Metal, Euro-style (concert pics, dial-up warning)

[jeffkohn]

Weekend before last we took our annual trip to Atlanta for ProgPower USA, a music festival featuring heavy metal bands, most of whom are from Europe and don't get to tour the US much if at all. There are 10 bands over 2 days, with a "pre-party" the night before featuring several unsigned bands. I didn't take any pictures at the pre-show but did get pictures from all 10 bands at the main event. Here's a selection of shots, the rest can be seen in the gallery here. As always, comments/feedback/suggestions appreciated.

Click on an image to view the PBase page will full shooting info.

Orphaned Land


Manticora


Symphorce




Therion




Manticora


Stride (from Houston, actually, the lone US band at the festival)

[Holly]

I think these are incredible.

I like #2 , #6 and #7 the best.

[engstrom]

Very nice pictures in difficult lighting conditions!

[LoungeLizard]

Wow...very well done.

[photosbymorgan2]

Very nice photos. Please explain how you metered the scene, your f stop and your shutter speed.

Thanks

[jeffkohn]

Thanks for the feedback everybody.

Please explain how you metered the scene, your f stop and your shutter speed.

I used center-weighted metering, with shutter-priority at 1/80s, which more often than not resulted in wide-open apertures of f/1.4, though occasionally I ended up with f/1.8-f/2.2. Trying to handle exposure manually is just impossible in those conditions, the light changes way too much from second to second. Aperture priority wasn't an option because the meter kept wanting really slow shutter speeds. I'd rather have a slightly underexposed shot than a shutter speed so slow that the image is ruined by camera shake or motion blur. And these guys don't stand still much so even at 1/80s there was a fair amount of motion blur in many shots.

Using fast primes I was able to get away with shooting at ISO-800 for the most part. On the second night I also experimented a bit with the 70-200vr (didn't have it with me the first night). But shooting at f/2.8 required bumping the ISO to 1600, which on the D2x brings a pretty big increase in noise. On the second night I also expirimented a bit with auto-ISO, in which case instead of increasing the f-strop would lower ISO when there was sufficient light. Most of the time it was still pegged at ISO-800 but occasionally I got shots around ISO-560. Looking at the results I'll probably use auto-ISO more in the future.

[Trevor]

Excellent photos Jeff! Very impressive. I have done some live bands shots and know the difficulty involved but love the challenge. Again, great captures!

[rozzie]

Those are such HOT photos, JEFF! Definitely gives me something to aspire for! I wish I could have the freedom to roam around during the shows I go to so I can get some better action shots and different perspectives like that.

[Craig Wilkins]

Great Shots Jeff!! Reminds me of the late 80's what I remember anyway :) Great Work!!

[jeffkohn]

Thanks very much for the kind words everybody. I can't help but look at these pictures from a perspective of having been there and having a blast, so to get this kind of feedback really means a lot. Technically these are defintely some of the most difficult conditions I've shot in, but if I've manage to convey some of the energy/fun of being there then I consider that a success.

[srwatters]

Bravo.

I believe that says it all.

[Angela]

Jeff,

I too was @ that festival! it was soooo much fun! But it was indeed difficult to shoot with all the lighting changes...I am still editing my pics now!

Your pics are incredible !!! I feel like I am reliving the moment when I view the pics!

I have always admired your work....and now find out you too are from Houston too!! LOL

My pictures are here.... Still working on a lot of the bands!

Prog Power Pictures

Angela

[jeffkohn]

Thanks Angela. Glad to see another ProgPower fan here at Texas Photo Forum.

(BTW got your PM, will write something up for you a bit later tonight).

Regards,

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Dooooood! You gots talent!!

Never seen better.

_/oe