Photographer Interview: Break into Concert Photography

Anthony Siciliano of Ramsey, NJ, was initially attracted to photography through some playful competition with his friends. Even when he realized his friends had no idea how to use their cameras, he stuck with it and earned recognition in photography and videography.

As a photojournalist and concert photographer his experience is transferring into his newest venture as part of Awesome Farm - a video production and photography business formed with his friends. At least with the friends that know how to use a camera.

Siciliano answered a few questions and gave some advice for fellow photographers looking to break in to photography, specifically concert photography and photojournalism.

What was your first camera?
My first DSLR was a Nikon D80 with the 18-70 mm lens. However, the first point-and-shoot that I bought for myself was a Pentax Optio S-40, which I still have. I really enjoyed taking pictures of flowers, but I was dissatisfied with the performance and results of my point-and-shoot (particularly, the shutter lag). I looked into DSLRs, and ended up purchasing the D80. Thousands of dollars, and much gear later, here I am.

What photographers - well known or unknown - inspire you?
I really have fun with concert photography, live shows where I bring back photos that give you a good sense of what happened during an event. A photographer that does this very well is Todd Owyoung. His website is http://ishootshows.com/. Not only does he get awesome results, but also he shares his wealth of knowledge with everyone, which I respect immensely.

Check out the Strobist blog as well. It features off-camera lighting and lots of DIY equipment at http://strobist.blogspot.com/.

Is there a certain piece of gear you could not live without?
I do not skimp on my gear, and it has definitely paid off. In my opinion, it is better to save up for a longer time and get better equipment, than it is to spend early on something else. Unfortunately, I am addicted to buying new things, which can get very expensive. I could not live without any of this stuff, but if I had to pick one lens, the one that does most of my work is the 18-70mm lens.

Do you have any goals in mind with your photography?
I hope that I will be shooting famous bands very soon. A lot of doing that is getting to know the people who run the events, and the people who manage the bands. So far, the most famous people I have photographed in concert are Kate Voegele, Jack's Mannequin and the rest have been local bands. Currently, I shoot for local newspapers. The pay is not very good, but it is fun and better than nothing at all. Doing this will help me get exposure.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to shoot concerts?
The gear that is best for concert photography, at least in my opinion, is fast lenses and cameras with high ISO abilities. It is deceptively dark inside most music venues. My 50 mm lens does a lot of work there, with its extremely fast 1.8 aperture. My other lenses that go down to aperture 2.8 are extremely important. Large wide-open apertures are important for catching performers in action, without blur. Someone that wants to shoot concerts should definitely invest in a 50 mm lens, and save up to buy other fast lenses. Many places do not allow flash during performances, and your brand-new flash unit will not do any good when security tackles you. Also, watch out for drunken people and mosh pits at shows, which is a good way to wreck your camera.

How did you get a job with your local newspaper? What skills does that require?
When I was doing physical therapy for my tendinitis, I met a photographer who was shooting some photos for a brochure. We got to talking, and she gave me the contact info of a local photo editor. The skill involved in photojournalism is the same most other photographers use, except more irritating. Not only do you have to capture good pictures, but also you have to do it consistently, and make sure you get people's first and last names. If you do not get their names, editors will not use your photos. That can be a big disappointment, after all your hard work. You also have to be versatile and ready for anything. Get to events early and scope things out. that is the best advice I can give. Coming in late and not getting a good spot makes things a lot more difficult.

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. One great thing I think everyone should do is a Project 365. That is where you take one photo per day (at least) and write a little bit about it on your Flickr account or a photo blog. It will help you learn to shoot in all current situations as well as on days or times where you think a camera might not be convenient to have. Then, at the end of the year, you look back and see how much you have improved, as well as your year in a series of photos. Also, do not forget to take a break when you are post-processing your images. I got a bad case of tendinitis from using the computer too much, and it really puts a kink in your photography.

Where can people see your photography?
Check out my photography on my Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scis/ and soon at www.awesomefarm.com.

