Why stage photography? It all started with music. For more than 20 years, I discovered, appreciated and listened to all kind of music: rock, progressive, punk/hardcore, alternative, electronic, folk, French chanson, traditional, jazz, blues, reggae/ska/dub et and lot of world music (Africa, Europe, Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, the Caribbean, America and more).

I consider that music becomes complete during live performances. The link that is created between the musicians and the public is an important element of the musical experience. The complicity that appears between the musicians is somewhat fascinating and reassuring. It’s not enough to barely take pictures of the musicians. One must try to capture the spirit of the live performance, the public’s reactions, the interactions between the musicians.

Stage photography is not without difficulties:

• Generally, there is little or very little light. Unlike in a studio, I have no control over the amount, the direction and the color of the light.
• The subjects are moving and a long exposition is rarely possible. I can’t ask someone on the stage to repeat a certain move. I can’t ask someone on the stage to go to a specific place and say "Cheeeeeese!".
• In order not to bother the public, I can’t always place myself where I would like to correctly compose the photos.
• Various objects can block the visual field (microphones, musical instruments, amplifiers, rests, curtains, etc,).

Stage photography can be a real challenge. But when I succeed in taking a good photo, despite of the difficult conditions, the satisfaction is well worth the effort!

Charles-Antoine Caron
Sherbrooke, Qc
charliefotos@gmail.com

Each computer screen is different. Colors, contrast, sharpness and brightness can widely differ from one computer screen to the other. The following steps indicate how to adjust your screen for a better display:

• Make sure no ambient light is reflected in your screen. If necessary, close the curtains and/or the lights.
• If you use an anti-glare or privacy filter, remove it temporarily.
• Adjust the brightness of your screen to about 90%.
• Adjust the contrast of your screen to about 90%.
• If possible, adjust the colors so that red is lightly predominant over green and blue (RGB color system).
• If the pictures seem overexposed (too bright), reduce the brightness.