| An interview with photographer "ANN BUSTER" |
| Saturday, 17 September 2011 09:02 | |||
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How did your interest in photography start, and what are the challenges? The whole adventure with the photography started from pure boredom, no I will not sugar coat it. My husband is a band member, so I would travel with the band to different venues. Every single time the concert and the after show party would be till 3am. Since musicians talk only about their equivalent of porn (instruments) and I had no idea what to do with myself I've decided one day to take my cam with me. And that's how it basically started.
And then I've shot many of local bands. Got a job at Regioactive,Ka-News, Intro, Metal.de, Fuze. When I started out with bigger names in the business, all I got is a press pass to shoot the first three songs - sometimes only two - from the front pit area, so I would basically have one angle. I remember sometimes management would be like, „okay, you get two songs." Then the first song would be some instrumental intro for thirty seconds and the security guys would look at us like, „that's one song - that counts." With the challenges, I don't know where to even start. You're fighting for space against other photographers, and if you're at a festival, there could be like thirty other photographers. It's your goal to make your pictures look different than the photographer standingnext to you. You can also add very dark venues, low light, sometimes no pit area, drunk crowd. Who are your favorite bands to shoot? I've shot over 300concerts. For me it doesn't really matter how big and famous are you, the most important is that you move, that you don't stand on stage glued, and that I can see that you enjoy yourself playing, raw emotions is the thing I'm after. So I think it kinda changed, at the moment every hardcore/punk/emo/core band booking is pretty exciting to me. 
And the ultimate favourite? I must say I've shot Papa Roach 3 times already and they are one of those bands that never let me down. Amazing energy on the stage, they connect with the audience and you can really see how much they enjoy themselves. Also I've really enjoyed Skunk Anansie, Skin is just mental on stage.
Who do you enjoy from your local music scene? Like I've said I really love movement. Also the thing with the local scene is that I can maintain the relationships with the band members. The bands that I shoot a lot are: Electrobaby, Sons Of Sounds, Most Wanted Monsters, Beta 2.0, Bender.
It really all depends on the relationship i have with the band and how much concerts they play. Let's take for instance guys from Sons Of Sounds. They are like my brothers. I've shot them live probably 8 times this year, and we've had 3 promotional shoots. The last one we did was for trashpoptERROR, for October. Guys wanted some chill location, so we've incorporated grill party and shooting. After the shooting was done, everybody enjoyed their steaks and BBQ sauce.
How did you meet trashpoptERROR? The first time we've met was at one of the Electrobaby'ies concert. He's done a video for Sci-Fi Disco for the guys. We always meet at concerts. The latest project we had was the Sons Of Sounds photoshooting. Guys were asked to be the models for his website for this month. All together cool guy.
How do you prepare for the promoshootings? The first thing I do is that I meet with the band members before the shooting. We brainstorm about the concept, location etc. Then we set the date, I set up, check the lights, and we go for it. I'm one of those that I guide during the shoot as less as possible. I want that the pictures look as natural as possible. So if I hear a question „how should we pose?" my answer is „you know the concept, so do whatever you think will work and if there is something that needs to be changed i will let you know". I really believe that the most important is that the people feel comfortable in front of the camera and that it should be fun for them.
What advice would you give new photographers? The best way to learn photography is by doing. When I bought my camera, I barely knew how to use the thing. So the first step is to read the manual, and let me tell you, it was first manual in my life that I've read. One great thing I think everyone should do is a Project 365. That is where you take one photo per day. It will help you learn to shoot in all current situations. Then, at the end of the year, you look back and see how much you have improved. What I've noticed is that everybody finds something different that they enjoy about photography. Concert photography is probably the most challenging type of them all. I know many photographers that do this in their spare time and during the concert they come up to me and say „why can't they stand still on this stage", and I'm one of those that gets like a baby in the candy store the moment i see somebody insane on the stage.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to shoot concerts? The gear that is best for concert photography, is fast lenses and cameras with high ISO abilities. It's very dark inside most music venues, and since I'm one of those that like movement locked in the motion - if somebody jumpes, I want them in the air without any blur, if somebody headbangs I want to see every single hair - so prime fast lens is a must. My 28 mm lens does a lot of work there, with fast 1.8 aperture. My other lenses that go down to aperture 2.8 are extremely important. Many places do not allow flash during performances, and to be honest I'm not a fan of using it, it kills the stage light, so even if i use my flash I normally bump it just enough to use it as a fill light. Also when it comes to concert photography try to book shows in as many different venues as possible. This way sitting for 4hours straight on the laudspeaker while you shoot won't be a problem, you will be prepared for everything comming your way. Ann Buster
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