Before and After Photos of a Live Performance

Video of Miyazawa Kazufumi in His Prime

 

Enjoy, listening to the video, while you examine the images to see what changes occurred.

Truth is, I didn't take this photo; just did some editing, to the background.

 Back in the days a band named, The Boom, was popular it would draw a huge crowd.

Miyazawa Kazufumi was the singer and songwriter who performed Shima Uta.

For those, who don't speak Japanese, that means Island Song.


Knowing there would be a crowd at the event, I arrived 3 hours early and got lucky.

Close to one side of the stage an area was roped off and, I was allowed access.

That's because, the sound system and lighting manager, has known me for years.

Photos of all the bands, leading up to this superstar's entrance, were taken and, I backed off.

It would be great if, I could capture the whole crowd, while Shima Uta was being played.

Wouldn't Know the Boom Lead Singer If I Stumbled Over Him Drunk

Maybe some folks do but, not me. I know the song Shima Uta, when I hear it.

Standing across the festival field, I heard the song being played and, joked with a friend.

It sounded like they changed the music to some sort of rap or, Jamacian stuff.

"What an insult to The Boom, this is going to be," I said to my friend,"It's horrible!"

Bringing my Canon G12 was, Mami but, she was running late from another event.

She kept text messaging me, "Are they still there?"

And, I kept texting back, "Don't worry, he hasn't even showed up, yet."

We started thinking maybe, he got stuck in traffic or, cancelled, for some strange reason.

Photo Credit: Mami Sakiyama



 The performance, with the superstar, was scheduled from 8-9PM.

Mami arrived and, I got permission to let her in the roped-off area with my tripod.

She caught maybe, the last ten minutes of the live performance, while I took a smoke break.

Initially, I straightened the image and removed pipes sticking out of people's heads.

Then, I decided the Santa's helpers were distractions and, removed them, too.

The guy in red, playing the sanshin, was the star performer, I wanted to have standing out.

Two silhouettes of people, dancing in the front of the stage, was alright, to leave in the scene.

It's a shame, I didn't recognize, this talented singer and songwriter.

It wasn't until the show ended, Mami showed me, the photos of the guy in the red shirt.

She had wanted to sing Shime Uta, along with the crowd and, missed it.

So, I told her,"Ya done good."

She had been shooting that little G12 at ISO's between 800-3600 and, got the subject.

That's better than, I did. I got none of the dude, while smoking and joking off the field !

Before and After Photos of a Singer Onstage

Getting Rid of Distractions

 

 

Sometimes, taking photos and an event like this, can be a real challenge.

Poorly light barrooms with customers bouncing around, can get on your nerves.

 Using an external flash, I was able to catch Sari the singer's eyes in this position.

But, look at all those distractions in the background. A horrible image !

  

 This little darling only comes to our town once or maybe, twice a year.

I wanted to capture her act and, print her a photo but, it's not completely done, yet. 

Before I finish, I have to ask the bar owner if, it'd be OK to remove the grunge on the walls ! 


RELATED POSTS:

15 Photos from Another Kin Town Live Matsuri

Travel Photo: Sari the Singer and Sanshin Player 



FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC VISIT:

Eliminate Background Distractions in Photographs

The Ryukyu Castanet Known as Sanba (三板)

This instrument accompanies many Okinawan folk bands.

It is a gadget made by threading three pieces of hardwood on a string.

It took awhile, but, I found a good video of the sanba in action.

For anyone wishing to practice, here's a good video.






The instrument is available in many gift stores throughout the islands.

One of these musical instruments has been taking up space in my office.

Today, I decided to use it as a photographic subject.

Using available light, I shot a few different compositions, with black and white backgrounds.

Still not sure, which, I like best. Maybe, I'll try some Okinawan fabric next time.

The research, led me to something about this instrument, I had never known.

It was introduced to Okinawa by a famous singer.

Now deceased, he was the father of another musician, Kina Shoukichi.

Read more about it at The Power of Okinawa

Kina the younger, had one heck of a good band, back in the good old days.

Recently, he got himself into politics and, got whooped really bad.

Politics and, I don't really agree with each other but, I can play the sanba.

Maybe, I should look that guy, Kina Shoukichi up.

If he'll teach me how to play the sanshin and sing, I'll show him how to play the sanba !

Here's Proof -- This Stuff Wasn't Just a Dream

It all started with an invitation to see this live band from Tokyo.

Most people, don't go out on Monday night but, yesterday was special.

It was Umi no Hi, a national holiday, in Japan.

 

The weekend, had me busy with photography, past midnight the last few days.

A gal named, Aki would be performing on stage.

If she wasn't such a darling, I would have stayed home last night.

She keeps flying to Tokyo, to sing and, we hardly get to see her anymore.

When she told me the door would be open at 7:30, I showed up at 7PM.

That gave me a chance to check the place out, before the crowds arrived.

The bar only seats about 65 people.

But, Aki is so popular 90-100 guests usually show up to see her.

And, when some fans, start dancing in front of the stage, she cracks up.

She is one heck of a talented young lady.

Trying to catch her eyes, while peeking through a camera view finder is hard work.

So, plenty of extra shots are taken, to make sure, I get it right.

Aki, gets hopping around on the keyboard, too.

It would probably be a good idea, to take 100 shots just to capture a dozen good ones.

While she was up there wiggling around, I noticed something.

The poor girl is running around with holes in her jeans.

But, she has a diamond, stuck on her nose so, I guess she's doing alright !

Travel Photo: Sari the Singer and Sanshin Strummer

Shooting photos of a live band, in a dimly lit bar, can be challenging.

Having, already gotten a signed model release, made this a bit easier.

But, I had to concentrate on the movement of the fingers, to prevent motion blur.

It wasn't until I downloaded my images, that I noticed those fingernails.

So, I googled and added a new word to my vocabulary.

Nail Art

 

Maybe, I spend too much time in the jungles.  I never knew about this stuff.

They have thousands of designs from Nails Magazine.

Look at the gallery, over on Pinterest

If you want to see more of Sari the singer, she's here.



Photo Essay with Tips, Give Her Your Best Shot, Lady in Blue

Shooting stage performances whether at night outdoors, or inside at a concert can be a challenge. 

The lighting may change suddenly, people are moving and shutterspeed can be a nightmare.

The photographer has to figure out what angle to shoot from,  direction of lighting and which composition makes a lady look great. 

It takes plenty of moving around, zooming and going wide angle and shooting from the left, right and center of the stage. 

The target, this time, was the lady in blue. I don't know her.  She's just a performer at a festival.
My job is to make her more beautiful than she already is with the light that's available, no photoshopping.

If you ask a woman which side of her face is the prettiest, she can tell you.  Women know stuff like that.

You can't just walk up to the stage and ask a lady, "Hey. Which side of your face is the ugliest?" 

Or, that's what I'd do.  I could save a few gigabytes of shooting.  Instead, I try and guess.

If you were a studio photographer, you might be able to suggest different poses and direct the lighting to help smooth things over.  Here, you're on your own.  Man against the elements.

                               Sometimes a vertical shot helps highlight interesting features.

                                               Like, look how long that gal's hair is !

Beside all the dancing and singing she did the lady in blue was also a drummer.

So, I decided this photo was the most flattering one of my target for that day.

If I ever run across her again at a festival, I think I'll give her a copy.

Then, maybe, I could get away with asking her, "Which side of your face is the prettiest"?

If I give her my best shot don't you think the lady in blue would want to help me make another one ?

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