Todays Shoot - Johnny Plague of Winds of Plague

As you may remember from the show before, I was doing some shots for Hatewear, for Jasta (as its his clothing company).

One of the shots I needed to get was Johnny Plague, I caught him before the show even started, and did a quick set with natural light - using the Canon 1DS mark 2 - I wanted a bigger field of focus so I shot at F4.5 ISO100 - at a 160th - we shot against a white trailer which was perfect for solid shade - even lighting. He also brought a bat out for the shoot which added to the effect, we did a couple shots of him holding it like he was swinging it, then I had the idea to have it behind his neck, which I thought made an overall more candid/stronger image.



















































Always good working with the Plague dudes (and girl) hopefully we will be doing a new all out shoot in the near future

Todays Shoot - Mayhem Fest - day 2 Ma

Today was the day of my big shoot... So I knew my priority was for that shoot, and that I would probably shoot less live stuff, which was absolutely true.

I only shot 3 second stage bands, and 3 main stage bands, due to the photo shoots I was doing in between. and setting up for. And again - I will do separate posts for all the shoots i had during the day - and havent decided if im going to post the big shoot now, or wait for it to print first... but anyway - onto the photos!

I was shooting at a more shallow depth for these - it was a bit darker than the CT date - so I was shooting at 4.0-2.8 at a 160th-250th ISO100 - canon 40D 16-35 2.8 - I tried to catch bands I didnt shoot at the CT show like Norma Jean, but ended up only shooting them - in this moment and shadows fall - which are actually three bands i did shoots with, so it made sense to catch them before doing my shoot.




















































































After shooting second stage I went and did my big shoot with the Murderdolls - which took up some of the second stage as well as FFDP and LOG on mainstage - which i missed in CT as well, bummersville! But I knew Avenged Sevenfold was playing this ONE date of Mayhem, and didnt want to miss that! especially since they were playing with Portnoy, who I shot earlier in the year with Hail! - so I ran to mainstage in time for A7X

A7X had ALOT of pyro, it ruled!!! but the front lighting was a bit weak, so it was somewhat difficult to blend the back lighting with the front lighting. I was shooting at 2.8 ISO800 (as it was getting dark out) and using the 16-35 2.8 lens - shooting at a 160th-500th (when the pyro was hitting)
































































































I went over and did a shoot with In This Moment, then waited for a possible shoot that did not happen - so I ran over the main stage to shoot zombie again, and the lighting was all red or green... again... SEE!
















































Korn had incredible lighting, lots of whites and spot lighting, and the stage was a bit lower at this venue so I got better shots, and from seeing the show before, I sort of knew where things were going to happen and when - and therefor got better shots - shooting 2.8 ISO800 at a 125th
















































Day 2 was pretty sweet because it wasnt as hot, and the shoots got done - but I really wish I got to do all shoots one day - and all my live stuff the other so I wouldnt miss anyone. I didnt get to shoot Hatebreed, Lamb of God, or FFDP, which kinda sucks, I wanted to catch them, but thats how this job goes some days...

Todays Shoot - Norma Jean

This was actually my only planned press shoot that happened at the CT date of mayhem fest.

I set up in an area behind the stage for the big shoot I was supposed to do, which got canceled last minute so I figured I would shoot Norma Jean in that area.

I shot with a single boomed beauty dish, and two umbrellas for the first set which was against a giant concrete wall, then moved down near a fence and shot with only the beauty dish - these were again shot with the Canon 1DS Mark2 and the 24-70 2.8 lens at ISO100 F10-F11 at a 125th




































After shooting those sets I did some natural light shots against a green wall - which was simple - clean - not a busy background - exactly what i go for when shooting natural light

My settings for this were F2.8 at a 200th-320th






































































It was awesome getting to see Norma Jean dudes again - they have been really awesome to me ever since we really met in 06 when I was on Ozzfest for the summer. I always get stoked when i get to run into them, because they are not just good dudes in terms of working with them, or a band, they are genuinely good people, and getting to know a couple of them a bit, it shines though in everything they do.

Todays Shoot - Jamey Jasta, Randy Blythe, and Brian Fair for Hatewear

Jasta and I are at the point where at any given point I could get hit up to shoot ANYTHING! which is awesome. I always welcome unexpected shoots/curveballs, and I always get the job done, and done well.

This time around he hit me up to get some shots for his clothing company HATEWEAR

He wanted to get a bunch of the key dudes over for a group shoot, but because everyone was everywhere - it ended up being Jasta, Randy, and Brian, which is perfect cause they are pretty much THE key frontmen for metal/hardcore on the tour.

