Imagery through bewilderment

Lacuna Coil playing Birmingham.

2014-12-24T16:47:10Z

Motionless in White

Lacuna Coil

For my review pop over to Independent Voice:
http://www.theindependentvoice.org/2014/11/20/lacuna-coil-the-institute-birmingham/

Pictures from Barb Wire Dolls playing Peterborough.

2014-12-09T04:24:23Z

Barb Wire Dolls

Yet more over here:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Barb%20Wire%20Dolls/Peterborough%202014/

WGW - Saturday night bands.

2014-12-02T11:04:42Z

First up on the Saturday night were the brilliant

Lesbian Bed Death

Bad Pollyanna

Rhombus

Hugh Cornwell

Voltaire

WGW - Photos from Friday night.

2014-11-30T12:56:40Z

Whitby Goth Weekend?

[Photos] Infest

2014-11-03T18:17:59Z

When I started going to Infest it was always camera in hand to photograph the bands. There were a couple where I didn't take along a camera but when the opportunity to take the camera back there came up again I went for it. This time I was photographing for Alternative Voice and now that the review has gone up I can put some pictures up here.

You can read the review here:
http://www.theindependentvoice.org/2014/10/27/infest-festival-2014-bradford-university-student-union/

More pictures are on the website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Infest/2014/index.html

Yoga by a castle.

2014-10-28T20:52:42Z

Some weekends there is nothing for it but to grab a yogi and go take pictures of them near ruins

More on my website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/People/Yoga%20and%20dance/Jaime/index.html

Many thanks to Jaime from BodyMindYoga

Hoop on a hill

2014-10-23T21:55:26Z

Want a good way to spend a weekend? Go visit a friend you've not seen in far too many years. Traipse to the top of a hill carrying a big frame and take some pictures of aerial yoga.

It is probably fair to describe this photshoot as hard work - those frames are pretty heavy to move around. Of course once at the top I just rolled around on the floor with a camera, others had to do actual work

It was quite surprising how quiet it was - there was only one set of people who went past whilst we were photographing.

We switched the gear over and moved to a different location.

More here:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/People/Yoga%20and%20dance/Sarah%20hoop%20and%20yoga/

Polecats student shoot.

2014-10-11T07:15:51Z

At the end of last term I was asked along to Polecats Dance Studio again to photograph their students.

Pole Dance does occasionally suffer from a perception from some quarters that it is inextrictably linked to stripping. Becasue of that sometimes your subjects can be a bit worried about what the photographs are going to come out like. I've known Polecats for a while now and done a few things with them. It helps when the subjects are confident that the photograper is going to capture them the way that they want to be captured.

It can be very surprising just how much space around the pole is needed to strech out in.

Their new lesson timetable starts in a week, so if you are around Oxford and this has got your interest why not go along and give it a go.

davefish @ 2014-10-01T05:40:00

2014-10-01T04:40:22Z

Last night I went off to see some dancers at Warwick Arts. Inala was really great though I know so little about dance that I am not sure that I can really do a sensible review of it. There was a bit of a story behind it but I think tha tI appreciated it more when I stopped worrying about that and just watched the graceful people dancing.

Ex Libris in Bilson

2014-08-01T20:37:36Z

Divided we Fall

The Mariana Hollow

Chemikill

Ex Libris

There are even more over on my website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Chemikill/Robin%202%20-%20July2014/index.html

Becky: Yoga in the dust

2014-07-07T04:19:31Z

It is always worth keeping an ear out to what sort of pictures your friends want. Beckie linked to some pictures of dancers on her Facebook and when I saw that I waved my arms around a bit and sounded enthusiastic about getting some a bit like that. Of course, when I added in that I wanted to get her covered in flour there was a slight look of trepidation. I stayed enthusiastic about the idea and for some reason she went along with it.

A studio was hired (As it will be very messy) and a helper roped in.

