Hittin' Them Low Notes

[LeDude]

This is one photo from a thread started here and moved to "Mind You Own Business." I still won't embed the pic into this thread; I hope that won't be a problem.

For those that haven't seen the other thread (Music Photos & Dealings), I am looking for photo critique and pricing ideas.

Bass
#7 http://ledudeprojects.smugmug.com/gallery/920960/2/46182795


From "Music Photos & Dealings":

Hey all, I have a big favor to ask. First, I've started to generate some interest in this gallery (http://ledudeprojects.smugmug.com/gallery/920960). Below are some links [edit: see above] to what I think are the standouts (with at least one from each band member). I haven't posted any here because the rules state one post per week AND I have a strict policy of not making any artist's visage available without prior permission (and even if I do have permission I may refrain for the obvious reason of theft).

So, question number one, and directly pertaining to this forum: what can be done to improve the work? I see significant improvement on my end, but I've got a long way to go and the learning curve of self-teaching is starting to flatten. (caveat: self-teaching isn't entirely true - I've learned a tremendous amount on this site - thankyou all)

Question number two: what should I charge for use of these images? The following conditions apply: (a) the images will be used for a website, promo materials; (b) the band members are friends (and some roomates); (c) the initial expectation on their part was "free" - I have successfully and gently rebuffed this expectation; (d) each shot can be considered to have taken me between 45 and 60 minutes to create (shot and post-processing time); (e) I am just starting and have thus not paid any costs associated with these shots (i.e.: hardware, software, smugmug hosting); (f) I will also be brokering some advertising into the deal (e.g. a link to my site from theirs) - but then, I have been advertising for them all along by having these shots up and kindly captioned.

[wxwax]

I respect your decision not to post their images, but having shot 4 local bands I can say with great assurance none of them would mind having their mugs plastered anywhere it might get folks' attention!

I'm not a fan of flash at concerts, IMO it reveals the ugliness of the stage. In your shot, you've done a nice B&W conversion, heavy on the sepia, but that's a matter of taste. Nice ash, good pose.

But the speaker is too sharp and bright, it's distracting. I assume using a flash makes it harder to control depth of field? :dunno Similarly, the guitar strings are so bright they draw my eye away from his face, which is where I should be looking.

That being said, I know how hard it can be to shoot bands in small, poorly lit clubs, so more power to you. This cigarette thing must be a "look" cultivated by guitarists - I have one too! http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/17165045-M.jpg

[LeDude]

But the speaker is too sharp and bright, it's distracting. I assume using a flash makes it harder to control depth of field? :dunno Similarly, the guitar strings are so bright they draw my eye away from his face, which is where I should be looking.

That being said, I know how hard it can be to shoot bands in small, poorly lit clubs, so more power to you. This cigarette thing must be a "look" cultivated by guitarists - I have one too! http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/17165045-M.jpg Thanks for the comments! I had to go back to the raw file to check what I did... I didn't remember I had a flash going (it was only the built-in and it was from fairly far away as the shot was seriously underexposed). This was an early shot of mine where I used sepia, et al. to "save" the shot. I've recently all but abandoned flash, although I am still looking to get some faster glass before I can go full-time flashless.

I definitely agree with the speaker comment. I think I agree with the guitar comment (it's actually a bass, easy mistake to make)... I'm assuming you meant the frets though and not the strings. It definitely gives it an 'unreal' look. Some might like it I suppose, but I wish I could take it down a notch or three. Next time I see him I am going to take a closer look at this bass of his... maybe the frets are white:dunno. In any case, it does draw too much from his face/pose/cig and I hadn't thought of that, so much thanks.

And yeah, the cig is a look for him: every show and all show (he was struggling when they played in NYC last weekend). Gotta look cool right?:D

peas,
-Rich

p.s. I actually got into a little dispute with the emcee over the advantage to bands in having their pictures as available as possible. I wasn't arguing on my behalf since I had not intended to release the shots (I'd like to get at least some promo &/or $ in return for my efforts). But he had some point to make... in any event, he now agrees with me (and all the bands you know) and will be starting a smugmug site as a companion to the band site. I won't be getting into any arguments with anyone else though; I only allowed this one because he's my roomate.

[wxwax]

:thumb Interesting that the emcee didn't want all the exposure he could get.