How did you shoot that: Marc De Tollenaere at Verona Jazz Festival

I took this picture in Verona during the Verona Jazz Festival on 21st of June 2007 a 9.30p.m.

I was working for an editor making a book on Verona and my assignment was to take the spirit of this show in the Roman theatre. I saw the upper part of the double bass making an interesting contrast with audience in the background, so I moved quietly to the back of the scene, in order to find the best composition. The scene lights coming widely from the top of the stage-box lighted the musician and the blue reflection coming from the audience originated from the sky not yet completely dark; I knew that such light doesn’t stays only for a few minutes, so I had to decide quickly. The musician was moving left and right following the rhythm, so the biggest problem was the poor light conditions that obligated me to shoot with a long exposure. Of course I couldn’t use a flash because I had to be invisible by the audience, so I increased the iso from 100 to 400 and I decided to shoot when the musician stopped for half a second in his movements left right. Three minutes later that light was gone.

I used a Nikon DX2 camera equipped with a zoom 18-200 f 3,5/5,6 G set on 150mm on a Manfrotto 055MF3 tripod equipped with 468MGRC4 head.
I exposed at 1/25 f 5,6 iso 400.

One Comment on “How did you shoot that: Marc De Tollenaere at Verona Jazz Festival”

by diego fantinelli
11:03 am - July 22nd, 2009

Cool shot Marc!
Even if B&W has often a stronger impact in Jazz Photography, the blue-lighted background gives a smooth and misterious touch.. very jazzy.

Just a detail… the subject of your shot has got a name: Lorenzo Conte (double-bass)
D!