Interlude
The joy of live music and testing a new camera for concerts
Dear reader,
Once I was talking to a religious person who was telling me about the experience at a concert he had attended recently. He was impressed at how the music and the collective experience of a live concert made him feel extremely elevated. His eyes were shining as he spoke and you could see how it felt otherworldly.
I’m not religious, but I understand it. Concerts and live music are one of my favorite things and the feeling of being lost in the crowd, in the music, in the energy and excitement is one of the greatest things humans can experience. The blurring of the barriers between the self and the collective. It is pure joy.
Adding a camera to the whole thing makes the experience even better for me. I remember dancing with my camera in hand during a Ville Valo concert and how great it felt to be able to enjoy two hobbies at the same time. Now, whenever I can, I take a camera with me to concerts, which sometimes gets tricky depending on the venue. Some of them couldn’t care less about my Nikon F3 (thanks, Pustervik ♥️) and others care a lot and demand the cameras to be a point-and-shoot.
My last experience with an analog compact camera at a concert was less than ideal. The photos from the Metallica concert did not turn out as I had envisioned. As much as I’m a fan of abstraction and welcome imperfection, sometimes I enjoy that my photos are on the sharp side. That prompted me to find a camera that could be a good alternative for demanding venues.
After some research, I landed with the Minolta AF Tele Super. I wanted a fast auto-focus, sharp lens, and the possibility to choose between focal distances. Turns out that the flash in mine does not work, but that was not a problem. I loaded it with Ilford Delta 3200 and headed up for two weeks filled with concerts and great artists and bands in Gothenburg and Stockholm.
The camera did not disappoint. I used it in small venues with little light, a theater, and concerts in a big arena and it performed consistently, with all the photos being correctly exposed and, most of them, in focus. It’s no wonder Leica launched its own camera based on the Minolta version.
I also learned that concerts in small venues are a better match to my photographic style. I love big arenas and stadium shows, but as the lighting has to be strong enough to create an experience even to the people all the way in the back, I rarely like the way they end up looking in my images.
And I’m very pleased that I now have options to take film photos in every concert I go. I don’t remember where I’ve read (probably Instagram) that the secret to happiness is to keep finding things to like. Here I am, taking my silly cameras to see my favorite musicians.
Next, test it with Cinestill 800T at Alcest and Dark Tranquility concerts.
The Ordinary: Extra
Here is a playlist with the artists featured in this newsletter. Enjoy a sample of my crusty musical taste.
Sou fã mesmo!
Só fotaça cara amiga!
Um grande abraço!