There are showgirls on stage shaking their feathers, Barry just did his third wardrobe change, and his smile has got more flash than his sequined attire. We’re not in Vegas; Barry Manilow is on tour.
Singer-songwriter and pop icon Barry Manilow opened the Chaifetz Arena in its inaugural concert. Taking the stage in a blue-sequined suit, the legendary song-maker delivered a hit-filled performance at the new venue, complete with the perfect finale.
In the touring version of the Las Vegas Hilton show “Music and Passion,” Barry Manilow saved one sure-fire crowd-pleaser until the end. Complete with dancing showgirls, a fresh suit, and undeniable showmanship, Manilow performed his disco smash “Copacabana,” living up to his promise of bring a piece of the Entertainment Capital of the World to his fans.
Photographer’s Notes:
This was my first gig at the new Chaifetz Arena, and the start of my position as the venue’s house photographer. While the shoot wasn’t in the pit, it was still a great experience stepping into the arena with such a big production going on.
There were two other photographers shooting this gig, one for the label and one from a daily paper. There were also three videographers from local stations.
The shooting restrictions for this show were the first three songs from the soundboard.
Lighting:
The lighting setup for this set was generally very simple during the first three songs. Blue and purple washes behind the singer introduced a little color, but Barry himself was lit almost exclusively with white light from two spotlights high up on the opposite end of the arena.
Exposure & Metering:
Thanks to the twin spotlights tracking Barry’s movements, exposure for this set was a snap. I was able to shoot at ISO 2500 at f/5 and 1/640 under the ample light.
Lenses & Equipment:
As expected, all photography and videography was restricted to the soundboard at the back of the floor. In preparation for this shoot, I rented a Nikon 300mm f/2.8 and used the Nikon 1.7x teleconverter to bring me closer to the action. For full-length shots, this setup worked beautifully.
Due to the weight of the setup, I used a carbon fiber monopod during this shoot. Thanks to the collar on the lens, I was easily able to switch between vertical and horizontal framing, all while using the monopod for stability and support.
End Notes:
For me, this show was an interesting change from the usual setup, particularly since it meant shooting with a super telephoto from the soundboard. Quite different from the usual show at the Pageant. Due to the limited options for framing, I tried to concentrate on gesture and expression for this gig.
A big thanks, shout out, and congratulations to the fine folks at the Chaifetz Arena for a very successful first concert. The first of many, I would hope.
17 Comments Add your own
1. John | May 14th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
todd,
good to see you got the manilow pics up. must’ve been weird to use such a huge zoom for this one… sorta like shooting a football game!
not sure why the older performers get, the more “vegas” their wardrobes become, like the sam hui concert on my flickr. but hey, these guys aren’t legends for nothing.
again great shots!
2. Todd | May 15th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Hey John,
Thanks for the feedback, I finally got around to posting these. It’s been a busy last few weeks.
I never use a lens this long for gigs, but then again, I don’t often have to shoot from the soundboard as I did for this show.
Ha, Barry is all about the Vegas, and he certainly delivered.
3. kenny | May 15th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
todd-
that shadow shot (looks like from backstage) is MONEY!!!
u da’ man!
4. Todd | May 15th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Thanks, Kenny. That shot was made right when Barry was stepping out onto the stage. The riser for the musicians split apart for his entrance, for which he was backlit with lots of smoke.
5. Chris | May 15th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Great shots from the soundboard, Todd! It must have been hard, changing it up — but a change of pace can be interesting and challenging. Could you explain more on how the collar works that lets you change between vertical and horizontal framing? I haven’t heard of that, yet
Thanks!
6. Todd | May 15th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Hey Chris, thanks for the comment on this set. The change of shooting position was certainly interesting, especially this was also the first time shooting in the Chaifetz. Certainly different than the concert the next night.
A lens’s tripod collar has a foot where it attaches to a threaded nut. The collar rotates, so you can change between vertical and horizontal orientations freely.
Without the collar, it wouldn’t be possible to change orientations without messing with the tripod/monopod head.
7. Neetu | May 16th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Great shots! I admire your skills.
8. Todd | May 16th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Thanks, Neetu!
9. Gabbi | May 16th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Hi todd!
its been a while since i last posted up on here, but i used your advice for recent hardcore/punk shows and they worked amazingly! so thank you so much! i also wanted to ask you how you got in touch with NERD. just that they are coming into london next month and i would love to jump at that opportunity. Thanks for all your help and im sure i will be up here checking out your skills soon.
take care Todd.
Gabbi
10. Andi | May 17th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Mmmh .. I was a bit worried when I heard you had to shoot from the soundboard. This is such a silly position for a photographer, to transport real concert atmosphere from such an isolated point of view is hard. But I think you did quite a good job there, although the pics just don’t have that depth that could have been achieved from the pit.
11. Todd | May 17th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Hi Gabbi, glad to hear the advice for some of your recent gigs worked out. I’m happy to help.
As for N.E.R.D., it took a little work and several phone calls. I’d say it was probably the hardest pass to get so far, simply in the amount of work it took to find the right contact and actually get ahold of someone who could set something up. Send me an e-mail and I’ll get you started on the right track.
12. Todd | May 18th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Hey Andi, thanks for your thoughts. I agree, the soundboard is a difficult shooting position to get any really dynamic and unique shots of a performer. It really comes down to timing and the limited freedom of composition.
I’d rather be in the pit for almost any show if I can.
13. Lori | May 19th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Phenomenal captures. I love the silhouette.
Barry’s looking like an older, more weathered, plastic-y version of Clay Aiken. Gulp.
14. Todd | May 19th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Thanks, Lori. I never really thought about the Manilow-Aiken connection, ha.
15. Gabbi | May 20th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Hi Todd
just writing regarding the N.E.R.D. contact. I can imagine how difficult it must of been getting a photo pass. But being a fan of their music and seeing your photos of their performance, i am willing to knock on the doors too. if you can email me
the.only.one.ever@hotmail.co.uk just that i don’t have your email add. Thanks so Much for all your help.
Gabbi x
16. gus | June 1st, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Nice work Todd, dispite the restrictions. What white balance do you typically go with such extreme color changes?
17. Todd | June 2nd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks, Gus. I normally shoot Auto WB most of the time, actually, including this performance. The lighting on Barry was actually quite stable.
speak up
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