I have a unique opportunity to photograph an ongoing series of live radio and TV broadcasts of a local radio show featuring jazz musicians. The format is a standard talk show set with desk and chairs, and a portion of the small stage is available for the musician to perform. These are often big name jazz artists, so it's a pretty amazing opportunity to get this kind of access. The set is lit for television, so it's broad, but essentially flat, and the good shooting angles are (as you might guess) occupied by TV crews. I've shot at this location a dozen or so times, and my shots have begun to take on a consistent (read: repetitive) look.
So I've begun to look for different ways of finding, seeing, and conveying these artists. Getting low and shooting into the wings. Looking for the artist's expression and feeling, not just the most exciting moment (though that's also good). Different processing to bring out a mood, whether energetic or introspective.
Here's a recent sample. This is Eric Darius. He filled in for another artist at the last minute, who came down with the flu and couldn't perform. Eric blew the roof off the place. The crowd went nuts. But this treatment shows another, more inwardly-focused aspect. I'd like to know what you think.
Hey Steve, this is where you take things to a different level. Instead of sitting back and doing what's safe, shooting the same ol same ol, you're looking for new angles and finding ways to express the emotion. I have no clue what you've done with this processing but it's got a very very cool vibe to it. I just love how you used the light here. Great job! Game-winner all the way!
I love everything about this image but the spot that almost looks like a sixth finger. What is that?
Wow, good catch! I didn't see that until you pointed it out. Behind Eric is a grand piano with the top raised up. The spot you see is actually a reflection on the leading edge of the piano top. There's quite a bit of visual clutter back there in the original. This little reflection is one I missed. Thanks for pointing it out.
Exactly. For the last two or three of these performances, I've been looking carefully for moments where the artist is oblivious to the audience, and is totally absorbed in the music. You have to be mindful of when these moments are likely to occur, and be ready for them. I literally stumbled on this idea a few months back, when shooting another performer. I shot a burst of the last notes of a song, and the last frame was just such a moment. It was the best of that particular series of shots. Since then, I've found them much more frequently, not just in the final notes of a song.
