MusInk was a great experience to music and tattoo fans alike.  I went to the convention on Friday for the first day on 3-8-13.  I traveled with the band Assuming We Survive due to their win at the battle of the bands final round at the House of Blues of Anaheim on that Monday.  Being labeled as contest winners by the convention, they had little to no leeway on giving passes to even their own crew.  Funny it was almost the first time I photographed an event and had to pay to get in, but it was well worth it.  Still having a virgin body in the sense of tattoo work, it made me really consider getting one for myself, especially since there are so many tattoo artists connected to the Sullen name such as Roman.  There was well over a hundred tattoo artists working on willing participants at their booths.   In many cases a person can go up to a booth and get a tattoo done for free, just for the purpose of the artist displaying their talent.  On to the music end of things, because Assuming We Survive was just referred to as contest winners, none of the public new of their performance never mind the press covering the event.  As far as participants they the crowed was around a hundred people for those that wanted to get a good position for the huge acts following.  The line up was Assuming We Survive, Guttermouth, the Vandals and headlining Bad Religion.  All the top bands showed what they are known for best for that caliber of group.  With each band going up the crowed became more and more excited, packing the hanger to the point of being crushed.  With me not having any proper credentials, I shot from the crowed.

The Great part of shooting from the crowed is that you have more of a direct view of the band allowing images to be more on their level and looking natural rather then in a photo pit looking strait up.  With being with the general public there is no three song maximum gives me more time to get the shots I want.  The also major plus that most photographers over look is that the public is just as much of a subject as the band is.  Viewing the excitement of the people viewing revives my drive to take photos.  Now the huge downside especially when taking photos  of big bands is the potential damage to your gear.  Assuming We Survive, Guttermouth and The Vandals I was able to hand the crowed, even when they were being carried overtop of me.  My equipment is insured but once Bad Religion got I couldn’t handle it.  There is a difference between risking your equipment being broken and knowing your equipment will get broken. 

Over all with the first three bands I was very happy with how the images turned out and with staying in the crowed.  In many times the photo pit wasn’t too much better.  Photographers packing the pit to the point were they couldn’t move.  The photographers in the pit where forced to shoot up and none of them ever looking back at the crowed due to a three song time restraints.  Even due to all of that, I did envy their safety.  After the event me, Assuming We Survive, our friends and a number of people from the convention including Roman went to a bar in Hamilton Beach for an after party.

------Photo Tips

• As far as shooting an event like this.  Be sure to bring a flash to take pictures of the crowed but 95% of the time it should be turned off. This is true especially when taking a picture of artists wail they are working and for live concerts.
• A lot of con's have low lights in their primary halls, it is very important to have good glass for your camera.  Very rarely did I ever go above 2.8 and thankfully didn't go bellow 1/100 with an iso 1600.
• When there are artists at work, it is a great moment to get close up shots getting a nice tight framing with either their eyes or their hand being a primary focus.
• INSURE YOUR GEAR.  I was lucky to get out of the crowed with my gear still intact.
• When taking pictures of a concert, bring earplugs.  Don't consider it being rude to the band because you will still hear them, consider it saving your ears.
• 90% of the time I never use the center focus point.  I use the top and bottom corners nearly every time.  If the subject is looking or their primary motion is pointing right then I have them focused in the top left and so forth.
• When framing an musician, do not crop them bellow the half way point of their knee and foot and do not go higher then slightly above the knee.