Posted by Todd Caudle on September 3, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, last night at the Colorado State Fair. I've seen them in better days (two sold-out shows at McNichols Arena in Denver, playing "Operation: Mindcrime" in its entirety, back in the '90s, for instance), but it was cool to see a once-epic prog-metal band so close to home.
Posted by Morris McClung on September 3, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Too bad we all have to get old, bald, and paunchy.
Excellent shot, TC!
Posted by Bret Edge on September 3, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Nice photo, Todd. Wish I could have seen them with you. I'm actually a big fan of their latest album. Really poignant, intelligent lyrics, solid talent - great stuff.
Posted by Art Escobado on September 3, 2010 at 11:26 PM
It's over. Geoff Tate's opera training is complete, Fat Lady Status achieved!! Ha, I still have the Mindcrime and Empire CDs from highschool. Good stuff.
Posted by John Mumaw on September 3, 2010 at 11:27 PM
Good one!
The out of focus spotlight is a nice addition, too. Mind if I ask what ISO you used?
Posted by Brent Doerzman on September 3, 2010 at 11:35 PM
Cool shot Todd, sadly I've never seen them. Empire is a great album though!
Posted by Stan Rose on September 3, 2010 at 11:35 PM
As a displaced Seattle-ite i'm of course a huge fan. Nice shot--there may be a future for you in this photography thing...
Posted by Pam Colander on September 3, 2010 at 11:39 PM
Cool shot ! It's always a little bit sad when our favorite groups start playing State Fairs. Did you drive there in your new, white Rubicon ?
Posted by Paul DeCesare on September 4, 2010 at 12:35 AM
The horizon is a little tilted and the FG elements are a bit distracting, but overall it has potential... oh, wait, that's his GUT. Sorry, I thought this was a moonrise at Smith Rock...
I remember the days of having my film yanked out by Security when I was shooting at stage level without a pass... what do they do now? Format your card?
Posted by Paul DeCesare on September 4, 2010 at 12:35 AM
BTW Todd, this is an excellent capture.
Posted by Todd Caudle on September 4, 2010 at 9:18 AM
John M., the specs are: 1/250th-sec. @ f5.6, 4000 iso, 400mm with my 100-400mm. Back in the day, my standard settings were 1/250th-sec. @ f2.8 (I had all fast lenses when I shot concerts regularly) using 400 ASA film, sometimes pushed to 800. For some reason I couldn't even get close to that equation with the digicam. At f5.6 I should've been able to shoot at 1600 iso, but it wasn't producing enough light. The noise is pretty noticeable in most shots, but I picked this one to post because I was able to tame it a little better than others.
Paul D., I think in some instances the cameras-at-concerts concept is coming full circle. When I first started out, I amassed a portfolio by camping out at the ticket outlet, getting good seats, then sneaking in my Canon AE-1 camera and 135mm f2.8 lens. For a few years, if you got the camera in, none of the bouncers bothered you as long as you stayed in your seat. Third row center was my home away from home. Over time that changed, to where if you got caught they took your film. (I wouldn't let them have my film til I pulled it out of the canister to destroy it.) But by then I had amassed enough of a portfolio that I was able to use that to go "legit," and shot concerts with press access for over a decade. Now I'm beginning to see rare instances of bands not caring anymore. I figure a lot of that has to do with the ubiquitous cell phone camera. But even at Rush at Red Rocks a few weeks ago, they had signs up saying that small (p&s) cameras were okay. Wish I'd known that before I decided to leave my G9 at home. Would've come in handy from 6th row.
Here's another one from earlier in the show. Same specs except 3200iso. this is also a crop from a horizontal to eliminate the oof band members on the right side of the frame. I'm not home now, and don't have Noise Ninja on my laptop, so I'll work the dark background of these images when I get home in a few days.
Posted by Kurt Bowman on September 4, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Awesome shots Todd! Glad to hear you were able to get your DSLR in the show! Love Queensryche and man....they are looking a bit aged...but aren't we all?
Posted by John De Bord on September 5, 2010 at 7:18 AM
Great band to say the least, everything that they have done is incredible, even going back to their very first LP and the track "The lady wore black"....I remember what a storm "Rage For Order" made when it came out with "Gonna get close to you", and how different it was from anything else out there. In fact.....youtube is always good!
Now here is a bit of interesting info for ya all. Who knew this song was actually....a remake?!?!? Yep it indeed is, the original done by a gal by the name of Lisa Dalbello and you can hear the original version also on youtube (it is maybe even more creepy if that is possible?!?!?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-e-lZekd2Y What a stalker song though, huh?
Posted by Dan Walters on September 6, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Great shots! Really like the second image. Very dramatic!
Discussion
13 repliesExcellent shot, TC!
The out of focus spotlight is a nice addition, too. Mind if I ask what ISO you used?
I remember the days of having my film yanked out by Security when I was shooting at stage level without a pass... what do they do now? Format your card?
Paul D., I think in some instances the cameras-at-concerts concept is coming full circle. When I first started out, I amassed a portfolio by camping out at the ticket outlet, getting good seats, then sneaking in my Canon AE-1 camera and 135mm f2.8 lens. For a few years, if you got the camera in, none of the bouncers bothered you as long as you stayed in your seat. Third row center was my home away from home. Over time that changed, to where if you got caught they took your film. (I wouldn't let them have my film til I pulled it out of the canister to destroy it.) But by then I had amassed enough of a portfolio that I was able to use that to go "legit," and shot concerts with press access for over a decade. Now I'm beginning to see rare instances of bands not caring anymore. I figure a lot of that has to do with the ubiquitous cell phone camera. But even at Rush at Red Rocks a few weeks ago, they had signs up saying that small (p&s) cameras were okay. Wish I'd known that before I decided to leave my G9 at home. Would've come in handy from 6th row.
Here's another one from earlier in the show. Same specs except 3200iso. this is also a crop from a horizontal to eliminate the oof band members on the right side of the frame. I'm not home now, and don't have Noise Ninja on my laptop, so I'll work the dark background of these images when I get home in a few days.
Queensryche-"Gonna get close to you" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZySBT9vBzk
Now here is a bit of interesting info for ya all. Who knew this song was actually....a remake?!?!? Yep it indeed is, the original done by a gal by the name of Lisa Dalbello and you can hear the original version also on youtube (it is maybe even more creepy if that is possible?!?!?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-e-lZekd2Y What a stalker song though, huh?