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band photos

no votes
? by Panic

good: http://tinyurl.com/54qr46
bad: http://tinyurl.com/5carjv

the question is, what do you think makes a good band photo?

Panic | 18 May '08, 14:48 | Send note | Report this | Reply

I really love the Mae Shi

photos that are made to look as cheesey and low budget as possible. And as though the band members are the dullest people on Earth.
Like this one:
http://www.theredalert.com/images/maeshi.jpg
Just because the differences between that photo and what they actually sound like are so massively vast.

fihiki | 18 May '08, 14:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

that one made me laugh.

more like these please.

Panic | 18 May '08, 15:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply

BEING WACKY!!!!!11!

Seriously, I don't know. The rubbish ones are usually of bad metalcore/hardcore bands. i.e. standing around looking moody in black band t-shirts on building sites/ruined churches etc. BORING.

Holy Molar are good though:

http://www.threeoneg.com/holymolar/bgthing.jpg

shucks | 18 May '08, 15:26 | Send note | Report this | Reply

and this:

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm212/p_ano/cover.jpg
I dunno, I guess I just like people sitting around looking vaguely gormless.

fihiki | 18 May '08, 15:28 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Ones that actually reflect the bands music are good.

The Microphone's current Last.fm picture being an example: http://tinyurl.com/69waql

Sibley | 18 May '08, 17:21 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Heh, yes.

And this Adrian Orange one.
http://discover.drownedinsound.com/images/17320.jpeg
I'd love to have been there that day.
It looks so beautiful.

fihiki | 18 May '08, 17:34 | Send note | Report this | Reply

excellent thread

i think the main aspect that makes the coldplay one/and the oasis pic posted further down so toe curlingly awful is the serious or intense image they are trying to put across.

its the pictorial equivalent of saying "our music,serious business yo"

fitzcarraldo | 18 May '08, 17:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Be honest though

If they were the other way round, you'd be saying the Violent Femmes were hilarious for making such an intentionally over-serious photo (because when you write cool music then every cliché you do becomes knowingly ironic), and you'd be slating Coldplay for making an ill-advised attempt to be wacky.

I actually prefer the Coldplay one anyway...

-dan- | 18 May '08, 18:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply

to be honest

i'm not daft about the VF pic either

but i think it can be as simple as smiling in a pic, and for the record i'm not endorsing "wacky" pictures either as 9/10 the bands come across as tools

fitzcarraldo | 18 May '08, 18:49 | Send note | Report this | Reply

but when a band like Coldplay

who peddle Yr 6 rhymes and simple chord progressions make a photo that wants to convince you they're intense, brooding, possibly heaven-sent - well that just jars immediately.

although i didn't say that they were good and bad objectively - i just wanted people's favourite band pics because i find them quite interesting. if the Violent Femmes did a serious photo then i imagine i'd like it because i'd be able to relate it to music i enjoyed.

Panic | 18 May '08, 18:52 | Send note | Report this | Reply

So the answer to "what do you think makes a good band photo?"

is simply "if it features a band I think are good"..?

But then, I'd be forced to think that this was amazing:
http://chicagoist.com/attachments/chicagoist_lizz/2007_10_yolatengo.jpg

Which I don't...

-dan- | 18 May '08, 19:13 | Send note | Report this | Reply

No

it means you "get" a band photo because you enjoy the music.

I didn't want to enter into a debate over band photos - "gimme the LOLZ" should've been the title.

Panic | 18 May '08, 21:31 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Personally,

I'm not a big Roses fan these days, but I really think you'd struggle to beat photos like

http://www.john-squire.com/pic/pollacked.jpg

or

http://www.john-squire.com/pic/pic_grp_totw.jpg

-dan- | 18 May '08, 18:42 | Send note | Report this | Reply

No,

but just because something's of a band you like doesn't make it good either.

-dan- | 18 May '08, 19:09 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Ooh, Bearsuit!

I saw them one Hallowe'en years and years ago playing the Boat Club in Nottingham, and they were covered in (real!) blood for the occasion... I bet there are some good photos of that!

Sadly all google seems to find me is: http://www.theratandmouse.co.uk/weblog/archives/images/Oct13hooligan.jpg though...

-dan- | 18 May '08, 19:57 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Bearsuit are great for pics.

They're not afriad to step away from the standard poses, band against wall etc. To make a good promo shot you really need a band that aren't afraid to experiment and a photographer that is creative.

lurchy2 | 18 May '08, 20:36 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Doing something

that people wouldn't have seen before in a band photo will make a band photo good.

IainIainIain | 18 May '08, 20:08 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Thta's not a good shot,

it's not in focus and it really needs to be. Good Idea though ... just not executed well.

lurchy2 | 18 May '08, 20:33 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Did

ciara take that?

looks like it was ages ago!

Keal | 18 May '08, 21:38 | Send note | Report this | Reply

wow

BoyNamedTim | 18 May '08, 20:32 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Jeez.

they could've at least put the hot one in the middle.

OakenTeat | 18 May '08, 21:07 | Send note | Report this | Reply

they have

twentynine | 18 May '08, 21:13 | Send note | Report this | Reply

To be fair,

she does have those sexy 'come-to-bed' eyes.

OakenTeat | 18 May '08, 21:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply