August 17, 2008 – Performing at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, glam metal veterans Poison brought a raucous, high-energy set to the shed that had fans screaming for the rock of love.
Photographer's Notes:
Between Bret Michaels, the band, and the enthusiastic fans, this concert was a riot to photograph. Tons of good vibes all around made this a great shoot. The setup for this show made no accommodation for a photo pit, so press packed in around the small semi-circular extension at the center of the stage. While we were packed in with the fans, I felt that the setup still worked out rather well.
The band made good use of the stage and circulated well for a nice variety, including several trips up front by guitarists C.C. DeVille and Bobby Dall. While a more mobile position would have been preferred, the band certainly made it work for fans and photographers alike.
Overall, this was a very, very well lit performance. I shot at a fairly unprecedented ISO 800 at f/4 and 1/500. Even for amphitheater and arena shows, an exposure that “conservative” is rare.
As per the regular modus operandi, I shot this performance with my three zooms: the Nikon 14-24mm, Nikon 24-70mm, and Nikon 70-200mm. The latter was especially useful for Bret Michaels and his trips to the middle and sides of the stage.
