Websites and Podcast

The main focus of DPReview, founded in 1998, is to provide reviews on cameras, lenses, and camera accessories. The website features sample images of almost all the camera products tested for review including dates of when the images were taken. Key features for photographers to utilize once they better understand concert photography via the other resources in this annotated bibliography are the camera database, lens database, and side-by-side comparison camera database. This is a free resource.

Rockarchive began in 1998 as a project by Jill Furmanovsky, a photographer with more than 45 years of experience. “The idea behind it was to make her work, and that of other rock photographers and visual artists, more accessible to fans and collectors.” The website lists the photographers and artists that are featured in the collection and their work is meant to help the viewer “suddenly find yourself there.” This resource is a way for photographers to explore a multitude of past and present photographers and to view fairly unknown concert photographers who are being recognized and earning money via limited-edition embossed prints sold through the site. This website is also meant for collectors, consumerists, and artists looking to connect with photographers. This is the only archival project listed in the annotated bibliography.

The purpose of this website is in its name: How To Become a Rockstar Photographer. Although it uses the term “rockstar,” it’s being used to encompass all musical artists. The website provides advice on camera equipment, etiquette, and website and portfolio building. Most of these resources are free, but some are not; in order to get the most out of this website there is no need to pay. The website contains various formats for learning including blog posts with graphics, videos with individualized courses, and audio (podcasts). This is the most all-encompassing resource in the annotated bibliography because of its various formats for information learning.

Todd Owyoung is a Nikon Ambassador for Nikon USA and his website is meant for aspiring professional live-music photographers who want to learn how to shoot concert photography. Like the How To Become A Rockstar Photographer website, I Shoot Shows covers all topics involving concert photography. It “features over 1,100 articles ranging from lenses and DSLRs to use for music photography, to concert coverage, and advanced technique for anyone wanting to learn how to get into music photography.” The website is continuously updated and current.

The objective of a good photographer is to take good photos the first time, which is one focus in Vogel’s blog, but a major focus of his blog is photo editing specific to live-music photography. Other websites in the annotated bibliography include a photographer blog, but a key feature of this blog is the free photography editing tips and Lightroom presets specific to concert photography. The blog articles are arranged chronologically and there is no way to search them unless using an outside search engine. The blog contains first-hand knowledge from Matty Vogel, a touring music photographer, for concert photographers. He provides information for Lightroom over other photo editing platforms; he also shoots with Canon, but provides additional information on Nikon.

Matt Walter’s, a professional photographer who has published photos in VICE and TIME magazines, podcast topics are chosen by questions submitted by listeners. He provides a free podcast that is available via iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, and YouTube. The information presented is based on the author’s experience with live music photography and personal research. The audience includes those of all levels interested in learning concert photography. Episodes in the podcast last 30 minutes.