Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit Rose Music Center 2024
December 27, 2024
I Finally Photographed Jason Isbell
On a beautiful September summer night, I finally photographed Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. This concert took place at Huber Heights Ohio’s Rose Music Center. We have been seeing Jason for several years, and this was the first time I have been approved to photograph him. I love his musical sound as well as his powerful lyrics. As a professional concert photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, this was a must-do concert for me.
Having seen them several times, I knew the stage setup and the band’s movements. I also know every song including guitar solos. This allowed me to anticipate where Jason would be at various times throughout the first three songs. Moving between stage right, stage left, and front of the house (soundboard) gave me several angles from which to shoot. Of course, I always prefer to shoot from the pit, but often we are not permitted to do so.
We learned ahead of time that it was a pit shoot. Upon arrival, the tour manager told us we could go anywhere except the pit. We couldn’t block anyone’s view. I stood stage right and stage left beside six-foot-tall speakers, shooting from an extreme side angle. Although it was frustrating then, I realized I was still photographing the band. I take a few seconds at each concert to feel that appreciation.
Anticipating Change
Being a live music photographer has one major challenge for me. Most people would cite lighting, crowds, or other things as the most difficult. I find that having a change in shooting position is the biggest challenge. It annoys us when organizers say we can shoot from the pit but then change it to the soundboard. For some, this is really bad news. People who don’t bring the proper equipment for both a pit shoot and a soundboard shoot can be out of luck during a last-minute location change.
Luckily, I have photographed weddings since 2007, so I am always prepared for last-second changes. I show up at every wedding and concert with backup equipment. For concerts specifically, I bring wide-angle, medium-zoom, and large-zoom lenses. When others are scrambling for a solution to shooting 200 feet from the band, I pull out my large zoom, and I am ready to shoot! Lastly, I prepare to help reduce stress at the event. I can then enjoy the experience of live music photography even more.
Make sure to check out a concert at the Rose Music Center.
