[Kombisaurus]

I meant to post these about a week ago. Oops!

There was a small street festival in Perth the Saturday night before last, and I decided to go for a wander with my camera.
As I am a coward normally when it comes to street photography and photos of strangers and I figured this was a good opportunity to build my confidence a bit and get some practice in in a situation where everybody expects cameras to be around so nobody would give me a second thought. And it worked! I was shooting away to my heart's content without feeling self-conscious, and the only responses I ever got were indifference, smiles, or "can you take my photo too?"

The festival itself wasn't huge in area, with just one street blocked off and about four stages set up with various acts and entertainment performing on them. But it was quite packed with people and everyone seemed to be having a great time. There was a mix of acts, but all were obviously good at what they did.

I had two annoyances of the night though:
1. All the stages were roped off like boxing rings! grrr... most of my shots of performers are obstructed by ropes and there was nothing I could do about it! This was particularly annoying with some of the dancing.
2. I spent too much time taking telephoto candids and not enough taking wider shots. Although I did want to practice such shots (and was unsure how the lighting would be, being outside at night - so I wanted to try a few different things)... when I look through all the shots there simply aren't enough that capture what was going on around the subject. Plenty of shots of a single performer, but not enough of their whole band. But having said that, I was suprised how well the tele shots came out all things considered.

So here are some shots from the night:


1. General crowd shot. Enough people to feel full, without being uncomfortable.


2. Possessed Trumpet Player. Green light on the smoke behind this guy combined with the red light on him made him look evil... in a good way!


3. The Keyboard Player says "Dave's Not Here Man" I have another shot of this guy with his eyes half closed and smoke from the smoke machine around him - and he looks like he's straight out of a Cheech and Chong movie!


4. Agrophobic Axe-man. I think the LEAD guitarist was a bit shy as he was hiding behind the rest of the band for the whole set.


5. Distracted. A person in the crowd notices some kids throwing a baloon into the air and shows obvious delight. I was happy to get this shot, but I wish it were wider! There were heaps of other people around, and all were staring forward at the stage except for this one person.


6. Fabulous Daaaaarling. There was a fashion parade (I think for fashion students), and while the clothes didn't do much for me it was good shooting practice (and the girls were cute too!)


7. No Hope! This poor old guy busking didn't stand a chance of drawing a crowd when he's up against the organised entertainment.


8. Earning Money For the Peep Show. Like the old guy with the sax, nobody was paying much attention to these buskers as they performed directly across the road from Club X (yes, I flipped the image so the reflection in the window is readable).


9. "Come out with your hands up! Its the fashion police!" I still can't quite work out who or what this is, but she was part of the "official" entertainment apparently?!?!?


10. This is how you do it. Here we see what the old busker was up against, and understand why nobody was listening to him.

[guerito]

What a fireworks of shots! They are great, I can't believe you shot them at night in bad light. I don't have a fave yet but I will come back here tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing!

[shuttertalk]

Great series Komibi - you've done wonders to capture the festivities.

My favourites have to be the keyboard player (dunno why - he just looks cool) and the street sax player. Pity the poor guy - he's getting no attention, and the b/w adds to the melancholy effect.

[Petographer]

Great series but #7 is a real winner. Absolutely fantastic. Good work K.

[Rufus]

Yes, number 7. Totally biscuit & bone class! Excellent! More!!!

[muzza]

They are all good...but for me number 7 is the standout too. I could see that in an ad for scotch or something!

[jericho]

7 is the max award winner. Nicely done!

[StudioJ]

You should go to the street parade tonight Adrian! I will be there lol

[adam]

Great!I also liked #7.
Haha! you're going to the one tonight??? I'm going to leave uni late enough to avoid the traffic. Last time I saw glimpses of the parade tonight, and.... I don't want to see it anymore

Last week, on my way to uni, I saw them setting up for this parade, but I had to stay in uni that night so didn't get to come out and see.

[EnglishBob]

Great series, and like the others number 7 is my pick of the bunch.

[Kombisaurus]

Thanks for the encouragement peoples. Glad you liked them. I'm a little suprised that everyone went for #7 though. I do like it, but it isn't my fave. Maybe its just that I was a bit annoyed because I couldn't get it exactly as I wanted it.

I agree with you about the keyboard player ST. In amongst all the movement he was just really chilled. I took a few shots of him, and there was definately something cool about him.

From a technical point of view, I was most happy with 4 and 6. In the conditions and from where I was situated, I was very happy I managed to get these shots. I also really like the expressions in both shots (although #6 is obviously a contrived expression).

From a "capturing the vibe of Northbridge" point of view my faves have to be 7 and 8. I love the people walking past and the reflection in the window in #8 (not photoshopped at all, just flipped) and think maybe I should've left it in colour. I also should've perhaps got a bit wider for #7, and am annoyed at chopping the poor guy's legs off so badly (but I really wanted to keep that tattoo shop sign in).

J... Adam... There's another festival tonight???? grrrrrrrr :x :x

What's it for?

I have an engagement party to go to tonight, and I'll be in no shape to drive afterwards, much less take photos!

I really need to start paying attention to when these things come on. I only found out about the Northbridge festival because my neighbour mentioned she was going a few hours before.

[StudioJ]

Tonight.. you mean you don't know? Adam does, I think he is going on one of the floats

You need to have some Pride, Adrian.

[Kombisaurus]

oh really???? That's tonight!?!?

hahahahahaha about Adam on a float. ooo.. you gonna take that Adam? FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

grrrr.. The one Perth festival I actually knew existed and had made a mental note to go take some shots.. and one where there will be heaps of interesting colourful shots and characters.. and I can't go!

Rats.

I'd better go drown my sorrows instead.. luckily this party I'm going to is walking distance from home, but there is a lake between us. My new challenge tonight will be to make it home without falling in.

Have fun guys... but not TOO much fun if you know what I'm saying!

[byrt_001]

you very lucky guys to go to those events!

i really like n7

as a matter of interest does anyone talks to these people? does anyone knows why are there? there is always a story.......

regards

christian

[adam]

AAHHAAHHAA

Yah, I'll be on the Canon float


actually, I'm staying home tonight, was going to go to uni, but then it means that when I come home..... it might be bad traffic.

[Irma]

Wonderful pictures Kombi... All of them have something to admire and to talk about but I think the winner in this series is #7.... I do like it a lot!! The position of the player in the picture and his expression... make him look as if he were playing in his own wold isolated from the crowd...

Thanks for sharing

[slejhamer]

These are great. Like everone else I think #7 is excellent - I feel like I'm walking down the street with you.