In the studio with Rhinestone Lives
March 19th, 2009
The duke contacted me to take some pictures of the recording of second album Rhinestone Lives (which is actually the 3rd if you count the album Marja recorded in his kitchen), the recording took place in the Studio Molière in Brussels, I passed three nights taking to capture some images of studio work.
Something nice as a photographer for this type of reporting, in addition to meet passionate people very different depending on the project is to be both involved while having the external eye will try to set some memories.
I did not know or no Marja Rhinestone Lives , I was surprised by his energy and his voice during these three days, I received his last album Exit Wounds is really very good and I look forward to having it ! If you want to hear a sample please visit his myspace .
The first few minutes, people are ill at ease, aware of my presence and my observation, after a while it is part of the decor and it was then that I can start typing stuff on the fly.
I chose to work in b / w to maintain a certain unity in my images (large temperature differences) with some exceptions as described below, as every time I set my box to work directly b / w for me gives a good overview of the rendering on the screen of D3.
Knowing that I work in RAW and C1 does not retain the settings boxes, the imported image is in color, the interest to work in b / w is only a preview for the shooting.
Little aside, there are different solutions to extract the preview of an image in a RAW file, which is why I never understood the interest of RAW + jpeg, eg the program preview extractor , which allows a few clicks and a few seconds to extract encapsulated in JPEG RAW files.
Here is an example of gross box (this does not mean much since the case report provides a picture but to illustrate the example).
The shooter made b / w and then and then import the images in color and then have to convert b / w cons may seem productive, the fact is that outside of Nikon software that retains the settings boxes (and which is in my opinion useless to work on a series) other software does not retain.
I could work directly Jpeg given the very good record of the case but I have the opportunity to make small changes as needed if I judge it necessary.
Work in b / w is not just desaturate a color image, think and work on the contrasts, material, the shadows.
An image can be interesting in color and "flat" or unreadable in black and white and vice versa.
The studio and the light
Some info taken from the site of the studio: "The Molière, installed in one of the most beautiful avenues in Brussels, is a studio with a rich musical past (Frank Zappa, Black Sabbath, Backstreet Boys, etc ...) that has retained an atmosphere warm while opening up to modern technology. The studios are equipped with ProTools and Logic Audio and combine the best of both analog and digital (SSL, Neve, Avalon, GML, Tubetech, etc ...)
It offers two studios covering all needs in the field of recording and mixing audio. The play "live" can accommodate up to 60 musicians (100m2) and the control is spacious and comfortable. "
Light in the studio is pretty to the eye, next picture is less simple, in the control room was a few spots with a temperature hot enough embedded in the ceiling and get some on the walls, so a very light one-time directive and .
So I mainly work in the ambient light in the imprest with sensitivities of 2000 isos (D3 thank you for this impressive senior management isos) for a general speed of 1 / 40 to an opening of 1.6. One consequence of this sharp rise in isos is that very low light (like a screen) become more important.
In the jar (the room where is the sound), I have had the freedom to work my light, in its basic configuration the room is lit with neon lights (ambient chip stall guaranteed), the work Flash was not possible (flash makes noise and is not intended to interfere or distract the artist).
So I used a projector as Keylight site broadcast by an umbrella (a softer light for both the photo and the artist).
I made some picture taken but I think a lack of energy and some disturbing elements bothered me in my frame, so I preferred to take advantage of my constraints (the glass) to create a big back in the picture directing the proceedings directly against my goal day in the following diagram.
What gives me a more satisfactory result in terms of atmosphere:
Quick Pick
More images are available by clicking on the banner at the top
Other News should arrive next week!
March 19th, 2009 at 3:33
great series for an artist to find out if you do not know yet ...
images are at the height of his beautiful voice!
Bravo!
March 19th, 2009 at 3:34
Nice nice as usual '...
It does not bother them to the fact that you yourself go direct spots to your liking?
While a record clairemment light plays a very can:-p
March 19th, 2009 at 3:35
Congratulations again to the explanation of the return to the spot opbjectif.
It gives more life effectivemment.
March 19th, 2009 at 3:39
One word: Awesome!
