FEATURE:
Take Your Best Shot
IN THIS PHOTO: Róisín Murphy/PHOTO CREDIT: Christian Angerer for Ibiza Style Magazine
The Huge Importance of Music Photography
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I do feel that…
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Hardy/Pexels
the importance of visuals in music are perhaps less important than they were. If not less important, one cannot argue against the fact that there has been a change and shift. I don’t think that music videos are as valued and prominent as they used to be. Artists still make them, though we don’t really have music T.V. anymore. Videos are viewed in private and rarely shared on social media as being this amazing or innovative thing. I remember when I was a child, there was a real lure and attraction discovering a music video that was hugely original and eye-catching. Maybe the more digital music becomes, the less we associate music with the visual. I do think that there is a sad loss of that medium. Artists maybe do not have the budget to make really big or groundbreaking videos. Those that do are getting streams and likes based on their popularity rather than the quality of the video. There are features that highlight the best music videos of the year, though the best of the best cannot really stand up against the best of the past. Less determination for artists to equal and better. The same could be said of album covers. We do have some stunning examples each year. I am curious whether there is that appeal of making a really phenomenal album cover. One that can challenge the all-time best. Maybe I am wrong, though it is clear that there is perhaps less to play for. Artists do not need that visual magnetism to get their albums sold. I still feel that there is a real need for album covers to be as strong and good as they can be. So that vinyl is passed down for decades more, the pull of the album cover is paramount. If we feel music is more about streaming and less about making the visual side of things engaging, then we risk losing something very meaningful and important.
IN THIS PHOTO: Jesse Jo Stark/PHOTO CREDIT: Phoebe Fox (this article is well worth a read)
It is all about an artist’s identity. Putting their stamp on a video or album cover. The same could be said for music photography. There is a corner that argue it is a medium that is less important in the digital age. If we can all take photographs ourselves and there is no real ‘difficulty’ filtering and manipulating a photo, then what value do photographers add?! The thing is, they are professionals who think about the right camera to use. The right conditions and lenses. You cannot really get the same feeling and look from a smartphone than you can a real camera. It is about concept too. You do get photographers who will take basic portraits or simple shots. There is nothing wrong with that. Also, a very packed and too busy photo can be overwhelming and too much. It is about striking that balance. A wonderful music photograph draws the eye and opens the mind. The reason I have selected that photo of Róisín Murphy as the main one is that it is beautifully composed. It looks like this throwback to the 1950s or 1960s. The colours and what she is wearing. At first, you cannot tell if she is standing up and the record player and albums are stuck to the wall, or it is a shot of her on the floor and the camera angle is deceiving. You also wonder what she is thinking. You immerse yourself in the world of that photo shoot. She is creating a character and a story. Kudos to Christian Angerer for bringing so much to that shoot. Not only do you want to read the interview the photos are associated with. You also see Róisín Murphy in a different light. Seek out her music. Photography can have that pull. They create this identity and narrative. Not something that you can get from an amateur. I think the sheer mass of photos shared online distils the artform. It is good people can document their lives, though there is this assumption that modern technology makes traditional photographers obsolete or less distinct.
IN THIS PHOTO: Karol G/PHOTO CREDIT: Vijat Mohindra via Billboard
That is not the case. Especially with music photography, it is much more about taking the shot. Artists still need photos taken to strengthen their portfolio. It shows that artists are serious. I know that not every artist will have the opportunity to be photographed for magazines and websites. They may have to hire a photographer. There is also that split between concert photography and other shoots. Taking a great shot of an artist in action take a different set of skills to a composition. Live photography seems to be about trying to capture the mood of a going or getting that definitive image. If you have more time to compose a photo that creates its own challenges. It is a fascinating medium. Truly brilliant music photographs can ensure and inspire for years to come. I am glad there is recognition of the best photographs from each year. Those who say that anyone can be a photographer and it is not important these days should look at the best music photos of the year and think about the talent and detail involved. How there is this strong connection between music and photography. The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards are relatively new:
“Photography has defined some of the greatest moments in the history of music. The Abbey Road Music Photography Awards celebrates, showcases and supports the global community of music photographers and the images that create and shape culture, connect music fans to the artists they love, and define music iconography for generations to come. This year we've returned for our third edition, delivering the next chapter of a long-term vision for supporting, showcasing & enabling the best in music photography, firmly establishing us as the foremost competition in music photography”.
IN THIS PHOTO: YUNGBLUD/PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Pallant
I really love a great music photograph. I am more a fan of studio compositions and those we can associate with the image of Róisín Murphy at the top of this feature. That said, I have admiration for live photography. The skillset it takes to capture an image from a gig that stands in the mind. The patience and instinct that is needed. Putting yourself in a position where you can get the best shot too. The same for studio photography and stuff on location. Choosing the right spot and getting the concept right. Trying to consciously bring the best out of your subject without being too forcefully. Making the image seem natural when it is posed and staged. That is a really hard thing. You compare all of this with what people share online and it is clear that amateur photography does not compare to professionals. Music is still very visual, so we need to recognise the importance of music photographers. It is sad that videos are losing their appeal and seem to be less regarded as they were years ago. The same with album covers perhaps. Music journalism and print media is still alive. Great photography can win artists new fans. It can be a hugely powerful promotional tool. I wonder how much we think of the photographers and what they add. Photography is as subjective as anything, so we all get different things from photos. I prefer compositions that are not straight portraits. Throw in something that is a bit conceptual and imaginative. A straight portrait can be powerful, though it is harder grab attention and stay in the mind. The best live shots are ones where you feel like you are at the gig and capturing this moment that nobody else has seen. We need to regard music photographers more highly than we do. Understand how important the medium is and how difficult it is. Even so, it is an industry that is always looking for new talent. Music photography will not die. Amateurs with smartphones are not taking their place and never could! There is so much more to music photography that goes beyond having a phone. There is a knowledge, passion, set of skills that you and me to do not possess. It is high time that we give these creatives…
MORE exposure.