Delve into the World of Art Training at the Art Academy in Atlanta, GA

An artist has the ability to do something that very few individuals have the power to do - alter the mindsets of its viewers. It is true that art, in any form, can and will create something more than just a smile on someone's face. Art can be the foundation to peoples belief systems; it can counteract a government's rule of authority. Art can make lovers fall in an even deeper love, or it can cause lovers to completely turn their backs on one another and create a war of emotions - with the canvas as their battleground. No matter how you look at it, art is the utmost power when it comes to altering a human's mind. And to be an artist means to be someone with great creativeness, someone who knows themselves so well that they are willing to hand over their subconscious to a paint brush for the worlds cruel ridicule or wondrous praise.

But what must you do to become an artist of this stature? You must first hone your craft, and become a skilled technician of the paintbrush, charcoal pencil, or any other utensil one might use to conjure the gods of art. And in Atlanta, Georgia there is such a studio that will beckon your inner DaVinci to leap out onto your canvas. The name of this wonderful art studio is The Academy of Art located in Duluth, Georgia, which is only a short drive from downtown Atlanta. Here The Academy of Arts offers a wide range of classes, not just art, that will grow the inner creative genius in all of us. But, it is their art courses that are truly amazing.

The Academy of Art offers an extremely variety of art classes ranging from watercolor techniques, to charcoal drawing, they even offer the very humorous and extremely fun technique of caricature drawing, as well as the pristine world of landscape capturing. They offer every type of art course to "fit your artistic flare." They offer private, semi-private and group settings for your artistic growth. Their weekly private and semi-private lessons are available to students from thirty-minute, forty-five minute and sixty-minute time slots. The Art Academy suggests that students be at least eight years of age before entering a private or semi-private setting for learning. The rates for the private lessons and semi-private lessons are extremely reasonable with lessons from thirty-minutes starting at $82.00, the forty-five minute lessons starts at $123.00, and the sixty-minute weekly private lesson starts at $164.00. These rates do cover the cost of their faculty, although some teacher require an extra surcharge due to their level of expertise - and trust me, the surcharge is absolutely worth it.

Interested in working together with fellow art students? Well The Arts Academy has classes suited directly to your needs. With group classes ranging from "Watercolor Friends" which is for students aged sixteen and up, to "Drawn to Drawing" for students aged twelve through sixteen. All of these classes will offer students the ability to grow in their artistic style while receiving world-class training from their instructors. The rates for group classes start at $18.00 per hour with classes starting at sixty minutes up to two hours. At The Art Academy, you will learn skills that Michelangelo wished he knew.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Academy of Arts
First Baptist Church of Duluth
2908 Highway 120
Duluth, GA 30096
Tel: 770.476.3788 extension 267
E-mail: artsacademy@duluthbaptist.org

Montana CINE International Film Festival in Missoula, Montana

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If you will be in the Missoula, Montana are at the beginning of October and you are interested in issues that impact cultural preservation, nature, and the environment, then you may want to visit the 3rd Annual Montana CINE International Film Festival. This festival will be held on October 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2006, and it is hosted by the International Wildlife Media Center, the same people who put on the International Wildlife Film Festival. For more information on attending please keep reading.

What This Festival Is About

The 3rd Annual Montana CINE International Film Festival is a film festival that explores the cultural issues that impact nature and the environment. Issues like culture, conservation, politics, agriculture, urban sprawl, society, industry, and war will be discussed in regards to their impacts on the natural world. Activities will center on the festival’s mission of understanding these issues better as they relate to the health of the world’s ecosystems.

Events

Like the International Wildlife Film Festival, the Montana CINE International Film Festival will offer several venues of interest for both filmmakers and the public. Public screenings, discussions, workshops, outings, and parties will be scheduled for the festival’s attendees. Schedules for these events, as well as activity descriptions will be made available in mid-September.

The public screenings of the winning films entered in the CINE film festival will be shown at the Historic Roxy Theater. This theatre is located at 718 S. Higgins, Missoula, Montana. A list of times, film titles, and film descriptions will be available at http://www.wildlifefilms.org by mid-September.

