KINETIKEN Kenan-John Moolman
Journal

Live music Performance session with a 70-200 f2.8

Published

  • Photography
  • Bands

This'll be a shorter Journal entry, but I just had to talk about this gig I went to. I messaged one of the bands and luckily for me, their photographer pulled out last minute. I had just got the 70-200 f2.8 and desperately wanted to try it out at a gig like this. Now they didn't have much of a budget to pay me with, so when it came time to editing the photos, I didn't.

A singer performs between two guitarists under blue and pink stage lights

I had other photoshoots to prioritise, and the JPEG’s straight out of my R6ii looked incredible already. So great in fact, that one of the bands posted their pictures almost immediately. This gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

A guitarist in a blue shirt plays an electric guitar under pink stage lighting A guitarist in a blue shirt plays an electric guitar under pink stage lighting A guitarist in a blue shirt plays an electric guitar under pink stage lighting

A guitarist plays an electric guitar under red and blue stage lighting Two guitarists perform at different depths under blue and purple stage lighting A singer leans towards a microphone under blue stage lighting

A guitarist stands beneath coloured lights in front of the venue backdrop A guitarist stands beneath coloured lights in front of the venue backdrop A guitarist stands beneath coloured lights in front of the venue backdrop

A curly-haired guitarist plays beside a microphone under red and blue stage lights A curly-haired guitarist plays beside a microphone under red and blue stage lights A curly-haired guitarist plays beside a microphone under red and blue stage lights

A guitarist plays an electric guitar in deep blue stage lighting A guitarist plays an electric guitar in deep blue stage lighting

A drummer in a white shirt plays beneath pink and purple stage lights A drummer in a white shirt plays beneath pink and purple stage lights A drummer in a white shirt plays beneath pink and purple stage lights A drummer in a white shirt plays beneath pink and purple stage lights

One thing I learned from this shoot, is to use manual ISO more. My camera consistently overexposed the scene at the start of the night, so I switched to manual and left it around 3200. This was great for capturing the awesome lighting and colors at the venue. I shot with the 70-200 all night which really let me get up close and personal with the artists, and I think they loved the photos in the end.

A singer in a white shirt holds a microphone under red and blue stage lighting A singer in a white shirt holds a microphone under red and blue stage lighting A singer in a white shirt holds a microphone under red and blue stage lighting

A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink stage lighting

A guitarist performs in front of the drum kit under purple stage lighting A guitarist performs in front of the drum kit under purple stage lighting A guitarist performs in front of the drum kit under purple stage lighting

A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink and blue stage lights A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink and blue stage lights A singer in a backwards cap sings into a microphone under pink and blue stage lights

A guitarist plays beside the drum kit under blue and green stage lighting A guitarist plays beside the drum kit under blue and green stage lighting A guitarist plays beside the drum kit under blue and green stage lighting

A guitarist leans over an electric guitar under blue stage lighting A performer looks across the dark stage under blue and pink lights A performer looks across the dark stage under blue and pink lights A performer looks across the dark stage under blue and pink lights

A guitarist plays in front of the drum kit under blue stage lighting A guitarist plays in front of the drum kit under blue stage lighting A guitarist plays in front of the drum kit under blue stage lighting

A singer in a backwards cap holds a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap holds a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap holds a microphone under pink stage lighting

A singer grips the microphone under blue and pink stage lighting A singer grips the microphone under blue and pink stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap holds a microphone under red and blue stage lighting A singer in a backwards cap holds a microphone under blue stage lighting

A drummer in a black sleeveless shirt plays under purple stage lighting A drummer in a black sleeveless shirt plays under purple stage lighting A drummer in a black sleeveless shirt plays under purple stage lighting

This night really was a blur. I loved the music and the atmosphere. I really got into the zone with the photography. I felt no pressure to do well, so all I focused on what the artistic expression. And I think I nailed it on the head. I shot in burst mode a lot too, which I’ve intentionally left in, so you can see the progress towards the best image in a set.

Band members perform together in front of the venue backdrop under coloured lights Band members perform together in front of the venue backdrop under coloured lights Band members perform together in front of the venue backdrop under coloured lights

Band members perform together in front of the venue backdrop under coloured lights Band members perform together in front of the venue backdrop under coloured lights

A close-up of a musician playing an acoustic guitar against blurred pink stage lights A close-up of a musician playing an acoustic guitar against blurred pink stage lights A close-up of a musician playing an acoustic guitar against blurred pink stage lights

A singer plays an acoustic guitar at a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer plays an acoustic guitar at a microphone under pink stage lighting A singer plays an acoustic guitar at a microphone under pink stage lighting

A guitarist looks down at an electric guitar under pink stage lights A guitarist looks down at an electric guitar under pink stage lights A guitarist looks down at an electric guitar under pink stage lights

A drummer performs behind a guitarist under blue stage lighting A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting

A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting A smiling drummer plays behind a guitarist under blue and purple stage lighting