Welcome to "Your Story", an exciting series where the spotlight is on you, our vibrant community! In this series, we invite you to share your unique experiences, heartfelt anecdotes, and personal reflections on a variety of compelling topics. This months topic was "What Makes A Good Live Photo For You" and here are your stories!
Cody aka 333Visuals
Obviously, to point out the obvious, venue and lighting play a huge role in this as every venue is different, some venues have incredible lighting, and others, not so much e.g, if my worst photo i have ever taken was in a different venue, it could easily be one of my best.
For me personally, movement is key for me, i cannot stand it when i turn up at a concert and the artist stays center stage, with their hands around the mic and that its for the full shoot, it doesn't do anything for me and when it comes to editing, i struggle to find ''the one'', therefore, when an artist / band are bouncing around the stage, i know that the images i have taken are going to have character, this also plays into the character the artist portrays whilst on stage.
Secondly, when the artist interacts with the crowd! I guess that falls back to movement, but ultimately, I find that when the artists jump into the photo pit or jump into the crowd, there is so much emotion going on around them, it creates stunning stills with crowd interaction!
Then of course, lots and lots of pyro.. everybody loves pyro.. When you capture a still image of the above combined, it adds such a unique feel to images, especially if the photo pit is full, everybody's image is going to be slightly different.
For me, that's what makes a good live photo!
Chux On Tour Photography
For me, the essence of a great live photo lies in closeness. While wide shots can be very (!) impressive, it's the up-close moments that truly resonate with me in my own photos. When the artist fills the frame, you can feel their presence, the intensity of their performance, and the emotions they're conveying.
These close-up shots create a sense of intimacy, allowing viewers to connect with the artist on a personal level. I also prefer a clean, uncluttered background. By keeping the focus on the artist and minimizing distractions in the frame, the image becomes more powerful. By focusing on the artist up close, I aim to capture not just the image, but the feeling of the moment.
Hanane Zahrouni
Personally, capturing a great live music photograph is all about understanding dynamics and implementing candid storytelling with artistic vision. I love getting to know artists as their authentic selves, and documenting moments by reflecting them behind the scenes combined with the chaos and energy they bring to the stage. That includes their interaction with both the camera (me) and the crowd - which without them, live music would not exist.
Red Schomburg
Capturing a fantastic live photo is like making music: it's all about nailing the perfect timing. Just like musicians anticipate section changes and pick up cues from each other, the best music photographers have a keen sense of timing and knowing how to anticipate and follow musical cues.
Lex aka Poisonous Culture
For me, what makes a good live music photo is when the image captures what it’s like to be at the show. I love it when photographers take shots back in the crowd or wider images that show the energy of the artist and the crowd together. When I see shots like that, it makes me want to see the artist live so I can also experience that for myself.
The photo I shared is an image I captured at one of The Runts’ final shows in February 2024 at the Lodge Room in Highland Park, CA. The image is of the band Big Boy, and it is hands down one of my favorite images I have captured to date. The energy Big Boy brought to the stage was intoxicating and I feel this image shows just that. It was so cool to be part of such a memorable night and will always be a show that I remember.
Denise Johnson
What makes a good live photo for me is being able to capture that one moment. I prefer candid in the moment shots.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORIES!
Stay tuned, the next topic
will be announced later this month!