Lamb of God

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My first "proper" show dropped me in right at the deep end, Lamb of God. One of the great modern metal bands played Dublin's Academy venue on Monday, 9th February 2009. I've shot gigs before but this was the big one, a large venue, security, photo passes, and a very pumped up crowd. When I made the phone call to get the photo pass I was nervous as hell, and when I got it, I couldn't stop smiling for hours. Everyone in work was asking why I was so cheery that day.

Monday night quickly came around and my nerves weren't going away. Add to this my main camera was still giving me hassle, weeks after sending it in for repair. The shutter was lagging, i.e. you'd press it and nothing.....and then suddenly "click". Not very useful when you're hoping to capture that moment that's over in the blink of an eye. So i gaffer taped my remote shutter release to the side of the camera. Sure it was awkard and in the way, but it worked.

Going to gigs is great, the buzz, the atmosphere, the music. But going there to do a job is a different experience. As I walked into the pit at the front of stage, the feeling of forboding grew. I seemed to be in the way of the roadies no matter where I stood. People in the crowd prodded my camera, security men stared.

Before I knew it, the lights dimmed, the crowd screamed in anticipation. And on came Lamb of God, bursting straight into their set with Hourglass. I started shooting, the music became a blur and the sound of the pulsing crowd behind me dimmed to a distant drone. I snapped of a few frames and checked how they were. Rubbish is the only way to describe those first few frames.

After what seemed like only a few seconds, we were being ushered out of the pit at the front of stage. People were starting to crowd surf and push forward, so security thought it wise to evacuate us photographers. Sure it was annoying but it was for our own safety and I respect that. I stood at the side and took a few more shots, slightly better this time.

Everything happens so quickly at a live event, you really have to have your wits about you, and be completely comfortable with your gear and settings. So you shoot a few frames, check the results and adjust if needs be. After a while you'll lock down a good setting and then you're free to shoot away and focus on getting good angles and poses, rather than worrying about shutter speeds and apertures.

I had a pass for the balcony so I decided to head up there to get some more shots, the throng of bodies made it too difficult and dangerous to continue shooting near the stage. It was at this point I realised I really need to save up for a 70-200 mm F2.8. My longest lens was a 50mm which is about 80mm on my Canon 40D. Long but not long enough for frame filling shots. So I took a few wider shots of the stage and then moved round to focus on individual action and band members.

Towards the end of the set I noticed a raised platform to the left of stage, and this was probably the best place to shoot from with my limited focal length. I kept shooting for a few more songs and then put the camera away so I could enjoy the last two or three songs of the evening.

I remember thinking throughout the show that Lamb of God sounded great and had the audience's complete attention and adoration. They really pulled out all the stops and are a fantastic live band. I saw them a few years ago when they supported Slayer in The Point Depot as it was then known, and they were great then too. The relatively small size of The Academy made for a more intimate show though as larger venues I find don't give the band the same connection with the crowd.

Overall I was fairly pleased with my photos, of course there's plenty of room for improvement, but for my first proper event I feel it went pretty well. Now I gotta go sell a Kidney so I can get that 70-200.