The 2013 International Blues Challenge will be the 29th year of Blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The Blues Foundation will present the 29th International Blues Challenge January 29-February 2, 2013 in Memphis, TN.
The world’s largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2012, 119 bands and 86 solo/duo acts entered, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the quarter-finals on Wednesday and Thursday, the semi-finals on Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday. We will have at least that many in 2013.
Sean Carney on the left and John Del Toro Richardson on the right. Awesome blues players and when they get together to jam it is magic.
These are low light situations and most of the time you cannot use flash. If you cannot use flash you will need to do the following when photographing.
- Bump ISO to 1600-3200
- Use fast glass, F2.8 if you have it. If not use 3.5-5.6. Keep it wide open, meaning you need to have it 2.8 – 5.6 to help blur some of the background.
- Depending on your F stop, you will need to keep the shutter speed around 1/125 – 1/180 of a second to freeze motion. If you catch the band member just right you might squeeze it down to 1/60 – 1/90 of a second, but they can’t be moving.
- Use wide angle, use zoom 70-200. Experiment with zooming in and then doing a more wide shot.
- Try to isolate the band or band member without distracting backgrounds. Always easier said then done.
- Experiment with taking photographs varying the angle of the shot to make it interesting.
- Have some FUN! Capture the Moment!
If you are a fan of the blues, you need to check out some amazing blues bands from around the world.
