What’s the only thing better than two guitarists mirrored in hard rock perfection, shredding for their lives? Probably when you have pyrotechnics blowing up behind them that make it look like there are flames shooting out of their guitars.
Headlining Pointfest 27, Avenged Sevenfold brought the rock show to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater and a legion of screaming fans.
Photographer’s Notes:
Even with very challenging and what I’d consider rough lighting, this show was a blast to photograph. But this was no surprise – having photographed Avenged Sevenfold twice before, I was fully expecting a great show. Needless to say, Avenged Sevenfold did not disappoint.
Any show with pyro is a good show, and A7X used a fair amount during their first song. Even with weird blue washes and strange tints on the lights like green and magenta, the band’s energy won out.
As always, one thing to watch out for when photographing Avenged Sevenfold is the symmetrical double-axe attack of Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates. It seems like the guitarists went up on the risers at least once per song to rock out together, which made for great images.
Cameras Used:
Lenses Used:
For this shoot, the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 was a great main lens. Due to the use of ego risers, a big stack of bass speakers in the photo pit and the height of the stage, the band was fairly set back, making the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 I brought pretty unnecessary.
This was the first day I was back to shooting my own 70-200mm f/2.8 VR I after shooting with Nikon’s new Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II that I was reviewing for the last six weeks. To tell you the truth, I missed the VR II lens.
End Notes:
For those fans interested in Zacky’s new neck tattoo that reads “Forever,” here’s a crop that shows it pretty well:
Want to see how far these guys have come in the last three years? Check out their set from the Pageant in 2007 here:
Avenged Sevenfold @ The Pageant
Comments & Feedback? Let ‘em rip.
Questions or comments? Leave a comment below, and let me know what you thought of this post.
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This entry was posted on Sunday, August 15th, 2010 at 9:30 pm and is filed under Music Photography and tagged with avenged sevenfold, band, johnny christ, live, m shadows, Mike Portnoy, music, music photography, photography, rock, synyster gates, zacky vengeance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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awesome shots dude!
Thanks, Tony.
Wow, the drummer looks like Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater from this shot.
Hey Arnold, thanks for the comment. That is Mike Portnoy – he’s filling in as the band’s drummer until they find a permanent replacement.
Photos: Avenged Sevenfold, Uproar Tour | ishootshows.com http://lwrb.in/bN9VE9
Fabulous pictures!! thank you!!!
Hey Annie, thanks for the comment. Glad to hear you like the images.
Todd, as usual, excellent pics, man !
Great inspiration for me !!
BTW, thanx for your e.mail on my pics !!
All the best,
GBN
Hey Guilherme, thanks for the comment, I appreciate it.
awesome set. I especially like the last one just above the comments. you managed well with what lighting challenges you had.
Hey Doug, thanks. That last image is from Avenged Sevenfold’s 2007 tour. It’s funny but for all the band’s flash new lights that they’ve added over the last 3 years, I still really liked their simpler treatment when they were playing clubs.
i was there!! i think i even saw u takin the photos! amazing show and u got some amazing shots!! love them!! a7x foREVer!!!
OMG, i was at pointfest & it was AMAZING!!! The guys did NOT disappoint at all!! I have a lot of very similar pictures, but of course I was much further back & don’t have an awesome camera like you!!!! Thanks so much for sharing these!! (btw: did you notice they put the set together backwards & it actually read “X7A” ??!! xoxo peej
Love Avenged :) Fantastic shots mate. I wish I could have gone to see them thank you for sharing them! All Hail Sevenfold foREVer ?
Do you have any type of intern?
Waawwhh!
Did you really take all these amazing photos?
There unreal! Once in a Lifetime oppotunity to get amazing images like that and you nailed evey aspect of the band. Real Insperation.
Amazing. Wish i had the Lenses you used.
& Beautifull Tattoo Zacky. :D
-Zoeii. x
http://www.twitter.com/XzoeX_Brand
Awesome pictures!! I loved that you put an older picture of them up as a basis of comparison to see how much they have “grown up” over these past few years. This is my FAVORITE band, so I’m highly envoius that you were so close to get such amazing pictures! Lol!! Beautiful work though, you’ve got an amazing talent with the camera!
Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
RT: @toddowyoung: Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
RT @toddowyoung: Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
1 Word : WICKED. RT @toddowyoung: Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
Amazing Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
wezzz TOP lah RT @Bankirdonz
Amazing Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
RT @sofwasofwa29: wezzz TOP lah RT @Bankirdonz Amazing Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: A… http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
RT @Bankirdonz: RT @sofwasofwa29: wezzz TOP lah RT @Bankirdonz Amazing Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: A… http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
Awesome set as usual! The first is especially spectacular.
It seems their performance was way later than the one I shot in Montréal. We had them at like 6 or 7 PM. If you ever want to look at mines, I’d sure appreciate your feedback :) http://alexisbc.photoshelter.com/gallery/2010-07-25-Avenged-Sevenfold-live-Heavy-Mtl/G00002IUnJPdu6BI
These are fantastic shots!
As someone who wants to get into music photography, these are amazing examples of what to aim for. Thanks for posting them.
