Hi all

We now seem to finally have a "permanent" drummer, so it was time to get new shots for the website done. I know some of you (Bob) had good input on the last patch we did in summer.

This time, all artificial light in the cellar of my apartment building. Much more convenient to work with than sunlight.

The group shot and the first two singles are edited to finish, my own picture and the last one (drummer) still need some work. I'm a bit out of ideas how to spice them up, to be honest. Star of the single shots - yet again - is the Guitar player (on the very right). That guy is just lucky I always get his light and angles right, and I really like the color grading on that one.

BTW, anyone got an idea why saving for web in Photoshop raises the brightness? I had to move down 15 points from the normal edit and then save to get about the same level of dark black, otherwise the final JPG comes out much brighter than the photoshop preview. It's possible I actually over corrected before saving and the shots are now a bit too dark.











Thanks for your feedback and help in making us look prettier

The single shots are ok, but the group picture looks soo setup.. In fact, looks like you are mocking everyone else Just get an live stage shot and move on. It's the music that will sell.

Hmm, interesting input. I can see how that effect comes out, now that you mention it.

Problem with live stage shots is that for some time to come we will not have any pretty lighted stages or decent looking locations to play at. And I'd need a good photographer able to take low-light concert shots, which I don't have access too.

So I don't yet see how we can avoid the "staged" part of the shots, the only other current option would be bad "compact" digicam pics from ugly locations and I believe good presentation is as important as good music for a band.

Here comes my "everyman" observations. Take them as you will.

First, everything is too dark. Dark shirts, dark pants, dark background, dark hair, you name it. Some of the individual shots are good, some are so dark I can't see anything. Everyone seems to have a different view. Some are happy, some are not, some are in between. I'd rather see everyone on the same page so to speak.

The background. Well, it looks like a prison cell to my eyes. Nothing exciting, nothing different, just bars. Don't care for that. I know the focus is on the band, but if you look at exciting band covers, the background is always exciting. This isn't. Sorry. I look at the first group photo and I'm thinking what the hell are the two people in the middle seeing that the other two others don't?

Other than that, I think a bit of action would help. It seems a bit staid and staged. Everyone looks a little stiff. Just loosen up IOW.

For me, I'm like 20mm in that I'm pretty much an "every-man" and not really very artsy.

The photos are a bit dark, but I don't mind that very much. I do agree with 20mm on everyone's expressions, and where they're looking in the group shot. If they all looked in different directions, or all in the same, I think it might work better for me.

fly me out and i'll take ur shots

what colour space are you working the photographs in? they'll get converted to sRGB when u save for web..

sRGB always, shouldn't change when saving to JPG for Web. Maybe the effect was all in my head with the black background on the website.

Good points about the posing. I guess I really need a dedicated photographer next time, it's just not doable to arrange everything and then jump into the frame.

Personally I liked our "Summer" shots better as far as color and light go (brighter, friendlier), but Dark was the only kind of shot I could do indoors.

I suppose the moral is that good locations (exciting, as 20mm suggests) are hard to find in fall/winter when light outside and temperature are crap - and that you need a dedicated PG for posing the group in a coherent way.

BTW, something you guys missed but a friend of mine spotted is my "beaten up" left eye in the group shot. The shadows sure came out weird on that one.