Dieselboy at Republic, New Orleans

The last time I saw Dieselboy perform was about 5 years ago in Miami. Being one of my favorite drum and bass DJs, my mouse cursor very easily glided over the "purchase tickets" button online. I don't go to too many shows anymore, preferring instead to walk around in the dark with a camera or two slung over my shoulder. I'm glad I went to this one.

Email: info@carlosdetres.com

The Soft Moon at One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans

This was one of those nights.

One of those evenings in which you wish you could fully pay attention and photograph something important, like a favorite band's performance. But when you're dancing your ass off, holding a lens in one hand and a camera in the other, making pictures becomes messy. 

Add whiskey. Add beer.

I admit that this wasn't my best work but it was a great memory. I hadn't danced that hard in a long time and hadn't seen The Soft Moon perform even longer. It was a perfect performance from beginning to end. Although One Eyed Jacks wasn't crowded, the people who were there erupted into a vibrating dance ritual that is usually reserved for the typical New Orleans jazz/funk fare. 

It was great seeing one of my favorite bands perform in my new city and seeing a lot of people discover music that is really special to me and to a lot of other people. 

Enjoy the photos.

More performance photography with the Fujifilm x100s

To say that I'm obsessed with this camera could be an understatement. I often carry it with me even when I'm not taking pictures. While I love the Nikon D800, it's mostly used for work which relieves any stress I have taking it out at night, especially with the crime we have in New Orleans. 

What I like to show is the capabilities of this camera under low light, fast paced situations as well as the quality of the dynamic range of the camera and photographing musical performances is the one of the best methods of showcasing the Fujifilm x100s' ability. 

The photos below are from a rehearsal I shot with LODRO last year at their studio in Brooklyn, NY. The band has great energy and are natural performers on the stage. The performances match the intensity of the music. Although the lineup has changed slightly, they're still great. If you get the chance of checking them out, do so!

Roof climbing in Astoria, Queens

It was a Friday night in Astoria last year that was otherwise ordinary except that it was foggy. The end of the week brought forth the usual congregation of drinks and chatter, which, this time, led to the rooftop. Somewhere between the drinking and the beauty of the fog, blanketing us, we climbed the roof where I got one of my favorite pictures I've yet shot in Astoria (last one). 

ADULT. at Verboten...last year

I didn't do a whole lot with these photos when I shot them last year, despite getting some work after the first time shooting a show with a mirrorless camera (Fujifilm X100s). When I've shot shows in the past, it has always been with a DSLR, however I really enjoyed the look while limited to a fixed 35mm lens. 

I love this camera. I love this camera so much that it's probably my favorite one to shoot with. I enjoy the limitations of a fixed lens. I've recently acquired a 50mm equivalent lens for it and am debating on whether I made the right decision. Again...the factor of limitation really expands creativity. Do more with less.

So, last year, I went to see ADULT. with some friends and my wife at Verboten, a wonderful and newish music venue in Williamsburg. It was an ideal location to test the X100s' ability to perform under low light. 

Will pictures look Rolling Stone quality on this thing? I don't know but I love the aesthetic that I'm able to achieve with the Fujifilm X100s. I highly recommend playing with one.