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Going to see the bands I love has always been a part of my life force. It's amazing energy - the music, everyone excited to see whatever band/artist is playing... Why not put two loves together to make a new-found passion? Taking pictures at shows is a new experience with the camera. I am used to nature, animal, landscape and architecture photography... high-action photography is a totally new realm. And coupled with the low light, random flashing lights of a concert and its something to get used to.
I started out using the S3. Its terribly noisy at ISOs over 400 and is a mere 6MP. It is easy to carry around, compact and lightweight with a wicked awesome zoom up to 48x. However, it does not deliver very good shots in concert situations. I used it for the Voodoo Glow Skulls and KMFDM shows. For Skinny Puppy, I decided to take the chance and take the 500D with 28-80 lens. For it only being my third concert I photographed, I did okay. I definitely could've used the 75-300 lens or tried to squeeze me and the camera through the crowd and get up front. Practice makes perfect. Going to see another one of my favorite bands, Chimaira, in a few weeks. Still deciding whether or not to bring the camera since it is usually a pretty slamming show (literally). The only way I will is if I know I can get to that section between the stage and the bars that block the crowd where security stands.
I hope you enjoy the pictures. Add me to your devWatch BlueRayne on dA (on deviantArt.com) or friend me in Flickr or on Facebook
Skinny Puppy at Club Firestone
A New Passion in Live Music
Starting out... again
I am finally starting this business and making it strictly photography. Originally Blue Rayne Couture, I was going to create and sell my clothing designs and other wearable art. I incorporated the photography, but it was not the main focus. Trying to learn both the intricacies in clothing design and photography just was a bit more than I could chew. Photography has been my love for far longer. With it, I can capture moments forever.
My interests/hobbies/career interests include photography, clothing design and manufacturing, making jewelry, painting, writing, interior design, sound engineering and music mixing.
Some background: I went to Full Sail for Recording Engineering in 1999 and graduated in 2000. After graduation, I moved to Nashville, where I worked as an intern at Castle Recording Studios. It was a rewarding and equally trying experience. I was young but knew what I wanted. I was offered a paying job (after an initial 2 month internship) at Festival Studios in New Orleans 6 months later. I moved to New Orleans in June 2001. The two month internship at Festival was a dream come true; I felt I was really going to make it in the brutal music world. I had clients interested in my work and felt confident in myself. In mid-August I was "let-go" from the studio with no explanation. The next month was 9/11. Of course, everything changed.
I put down my 35mm SLR photography for a few years until I started my life over in 2005. I started over with college completely to find a stable career type education (currently majoring in Accounting). I got to squeeze in a B&W Darkroom course (my first two classes were in high school). I got back into the art and had some good direction from the person who has always been an inspiration to me in the field of photography - a lifelong family friend and great teacher, Mr. Thompson. Darkroom is amazing - it is sad it's a dying art. I still have the Canon FT my dad passed down to me on my birthday when I was 14. Maybe one day I can afford a darkroom setup.
From 2003 until 2007 I mainly wanted to be a clothing designer. It was one of those things that I kept trying but kept blowing up in my face. I still make clothes but it's not going to be any sort of main bread winner.
And speaking of... into the digital age. In 2007, I got a Canon S3 to do my very first paid wedding shoot. It was a great experience and my first step into something I was always interested in, but like recording, wasn't sure of its viability or my ability. It was a pretty good success. They were super happy about their pictures and that is the ultimate success. I wish I had known my camera better and it was less noisy at 800 ISO, but for a first job - it was great.
(They are so cute.)
This July, I finally bought my first DSLR. XD Canon EOS Rebel T1i.. or a 500D for short.
I love it. I have a few Tamron lens, and some macro and wide angle lenses. It is a good starter kit but more lenses = more versatility.
I am looking into a studio set up and lighting to purchase in the next few months. I just made my business cards and will be ordering them in the next month.
I have also set up a Zazzle.com account and will be working on creating a small store.
There is a PopPhoto Photography workshop in December that I am thinking about attending. It is always good to mingle with the Pro's and get to fellowship with other aspiring professionals.
After the new year, I plan to buy and build my website to advertise my services, show my art, and sell my prints (until that time, prints are available through this blog).
Once I get my lighting equipment and small studio setup, the proverbial doors will be open. From then until January 2011, I will be running a "Grand Opening / Portfolio Building Special". I will post the details then.
My long-term dream is to have a art gallery/boutique/live concert venue/beverage house that hosts art shows and live concerts by night and is a boutique, art gallery and beverage bar (coffee, tea, gourmet drinks, etc.) during the day. Just something I have been dreaming about since high school...
The sky is the limit.
I am thankful to my strong support base and my muses. Without you I am nothing but a mere picture taker.