Kings of Rhythm

[CJR]

At a wedding last night in the Palm House - a large and magnificant greenhouse in Sefton Park, Liverpool. Backdrop was illuminated palm trees, stage/overhead spotlights in various colours, all quite bright. This guy was with his band The Kings of Rhythm.

I liked the way he looked in his white jacket against the darker parts of the background, so decided to make it all black.

30D, ISO 1600, f2.5, 1/100, no flash

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g149/otcathy/General/Wedding_20080223_080copy.jpg

The little lens was great to use :thumbs: Despite the darkness and difficult lighting (or lack thereof), and the fact that I was trying out the flash for the first time, I was pleased with some of my results.

Any C&C appreciated as always.

Thanks.
Cathy

[gibbo]

good shot.

[Brocks]

Nice capture Cathy, Which lens was that?

[CJR]

Oh sorry, I didn't say.

The Nifty Fifty mark II.

Cathy

[CJR]

Thanks Gibbo!

Cathy

[Charlie C]

Have you cut this away from its background to make the bg completely black. I dont really like the plainess of the bg, it makes the singer seem really isolated and not part of a whole.

[CJR]

Hi Charlie

Thanks for your comment. Yes, I did select him, and used levels on the background to make it completely dark. I thought the background was just too bright and distracting in this image, but appreciate your point about it adding context, and in the other colour image below, where the background includes two of the band members and less of the bright lights, I think it works better.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g149/otcathy/General/Wedding_20080223_080.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g149/otcathy/General/Wedding_20080223_080bw.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g149/otcathy/General/Wedding_20080223_089.jpg

WDYT about the b/w conversion?

Cathy

[Pirate Neilsouth]

ooo really like the b&w its like some old 1940's singer!

[CJR]

Thanks Pirate. B/w conversion is still pretty hit and miss, I'm afraid - hue/sat to desaturate, then channel mixer in a rather random fashion, and a bit of dodge and burn. I need to read up on it more to try and understand exactly what the channel mixer is actually doing.

Cathy

[paulc]

I like the first and the B&W conversion too..cant whack the nifty fifty.

[Charlie C]

thanx for posting the one with the bg, i personally prefer it considerably. Partly because it bring context to the image and partly cause stage lighting always looks great.

As for B&W i've recently discovered the channel mixer function in adobe bridge. this works great for my monos.

[sakura]

looks like david knopov - frank sinatra impersonator

the shots with the background are great!

[CJR]

Thanks Charlie and sakura - sorry not to reply sooner, didn't get the email notification that you'd commented. Some of the ones with background work quite well, like this one, others I think have just too much bright glare and colour. The lens was great, now all I need is loads of practice - and to learn how to use the flash properly as well.

B/w conversion - I use channel mixer in PS7 (after desaturating), and some D&B, but it's all pretty hit and miss at the moment!

And yes it is indeed David Knopov. I've emailed him some of the more reasonable images that I took, don't know yet if he's got them or what he thinks.

Cathy

[CJR]

the shots with the background are great!

Just looked at your website.
High praise indeed - :thankyou:

Thanks Paulc also, I haven't had the chance to use the nifty fifty again since, but I have the feeling it'll always be in the camera bag, just in case.

Cathy

[-J-]

Great shots, looks a little noisy from the high ISO, but I doubt that could have been helped. I would have used a 1.4 Aperture (or 1.8 depending on which 50mm you have) and dropped the shutter speed to about 125ish, but hey, thats just because I always shoot live music with a 1.8 and just adjust the shutter speed accordingly.

Great shot though! And I agree about the background...

[CJR]

Thanks J.

It's the f1.8 mark II that I was using. I never even considered using manual :bonk: and in retrospect I should have done, as you advise. Had it on aperture priority.

I assume you don't use flash .. ??

CAthy