My lights were set up across the venue so I shot natural light at 5.6 at ISO100 with the 24-70 which has become my portrait session - on location - lens - it used to be the 16-35 but i tend to use that for only live stuff now a days.

Anyway! we shot against a bus that had a dimebag wrap and alot of color - i didnt like the shadowing as the sun was direct left of the dudes - but i made it work - and it looks epic for the solo shots.











































































this was another shoot where I wish I could have brought in lights but they were set up across the venue for another shoot - so I really couldnt, plus everyone was in a rush - as they are at festivals. Either way, cant wait to see what I shoot next for Jasta.

Todays Shoot - Alana Potocnik of Winds of Plague

Alana and I have been planning to shoot for a while, but unfortunately we were cursed by circumstance.

I wanted to go all out and do a big shoot - lighting, etc. but I had to (HAD TO!!!) save my batteries for my shoot later that day, which was right around sundown AND had to cover mainstage, so I could either shoot earlier in the day - Natural light - or not at all

So we decided to do a natural light shoot, and plan a more - all out - shoot for the show in Mass (however due to the big big shoot being moved to Mass, we didnt shoot again) - BUT! we are looking at setting up a big shoot in the near future.

OK! so finding a spot to shoot when the place is packed - second stage is still happening - and theres nothing but a parking lot to work with - is kinda rought - but we made it work...

I shot with the Canon 1DS mark 2 - 24-70 2.8 - at 2.8 ISO100 - between a 150th and 500th (150th under the tree 500th against the white) - we found two spots I liked - beneath a tree, but it was too much variation behind it - when i shoot natural i like clean, singular backgrounds, simple, not busy. We then walked around to a dealership, where I got the majority of shots I like, against white - both brick and a garage door - check it!























































































































all in all i really wish i got to use lighting on these - and cant wait to do an all out shoot with Alana - she rules and I'm sure if we had the time we could come up with something EPIC! - hopefully that will happen soon!

Todays Shoot - Mayhem Fest - day 1 CT

Day one of Mayhem Fest was supposed to be the day of a very big photo shoot, as well as a secondary photo shoot - but just like warped tour - my day of trying to shoot mostly sessions - turned into my day of live work - and vice versa... sorta!

I had a very big shoot planned for Ct but it was SUPER hot out - so the band decided to push it to the MA date - which is fine - there are better spots in MA to shoot then at the CT venue

So I'm going to do this post as the live stuff then do separate posts for each shoot, as I did with Warped Tour

Anyway - So heres what I have for live stuff..

Due to coordinating my shoots - or non-shoots - I missed a few bands, but I started off with the two second stages - which has VERY different lighting - one had more of an overhang which blocked the sun a bit more - the other was open.

ok so - Here are the 2nd stage bands - I was going for more of a wider focus rather then selective - So I was shooting at 5.6-6.7 ISO400 - at a 160th and above. I shot with the 40D and the 16-35 2.8 lens which is absolutely the best lens to shoot concerts with.




































































































































I missed the first two main stage bands (ffdp and lamb of god) due to photo shoots, the only other bands playing were Rob Zombie and Korn. - keep in mind it was about 100 degrees and super humid out... both bands had pyro (fire) - Rob Zombie had NON STOP PYRO! ugh - so it was like shooting in a swimming pool of wet air.

OK! so for Zombie, he comes out of a giant robot and stands behind a giant mic stand that is a skeleton with 6 arms - the entire first song - so trying to get shots of him the first song - NOPE! - maybe very strong angled ones - but - not really. The rest of the set is riddled with extremely red and green lighting, no white light at all... SWWWEEEEEETTT. So basically the show looks awesome, with amazing pyro, great stage set up - tons of monitors, buts its completely lost in photos due to the strong colored lighting... heyyyy desaturation! but yeah. heres what i got - shooting ISO800 - 2.8 and a 350th
















































Korn however was a different story - their lighting was perfect - lots of white lighting - spot lights - couldnt have asked for anything better - and by far - they were the best sounding band of the entire tour - they blew me the fuuuuuck away with how good they were. Anyway - for the shots I was at 2.8 at a 125th - 100th which was tricky because i didnt want to jump about ISO800 - and I didnt wanna shoot too slow - but it was super dark, soooo whatever - shots look solid up close - didnt get any ghosting even at a 45th - my advice to everyone who shoots - practice stability - itll save your shots sometimes




































all in all the day was awesome - i really wish when i do two days of a fest, i could sort out all the live stuff one day - and session stuff the other so i dont miss anything, but i never have that luck. *Shrug* - welcome to festival photography - YOU WILL MISS SOMETHING!