A final preview (for tonight) of the Blink 182 set from last nights Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Show.
(Source: neiloliverphoto.co.uk)
Last night i had the pleasure of photographing Blink 182 live @ Cardiff Motorpoint Arena for Alternative Vision. A full set of photos and a review will be up very soon, but for now, here is a quick edit of Travis Barker to get you excited for the rest of the set.
(Source: neiloliverphoto.co.uk)
That is all…
My new website - www.alexagibbens.co.uk -
I really shouldn’t reblog this, as it will put all of my work to shame, but please go and check out my friends incredible work.
Knuckled down today and got it all finished. Working on it this weekend and looking at my work has inspired me to get better and be better in my craft. The aim now is have it all divided into collections and then maybe into published work. It could take months, it could takes years, but I’ll get there if I put my mind to it.
Do check it out and let me know what you think :)
I need to get into this sort of photography.
(Source: nearlyvintage, via alexsearsdecade)
I had a lovely email from an A level student who is using some of my photography for a focus in her A2 art. I was so flattered that somebody considered me somebody worthy of looking up to, as for me i feel that most A level students know more than i do.
She asked me to complete some questions and i thought i would share them here incase anyone else found it interesting. I doubt it, its pretty standard stuff, but for any beginners or people in a similar situation i hope this helps in some way.
1. When doing an event such as a wedding, is there any special equipment needed for the camera? E.g. extra flashes
I use an external flash with an Omni-bounce reflector attached to disperse the light. I have just purchased a monopod for use indoors to be able to gain sharper shots at lower shutter speeds. I also use a spider holster for carrying the camera between locations.
2. What do you do in order to make sure that you get the right photos that the Client wants? (photo shop etc)
I meet with the client prior to the wedding to make a list of all of the required photos and get a feel for what they are hoping the end result will look like. They communicate between the meeting and the big day via email where they can send me photos they like, ideas they have and ask any questions.
Other than that, keep shooting. Have enough memory cards that you never need to delete a photo on the fly. This only increases the risk of deleting all of your photos. Don’t rush the photos, but check that you have captured what you need to and don’t be afraid to take another shot if its not right. I take a second photographer to all of my weddings to capture the event from different perspectives.
3. How long does it take to edit the photos after the event? (if editing is needed)
A long time. I have spent between 10 and 18 hours editing photos. I import all photos into lightroom 3.0 and edit from there. I first of all go through and sort out any unusable shots, then I colour grade the photos and make any cropping adjustments. If noise is an issue I will deal with that too. Once all of the photos are to a good standard, I send the client a contact sheet with the photos, they can then request any further editing of photos for anything that will be enlarged or used in an album. Different effects and editing styles can be added on request.
4. How many photos do you aim to take in one event?
There is no set limit, I just keep shooting and ask my second photographer to do the same. This makes the editing stage much longer, but at some points you cannot recreate the photo so I would rather make sure. The amount of photos from both photographers has varied between 1000 – 2200 in total.
5. What camera do you use and why?
I am a Canon man, simply because of the fact that when I was younger my granddad gave me his Canon AE1 Program film SLR. I couldn’t use it and I ended up selling it, but I recently bought another to replace it and learn about film. The model I use is a 7D. It was the latest model at the time with good low light performance and full HD video. I wish that I could have purchased a 5D MKII but it was slightly out of my price range. The advantage of the 5D is that it is full frame,which helps a lot with wider shots at weddings. The lens I use is a 24-70mm f2.8. Its an expensive lens but a good focal length for most shots. The low and fixed aperture of f2.8 is very important, as indoor shooting is quite dark and if not you have to compensate with a higher ISO level creating a lower quality picture.
6. Do you ever experience any problems when taking photos at an event? E.g. environment, people etc.
People usually respond very well to me and any other members of our team. We aim to look like we are having fun and not be intrusive when taking photos. We encourage the guests to grab hold of us and request photos. At all of the weddings I have done, the clients have been that impressed on the day that they have asked us to stay as one of the guests.
7. Do you do any planning before an event?
Check that all batteries are charged and cards are clear. Pack my bag and double check that I have everything that I need. I do this a few days before in case anything needs replacing or fixing. I will recheck the bag the might before too.
Double check that my staff are aware of the day and time they are required and then put together a list of photos that are required on the day. I have the client list lots of details in a confirmation email such as timings, addresses and contact numbers so this is taken and distributed to my staff.
8. What do you do with your photos after the event, and how do you present them to a client?
All photos are imported into lightroom 3.0 and backed up. All rejected photos are still stored, for a period of time. Photographs are stored on an external HDD. Photographs are presented firstly via contact sheet, the via flickr, DVD, an online store using photobox professional and a set of customised moo cards.
9. How do you draw clients in other then the use of your website?
I do weddings for fun, and to earn money to buy new equipment. All of my clients that I receive for weddings are due to word of mouth, the website acts as a portfolio for my work. The website does generate interest for local bands and other events though.
10. Have you ever enchanted any ethical or copyright issues with your photography?
No ethical considerations so far. I have encountered copyright issues when trying to print live music photos. The printers needed proof that the photos were taken by me and that I owned the rights. I had to sign a disclaimer to confirm this.
11. What is your favorite type of photography to do and why?
I love live music photography. The pressure is high, because you have three songs, with no flash in a darkened place where the lighting constantly changes. The bands are unpredictable and there is no going back if you miss a shot. You have to know your camera well and push it to its limits. You must research the band and take calculated risks so that you not only get a safe shot to use, but also give yourself a chance at getting something that could help promote yourself as a photographer.
12. Do you use any other equipment when taking pictures?
The spider holster that I brought really does change how to handle your camera, its quite expensive for what it is, but very useful. I use a tripod for studio work, along with 2 400w studio flashes with umbrellas. Location shooting for models I use my Speedlight with an off camera sync, on a stand with a shoot through umbrella. For focused light, I have some cheap neoprene that wraps around the Speedlite to focus the light. For really sharp images, I use a 50mm f1.8, its very cheap and unbeatable on quality below about £300. I also have a selection of old Canon FD lenses (designed for film camera bodies) that I have a converter for to fit my 7D. These are manual lenses that give some great effects and are a great way to get a large selection of lenses at a fraction of the cost of new lenses. For long exposure shots, I use the glass from a welding mask, and colour correct the image in camera (as it is dark green). This does a good job without having to spend £120 on a 10 stop ND filter. I have UV filters on all of my lenses, and I use a hand strap instead of a neck strap.
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Another quick edit from last nights We Are The In Crowd gig. It was an interesting pit to take photos in and its the first time that i attempted lens changes in the middle of a set. The lights weren’t great, but it is giving me a lot to play around with in Lightroom.
(Source: neiloliverphoto.co.uk)
Last night i traveled over to Cardiff to go and see We Are The In Crowd on the third night of their first headlining tour. I wont say too much about the gig, as it will all be covered in the review, but needless to say it was an incredible night. I met Tay before the gig for a quick interview outside their dressing room and it was a lot of fun. She is such a lovely person and i hope that i get to catch up with her again later in the year when they return to the UK. She has recently been complaining about the UK having bland food so i took her some Bens Cookies from Bath and a few Demakes Tees for her and Jordan. I really want to know if she liked them and i am hoping that the Demakes stuff might make it on stage at a later date in the tour.
I am editing some of the photos now, so keep your eyes on my Tumblr, my Flickr and the Alternative Vision website for more stuff coming soon.
(Source: neiloliverphoto.co.uk)