The year draws to a close, so here it is in review! I didn’t shoot nearly as much this year, because maybe there wasn’t a lot to cover, or I felt a bit reluctant to shoot smaller shows. However, there’s tonnes on the way for next year already, so I hope to cover more then!
January
The year started with the massive Kerrang! Tour with Mindless Self Indulgence (above), Bring Me The Horizon and Dir en grey – resulting in some of my most popular photos. This was the first time I used my Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 to good and bad use, with little experience I managed to miss opportunities but capture some great ones by accident. I also covered innerpartysystem, Middle Class Rut and My Passion at Cardiff Barfly with a flashgun and photo pit – my first experience with flash. Although determined not to use flash, I caved in when I knew there was no other option with gigs like that. Here’s a sample of innerpartysystem:
February
Only three gigs in February: Caesars Rome in Barfly, Stray Borders’ last show in Dempseys and Reel Big Fish in the Student’s Union (with Suburban Legends above). A flashless month after last, a lot of practice with low light with my Sigma.
March
Only one gig in March! F***ed up and Rolo Tomassi (above) was another practice in flash, and realising my sub-par equipment was not nearly as fast enough to capture everything. A good experience in punk rock though.
April
What on earth was I doing in April? Only one more gig, and yet another practice in low light with the Sigma.
May
One gig again in May, although triumphant with tonnes of shots at My Passion being of great quality. Probably had something to do with amazing poses, amazing lighting and a lot of new experience with low light and flash.
June
One gig in Buffalo Bar in very low light with my Canon 50mm f/1.8 being put to use.
July
Finally! Something massive. Covering Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction in the Manchester Evening News Arena was brilliant. You can see the results in an earlier entry. However, here’s the other gig I did in July with Athena. Flash and trail lights galore.
August
Only one gig covered, but a big one in Under Construction Festival. Loads of light was difficult in comparison to what I normally have! Enjoyable all the same though. Here Lies The Enemy headlined the day and kicked ass.
Nothing in September!
October
A massively busy month in comparison with the rest of the year! P.O.S. in Bristol, Noisettes in the Great Hall, another Athena gig, and finally the brilliant chance to cover Swn Festival ending in The Gate with Los Campesinos! and Dananananaykroyd (above).
November
Enter the flashgun! Finally acquired a Canon 430EXII to really rip the shreds out of low light and to capture the quickest of movements. Put to use only once this year with a gig in Barfly (Shame!) and Evilive above. I also covered Rise Against, Thursday and Poison the Well in the Great Hall (on my own in the photo pit, weird).
December
Only one gig covered in December, but what a gig! Finally managing to crack the CIA in Cardiff I covered Paramore. This year finally set me up on a professional level with not the multitude, but the magnitude of gigs I covered. Roll on 2010!
Favourite photo of 2009:
P.O.S. in Fiddler’s Club, Bristol – 2nd October
I don’t know what it is, but something about this photo makes me love it. It’s now my business card, so everyone who I introduce myself to can see it. An amazingly challenging but rewarding gig to cover.
Favourite gig of 2009:
Without a doubt, Nine Inch Nails. Definitely enjoyed The O2 more (as I wasn’t working!) but to cover my favourite band was an amazing experience.
Greatest achievement of 2009:
Finally cracking open the seemingly impossible Live Nation venue of the CIA with Paramore.
What you like to achieve in 2010:
More promos, more flash, more photo pits, bigger bands, better photos. And who knows, maybe publication?
