Bleak Impressions: Concert/Band Photography | Umes Shrestha

HDR Attempt: Busy Streets of Patan

umes — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:32:45 +0000

Patan is a great place to shoot photos.. any time of the day. Here’s one photo, three shots taken hand held and hdr processed on photomatix and some selective editing on photoshop.

HDR Attempt: Walls of Patan Museum

umes — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:14:28 +0000

Spent some hours inside Patan Museum this Saturday and tried some multiple exposures for HDR. Doing HDR is quite confusing and frustrating.. a lot of mistakes, a lot of bland outputs and few good ones, but still not up there. Hopefully, I am learning the right way.

NIGHT @ Attic Bar

umes — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 13:03:29 +0000

Night @ Attic Bar, Jan 21 2012

Night, I must say, is a unique folk/acoustic rock band. Their folk side is pretty hard to describe as it is more “folk-ish” than any traditional folk band out there. Their rock side contains influences of Anathema and Anti Matter, and bands like that. I prefer their rock side though.

HDR Attempt: Dream Bike

umes — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:41:27 +0000

Near a pani-puri shop in Patan where I go often, this bike was standing there ready to be clicked.

And, here’s another pov.

Cobweb @ Jawalakhel

umes — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 02:17:53 +0000

I was not planning on taking any photos that evening as I was taking their video using a friend’s iphone. But Cobweb do throw in some cover songs in between and I quickly took out my D80 wt Fisheye and clicked some shots on continuous mode. Took video of their “Maryo ni Maryo” and their Another Brick in the Wall version.

HDR Attempt: Garudh the guardian

umes — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:31:08 +0000

My inspiration: Trey Ratcliff. This guy is awesome, not just as a photographer but also as a human. He likes to SHARE* his photos, his techniques and his HDR secrets. After spending countless of hours on his website (www.stuckincustoms.com) and trying to understand his philosophy and technique to take/make HDR images, I thought I would start trying my own.

Hopefully, someday, I would be able to capture as stunning photos as Trey does.

This one is at Hiranya Narayan Temple, near Thapathali Kathmandu. I took three exposures, hand held, as I don’t have any tripod (yet). Processed in Photomatix and then edited the tonemapped one in Photoshop.

*Here in Nepal, I know several so called “photographers” who never really like to ‘SHARE’ their technique or tips. They look down on new young guys doing it (and making it) and they frown a lot. Plus, usually on their photos, one will see big semi-transparent “copyright” and they will leave “All Rights Reserved” blah blah notes below the photos. Funny people.

Band Shoot: Antim Grahan

umes — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:25:14 +0000

Here’s one more from Antim Grahan shoot during Black Tour – Dharan last December.

Best of Skinbashers from 2011

umes — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 03:32:59 +0000

My Top 10 best ‘drummer’ shots from 2011, submitting it for Jim M. Goldstein’s Best photos of 2011.

Commando Noise Terror (Guido Wyss)

Undersider (Bibek Tamang)

Commando Noise Terror (Guido Wyss)

Antim Grahan (Surya Pun)

Hatebook (Bivesh Thapa)

Jindabaad (Kiran Shahi)

Kalodin (Govind Sen)

Vader (James Stewart)

Space Cake Break (Kiran Shahi)

White (Sahil Rasil)

Published: Vader Photos on Verse

umes — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:45:52 +0000

One of my favourite concert photos from 2011 (Vader’s frontman Peter showing his gratitude to the Nepali metalheads with a namaste) has been published on the Verse monthly magazine on its Dec/Jan issue. Taking Vader’s band portrait was also a great experience, as I was literally shaking and speechless getting to see Vader, especially Peter, in person.

The magazine can also be read/downloaded online.
Here’s the link.

Fusion Rocks !

umes — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:24:22 +0000

The new year 2012 starts off with a great concert – an open concert in Kathmandu’s Basantapur Durbar Square premise. The event featured some amazing fusion folk rock instrumental bands like Rock Sitar and Murchana.

It was probably the coldest day of this winter season and to “colder” it up, it started to drizzle lightly in the middle of the concert. But the music was great and Rock Sitar and Upendra Lal Singh’s ensemble won the evening.