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Preview: David Cook @ The Pageant

Todd — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:00:00 +0000

Four images fresh from David Cook’s show at the Pageant tonight, the second stop on his co-headlining tour with Gavin DeGraw and support from Carolina Liar.

Photographer’s Notes:

Cameras Used:

Nikon D3
Nikon D700

Lenses Used:

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8

Please leave a comment if you want to see more images! Full set and the shooting notes coming up soon.

In the meantime, check out images from David Cook’s 2009 tour stop at the Pageant.

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I love how enthusiastic all the David Cook fans are about his shows and photos. As a token of thanks, I’ve made a special discount coupon for all you DC fans. Use “DCFANSARETHEBEST” for 25% off print sales over $25.

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Photos: Fantasia @ The Fox

Todd — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:24:25 +0000

Kicking off the New Year on January 1, 2011, American Idol season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino rocked the Fox with big pipes after Kandi and Eric Benét opened the show.

Photographer’s Notes:

Cameras Used:

Lenses Used:

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Photos: Kris Allen @ The Pageant

Todd — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:01:40 +0000

I love when performers go to the edge of the stage to give fans some love at the start of the show, as Kris Allen did on the big stage of the Pageant. The fans love it, it makes for great images, and it completely changing the show right out of the gate. Kris Allen knows how to work it.

Opening for Lifehouse, the American Idol Season 8 winner threw down a charismatic performance, complete with a production that blew away the headliners for this music photographer.

Photographer’s Notes:

I shot most of this performance at ISO 1000, which is pretty luxurious considering the Pageant is a club venue. However, I will say that this show was an interesting challenge, because Kris Allen’s mic stand was set up at the very edge of the stage. Together with the very narrow pit that was in place, this made for some tough shooting angles.

However, the abundant lighting and Allen’s charismatic performance won out over the small difficulties, and I had a blast shooting the four allotted songs. Looking back, I thought that Kris Allen actually had much better lighting than Lifehouse who headlined, at least during the songs press were allowed to shoot.

Cameras Used:

Lenses Used:

Due to the close proximity, I used the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 almost exclusive for this shoot, switching to the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 for just a few tighter shots.

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Photos: Lee DeWyze, American Idols Live

Todd — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 06:24:12 +0000

Headlining the American Idols Live 2010 tour, season 9 winner Lee DeWyze rocked the Scottrade Center and capped off a night full of big performances from the year’s finalists. As one would expect from the Idol brand, the production on this tour was great, with bright lights and a huge LED wall at the back of the stage.

Photographer’s Notes:

This show was a lot of fun to photograph, in no small part thanks to the stage performance of Lee DeWyze, who rocked with his acoustic guitar under the big lights.

Media photographed the last two songs of Lee’s set, and then the final group medley where the entire ensemble comes back out on stage.

Cameras Used:

Lenses Used:

For this set, I was expecting to use the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 for the majority of my shooting, but it turned out that the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 was the perfect lens for this show. Lee DeWyze came out to the very edge the stage during his performance, which was great for the midrange zoom.

The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 did come into play for the group medley, when individual members of the tour came out at the back of the stage.

End Notes:

Want more Idol? Check out Season 8 contestant Adam Lambert rocking the Pageant on the Glam Nation Tour earlier this month, and photos of David Cook at the Pageant.

Photos: Adam Lambert, Glam Nation Tour

Todd — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:59:51 +0000

Adam Lambert’s “Glam Nation Tour” might as well have been titled “Salacious Delights Tour,” because that’s what the American Idol alum treated fans to in a raucously fun sold-out show at The Pageant. With a full-entourage of dancers, a live band, great production, and a pompadour that would make Elvis jealous, Lambert was a treat to photograph.

Opening up for Lambert was fellow American Idol contestant Allison Iraheta, who came out with blasting rock vocals and her signature violet-red hair.

Photographer’s Notes:

This show was just fun. Even before entering the venue, the spectacle created by the show was spilling well out into the streets, with fans lined up for blocks outside The Pageant.

Photographing Adam Lambert reminded me immediately of the recent shoot for Lady Gaga, in that the atmosphere surrounding the show had a similar electric buzz. Maybe not as many costumed fans, but plenty of dedication and enthusiasm nonetheless. This was definitely a show were people were on their feet, waving glowsticks, and filling the house with a sea of upraised cameras pointed at the stage.

The rules for photographing this show were a front of house shooting position for three songs. I’d loved to have caught of Adam’s costume changes, but song limits these days mean press only get a slice of the show.

Cameras Used:

Lenses Used:

The shooting position for this show was “front of house,” so up-close shots from the front of the stage were out of the question. I would have loved to get some wide-angle shots of the whole stage with Adam rocking out front and center.

I used the Nikon D3 and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 combo for all but a few single wider frames with the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8. The telephoto proved to be great for this shoot. I was situated on a tier just back from the main floor, so luckily there was a little elevation. The issue of people raising there hands was an consideration, but not nearly so bad as at arena or amphitheater soundboard shoots, since I was on a level that was already a good 1-2 feet higher than the general admission floor.

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