However, I've always felt I wouldn’t be able to call myself a photographer until I can take decent photos with a film camera. Mainly because you can fake your way through an assignment with a digital camera, or at least see what you're doing wrong and correcting it instantly, but not with film.
I Googled the venue beforehand to see what the photo pit situation was like (non-existent, if you're wondering!), and I only found one photographer’s blog with gig photos. At some point during this gig, I turned around, only to see that photographer standing right behind me. Not the biggest coincidence in the world, of course, but still funny. He reckons it's the worst venue he's had to work in. So I was feeling very confident indeed.
I was shooting with a 50mm prime lens, with everything on manual. In the end, the photos I like most (read: the only ones worth keeping) were all lucky shots. I can't say I did anything intentionally, apart from the first one – and the guitarist was kind enough not to move around too much.
As for the band: I saw Van Coke Kartel three times in the past month, and Fokofpolisiekar for the first time ever. Although I wouldn't really listen to their music at home (I was, in fact, introduced to their music by an English friend), I believe they're the best (live) band South Africa's ever produced. And I really regret not seeing them when they first started out.
Listen to: Brand Suid-Afrika and Voor Ons Stof Word.