Discussion and workshops will also be offered to festival attendees. These programs will focus on specific topics, and they will be moderated by an industry professional. Information about the discussions and workshops can also be found online at http://www.wildlifefilms.org, as information becomes available.

Parties and activities are also a highlight of this festival. These parties will be held at various locations around Missoula, and each will have its own unique theme, attractions, and activities. The festival’s parties are great for meeting with the filmmakers, meeting people who have an interest in environmental issues, and just experiencing western hospitality. Tickets for the parties can be bought at the Roxy Theater, or by contacting the CINE Festival coordinator.

Attending the CINE Film Festival

The price for attending the events held during the CINE Film Festival will vary depending on the type of ticket you buy, your age, and the event you want to attend. General Admittance tickets for viewing a screening will be $6 for adults, $5 for students with a valid student ID, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and $3 for children under the age of 12. If you would like to buy a day pass, which is good for attending all the workshops, discussions, parties, and screenings for a specific day, then the price will be $15. If you would like to just see the screenings during the festival you can purchase a screening pass for $25, which allow you to see as many screenings as you want during the festival. If you want access to everything during the festival then you can purchase a festival pass for $50. Finally if you want to buy a ticket to a specific event or party you will need to contact the Festival directly for prices.

Contact Information

If you have more questions, or if you would like to buy your tickets before the festival please contact the CINE Festival at:

Montana CINE International Film Festival
718 S. Higgins Ave.
Missoula, Montana 59801
(406) 728-9380 phone number
(406) 728-2881 fax number
iwff@wildlifefilms.org
http://www.wildlifefilms.org

Traveling with a Baby

baby clothes onsies

Traveling with a baby can be overwhelming. Our economy-sized car is packed when we take a trip with our daughter. Babies need a lot of stuff. The key to traveling with a baby is to have a plan but be flexible enough to deviate from it at any given moment.

When we are planning a trip, always make a list with a baby. Packing for an overnight trip can almost seem like moving when you have a baby. If you do not start a list, chances are good something will be forgotten. I usually start my list a few days before our trip that way I can add to it as I think of needed items. A list does relieve some of the stress of packing.

Put everything that you’ll need for the actual trip in the diaper bag. A few diapers, baby wipes, bottle, extra clothing, and a changing pad are all items that I put in the diaper bag. The diaper bag has a few more items than it regularly does for road trips but makes it easier to locate those essentials rather than having to dig through luggage.

I like to actually pack the baby’s bag before I pack ours. This way I have more time to double check to make sure nothing has been forgotten. There are a lot of things I usually forget to pack for us on a trip, but we can usually manage without it. I have forgotten socks and other small items before, but the thought of my baby doing without something she needs is intolerable. Her luggage comes first.

Plan your stops ahead of time. Although you may have to make more stop depending how the little one is doing, think where you may make planned stops. When traveling to the in-laws, we always plan to stop in this one city at a certain book store. It’s located near the interstate, has clean bathrooms (with a changing station), and nice, comfortable chairs perfect for relaxing and feeding the baby to give her a break from the car seat. If you are going to a route you are unfamiliar with, check for major cities along the way and interstate rest areas.

My baby is great at entertaining herself. Give her a toy, and she is happy for quite some time. Bring along a few extra toys for the road trip. This will ensure a variety and keep her occupied longer.

Some items I like to pack on a road trip when carrying the baby are a flashlight, hand sanitizer, umbrella, a hat, and a fully charged cell phone. I try to think of roadside emergencies and make sure that we are as prepared as can be.

Your trip will take longer when traveling with a baby. All the extra stops can add as long as a few hours to your trip. Plan the literary accordingly.

Traveling with a baby does get easier once you have done a few trips. Our first road trip with the baby was a learning experience. Now it seems like we are old pros. The biggest challenge is packing so prepare. With a little planning, your trip with your baby should be enjoyable and not stressful.