The Specials @ Terminal 5, NYC - 4.21.10 (5)

The Specials @ Terminal 5, NYC – 4.21.10

May 22, 2010 | Concert Photography

I’ve been waiting a long time to see the (almost) original lineup of the Specials perform. I knew it was only a matter of time before the legendary ska band from the UK would play over in the States. I wasn’t happy that the show was at Terminal 5 because I think that venue is one of the worst venues I’ve ever been in. Bad location, awful sight lines, crappy sound and it just makes for a miserable concert experience. But I tried to deal with that stuff and just have fun. I was on assignment for Prefixmag.com, where you might have seen my photos already.

I have a more complete review of the show over at ReadJunk.com, so check it out here.

It was a tough time shooting the Specials. The lighting was chaotic, and practically no front lighting for the first 4 songs. The back lighting blasted its way from the back, and making it hard to capture faces of the band members. Terry Hall and certain members were sitting in the back where there was no light on them. The best options were shooting Lynval and Roddy. Neville was tough to capture as well because he was constantly moving around. Perhaps I’ll have a better time capturing their set when they perform in daylight and outside for the Central Park Summerstage show in August. We shall see! But I wasn’t happy at all with these shots, I did get a few decent ones here and there but I wish I had better lenses. But even that, I don’t think that would have mattered. I got better shots further away, up in the balcony. Maybe because the back lighting was blasting in my face & camera.

But it was a pleasure just to shoot the show and see the Specials again. I got a after-show party pass but couldn’t use it, so I gave it to a super Specials fan and she was stoked. Why have it go to waste? So it was nice to make a fan happy with that.

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