B.B. King
Well, it has been just under a year since I took my first music shots at the 2008 Cardiff ‘Big Weekend’. I didn’t have a pass for the event so I spent the day glued to the crowd barrier without daring to leave in case I lost my spot. Since then I’ve managed to gradually blag my way into shows in Barfly, Clwb, St David’s Hall and the CIA and I’ve learned from them all.
Tonight, however, was a special one as I was able to shoot one of my musical heroes – Mr B.B. King. I was inspired to get into music photography by David Hardacre and I was always in awe of his shots of true legends like Johnny Cash. For me, this was getting close to something like that and I can’t quite believe I’ve managed to get from zero to shooting B.B. King in such a short time.
It is a real hit and miss affair getting passes for gigs still though. Stuff I think will be no problem often ends in a cul-de-sac with the “pr” people not deigning to respond and then gigs I think I have no chance with I end up shooting. I guess if I can get accepted at an agency then things will be a little less fraught.
Considering he was forced to sit through the show due to diabetes it was surprisingly good fun shooting B.B. as he remains remarkably expressive. It was a novel experience for me working without a photo-pit too. Last night I shot Anastacia and had to work from the mixing desk – a real flat experience – and tonight I had to dodge in and out of the aisles and try to get good shots without bothering the paying public. I think I did ok. Back to Clwb Ifor Bach next week – shooting Let’s Wrestle. It’ll be fun in a different way.
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