I was courious about avenged sevenfold… There’re a lot of people talking about… Now, after seeing your pics, I say that I really need to know…
One more time, I have to say: TERRIFIC pics!!!
More pictures!! http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/15/photos-avenged-sevenfold-uproar-tour/ http://fb.me/H02xf3ov
fotos do A7X no Pointfest 27, por Todd Owyoung: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
A nova tattoo do Zacky foi revelada. Dá pra ver aqui, de longe: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
RT @teamzackyvbr: A nova tattoo do Zacky foi revelada. Dá pra ver aqui, de longe: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
@arthurfkngates http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/15/photos-avenged-sevenfold-uproar-tour/ aqui a tatuagem dele, de longe tsc ç_ç
@deathbatnews Here's a close-up photo of Zacky Vengence's new tattoo (end notes at the bottom): http://bit.ly/de5Ke8
Todd Owyoung adicionou uma foto onde se pode ver a tattoo nova de perto: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
Love Zack's new tattoo!! http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/15/photos-avenged-sevenfold-uproar-tour/
@Elerinwen To tide you over: RT @toddowyoung Dueling guitars, drum hero Mike Portnoy & pyro – Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
@ladyswagger6 http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/15/photos-avenged-sevenfold-uproar-tour/
Hey, Todd! Been a while since I’ve seen you, and I was hoping you were in the pit kicking some ass with the camera – and indeed you were! Excellent job, my man! I’ve taken a hiatus from Substream (too much other stuff going on), but I have an open invite to return. I knew you would have the best shots of this show. I was out in reserved seating in the center – have to say what an amazing stage they had! I know it was awesome up close, but have to say from a distance it was quite a site to enjoy! GREAT JOB, TODD AS ALWAYS!!!
RT @TeamZackyVBR: fotos do A7X no Pointfest 27, por Todd Owyoung: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
RT @TeamZackyVBR: A nova tattoo do Zacky foi revelada. Dá pra ver aqui, de longe: http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
Hey Mr. Owyoung, what did you do or how did you get to become what you do today, photographing live shows? That must be a DREAM JOB, at least for me it would lol!! I hope you can reply back. And your pics are AMAZING as always!!
Amazing shots <3
Music Photographer Todd Owyoung's Photos of Avenged Sevenfold performing on August 14, 2010 in St. Louis. http://fb.me/FZETIJ4L
????Syn??????????????????Zac?????????????????????????http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
RT @59224kura: ????Syn??????????????????Zac?????????????????????????http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
?????????????????????????????http://ishootshows.com/2010/08/15/photos-avenged-sevenfold-uproar-tour/
OTIMO ADOREI AS FOTOS E OS COMENTARIOS
@taizahaner magiina ;) tem mais fotos do show aqui: http://bit.ly/dgA9SW
Wow, those are amazing pictures! I have a Canon Rebel T1i, but I have the same exact lenses (except they are for Canon). I am seeing A7X on the 27th, and I can’t wait to try them out! I hope I can get just as good of pictures as you have gotten!
Also, did you take these pictures while being in the pit?
Awesome shots man. Makes me pumped to shoot the show in 2 weeks. (August 31)
I love your pics Todd! You capture light very well. I can’t wait to go to Uproar to catch Avenged Sevenfold! There’s an Uproar contest to win free tickets and prize packs. Contest: http://t.co/OdA1IOh
[...] fotógrafo Todd Owyoung publicó fotos de Avenged Sevnefold en el Pointfest 27 y dijo habló sobre Synyster Gates [...]
RT @toddowyoung Photos: Avenged Sevenfold http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
It's been an Avenged Sevenfold kinda evening.(; @toddowyoung http://bit.ly/aNEiCw
[...] Pointfest 27 – 14/08 : Galeria 1 | Galeria 2 | Galeria 3 [...]
[...] I was eager to get a crack at the Black Eyed Peas. Despite a double-header day with a stint out at Pointfest 27 before photographing the Peas, the group’s energy was [...]
Wow, truly amazing. These guys had an insane show in Illinois a couple nights of go. Great job capturing the raw feeling they provided.
Just had to see these photos one more time, don’t remember what they looked like! Been given access last minute for them tonight.
Hey Jim,
Have fun, A7X are great fun live. Catch the times when Zacky and Synyster go up on the riser together, it’s a blast.
Oh, and expect a ton of new visitors when you post the photos – Avenged fans are nuts.
Just come back from it, reading your notes again (like a second ago) I had some strange experiences with the blue and magenta washes as well.
Looks like they’ve used the same stage set up too, very good show, lighting was all over the place. I was told pyro but instead it turned out to be a lot of smoke in it’s place.
Yeah I bet, I’m preparing, met a lot of crazy fans in the night so will be setting up a print gallery.
I’ll tweet you when I get my post up.
espero que sea de tu agrado :B @MrsPlague http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
RT @krlvaloyall: espero que sea de tu agrado :B @MrsPlague http://bit.ly/9IAlfw
todd owyoung Photos: Avenged Sevenfold: http://t.co/WZCACud