A Legend.

I knew going into a Bob Dylan concert not to expect much, as the reviews over the years have gotten worse and worse. I’m not going to say that it was a life changing experience. 99.9% of his set were songs I was unfamiliar with, I had heard of two before and knew the words to only one (Like a Rolling Stone). I don’t consider myself to be a hardcore fan of Mr.Dylan however I do know more than the normal amount of Songs. I was slightly dissapointed. I understand the man has been at this for fourty odd years, but he just walked out on stage in front of his keyboard and thats where he stayed the whole show. He did not say ‘Hello St.John’s’ nothing. The only words out of his mouth were just after the encore introducing his band and saying good night.

All in all it was amazing to see a living legend on stage in Newfoundland, and it’s something I’m glad to say I did. He put off a stellar performance though, and dispite the rumblings that you can’t understand a word he is saying, he was quite clear with his songs and they sound just like they’re off of a CD.

Now the picture taking was tricky. No cameras were permitted so I was very coy in getting my Canon Powershot A720 IS into the stadium. I managed a few shots before I was told to put it away (unlike the people around me I knew to turn off the flash, bump the ISO and the camera has manual aperture and shutter speed settings so I was good to go!). Then during the encore the security asked me and my friend if we would like to go up front to dance and we did, that’s where I got my best shots to. They stopped caring about cameras at that point I think.

Was it a tad dissapointing – yes. Would I do it again – yes.

Sign on the dotted line.. for qotsa.

Last night I had the pleasure of shooting the amazingly tight and talented Queens of the Stone Age. What.A.Show. The lighting, sound, everything was superb.. minus the drunken idiots that come with Molson Canadian Rocks shows that are win to get in. We all know 90% of the people there were there for cheap booze and a free show. I heard too many people joking with their friends around them “Hey Bob, name at least ONE Queens song?” and then Bob would say “none by’” while sipping from his 2 for 5 beer.

I had to sign a waiver transferring my copyright over to qotsa and their management, which other photographers in the past have refused to sign. If they would have read the fine print you can write and ask for permission to use for portfolio use, and the paper you’re working for can use them. It was intense, as it always is when you have three songs to get perfect photos. I’m physically and mentally exhausted as soon as qotsa got off stage, I ran across the road to club one and shot two hours of Queen’s Maid. Tonight I shot Queen’s Maid and the Novaks. This is one tired concert photographer.
I leave you with some photos. Up next? Bob Dylan for me, but lack of media you won’t see many photos from that.