March 01, 2009 – Opening up for Ne-Yo on the Gentleman of the Year Tour, R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan delivered a big-hearted performance that was a blast to photograph.
Shooting Notes:
While I went in with the 24-70mm f/2.8 mounted on the D3, it was the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 that really saw the majority of use for this set. The telephoto zoom excelled at half-length shots of Jazmine Sullivan, as well as for tighter framing.
Overall, the lighting for this set was great; abundant white light from the front thanks to spotlights, and a light but pleasant background treatment of blues and yellows.
I shot this performance fairly locked at ISO 1600, f/3.2, and 1/500.
This entry was posted on Sunday, March 8th, 2009 at 7:57 pm and is filed under Music Photography and tagged with 2009, grammy, images, jazmine sullivan, live, music, Music Photography, r&b, tour. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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I have to say, I’m always astounded at your shots. Before seeing your site I, in all honesty, dismissed concert photography as lacking in variety. I thought, sure the performers change, but aside from that it’s all the same.
But you’ve changed my mind. You manage to capture the spirit of every performer you photograph. The viewer feels as if they’re there, in the front row.
It’s fantastic.
Wow Ash, thanks for the very kind words. In part, I will admit that some of the “front-row feeling” owes to the fact that I am so often in the front row. Or, to be more precise, between the front row and the stage.
I always try to capture the performance as best I can. Thanks for the high compliment.
Hey Todd! As always your photos are an inspiration to those of us learning the art :)
Thanks very much, Randy.
fabulous, as usual. so, if you’re in between front row and stage often, how do you manage to avoid that “up the nose” look most of the time? ;)
Hey Melissa, thanks. For this show at the Fox Theatre, the orchestra pit right in front of the stage is filled with seating. There is a gap between the stage and the first row of the seats, which tapers off on the sides, so there’s mostly a four-foot span or so on either side of the center aisle at the front.
As for avoiding the “up the nose look,” it’s not always easy. Shooting with a telephoto from more oblique angles can help provide a flatter perspective.
Another day, another set of fabulous images …. grrrrr.
Hey Rene, thanks, ha. By the way, I haven’t forgot your Q&A submission – in fact, I should be posting about AF modes and technique this week. Thanks.
Cool beans Todd, thanks. Whenever you have time.
Hey Rene, just posted the Q&A on autofocus:
http://ishootshows.com/2009/03/09/concert-photography-af/
Spotlights + Jazmine Sullivan – ISO 1600, 1/500, f/3.2: http://is.gd/mwOy