Marilyn Manson @ Mayhem Fest

Todd Owyoung·
Music Photography
·1 min read·2898 views

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Headlining the Mayhem Fest 2009 Tour, Marilyn Manson took the stage after Slayer to finish off the day for what was easily the most challenging set to photograph of the entire festival.

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Concert Photos: Marilyn Manson

Photographer's Notes:

Ouch.

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Todd Owyoung

Todd Owyoung is an internationally published music photographer based in New York City. He specializes in music lifestyle, concert, and celebrity portraits. He is proud to be a Nikon Ambassador for Nikon USA.

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37 Responses

  2. Todd, looks like you almost got spit on. It’s ok the drummer from Chickenfoot almost put a drumstick right through my lens an into my eyeball. I almost even got a shot of his reaction when he realized I was standing there. (after he threw the stick). He looked sorry. It would have been a great shot.

    Having captured a released drumstick flying at me would have been almost worth a punctured camera sensor. Almost.

    Reply

    1. Hey Taylor,

      Thanks for the comment. I think that I was pretty clear from Manson spitting out that Bud Light over the crowd and made sure to be off-axis enough to be safe, though I’m sure some of the photogs got sprayed. Concert photography is a dangerous sport.

      Reply

    1. Hey Tasha,

      Thanks for the very kind words. It was pretty brutal to shoot Marilyn Manson at the end of a long day, wasn’t it? Maybe we should be glad that the shooting time was so short.

      Reply

    1. Hey Claudio,

      For me, the biggest challenge for Manson’s set was the relative lack of lighting, Manson’s erratic movements, and his tight mic position. The lighting on Manson came primarily from an array of up-lights in the short ramp at the center. In addition, the time frame of one-song was given for press, which is pretty standard for Manson on his recent tours. I shot for two songs.

      Reply

  5. Even if this were the most challenging set to photograph, you don’t show it in these photos. Great set as always, as always. The first one is superb.

    Reply

  6. I’ll believe you if you say that it was a challenge, but like others have said, it doesn’t show.

    Great pics as usual!

    Reply

  7. This is very timely. Marilyn Manson is playing here this weekend but I’ve heard the horror stories so I didn’t even bother pursuing a photo pass.

    Sorry that you had to deal with his nonsense in person.

    Reply

    1. Hey Clayton,

      Thanks for the comment. I met Marilyn Manson just before this performance and I have to say that he was nothing but perfectly pleasant and professional. At the very least, Manson makes photographers work for their images. When he comes back, I’ll certainly photograph him again. I do like a challenge!

      Reply

  9. You managed quite well despite the darkness. Friends saw him here in Calgary a couple weeks ago and one commented “I’ve never seen so much black in my life”. As usual, stellar work.

    Reply

    1. Hi Doug,

      Nice to hear from you, thanks for the comment. The set really is dark, though my criticisms are simply as a photographer. For fans, this may well be a great show. During the set, there was a good deal more usable light on Andy Gerold and Twiggy at the very start of the set. Their positions had some gelled uplights that were on a little more constantly, and their playing positions made it a bit easier.

      Reply

  10. As usual, awesome set! I really appreciate that you are sharing the insider info on your shooting. Really inspiring!

    With performers like Manson who are usually all over the stage and full of energy do you usually burst your shots (using the hi frame rate mode) on the D3?

    And quick follow up, have you updated your D3 buffer to get more frames in before the buffer is full or is the stock buffer + UDMA cards sufficient?

    Reply

    1. Hey Mike,

      Thanks for the comment. I’m glad to share what info I can, though for this set, I’d just say stay on your toes and meter very, very carefully.

      I did shoot a lot during this set, but even with spare bursting the output was pretty small, as the moments when doing so were very limited due to lighting. I never go the buffer of my D3 upgraded, I find that UDMA-enabled cards work beautifully. I very, very rarely ever bounce an image due to a full buffer. For all reasonable concert shooting, the original D3’s buffer is fine.

      Reply

  11. Your shootings are really good ! You seem to have some great lights on each of the shows you’re shooting :) It’s a real motivation to see your work for the young live photographer I am.

    Reply

    1. Hey Eddy,

      Thanks for the comment, always nice to hear from photographers who are starting out. I must assure you, the lighting for this set is nothing that I’d call great. But if there are only 10 seconds of great light in a song, all you have to do is shoot during those 10 seconds to show people what looks like a fantastic production – 1/250 at a time (or whatever your shutter speed may be).

      Reply

  12. To be more specific, I’m surprised by what seems to be some white (or nearly) light on the artists.
    A good example is the last picture, we can even see some light reflecting in Manson’s eyes.

    Reply

    1. Eddy,

      Thanks for the clarification. I generally prefer white light when possible (it’s not always available), so what you see here is an editorialized account of the actual stage production. I actually just touched on this in the shooting notes for Franz Ferdinand.

      Reply

  13. Okay, so it was on the same stage ! Know I understand.
    But even so, you have a LOT of good shots like this pic I was talking about. I find it hard to get that good photos on every show.

    Thanks for sharing your work by the way.

    Reply

    1. Eddy,

      Consistency is really key with concert photography. Personally, I think it’s simple to work to get that one killer shot at an event. It’s much harder to deliver a full set of killer shots, but that’s always a goal.

      Reply

    1. Hi Alexis,

      Thanks for the comment. Good luck with Marilyn Manson. Stay on your toes and you’ll be fine. If I can offer any advice, it would be to not worry about overexposing Manson’s face, which is so pale that it’s going to be difficult anyway as far as metering goes.

      I shot for two songs. The standard was one song for everyone else.

      Reply

  16. Very cool. Being new to music photography I’m quite inspired learning how you get through the challenges of rock/metal shows and still come out with “the shot.” I’m usually in the mosh pit running in circles with my camera. Its hard for me to choose, photo/headbang/photo? At least Manson’s not as brutal or masochistic as the days of Antichrist Superstar. Otherwise I’m sure you’d be avoiding a lot more than spat budlight. Thanks for sharing the awesomeness!!!

    Reply

  18. Todd,

    excellent photo`s!

    Weren`t you afraid to get infected by the mexican flue? I read that Marilyn is already infected, I don`t know what he is doing at picture 4, but I hope you were at enough distance!

    Cheers

    Reply

  20. Same thing here, I shot Manson a few days ago in Montreal, 1 song only, horrible lights and…yeah… Ouch is THE proper word.
    Alexis, I saw your pix and you’re lucky, you have more than 10 good pics…I have like 5 “good” ones…
    Todd, your work is totally extraordinary…how did you manage to get 2 songs whereas everybody else got only one? Lucky you :)

    Reply

  21. Lauren,

    I was shooting with an all access pass and so I was cleared to photograph all the bands for their entire set. Manson was the one exception – AA for him meant only one extra song!

    Thanks for the comment.

    Reply

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