TwoPhaseFeature836x463
Cover Bands

Two Phase at Beaches

Leave a comment

Pete and Trev, who form the Duo called “Two Phase”, are one of my favorite Friday Night acts at the Beaches venue.

I especially like Trevor’s Nils Lofgren look with bandana, and his guitar solos are smooth and effortless and sound great!

Pete is very thorough with the sound from his PA, and the backing tracks sound just like additional Band Members playing.

This was a special gig, with Pete playing Conga Drums for a few of the songs, such as Lionel Ritchie “All Night Long”.

 

A Gallery of Photos of the April 24th gig can be viewed at this link:

Flickr Photo Gallery of Two Phase at Beaches on April 24th 2014

 

Two Phase have been playing at Beaches for over 20 years, and there is a Photo Album I did in 2013, using my Panasonic Lumix LX7 Low Light Camera.

The Flickr Gallery of Photos of the Two Phase 20 Year Anniversary gig can be viewed at this link:

Flickr Photo Gallery of Two Phase 20 Years at Beaches

 

Further information about Two Phase can be found at their Facebook Page:

Two Phase Facebook Page

 

EQUIPMENT:

Sony Alpha A-77
Tamron 17-50mm F2.8
Sony 35mm F1.8 Portrait Lens
Yongnuo YN460 Flash

In this shoot I followed the general approach I am currently using for shoots at Beaches. Step 1 is to get some low light no flash band pictures using the 35mm F1.8 fixed lens. About 1 in 6 of these shots work out, but I use the good ones in the middle of the final photo album to break things up a bit. Step 2 is to attach the flash and diffuser and do some more band shots, as well as “Party People” shots of venue patrons for the Beaches Facebook page.

Most band shots were taken at ISO 1000, with shutter fixed at 1/125th. Party People shots were taken at ISO 1250, with aperture priority used, so that aperture of 4.5 or 5.0 could be used for group shots to try and get everyone in focus.

The interesting thing is that looking back at the 2013 album done with the Lumix-LX7, I should probably take it along to Beaches Gigs and do some ground level side of stage dance floor shots with it. When I get my black Cargo Pants with a zillion pockets, I will consider doing this.

 

Subscribe

If you enjoy visiting Photos By Passy, why not get a free subscription to the website.

You can then receive notifications of new items and updates directly to your email address.

Go to the subscribe area on the left hand sidebar, (or down the bottom of the page if using a mobile phone), fill in your email address and then click the “Subscribe” button.

Enjoy,
Passy

DRRsepia836x463JPG
How To

How to Make Old Style Photos

Leave a comment

We can turn color photos into old style brown photos (“sepia effect”) by using layers in Photoshop.

This turns our color photo into an old style picture, like the ones taken in the early days of photography.

ColortoSepiaJPG528wide

The following YouTube video explains how to do this step by step using Adobe Photoshop.

 
 

Subscribe

If you enjoy visiting Photos By Passy, why not get a free subscription to the website.
You can then receive notifications of new items and updates directly to your email address.

Go to the subscribe area on the left hand sidebar, (or down the bottom of the page if using a mobile phone), fill in your email address and then click the “Subscribe” button.

Enjoy,
Passy

SIFeature836x463
Cover Bands

Single Income – April 2014

Leave a comment

Single Income are extremely professional, and one of my favorite Cover Bands.

They play lots of old rocking favorites from the 80’s like The Doors, The Angels, and Bad Company.

The crowd is always up dancing and having a great time at their gigs, and the lead singer Greg is the penultimate frontman.

He wanders around with his radio mike and gets people singing, (even the staff behind the bar), and really knows how to work with a crowd.

A full Flickr Gallery of Photos can be viewed at this link:

Flickr Photo Gallery of Single Income at Beaches

Further information about Single Income can be found at their Facebook Page:

Single Income Facebook Page

 

EQUIPMENT:

Sony Alpha A-77
Sony SAL35mm F1.8 (for non flash photos)
Tamron 17-50mm F2.8
Yongnuo Speedlight YN460-II

Adobe Photoshop CS5.5 (Quite a bit of photoshopping was done).

Post Shoot Notes are much the same as the one’s for the Momentum Shoot the previous night.

– Photshopping adding Gamma Exposure for rich blacks and dramatic high contrast.

– No Flash photos done with the Sony SAL35mm F1.8 with a few usable shots obtained, but focussing in low light band shots does seem to be an issue.

– Yongnuo Flash annoying the hell out me when it doesn’t fire, just as you have everyone set up for a great “Party People” shot.

– Need to make the final photoshopped photos just a little bit brighter, as they are not quite bright enough on Mobile Phone. Even though they look “just right” on the PC with a good bright monitor.

– I still not have worked out how to eliminate white splotches on cheekbones, nose tips, and foreheads on flash shots of people; however it seems that using ISO 1250 and a bit more flash power, to make quite bright pictures helps this to some extent. I have a Gary Fong Light Sphere diffuser on order, and hope that it may spread more even soft light than the standard diffuser I currently have, and help this problem. We shall see what it is like when we first use it.