Your light management especially!
Besides your frames that give the impression of being while having a step back, you really see that you were cast into the background and all these fine people felt comfortable to work
We're really immersed in the atmosphere, bravo!
March 19th, 2009 at 4:40
Very nice work as usual Ben! O)
March 19th, 2009 at 4:42
Out of curiosity, what is wide angle lens is used? (This is the fish eye?)
March 19th, 2009 at 5:07
The photos are the height of the voice of the singer, thank you for the discovery, will probably order their album
March 19th, 2009 at 5:28
titles on his myspace are very nice! They rocked me while I bump!
I think I'll buy the album!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:24
Thank you: a post at the level of expectation.
That situation in the beautiful NetB more (not ask).
The beam still D3: viva the 2000ISO.
March 19th, 2009 at 8:26
You are a very good photographer, this is not new (sorry, I carry too much on your site and I'm realized, along with glasses remained a timber able to notice it so it ' Of course!!), but above all it continues and it is constantly renewed, so hat the artist for your sensitivity ...
At the risk of repeating myself, "Continue!"
March 19th, 2009 at 9:45
Bravo bravo bravo!
March 20th, 2009 at 8:36
Excellent work (yes, as always).
I especially like atmosphere "studio" that you were able to transcribe in your photos.
My favorite: the picture of the microphone on a red background -> WAOUW!
March 20th, 2009 at 10:20
great need I say more! Congratulations, I look forward to a new series.
March 20th, 2009 at 10:29
Nicolas: Thank you!
Dati: No, but I asked before moving to the brothel
Naime Jonathan: Thank you
Olivier: thanks!
Fabien: Yes the fish, a 16 mm 2.8 (only for the Full Frame)
Julien M, Redville: I would not fail to point out the new album, which will be truly Epic
MickymX: Clearly the high isos are bluffing
Fred: Will soon be loyalty cards
Thank you for your comment
Delphine:
Fred: thank you!
Glencc: It's coming
March 20th, 2009 at 10:33
Thank you for answer, I'm looking for a wide angle for my D700 ... like rendering, seems pretty cool
March 20th, 2009 at 24:42
Fabien: Do not confuse wide angle and fish, the fish distorts everything that is on the edges, use is not at all the same
I personally always looking for the perfect wide-angle right for me (compact, lege, then exit the excellent 14/24) and I think to turn to a fixed 14mm 2.8
March 20th, 2009 at 2:09
I know, I know.
But never had Fish eye, it might be fun to discover the possibilities offered by this kind of rock
March 20th, 2009 at 10:47
Magnificent series again. And thank you for passing us discover this artist.
A small question comes on your workflow:
I see in your insights and your articles that you are using Capture One. Do never really interested me was, I threw a glance at the official site today to find software makes the sauce Aperture / Lightroom.
For my part I only use Aperture on my Mac to carry out all of my workflow:
- Extraction of the device
- Selection & scoring shots
- Cropping, retouching expo, color ...
- Finalization of pictures & export
Would you ever use Aperture and what do you think compared to Capture One? This question is also posed to any other player on this article.
Moreover, I focus recently to color corrections and distortions associated with DxO optics which now seems to be one of the most advanced solutions. But it is not integrated with Aperture and this is for me a pb because it requires me to release a photograph of his workflow for the return. Capture One seems to have its own correction. What do you think? When you use it?
Thank you if you find a little time to answer my questions. And as always, thank you for your pictures.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:35
Superb!
A thought for the window washer (between the studio and control room) which is also a great job
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:22
Superb! It makes you want to listen to the music ...
Not only the photos are superb, as usual, but it has a great interest to the artist (I did not know until now, but I think I'll continue my turn on her myspace and at my favorite record store).
Bravo!
March 22nd, 2009 at 2:22
Fabien: Absolutely, the whole is to choose knowingly
Anthony: I chose C1 (caught one) for his very good color management, speed and its part "to the point" tested for Aperture is a very good software that offers a fairly faithful rendering that I The fact is that I work on both Mac and PC, allows me to C1 Derusha on Mac and continue working on my pc.
