Photos: Florence + The Machine @ The Pageant

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence + The Machine rocked the Pageant like a force of nature, driven by Florence Welch's soaring vocals and captivating stage presence. From the very first song, the entire, at-capacity audience was simply rapt. All eyes were on the songstress, who wore a brilliant red gown that seemed to draw in every lumen from the balcony spotlights.

This was a show that was amazing to cover as a music photographer, though the allotted shooting time seemed to end all too soon.

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Florence and the Machine performing at the Pageant in St. Louis, Missouri on July 5, 2011. © Todd Owyoung. (Todd Owyoung)

Photographer's Notes:

Cameras Used:

  • Nikon D3
  • Nikon D700

Lenses Used:

This was the first show I was reunited with my Nikon D3, Nikon D700 and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8. Needless to say, it was an epic show to photograph, but not for the gear reunion, but thanks to Florence Welch's spectacular performance and command of the stage.

Shooting for this show was split between the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 and Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, with a tip to the telephoto zoom. However, despite spotlights in the balcony, the Nikon 85mm f/1.4 was clutch as well, as light levels were kept low for the first two songs.

It wasn't really until the third song that the spotlights were really throttled up to bright levels. However, the dimmer lighting of the first two songs did allow for the background lights to factor more heavily into the exposure, and to beautiful effect.

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