Inspired by light

Getting into concert photography has been a way to combine two things I enjoy: music and photography. I’ve learnt a great deal from observing other photographers work, as I try to learn how to capture the essence of a performance, but it’s something I’ve been striving towards. A big part of that has been looking at the work of other concert photographers who’ve been in the industry for some time. Seeing how they approach photography has shaped how I think about my own photos. Jez Pennington’s photography stands out to me for the way he uses light and shadow. His photos make great use of the stage lighting, highlighting the performers while also adding depth with the shadows. Observing how he makes use of these elements has made me, in turn, focus on lighting during shows and how it can create a great photo.

Thom Hall inspires me with his angles and how he captures expressions. His photos always feel like they have a lot of movement, and it’s because he doesn’t stick to one perspective. He gets in close, shoots from different heights, and finds moments to capture the performer’s expression in a photo. It’s made me realize I need to keep moving during shoots and not settle for just one angle. Daniel Macadangdang has inspired me to focus on the bigger picture. His photos capture the whole stage, not just the performer/s. He includes the crowd, the stage, and the atmosphere, which adds an interesting cinematic quality to a photo. It’s inspired me to take a step back sometimes and look at the entire scene instead of just what’s happening on stage.

Christian Sarkine has influenced how I think about editing. His work stands out to me because he focuses on enhancing the colors and bringing out more detail in his shots. Making his work look sharp and vibrant. This is something I’ve been trying to implement and improve on in my own photos. Looking at these photographers’ work has been a big part of how I approach my own. It’s taught me to focus on different elements, like lighting, angles, and the setting, and to think about how they all come together in a photo. There’s always something more to learn or experiment with, and that’s what I’ve been enjoying most.