Just A Stage They're Going Through by David McMahon
David McMahon

Just A Stage They're Going Through by

Stage lights cut an interesting path through swirling fog.

Of course, the weather conditions were entirely man-made, with the fog being created by machines and blown by powerful fans – but the passage of the light through the swirling haze made an interesting subject.

I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D, using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F8, 1/90 sec, ISO 800, focal length 98mm.

Featured in PENTAX, June 2011.

Featured in BLUE HUE, August 2011.

139-7018

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Tags

stage light, fog, spotlights, david mcmahon

Comments

  • Robin Webster
    Robin Webster8 months ago

    David this is awesome! Light itself is fascinating and this image even more so given the brilliant (pardon the pun) composition! Would be interesting to show what they were shining on!

  • So glad you liked this, Robin. The stage fog was so incredibly thick that I had no option but to do something “different”.

    – David McMahon

  • Jordan Miscamble
    Jordan Miscamble8 months ago

    Excellent David, the colours are stunning.

  • Many thanks, Jordan – you cannot imagine how thick that fog was. Made it extremely difficult for anything except offbeat images like this!

    – David McMahon

  • CapturedByKylie
    CapturedByKylie8 months ago

    I understand where you were coming from David. I too have been to some gigs where they overdo the smoke machine and you can hardly see the band let alone get any photos other than ones like these.

    This would also look great mirrored and hung side by side.

  • How’s the family going, Kylie? Best wishes from sunny Melbourne!! The band was great – they were schoolboys and I’ll send you a link to their three-piece group. Funny you should take about mirrored images. I ACTUALLY shot the mirror image of this, exactly the same composition – on the other side of the stage!!

    – David McMahon

  • Caitlin Dickman
    Caitlin Dickman8 months ago

    Fantastic image David!! You have captured wonderful detail in the lights! :D

  • Very kind of you, Caitlin. I was wondering how best to capture more than just the lights – and the “fog” actually helped!

    – David McMahon

  • JUSTART
    JUSTART8 months ago

    beautiful shot

  • Many thanks, JustArt. I had to wait for the correct light sequence, too – because they were changing constantly!

    – David McMahon

  • ellismorleyphto
    ellismorleyphto8 months ago

    GREAT work! I am very impressed and not a little jealous of this shot… I know how mine would (not) have turned out if I tried, hehe.

    Instant favourite :-D

  • Merci! I was transfixed by the lights, but I wanted the shot to be more than that – and then the sight of the rays cutting through the fog helped me frame the shot to tell the story.

    – David McMahon

  • Linda Bianic
    Linda Bianic8 months ago

    FABULOUS catch David,,,, something i would have tried too, not sure of the outcome though! fav for me!!

  • Thank you so very sincerely, Linda. I waited for the right moment. Earlier on, there was way too much “fog” – too many swirls and eddies. I wanted less of the fog and more of the darkness!

    – David McMahon

  • Linda Bianic
    Linda Bianic8 months ago

    well the waiting paid off!!!

  • Strangely enough, I also shot exactly the same view, exactly the same composition, from the other side several minutes earlier!

    – David McMahon

  • tdn14277
    tdn142778 months ago

  • Thank you, Tim. That’s great news. Very grateful for the recognition, as always.

    – David McMahon

  • Kasia-D
    Kasia-D8 months ago

    I love the result. It is really dreamlike! Good luck in the challenge. Kasia

  • Thanks so much, Kasia … I waited a long time for the stage fog to produce just the right effect I was looking for. So glad this caught your eye.

    – David McMahon