Most Secret Method busts it out at the basement of 314 Minnesota ave, in the city of no illusions.

If you want to sound smart at a party, you can say that punk bands lose their edge when the learn to play their instruments, 'cause their not so frustrated anymore. Not true for these monsters of the basement party.

-- Andy McLeod (andrewmcleod@usa.net), December 18, 2000

Answers

Well, it's a picture of a guy playing a bass guitar, all right. But guys and gals, dudes and dudettes, we've said it before and we'll say it again, if you're gonna use flash at a club you're probably not gonna get anything that cool. Click here for an exception, using the "rear curtain" technique which i swear someday I'm gonna learn to use... otherwise you get mug shots- people who look like they've been brought in for questioning.... Other people say "flash, but power down" (flashes that can power down ain't cheap either) or "bounce off the ceiling" But my advice is forget the flash. Get an inexpensive 135 F2.8, open to the max and set the shutter variously between 60, 90, or 125. It's a little slow for that length but just be steady. Hopefully there will be spotlights, little cans that make pools of light the players come into sometimes, if you're lucky. Sometimes you can just go over and twist the lights where you want.... Then, when a face has some light and some shadow on it- shoot. Your first few rolls will let you judge the light more and more by the "meter in your head", but it takes time. But once you get one good one, you'll never go back to flash. Well, maybe sometimes, reluctantly.

-- Chris Yeager (cyeager@ix.netcom.com), December 18, 2000.

It's a pretty well executed photograph because the composition is good and it's not immediately "in your face" obvious that flash was used. Nice details of the fretboard and hands. I'm not crazy about the facial expression; a smile or smirk would be photographically stronger. For being a flash shot, it's not that sharp, but that may be due to the digital conversion and not the photograph itself. All in all, good job. I'm sure glad to see new images popping up here. I can't seem to get any lately. Don't know what it is! :)

-- Tony Rowlett (rowlett@alaska.net), December 19, 2000.

I also like the composition in this. The tilt works well here, in part because of the fretboard of the bass, hands and face make a strong triangle, and it fits the subject to have it "off kilter" that way. As for the lighting... the flash... it's use takes away the feeling of the club. That stage lighting thing, which i think is important to capture in a shot such as this. I find it very distracting also, that the background is so well lit from the flash. I absolutely LOVE those hands. Is this a guy? He could easily be a woman... or i guess i should say he could easily LOOK like a woman. ;o)

-- Susan Daly (SLascaux@aol.com), December 19, 2000.

He is a she,

Yes her hands are crazy

Crossed flashes at f/11, f/8

Bounce that close to the subject loses the lower half of the frame, is swallowed by joists, and kills your batteries and recycle time. The second flash can be used for even fill (-1 stop) or Chiaruscurro- style lighting (flash on camera, slaved flash +2 stops @60 degrees)

-- Andy McLeod (andrewmcleod@usa.net), December 19, 2000.