I don’t think it really matters what kind of music you listen to, this fact remains: The Dillinger Escape Plan put on one of the most kinetic and enthralling shows out there. While they’ve calmed down since their days of fire-breathing and pyrotechnics, DEP’s live show is still nothing short of a spectacle to behold.
Photographer’s Notes:
Prior to the show, The Dillinger Escape Plan’s publicist emailed out a release that started with the following warning:
DISCLAIMER: With fire, flying bodies, swinging guitars and more, someone WILL get hurt at this show.
It might be you. More likely, it will be a member of the band.Attend at your own risk.
I think the last sentence reads pretty accurately. While no one was injured at the show I covered, I think that was more of a testament to the band’s performance chops than any lack of real danger. DEP are professionals.
Regardless of non-injury, I will say this: You are probably not ready to photograph The Dillinger Escape Plan.
For me, Dillinger are just one of those bands that are such a kinetic force that there’s hardly any preparation one can do before their show, regardless of experience. I think you just have to stay calm, try not to embarrass yourself with a bodily discharge when frontman Greg Puciato lunges toward you, and go zen.
At any given time during the show, there’s a very high likelihood that one of the band members is climbing on an amp or part of the stage rigging. And when no one is climbing, DEP are probably playing some form of musical chairs that involves standing on monitors or their two risers. Or maybe they’re just spazzing out, as in the second photo in this set of guitarist Jeff Tuttle.
On top of all this movement, stack on spastic lighting with strobe lights and dim washes, and you’ve got a nice, juicy challenge on your hands.
My approach to all this madness was to simplify. And by simplify, I mean rig up two tungsten-gelled speedlights for cross lighting.
The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 did the heavy lifting for this show. Unlike most of the concert I photograph, I used only one body for this show, the Nikon D3. I find it easier to switch lenses than to change the commander flash between two bodies.
End Notes:
If you haven’t already, you can see the portrait shoot I did with Dillinger here:
Portraits of The Dillinger Escape Plan
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 8:25 pm and is filed under Music Photography and tagged with Ben Weinman, dep, dillinger escape plan, Greg Puciato, live, music photographer, Music Photography, music photography, tdep, tour. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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The Dillinger Escape Plan – most insane show of the year? Yeah – probably so. http://bit.ly/7lTfOb (@DillingerEscPln)
Fantastic series Todd.
Thanks, Craig. I had a lot of fun photographing these guys.
Todd, can I ask the hows and wheres? How did you get to set up flashes, and where did you put them?
Doh.. hit send to soon..
Cracking set, great motion! loved it.
Hi Sean,
I set up the flashes on the sides of the stage, which provided a basic crosslighting effect. Thanks for the comment.
Another great set. Flash was obviously allowed. Was the permission granted from the band or the venue? I’m always intrigued when you shoot shows with flash since I have never shot a legit show where flash was allowed. A little bit of extra light can really make a difference. I could’ve used some last week when I shot Nitzer Ebb.
Nice work as always Todd.
groovehouse,
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I was allowed to use flash, and I was allowed to photograph the entire set, which I cleared with the band’s TM.
This is an insane set… great great work Todd, way more impressive then all the arena shows you did this year. This just got so much more feeling and energy to it.
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the kind words. With smaller club shows like this where I have talked to the band and can shoot the whole show (and have the option/luxury of flash), it’s always an entirely different world compared to arena/amphitheather shows. To start with, the stage is only four feet tall or so, which is a very nice start!
“You are probably not ready to photograph The Dillinger Escape Plan.”
I just want to reinforce this – I had no idea what I was getting into with these guys, even having listened to them in my college days.
The flash really gives this set some pop, and I imagine it helped you keep the shutter speed up (which is really necessary when they’re running/jumping/slamming around as they did). Great set.
Hey Jason,
Even having photographed Dillinger a few years ago, I was still in shock for the first few seconds as these guys took the stage. They really came out on the attack.
Regarding flash, my shutter speeds were actually rather low for this show, due to the ambient light. If I would have used a higher shutter speed, it would have killed too much of the stage lighting. So, I was probably around 1/10 to 1/30 for most of these shots. Thanks for the comment.
Wow.
…I can’t think of anything else to say.
This is easily one of my favorite sets of yours, Todd. Fantastic work.
Hey Ally,
Thanks very much for the kind words. Glad to hear you like this set – it was a challenge, but I had a blast making these images for you guys.
Hey Todd. You really do take incredible photographs.
Quick question. Do you focus manually when shooting concerts, or do you use autofocus?
