Baker Was Here

If I learned anything about working as a photojournalist with a niche publication, it is that I probably shouldn’t do it. I realized that ethically I do not think I am ready to work with musicians.

How do you be a fan and a critic at the same time?

How do you build a repertoire with a group in order to take pictures of them all day, week, year, and not become friends with them?

How do you work an assignment with them an not drink?!

Well…that last one is probably easier than the other two. A) Because I might have a strokey-stroke, and B) Because I create awesome images like this…

A bit hot, weird angles, drunk kids, and I only photograph Matt after a few drinks, so I guess that really says it all.

Anyways, besides the pathetic ethical dilemma I carry with me to this day that I constructed while at my internship at the end of last year, I was also able to do a pretty decent photostory of the Denver band Air Dubai. Obviously, because of this,  I have become decent friends with them (or at least I’d like to believe this). This friendship is why I knew about their “secret” house party show last weekend with My Body Sings Electric, Water Babys, and Force Publique.

*Not really secret - they posted about it on Facebook, so maybe I’m more of a FB creep than a friend. Hahha…

Well, the place was pretty packed, pretty tight, and I lost my pretty date (mi amiga Lindsay) to some model/entrepreneur/hottie-mc-hot-hots outside, so I took to my camera and tried not to get in anyone’s way for too long.

I hate blocking people’s view, so I stayed close to the ground.

But I did get to actually practice bouncing my light in a performance setting. Different from my Petals of Spain experience, the light flooded the room nicely. The only problems I had was focusing. When you’re in a low-light setting like this was, AND your subjects are moving around quickly, your auto-focus can really stuggle. But if you’re super smart like me and never wear your contacts, you just have to fight through it and look for those shots.

Another thing when shooting in low light/bouncing flash, make sure your flash is in the proper position when you change vertical/horizontal compositions.

Other wise you’ll bounce the light in a pointless way…

Or you straight-up flash your subject too much…

Well, that’s about all I really have to say about that. If you ever have a chance, definitely check out Air Dubai, MBSE, Water Babys and Force Publique…especially if their house shows! These kids are too talented and too much fun!

Love,

Ah. What seems like years later I get back into blogging. Vacations obviously put me in a multi-week rut when it comes to getting my stuff done. At least on the bright side I have a pretty good job opportunity in the near future!

So. Anyways - my friends with Petals of Spain were gracious enough to get me in to get me into the Battle of the Bands show for a spot performing at Global Dance Festival! Great cause to go and support my friends and also to see a number of local acts I’ve never seen before. Plus, it was my first opportunity to photograph at City Hall - a multi-story venue on Broadway that provides tons of space for fans….but unfortunate lighting.

However…looking to the bright side…and the purpose of writing this blog…I got the chance to practice using my flash.

For me, this was nerve-wracking. Normally when you shoot bands, you’re not even allowed to use flash. However, when it is as dark as it was, one must take a risk to blind the performers and get kicked out in order to have those images.

So when you use flash while shooting manual, and you don’t have a light meter with you, you’re pretty much doing a hit and miss with your exposure. Or at least, that’s what I do. Fail.

When using flash I normally always try to bounce the light off the ceiling to provide a nice overall exposure, or, if possible, a side wall. Yet to do this successfully one must have a white wall/ceiling to bounce off of. This was not the case here so I had to use direct exposure on my subjects.

I also didn’t have a diffuser for my speedlight. Therefore, my next best option was to try to balance the ambient light as best I could with the flash. In the above image this allowed me to capture both the performers and their glow-in-the-dark glasses.

Another reason I dislike using flash is that you tend to be very much aware of everything else going on in the background and on stage…which for me tends to lead me to focusing in on one performer in particular. In this case it was the Wesley show.

I did the best I could in the situation I was given but when it came down to it, it didn’t really matter because I was there for my friends and enjoying their music - which I definitely did.

Enjoy! And definitely check out Petals of Spain at one of their shows or at the Underground Music Showcase on July 23!

Love,

Well, it seems as if this will be the summer of seeing artist’s I have been attempting to see live for YEARS! Score!

Anyways - I attempted for awhile to unsuccessfully get a photo/press pass for the Jack’s Mannequin show. Well, it didn’t work out like I wanted, so mi amigo, Johnny, and I just did the old fashion thing…buy tickets and sneak my gear in.

Note: I hate doing that. I don’t like breaking rules and try to be nice all the time. But when I realized how friggin’ easy it was to do…I was majorly mad I didn’t bring all my gear. They didn’t even search my bag, so thank you to the Aggie Theater for not punishing me for owning nice things (as I would have phrased it if they ask questions) :D

For that reason, (and for the fact that I’ve never met such RUDE fans in my life) these photos, in my opinion, kinda suck.

