I
spent almost half of my life writing songs and tour-
ing the globe with my group, Powderfinger, a little
band that sprung out of Brisbane in the early 90’s.
Throughout that time touring, I was also snappingaway, capturing as much as I could about the band, on
stage and backstage as well as the people and work behind
the scenes that made it all happen.
When our band finally pulled up stumps at the end
of 2010, it didn’t call an end to my passion for photogra-
phy but meant a chance to dive in even further. In the
following pages, I share my thoughts and approach to
music photography, both live performance and behind
the scenes.
BETWEEN THE LINES
Photography has always been a bit like good songwrit-
ing to me. I am both creating and capturing a moment
to share with someone. The mindset I carry with me is
quite simple.
In each image there should be a story going on. I'll
try to include characters in the foreground and the
background, and share a message. I'll try create a con-
versation between light and shadow. Most of all I want
to lead the viewers eye towards certain elements while
other elements are revealed more slowly.
At the end of the day, I believe we are all trying to tell
a story with our photos. Trying to both capture the scene,
yet also allow room for the viewer to insert themselves into
the moment. And, as with my music, I’m never complete-
ly satisfied with my photography. I'm always searching for
the next shot, always learning, borrowing, seeking con-
nection and trying to immortalise that f leeting moment.
Like many, I started on film but have now moved to
digital. However, I still operate my camera in full man-
ual mode, including manual focus most of the time.BEFORE THE GIG
In the same way I tell aspiring musicians that their win-
dow of opportunity may be small and close quickly, the
same applies to live music photography. You need to
know your camera and be as ready as you can to catch
the often fast moving pace of a live show.
A gig is more than just the performance. There's the set-
up, the anticipation, the gig itself and finally the end of the
show. All these parts present an opportunity for you to shoot,
and all present a different aspect of the concert experience.Live music photography presents a unique challenge for a photographer.
How do you give your viewer a visual sense of an audio experience?
Professional musician and keen band photographer Darren Middleton
shares his tips to get you started.
BY DARREN MIDDLETONPHOTO TIPS: MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
OPPOSITE: This shot I took during soundcheck. I wanted to capture the performers view as they step up to the mic before a venue is filled.
It can be both a peaceful and terrifying moment for a performer and as a photographer, it is the calm before the storm. Fujifilm X-T2,
XF23mmF2 R WR lens. 1/200s @ f3.6, ISO 3200.