I for one find it hard to manually focus when I’m shooting shows because of all the movement going on, but often the autofocus doesn’t give me the results I’m looking for. Just curious as to what you do. Thanks.
Hey Christi,
Thanks for the comment. Regarding your question on autofocus, I generally use continuous AF (AF-C) on my Nikons. If the light is very, very low and I’m using prime lenses, I will switch to AF-S, since I find the older primes do better with this setting.
Greatest band to shoot EVER… if your gear is insured, that is. Great shots, Todd.
I’ve never actually shot them at a venue with a photo pit, the idea of them being physically separated from the audience is weird.
Hi Brandon,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah, DEP is a fantastic band to photograph. I owe my favorite jump shot to Ben, back when they opened for Killswitch Engage.
Yeah, I’ve seen a ton of photos from this tour where the crowd was right up to the stage. Though I had planned on shooting anyway if I had to crowd-shoot the show, I was personally happy to see a barricade up.
Amazing set Todd.
Your a braver photographer then me – I would fear for my gear too much.
Hey Tenspeed,
Thanks for the comment. I wasn’t really in any bodily hard – at least I didn’t feel that way. There weren’t too many crowd surfers during this set (though there were some), so in that regard things were pretty calm.
RT @toddowyoung: The Dillinger Escape Plan – most insane show of the year? Yeah – probably so. http://bit.ly/7lTfOb (@DillingerEscPln)
@mischaaa http://ishootshows.com/2009/12/16/the-dillinger-escape-plan/
Do they try to kick your camera or anything
Natasha,
Nah, the guys in Dillinger don’t mess with photographers, and while Greg Puciato was up front and going nuts most of the time, I didn’t feel like I was going to get knocked at any point. The closest I came to getting kicked was probably when Ben Weinman was sitting on one of the overturned monitors and I went in close with the 14-24mm.
Man this show looked like a lot of fun to shot man you really catch of great stuff ….. good work man
Thanks, Corey.
Dillinger Escape Plan live photoset. Insane, even in stills: http://bit.ly/7lTfOb
gila, mantap abis! RT @lowrobb Damn brilliant! ~ Dillinger Escape Plan (I Shoot Shows)! http://bit.ly/8kc9Zd #metal #bandpictures
RT @@lowrobb: Damn brilliant! ~ Dillinger Escape Plan (I Shoot Shows)! http://bit.ly/8kc9Zd #metal #bandpictures
Damn brilliant! ~ Dillinger Escape Plan (I Shoot Shows)! http://bit.ly/8kc9Zd #metal #bandpictures
[...] the Dillinger Escape Plan’s devastating set, post-hardcore rockers Thursday closed out the night properly with a hugely intense performance. I [...]
Dillinger are, and always will be my favourite band, and no one is ready to photograph them. They are just brutal in their stage presence and there is nothing else like them out there. I applaud you for these shots, and somehow capturing greg and ben still.
Hey Mick,
Thanks for the comment. Dillinger are berserkers. Definitely one of the toughest but most rewarding bands to shoot. Looking forward to when these guys tour again – if nothing else, they’ll be on Warped Tour this year kicking butt.
Todd,
I noticed they’re coming to The Blue Note next week… Planning on shooting the show?
I will be making the drive from KC with a couple friends.
Was debating about requesting a pass… any thoughts, or advice? I’m not familiar with the venue / their publicist…
Cheers!
- Brandon
Hey Brandon,
You know, I hadn’t really considered the Blue Note show, but may consider the drive now. A band’s publicist is always the best way to go for any press inquiry.
[...] wait for more DEP photos? Check out photos from Dillinger Escape Plan’s 2009 support of Thursday and the portrait session I did with the guys. Related [...]
[...] previously in the preview of this set, my primary goal was to photograph drummer Billy Rymer. The last time I’d photographed The Dillinger Escape Plan, I was satisfied with the cover I had for all the other members save Rymer, so it was my mission to [...]
hey todd.
really like your work there :)
you said its pretty dangerous to shoot them. well… i agree, shot them last weekend in bratislava and jesus…. it was the hardest shoot ever…. strobo, moshpit (they dont have a luxury like photopit), stagedive…. just everything.
And i tell you what: it was the best shoot ever. So great performances. I dont even care that my meter was off all the time, that it was dark like a lenscap from time to time,that the pics are noisy and that my cam had some blood on it (it wasnt mine though). It was just f-ing awesome.
So since i enjoyed your pics so much (and want to see more :) )
maybe you are interessted how things turned out in Randal Club in Slovakia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/julezhaze/sets/72157625086979347/
Keep up your great work.
jules out