Even more to be found on my website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/People/Yoga%20and%20dance/Becky%20and%20smoke/

Revolt vs Catharsis

2014-06-18T19:00:40Z

Revolt and Catharsis are Coventry based clubs, one being an feminist Riot Grrl night, the other a goth night. At the end of last month they combined forces for a bigger than usual night. There were bands.

The Webb

Anarchistwood

Last July

Drag

More on my website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Catharsis/Revolt%20Vs%20Catharsis/index.html

Pole fitness and Lizzie

2014-06-18T05:35:47Z

Pole fitness - power and strength.

I'll be shooting more like these on Friday.

Deathsex Bloodbath playing at LAMP

2014-06-15T19:42:06Z

Coming out of a Millenium long cryosleep, DeathSex Bloodbath had one of the longest gaps before a comeback tour. Luckilly, thought the wonders of technological development, they sent a time machine back to get me to photograph the gig.

Before they got started Delightful Young Mothers played a few tunes.

Then DSB hit the stage.

DSB could never be described as boring or predictable. Encouraging mosh-pits is generally done by singers yelling enouragement at the audience. This gig it was simply done by throwing some Space Hoppers into the mix and letting us get on with it.

Yet more shots to be found here:

http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Deathsex%20Bloodbath/LAMP%20May%202014/index.html

We even had some time to get in some posing outside the venue before we all disappeared back into the time machine.

Dames of Darkness festival

2014-05-26T20:20:00Z

The Dames of Darkness festival is the small UK festival which looks to be taking it’s cues from MFVF in Belgium. This is no bad thing at all and if anything I would have expected more people in attendance. Perhaps the heady location of Bilson was just to exotic for some.

They have an open-door policy for photographs which means one can go along with oversized camera gear and get those snazzy snaps.

Divided We Fall

The first band on were Divided We Fall.

Incarnadine Coven

Dyonisis

Dyonisis are a favourite of – well, pretty much everyone I knew that was going to the festival. They are not so well known on the metal scene, mostly having done things either in the goth or the folk scene. They were absolutely belting on the day. By the end of the set the crowd seemed to be taken too judging by the amount of cheering going on. Nel seemed to be rather surprised at quite how much cheering was going on.

Apparition

Apparition are the key organisers of the festival.

One of the things that I've really loved about MFVF over in Belgium was Eve's Apple, which is essentially a big karaoke with the singers from all the bands on stage and singing all sorts of random songs. For Apparition's last song they brought on quite a few extra singers, to give us that whole experience. Brilliant. They were only on briefly to belt through Rock You Like a Hurricane.

Skeptical Minds

Jaded Star

This was their first gig anywhere - which went really well. One of the singers from Visions of Atlantis was in the band (Who were similarly up the bill last year) though I didn't know that until they arrived on stage.

Xandria

For those that like their metal that bit more epic...

bateleur - Go have a listen to some of their stuff.

Stream of Passion

As usual, more on my webpage.
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Dames%20of%20Darkness/2014/index.html

Hell Hath No Fury in Nottingham.

2014-05-24T20:44:39Z

Headcheck Records like their gigs in Nottingham. This is a good thing - I like their gigs in N'ham too and so I went with mrph up to The Old Angel last month.

First up were Kerosene Queen, and we arrived towards the end of their set.

Next, Hearts Under Fire were the unexpected band of the evening. I'd not heard of them before and hadn't bothered to look them up. They were really good.

Unfortunately they mostly spend their time down South, so it may be tricky to see them that often.

Harder to see often are going to be Brains All Gone. They were the main reason that we went up to the gig. Bouncy and fun pop punk from Poland.

Maid of Ace were a more traditional punk sound. Punchy.

Healthy Junkies headlined the night.

As usual, there are many more on my webpage:
http://davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Hell%20Hath%20No%20Fury/2014/

Holly combat

2014-05-18T10:17:19Z

We have had a small holly bush growing near the door since we moved in here. I've been meaning to move it around the back for a while, since it has grown to the extent that getting around it usually involves getting spiked. I started on it this morning and it seemed a little bit stubborn. Once I got a good view at the base it looks like there was once a pretty meaty holly tree that was just sawn off at ground level. Transplanting was abandonded when I realised that the tree's roots went under the path at the front of the house and to get it out cleanly would mean pulling that up.

