Danny North

The blog of Music Photographer, Danny North.

I really should blog more often… Part 1

If you follow me on Twitter - @dannynorthphoto - or on Instagram @northstar - you will no doubt have heard that I’m shooting over at Q and Kerrang! now. It all started back in September when the Q Picture Director asked me if I’d be interested in shooting for them, it wasn’t an easy decision leaving the NME, I have a lot of great friends there, and I built my career from scratch there. In fact it’s 5 years ago this month that I first got my name printed in the NME masthead. But I had to go, an adventure was waiting, and no matter how nervous I was, I knew that there is nothing to be gained by staying within your comfort zone.

My first assignment was on a desert island called Vlieland. It took a plane, train, and an automobiles to get there, not to mention, a coach, a boat, a mini bus and a 2km walk in the dark across pine covered dunes. It was worth it and if you ever get the chance to go to In To The Great Wide Open festival, please grasp it with both hands. It’s an absolute treasure. Such an amazing journey to get there and location for a festival.

I had the pleasure of spending my time in Vlieland with dEUS. A much under valued band in this country, but clearly revered in Europe.

A pleasure to spend the afternoon of our first full day in their company. I shot a few portraits on the beach right beside our hotel, a pleasant 75 degrees, and a gentle breeze made the afternoon perfect.

Whilst there, I got a call to see if I’d be interested in shooting Kasabian playing on a Jumbo jet somewhere in Leicestershire. It was as bizarre as it sounds.

By the time the crowd was fully loaded, the plane was bouncing and rocking back and forth. At times it felt like the thing was about to snap in two.

A fun gig, but a total technical nightmare for me, having spent all afternoon in the damp cold air, getting into an airtight vehicle with 300 fans, meant that within seconds of getting onboard, all of my gear steamed up so bad that I had condensation in the camera prism, and inside the lens. The only lens that wasn’t affected, was my fisheye.

Never shot an entire gig with one before, and I knew the pic editor wouldn’t be too pleased, but needs must when the Devil’s driving.

Oh yeah, I did mention the prism was steamed up right? So on my 2nd gig for Q not only was I having to shoot the entire gig with a fisheye, I couldn’t actually see what I was shooting!

I think I just about pulled it off! Just. My god it was warm in there. STEAMING.

Not long after that I got the chance to shoot Biffy Clyro for a feature in Q. It basically involved me and a semi naked Biffy in a hotel room for 45 minutes. Can’t remember the last time I laughed so much on a shoot. An amazing set of lads. The Slippers were Mrs N’s idea, I picked em up enroute to the shoot (Primark, £3.99). I wanted to nail em to my Glory Wall, but I was told it’s animal Cruelty. Mrs N now wears em.

At the end of the shoot, I managed to pop off a few frames of film, which I put up a while a ago.

Next up was the Q Awards. My assignment was to basically hang out with Kaiser Chiefs all day. Pretty awesome way to spend the day to be fair.

Started out at Peanuts with a cuppa and some premium toast. Quickly followed by pints with Example, Miles Kane, and The Vaccines.

Here they are picking up their award.

I have a boat load of pics of the Kaisers enjoying the awards, and various other bands enjoying it with them. But I figure this would be an appropriate time to put his picture up. Me n Bono. BO NO. ME.

Next up, I was whisked away to Sao Paulo for a few days to shoot Bombay Bicycle Club. The first night was a very strange affair, as I found myself atop a roller-coaster at midnight watching Goldfrapp. The gig was in a theme park, and the rides open to everyone in the festival. Such an bad ass idea.

A post gig quote from BombayBC’s lighting director - ‘the dodgems had more light on them than that stage’. Relived to know it wasn’t just me struggling to get something decent out of the lighting!

The next was was far more fruitful, with a quick visit to the club the band were playing later that day to fix any potential issues with lighting by rigging a few speedlights and radio triggers in the venue. Soon after my spot of DIY, we all headed to lunch, where all the food was named after famous people. I think I ate Ghandi that afternoon.

I’ve been playing with some new film settings on the BBC shots above, as recommended by http://kirstenmavric.co.uk/blog/

Part 2 of - I really should Blog more often coming soon! Featuring KERRANG! Q! BERLIN! TOKYO! BIRMINGHAM! Yay!
27 Jan 2012 / 18 notes