses, I think in the size of room I'm working in, if I had too, I could do the whole job with just this lenses.
It's a fun lenses to take angles from the floor or in the air with. Lightweight and well balanced. Doesn't drag your camera out of your hand!
Through doing the weekly podcasts, I have learned how I work. It's quite nice to have that comfort zone as a photographer, but it's also much better to push your own boundaries and constantly being out there and trying different situations, set-ups, lighting, space etc....
For me, the podcasts will never get boring. The photography is just another aspect to a fun evening of live music, lots of nice studio equipment to oogle and play with, never mind meeting some new people and hearing what's going on with the music in the area.
Here's a few of my sets on Flickr taken during the live podcasts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzitaylorphotography/sets/72157629599270319/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzitaylorphotography/sets/72157629583701465/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzitaylorphotography/sets/72157629218905508/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzitaylorphotography/sets/72157629218836868/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/suzitaylorphotography/sets/72157629532332563/
Don't forget to check out the live video's and interviews too! On Vimeo here:
http://vimeo.com/channels/lasm#38585104
And the creative team's official website:
http://www.serc-mapa.org/
We also just joined youtube.com....but it's still in the makings....Subscribe anyway! There will be more videos up in the near future.....
http://www.youtube.com/user/liveatsercmapa?feature=watch
Last but not least, all updates for bands, podcasts, interviews and images are mainly posted in Facebook, so feel free to visit the 'Live at SERC MAPA' page and keep updated!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=hp#!/pages/Live-At-SERC-MAPA/209785575725755
Back to the photography route, I shall be posting a review of a book by the wonderful Alec Soth of Magnum photography.
Should be up within the next few days - there will be a tweet! So feel free to follow all the updates :)
http://twitter.com/#!/Suzi_NYC
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