Shot this band portrait of the Kern River Band, appropriately enough from Kernville, Ca. near Lake Isabella. Shot on the dobro player's 380 acre ranch, which all pretty much looked like this. This location was chosen because it more shaded from the wind than anywhere else, but did take low range 4WD to get there. Lit with a Balcar A1200 into a Chimera medium powered by a Yamaha 2K inverter. Not only are these musicians great musicians with some of the best harmonies I've heard anywhere, they all look like they were cast for the part of playing in an old timey western band. Duke took direction surprisingly well, looking pretty much wherever I told him to. This was one of those situations where I would have preferred a higher sync speed, but it all worked out at 1/200th and f/11. The highlight recovery in C1 is so great because it's really restricted to the highlights and doesn't contaminate the mids hardly at all.
John - Yes, we tried almost every configuration possible. Also, Kat, the bandleader, in the back right, didn't want to be in front. This was the the arrangement that worked best with that that location. Plus, you have to move pretty fast working with both flash and sun. There are always things you might want to do differently in hindsight, but I'm pretty happy with it the way it is, and they are beyond happy.
Hi Peter, you definitely knocked this one out! It's tough to light and compose such that all 6 band members are flattered, and it looks like you nailed it. Well done!
The band leader appears to be a fairly small person. Because of her placement, it appears that she's farther back, almost an after-thought, than she really is. That's only a nit-picky comment, and I'll trust that if you say you tried every configuration possible then this truly is the best arrangement for your and the band's concept.
Hi Peter, small world we live in at times. Those are all friends of mine and I complimented them heavily when that picture showed up on their FB page. I told them their photographer did a very good job. I'm a bit of a photo snob too, so high praise rarely comes from me. But dang, you seriously did this one right. 100% professional work.
forreal - thanks - then you know just what great people they are and how good they sound. Kat and I have been friends for about ten years now. Maybe you knew Barry Tessman when he was still alive. For me, it helps a lot when I like both the people and the music. This band clearly loves what they do - and Terry, the dobro player, as opposed to Terry the guitar player, builds handmade ukes in his garage. Beautiful instruments.
Yeah, both of those guys are amazing, and all of them really. I've known Terry (who's property you did the shoot on, in fact, I live right on the other side of that hill, ) for over 20 years, probably close to 30 now. These are some really great folks and they sound amazing. I'm glad pro photographer did them justice, as you certainly did.
You're too kind. I think Terry mentioned you while we were out there. It's a great little community you all have there and I love going there whenever I can.
What a sweet shot, Peter. Well done. I'd have probably never thought to go this wide but the landscape and sky adds so much to the flavor and beauty of the image. I hope they bought the beer on the trip home.
Thanks Chuck. I was a little surprised to find myself at 24mm too, but it really put them "in" that location. I was also had to have the camera low enough to push the hats over the horizon, which put me the precarious position of having the camera too low to lean to and too high for sitting on a strobe case, so my quads got a good workout doing half squats. We were going to go to the Brew Pub in Kernville after but it was too packed so we all ate Italian and then had the 3-1/2 drive back to L.A.
Peter Figen wrote:
...I was also had to have the camera low enough to push the hats over the horizon, which put me the precarious position of having the camera too low to lean to and too high for sitting on a strobe case, so my quads got a good workout doing half squats...
I hear you. I've started referring to shutter speed multipliers in terms of how physically demanding a session is going to be and as a result how likely I am to be a quivering mass of spastic me. It's sort of the look of being electrocuted without the fun light show.
Chuck - I'm getting back into it, but I'm still recovering from bilateral total knee replacement, so I really do feel more than I ever used to. But I really don't notice anything 'til after the shoot's done but then I really do feel it.
4ever - I'm not disagreeing with you about seeing Kat more, but she was really more than okay being there. There are always compromises you make when shooting groups of people and even more when you've got a limited amount of light. Chris, the bass player had no problem schlepping that up there. That's the second time I've shot her with that instrument (she and Kat the guitar player both play in a Celtic band out of Bakersfield) and that bass photographs so well. At least we didn't run into any snakes that day.
) for over 20 years, probably close to 30 now. These are some really great folks and they sound amazing. I'm glad pro photographer did them justice, as you certainly did.