At my corrections, it is still quite limited: fix the white balance, contrast, saturation. I do not reframe my images (I work almost all the time with fixed focal lengths and a viewfinder very close to 100% which allows me to have a fairly accurate framing), I would like an integrated distortion correction in C1 but This is not the case. Sometimes I have to correct the distortion, I spend time with PT lens in photoshop.
Betrand: Not really, between the governed and the jar there are three windows for insulation that were not the cleanest
Michael B: Thank you!
March 23rd, 2009 at 11:21
Ben thank you for your answer.
So you are using the simple version of C1. For I see that the version of captureone.com Capture One 4 Pro includes its own tool for color correction and distortion.
And indeed, I understand that if you pass from one PC to MAC regular, Aperture is not best suited.
I will go see this plugin for Photoshop
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:47
hello benjamin!
my name is Giovanni I have 18 years and I live in the southwest of France (near Lourdes and Toulouse).
This week I made qques course your blog, and I must say that it is GE-NIAL!
I for my part of the picture for 2 years and a half on the same SLR (the Nikon D40), and I time, I feel I Reach the "limits" of the device.
(J fortunately just bought a 50mm F/1.8 which m'allege for concert! (Even if there are no AF))
you talk a lot of RAW, so I decided to cover a concert all in RAW, but I can not really see a difference in quality, maybe with only 6million pixel is not it sufficient enough .. ! ?
and also I have another question: how do you treat for all the photos you take? Let me explain:
Saturday I took a group photo in RAW (about 200 photos pdnt the evening), but already I can see them look "normal" by clicking on it to get an overview, I have to open Capture thing (in CS3).
and so when I put these pictures on the net, I have to go ALL the JPEG ...
it took me a full day of post-treatment: s (not to convert RAW files to JPEG)
: S
short,
otherwise I love the picture of the type in b & w, with the hat =)
March 24th, 2009 at 8:02
Hi Ben, you've done some wonderful pictures of Fine Arts, this is very beautiful blue, great atmosphere ...
March 25th, 2009 at 8:56
I confirm, I just got the album and it's very nice!
March 29th, 2009 at 8:22
Hi Ben,
Wonderful series!
As always, we recognize your personal touch through the color rendering of your photos!
A bit like the great rock bands that are recconnaissables to the first note played guitar!
Good luck!
Gilles
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:49
Hi Ben, great Series. I hesitate to give me a poster of a red background with the Micro
For projo site you can tell me more? prices, shop, how you fixed on your tripod. A barebulb would not have been simpler?
April 3rd, 2009 at 9:58
Hello Giovanni
Thank you for your comment! The interest of RAW is to provide a larger dynamic changes to allow non-destructive on your pictures. To work effectively requires appropriate software, Camera Raw is to help out but not at all suitable for mass production!
Olivier Bruniels
I have some interesting images
Redville: Owl ca!
Gilels: Thank you!
Merwen: The projo was there
I'm with the means at hand, the umbrella was on his front foot
April 4th, 2009 at 4:31
beautiful this report, framing sumptuous renderings very pleasant
and thank you for this musical discovery for me
May 14th, 2009 at 24:00
hello Ben,
good job - I discovered a little late - with a focus on the diversity of rocks, subjects, a natural atmosphere, color or B & W very well managed, your strengths usual and always very efficient
constructive criticism side (since you demand), big trend focus, damage a few pictures that I saw far off-center (well you know my tastes), and also not always rigorous framing your compound has two character :
) For a while, it may help you to play with a new strain of components - I think that it is often necessary that the rules that create freedom ...
6436 considered unnecessary
9130 and 6092 arms cut that closes the picture not very well
9013 the head of the speaker is sacrificed when the bottom of the image does not add anything etc.
can be as could try to do as the square or 16 / 9 (
in short it does not raise anything to the series that remains very strong, well done!
alain
May 20th, 2009 at 8:23
Very nice photo report
September 11th, 2009 at 8:12
Superb series I just received the link to your site by a photographer friend and I learned so many things I must say thank you for all the info.
October 19th, 2009 at 6:54
Wonderful story.
The alignment of guitars is superb, as are all the pictures ...