I should also remember that holly bushes are best tackled on cool days so I can have a leather jacket on and it isn't too warm. It is hot today - I'll be failing at convining myself of the health benefits of natural holly based acupuncture.

WGW - Saturday night

2014-05-05T19:39:01Z

Part two of the band pictures from Whitby. This time Saturday night.

Jordan Reyne

UK Decay

The Last Cry

New Model Army

Friday nights bands are here

Lots more pictures on my webpage:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/WGW/2014%20April/index.html

WGW Friday night photographs.

2014-05-04T15:40:52Z

Whitby Goth Weekend is a bit of a staple of my social life. I started going with venta not long after dinosaurs last walked the earth and I've probably been photographing bands for at least half the time.

Alexa de Strange

Cold in Berlin

I've seen Cold in Berlin two times before this. At DV8 they were brilliant, and at Leeds I was really disappointed. This time they were back on form.

Vince Ray and the Boneshakers

Toyah

I was a bit nervous about Toyah, but she was really good. You could tell she was having a great time on stage.

Childreach charity gig at The Queens Hall, Nuneaton.

2014-04-14T21:56:26Z

Getting a great evening of bands for a fiver is super value for money.
Getting those bands for a fiver, and that fiver going to charity - even better.

First up were a new band, The Face of Ruin, this being their debut gig.

The Kingcrawlers

They had a most epic drummer, and I had a good play around photographing him. This shot is a special art shot.

The Black Tears

I bumped into this lot when they were supporting Barb Wire Dolls and was very taken with them. They told me about this gig, and got me along.

Sixty Fours

More on the webpage:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/The%20Black%20Tears/Childreach%20gig/

Comments, criticism and general heckling always welcome.

Holidaying

2014-04-13T12:44:46Z

I think that keris and I have actually managed to sort out a holiday together! I blame Becky, who got married in North Wales, and we had such a great time we just had to go back!

Polecats student shoot.

2014-03-30T19:38:05Z

After deciding to do some promo photos for roadkillgerbil we also thought that a shoot for her students might be good.

Pole and lighting were set up, and the students had what they thought at the start was a quick stint to show their moves. It is pretty hard exercise though, and by the time their 10 mintes were up everyone was feeling the burn.

Pole cats.

2014-03-23T20:58:31Z

roadkillgerbil wanted one or two pictures of her doing some pole dancing, so being the gentleman that I am I could only buy assist.

Evil Scarecrow at The Shed in Leicester

2014-03-16T09:59:53Z

The promise of Headwires playing is usually enough to get me out on an evening.

Dead Frequency

I got there in the middle of Dead Frequency,

Ascend The Skies

Not so much my taste, these guys were a little on the hardcore side. They had one guy moshing. Actually, I don't know what he was doing, but there were arms and legs everywhere. It was impressive.

Craving The Corpse

Gothic comedy songs with a hint of Voltaire about them. Quite a few people I know would enjoy this.

Ten Cent Toy

Headwires

Evil Scarecrow

And there are many more on my website:
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/Headwires/Evil%20Scarecrow%20Jan%202014/index.html

[Photos] The Defiled in Birmingham.

2014-03-05T06:29:52Z

I was looking up the details for this gig on the day before I left work. One of the other engineers came over and looked at my screen:

I: "You know, I don't think I want to know about your taste in music. What are they called?"
Me: "The Butcher Babies
I: "Right..."
Then he leaves.

The bands were a tad heavier than I would normally go and see but having said that it was a really enjoyable gig. I had been thinking that I might not stay for the entire set of The Defiled, but they was great onstage. I think that it is the first time I've seen someone throw their keyboard up in the air mid-gig.

Butcher Babies

The Defiled

As usual there are more over on my website.
http://www.davefishphotography.co.uk/Music/The%20Defiled/index.html