For additional Post Shoot details, read the Momentum Shoot write up here:

Momentum at Beaches – Shoot Notes

Overall I was quite happy with some of the Flash Band shots I obtained, which was greatly assisted by the band guys draping the whole stage and its sides in black cloth; Brilliant for Photos!

 

Subscribe

If you enjoy visiting Photos By Passy, why not get a free subscription to the website.

You can then receive notifications of new items and updates directly to your email address.

Go to the subscribe area on the left hand sidebar, (or down the bottom of the page if using a mobile phone), fill in your email address and then click the “Subscribe” button.

Enjoy,
Passy

Momentum Guitar 836x463
Cover Bands

Momentum at Beaches

Leave a comment

Momentum are a hot three piece of very talented musicians who play rocking covers that get the crowd partying.

They are seasoned highly skilled players, and they need to be for the material they cover with such ease.

They are a real musician’s band; and one that I intend to go see again.

A full Flickr Gallery of Photos can be viewed at this link:

Flickr Photo Gallery of Momentum at Beaches

 

Further information about Momentum can be found at their Facebook Page:

Momentum Facebook Page

 

EQUIPMENT:

Sony Alpha A-77
Sony SAL35mm F1.8 (for non flash photos)
Tamron 17-50mm F2.8
Yongnuo Speedlight YN460-II

Adobe Photoshop CS5.5 (Quite a bit of photoshopping was done).

Band shots without Flash were shot using the 35mm F1.8 Sony Lens.

The 35mm on a cropped body like the A-77 is probably around 45 to 50mm effectively and is not really wide enough to fit a lot in.

It is really a Portrait lens, and in low light band conditions can go into this occasional focussing frenzy, which I have read about on forums. It is a great lens, but for low light band photography it does not work as well as using the Panasonic Lumix LX7 Compact camera. However it does give a few okay natural low light shots which can be put into an album.

Most of the band shots that were done with Flash were shot at ISO 800 with the flash set to 1/7 or 2/7 power. For these the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 lens was used, which for the $320 price is proving to be a real winner. Very happy with the wide angle and zoom capabilities, and I am also using it for all the “Party People” candids. It is my go to lens for doing pub gigs, and nice and light and easy to carry in a side pouch on my belt. I have also used it for some outdoor nature shots and it went well for this.

However, for low light band shots at larger venues and shows, the Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 is brilliant, and better clarity and crispness than the 17-50mm. So so it should be with its $1200 price tag, and the massive weight of glass inside the thing!

People pics were shot with the 17-50mm Tamron, mostly at ISO 1250 with the flash set to 1/7 power.

Overexposed pictures were adjusted in Photoshop with “Exposure” adjustment, and the Gamma Level pumped up to create great dramatic contrast, and make flashed up grey black colors revert back to deep rich black.

The Yongnuo Flash is proving to be a pain without being able to see any previews through the viewfinder, and was also unreliable and would not fire off every so often.

Still I am getting okay shots out using the Yongnuo, and for the $50 on ebay it cost me, it has paid for itself already; and will make a good spare to carry in the kit bag. Best of all I love the simplicty of it, just guesstimate the power level as between 1 and 3 and shoot!

The old switch off, switch on fixed the failing to fire problem, but by then the moment was gone. It also looked very unprofessional doing this during Party People shots 🙁

Definitely getting a Sony Flash as soon as possible!

doorsofperceptionfeatureTWO836wide
Tribute Bands

The Doors of Perception

Leave a comment

The Doors of Perception are the best Doors tribute Band going around, and they appeared as one of the acts at the Gary Bradshaw Fundraiser on Friday Feb 21st 2014.

Very authentic look and sound, right down to the original antique keyboards. They are definitely an act I want to see again and again!

The vocalist doing Jim Morrison is Brad Cook, who is a great musician and band organiser. He also has a Guns and Roses tribute band called “Appetite for Destruction”. In the Gunners band he does “Slash” lead guitar, and leaves the vocals to a guy who looks and sings just like Axel Rose.

A full Flickr Gallery of Photos can be viewed at this link:

Flickr Photo Gallery of The Doors of Perception at GBF

A more recent photo album of “TDOP” from July 19th 2014 can be viewed on Flickr here:

Flickr Photo Gallery of The Doors of Perception at Sandbelt Hotel

Another recent photo album of “TDOP” from October 11th 2014 can be viewed on Flickr here:

Flickr Photo Gallery of Doors of Perception at Croxton Park Hotel
 

Further information about The Doors of Perception can be found at their Facebook Page:

The Doors of Perception Facebook Page

 

EQUIPMENT:

Panasonic Lumix LX7

Most shots were taken with the camera set to “Aperture Priority Mode”, with dial set to 1.4, and ISO of 400 to 800.

It was great to get natural rich colors without having to use any Flash at all.

The LX7 is a brilliant little compact camera that you can put into your jeans pocket and take to a gig.

It is also great as an informal portrait camera with the f1.4 giving plenty of background blur.

The F1.4 low light capabilities are great, and so much light comes into the brilliant Leica lens that you can shoot at lower ISO without any flash needed.

It is a great value camera for around $500 on the internet, and highly recommended by PBP as the ideal take anywhere compact.

Enjoy,
Passy