number 4

Unit 57: Photography and Photographic Practice

Research of other photographers work (P1, M1, D1)

Photographer: Mick Hutson

1. Aerosmith – Steve Tyler. Year Unknown. Likely recent.

2. Green Day – Billie-Joe Armstrong, Year Unknown. Likely recent.

3. Muse. Year Unknown. Likely recent.

4. The Darkness. Year Unknown. Likely recent.

Theme or focus of images

The general overall theme for this set of photographs is musical performances, as they all depict as musician performing on stage.

1. In the first image we see Steve Tyler, the frontman for Aerosmith, energetically performing on stage, bent over, singing into his microphone and looking directly into the camera. Bright red covers most of the image, being the colour shone from the on-stage lights. Tyler is flanked by two guitarists, which was probably intentional of the photographer to show that this is a band and not a solo act. You can see a lot on the stage including the lights, equipment and the metal structure above as well as the musicians. A colourful scarf is also hanging from the microphone stand. This image has clearly been taken during a performance as the photograph looks overall, very chaotic and quite literally ‘rocking’. The image was most likely produced for promotional purposes for the band or for a music publication.

2. This image shows Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman for Green Day, screaming into a microphone on stage while on his knees. The image is in black and white, which helps the sole stage light focused on the drummer stand out more. The drummer is to the left of Armstrong in the background and an illuminated ‘Green Day’ sign is above him. The black and white effect also helps to bring this sign out. The image shows a lot of emotion in it owing both to Armstrong’s position and the black and white effect. The image was most likely produced for promotional purposes for the band or for a music publication.

3. The third image shows the drummer for MUSE lifting his hands and drumsticks above his head, in front of a large screaming audience. The singers are visible in front of him further down the stage. The image is very bright and enthusiastic, showing the band in their element- energetically performing music. The drummer seems to be revelling in the attention and adoration from the thousands of bands and this photograph was most likely captured to show his emotions and appreciation. The image was taken at a concert somewhere and was most likely produced for promotional purposes for the band or for a music publication.

4. In the fourth image we see the guitarist for ‘The Darkness’ ecstatically leaping into the air while playing his guitar. He is in front of thousands of people at an open-air concert. You can see numerous trees in the background but more noticeably, the thousands of adoring fans who are manically waving their hands at the barrier. You can also see some equipment, a walkway and a cameraman. The guitarist seems to be a showman who is attempting to

impress the crowd. The fans seem to be enjoying it, due to their flailing arms and happy expressions. The guitarist appears to be enjoying his music, appearing deadly serious and in concentration mode. The image was taken at a concert somewhere and was most likely produced for promotional purposes for the band or for a music publication.

Composition

1. In the first mage, the photographer is most likely stood at the front of the stage, either on or off it, and is directly in front of Steve Tyler. I think that if the photographer had stood further away, the image wouldn’t be as intimate as it is and not as personal with Tyler. The distance from which the photographer is from Tyler seem ideal as he can get in other people, the stage and the full body of Tyler while also still being a close up of his face. I think that the photographer could have cropped out some of the sides of the image but, decided not too in order to show the other members of the band. The photographer probably chose to include the various elements of the photo (stage, other band members) to completely display the whole musical act.

2. In this image the photographer most likely stood close to Armstrong in order to get a close up, intimate shot of him while he is singing. The image manages to capture the emotions of the singer, which will have been an intention of the photographer. The image may have been cropped, in order to only show Armstrong, the drummer and the Green Day sign. The decision to include these will have been because the photographer wants to show that this is a band and the sign serves as clear brand recognition. If the photographer had zoomed out, it is likely that they would have captured more of the stage and possibly more of the band’s musicians. However, I think the photographer wanted a concise shot that mainly focused on Armstrong. By doing this it effectively focuses entirely on him (even though the drummer is in the background) and his emotions and actions

3. The photographer will have been stood behind the band and will have attempted to get shots of angles in which the band and audience can be seen. This is what the photographer would have decided to include. If the photographer had zoomed out, it is likely that they would have got more of the stage and audience but, also more of the stage hands and equipment, which would take attention away from the focus of the image –the drummer. The photographer will have chosen to take the photograph when the drummer had his arms raised (drumsticks in hand) in a conventional rock way. This creates a sense of rock for the image and to clearly display the musical elements. He will have also chosen the drummer specifically as he is in the foreground of the image, while also being the clear focal point. This is because the drummer is the only evident band member engaging with the crowd and what he is doing could be viewed as audience interaction. This creates a sense of unity between the crowd and the band.

4. For the final image, the photographer will have been stood on stage close to the drummer and will have captured the image from that angle to allow for a background of the audience. The guitarist is almost in the exact centre of the stage and the photographer will have captured him from an angle to also

include this. If the photographer had zoomed out or stood back, it would be likely that he would have captured more of the audience, stage and possibly more of the band. However, this would destroy the close-up, intimate feel of the image. If he cropped the image, a lot of the audience would be cut out so it’s unlikely he did so. This is because the audience make up a lot of the image and are a key part of it. The image’s theme is most likely audience related/ crowd enjoyment.

Techniques used

All of the images will have most likely used a fast shutter speed, in order to quickly capture the music performances in the act. A slow shutter speed would mean that images such as number 1 or 4 would be blurred and unclear. However, a fast shutter speed managed to capture them quickly and effectively.

The photographer will have most likely used a low aperture, in order to focus on the individual in the foreground of images (1 and 2) but may have increased it slightly for the images with a lot of background elements (3 and 4).

The photographer will have used rule of thirds extensively and the grid could be visualized over certain images to create a quality, aesthetically pleasing image. This can be seen in all of the images but especially 1, 2 and 4, where certain elements are positioned in equal, easy to look at locations within the frame. (The singer and flanking guitarists in image 1, the singer and drummer/sign in image 2 and the audience stage and leaping singer in image 4).

The ISO will have most likely been high for the indoor concerts (1, 2 and 3) as it would be very dark apart from some artificial lighting. The fourth image would not need a high ISO as it is outdoors and clearly bright, which would have provided a sufficient source of light.Strengths & Weaknesses

I like the close ups in these photographs as well as the fact they capture the musicians during their acts. Some of the images are raw and powerful as the different musicians display different emotions through their facial expressions and body language. A weakness of the images on the whole is that some should maybe include slightly more in their frame and are too close up.

Strengths:

• Display the musicians emotions and them in the act• Good technical quality• Some good close ups• Good use of rule of thirds.

Weaknesses:

• Some should include more within the frame

• The first image seems a little too much stretched out