Hokay, so I understand that when you go to a show you pay to have a good time and to see a band. You don’t want people smushing you and being an a-hole, dumping their beer on you and getting their big head in your way, taking a million photos and videos with their iPhones…

Another note: This concert was apparently only for people who were incredibly tall. I mean, at 5’10” I’m usually okay, but it was like all the tall people in Fort Collins decided to come out from under their rocks to this show. I was very shocked to say the least.

…but that being said, (and I mean this in the nicest, least pretentious, least bitchy way possible) when there is no pit for me to shoot from and I’m working…please don’t put your pudgy arm in my way, tell me I’m too tall and be a complete jerk to me.

First of all, this is my job (and I will get chewed out if YOU prevent me from doing it well so please have a little common courtesy). Second, I am trying to be as respectful as possible to your experience - I’ll be in and out in like 30 sec…TOPS…you have the entire 75 min. set. I think that’s fair, but hey, maybe I’m asking to much.

Thus, most of my pictures are slightly out of focus, have heads in the way, and are framed really funny. I was honestly blind shooting most of the time. When some people saw that I was trying to get some shots in they let me sneak in for a bit, but this was 3-4 rows back so I just put my arm up to try to get something without a head in it.

All I can say is THANK GOODNESS I didn’t pitch this as an assignment to any publication. The photos suck and I would have cried if I had to fight with more people. But hey, at least I got some shots in, right?

Don’t get me wrong. I loved the show (though Jack’s came on at 9pm which was really early to me I thought so that was kind of weird). I loved seeing them perform…after at least 3 years of trying to find dates/tix. Andrew McMahon is such an incredible performer…which is why I was so bummed I didn’t get better shots.

So I guess I’ll just have to wait for them to come back and hope for a venue with a pit and a press pass for me. It’s a hard life man. :D

Love,

I technically graduated college on Friday at 1:15p.m. when I got done when I finished my last college final. So how do I celebrate? Free concert with two of my favorite bands - Anarbor and Forever the Sickest Kids. Holla.

Down at the Southwest Plaza Mall, Zumiez Couch Tour brought out local skaters for competition as well as had demos from skating team Fallen. After about 4 hours of skating, the event also boasted a free concert featuring Anarbor and FTSK….which is why I originally came.

However, I was pleased to find interest in shooting skaters.

There is something odd about their body movements that I’m not used to…and I liked it. So I had a great time finding some crazy looking shots

…and a very hard time finding a clean background.

I was lucky enough to even get these shot because of this guy…in the blue…

…the wonderful VideoMatt.

He hooked my up last summer with a press pass to Warped Tour and keeps helping me out. The tour didn’t have a press contact so I was a little panicked I wasn’t going to get any good access - until I ran into Matt and he hooked me up. Swoon <3 Thanks dude.

Anyways…the crowd was pumped (as was I because there was a pit and I therefore didn’t have to fight all of the 13 year-olds for a spot to shoot). The kids were ready for some Anarbor…as was I…

I’m pretty sure I get the same photo of Mike every time I shoot him…his hair is just so hypnotizing. As was this guy…who I believe is their tour manager? Don’t take my word on that, but I will say that I never thought I would see someone wail harder on an instrument than a drummer…until this guy.

Kind of insane.

In other news - the boys were moshing…

and the girls were in love…

All for these dudes.

I was quite captivated by the intense emotion their lead singer, Jonathan Cook. He had me quite distracted most of the time due to his facial expressions.

But what I loved most was the sincerity in his voice and actions to the crowd. Nowadays a lot of people, including myself, take things for granted. These kids though, they seem thankful for everyday…and it was inspiring.

Well, I guess that’s it for this post. Check out both these bands when they roll through town next - they’re always a good time! Here are some more images from the day! Enjoy!

Refer to my original blog, Underdog Photography.

The original idea for “Baker Was Here” was for a music photography blog about musicians that roll through Colorado, the experience, and tips about shooting in venues. Myself and my friend Chase Baker (no, we are not related) are both interested in music photography so after we both stopped shooting photos for our college newspaper we decided we should start a blog.

…but then I graduated and that idea went down the tubes.

Therefore, I’m making this one to separate my commercial work from my music imagery. It’s kind of like a professional (UD) and recreational (BWH) separation. I usually don’t get paid for my music stuff so it has become more of a hobby now. Plus I can shoot for a story/experience of the show and talk about format each post to specific topics.

…and if you really love me you can just hire me :)

Love,