KEVIN STATHAM

Kevin Statham Photography

About

- Photographer. (Dance, Concert)

- Publisher.

- Videographer.

- Graphic designer.

- Studied photography in a part of a larger program at Camosun College in Victoria.

- Started shooting concerts by knowing venue owners and friends in bands.

- Photography has given him the opportunity to be-friend people he admired.

- Friends with Bon Jovi’s personal photographer.

- Worked for Georgia Straight for 16 years.

Photographing Chief Seapass Theatre

- A good place to photograph from is from the catwalk and/or Juliet boxes.

- ISO up to 3200

- If it's quiet, choose your moment and trust your gut. Be mindful.

- Develop timing.

- Ask organizers If you can take pics rather than the performer (who will most likely say yes whether or not they are actually okay with it).

Photographing school major performances.

- Drama – 60ss +

- Dance – 200ss +

- Music – 60ss +

- Writing – 60ss +

Concert Photography

- Talk to friends now bands and venue owners to get the opportunity to shoot concerts.

- Be able to think on the spot and block out audience.

- Never get in the way of someone who payed to see the show.

- Be nice and be-friend Security.

- Be where no other photographer is, you'll get different shots therefor more valuable.

- Take up to 200 photos but don't take the same one 30 times.

- Look for emotion in performers and audience.

- Capture what music looks like.

- Look for timing in videos and other peoples shots. Watch the performer online before you go.

- Shoot people who aren't really popular cause their photos gain value.

- More essential to freeze movement than have small grain.

- Never don't shoot because of a light inconvenience.

- Red light = bad photos.

- 70-200mm has good range for concerts as well as a smaller zoom or fixed. (17-35 or 35mm)

- Bring two cameras. (two lenses)

- Shoot wide angle.

- “Know people, get access”.

- Get backstage.

- Bring band-AIDS, earplugs, lens cleaner, lots of batteries, flashlight and a monopod.

- Entertainment photos needs to have 2.8 f.

- Late = fired.

Photo tips, tricks and facts

- It pays to be nice, literally.

- Comedians are good to be-friend, they're fun and easy to photograph.

- Trains make good background/prop for band photos.

- Golden rule. (Treat others how you wish to be treated)

- Create challenging.projects for yourself to improve skill and ability.

- Be ethical.

- Red light = bad because it over saturates and looses definition. This can be fixed in photoshop by stripping the image completely of red light to introduce detail and/or play with contrast/white balance.

- Work through magazines and newspapers. (Georgia Straight)

- Magazine companies in Canada have decreased making it hard to make money off entertainment photography.

- Once established, there's no valid excuse for being unprepared.

- Getty images is the largest photo agency in the universe.

- Being an assistant for a professional is good for gaining knowledge and experience.

- Consistency is key.

- Never do something for free “for the exposure” but it is good to do volunteer work.