FL Shooting Star: DavidYoudell

Thu 24th Jun, 2010 in Features

For this edition of FL Shooting Stars, we’re turning the focus on Sydney photographer David Youdell – Masteryodes

David has covered everything from Good Vibrations to and Tori Amos, to Cannibal Corpse and Faith No More for FasterLouder and he certainly doesn’t shy away from the big stadium shows as his impressive galleries of AC/DC, Coldplay and the massive Sound Wave concert prove.

He answered a few questions to tell us all a little more about how he has been able to capture such amazing photos of some of the biggest names in music.

Tell us a little bit about yourself
I have been a photographer for the last 15 years I started out as an extreme sports photographer.

I am a quiet person, originally form the Blue Mountains and moved to Sydney. I have never given an interview, as I’m not one who seeks the fame of a music photographer.

The last ten years I have had the privilege to cover major concerts and festivals in Sydney. This is something from when I started out to be hard working, self-disciplined and very rewarding.

Coming from a love of music and photography combining the both I thought could never be possible as a life career. But when you want something in life and work hard anything is possible.

The first years I covered musicians I never new from going to local venues in Sydney where I met a lot of new local promoters and musicians. I loved the feeling of capturing their performances, available light and the expressions on their faces.

I built up a portfolio and submitted it to many local mags and papers, not naming anyone I was ignored by all, which is quite common in this industry. By this time I decided to just shoot for my self and create my own web site

I stumbled upon a local branch of an international media agency who took me in, this was my big break, they gave me the opportunity to apply for my own gigs, I was able to cover what I liked as a long as the content was good. At first I didn’t get accepted to all the gigs I applied for but over the years I got to no the publicists and built up a good name for my self and my agency. I have been with my agency now for the last eight years.

During the last six years I was given a chance by a local media who was also very young in the industry at the time – FasterLouder. They gave me the chance to cover gigs, which was pretty exciting. When I first signed with FasterLouder I was contributing around four shows a week.

I was always out at night covering local bands and submitting my own work to the site. I have always been thankful to them for giving me the opportunity to do something I love. Watching them grow over the years they have become Australia’s biggest site for music content and music media coverage.

I am still out there covering major concerts in Sydney and I hope to be doing this for a lot longer. I do have more goals set for the future. One will be to travel and cover all the major music festivals through out the world.

If you see me at a show don’t be shy to say hello I’m always here to pass on the knowledge I have learnt from other music photographers.

When and why did you first pick up a camera?
I first picked up a camera when I was in middle school it was given to me by my parents and was mostly used to take photos on school excursions.

I was given a very old SLR from my dad and took up photography in high school. I studied my Diploma in commercial photography in TAFE but wasn’t that taken in by being stuck inside all the time and being in a studio, I guess I can say I was mostly a field photographer looking for something with an edge of excitement which was sports photography I was more into something that was moving with action and adrenalin.

What is it that drew you to the world of music photography?
Towards the end of TAFE I was out with my friends who were always performing in local metal bands, which is how I just fell into the position as their photographer. I photographed all their shows and did their promos as well; the photos I took were used in my major at the end of my course.

I have always been into the old time music from the 70s & 80s from rock & roll to glam rock, heavier metal and hardcore. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. I wish I were back shooting in the days of Aerosmith and Woodstock.

What is the best gig you have ever shot?
I think the best gig is when you can shoot on 800 ISO @ f3.2.

I can’t really name a favourite as I have photographed so many amazing concerts and festivals in my career. I can say that Kiss was probably the best show I have covered. Standing in front of that stage looking at all those speakers and the massive lighting rig was insane. We only got three songs and it was an entire blur to me everything I new had gone out the window, I shot fully on manual as the light was too bright and hot, I had to change my setting so many times just to keep up with the lighting. The one thing I love about KISS is that they always pose for photographers and give you what you need to make a great photograph. That night I also had a free ticket thanks to FasterLouder.

What is the worst gig you have ever shot?
I have shot a lot of really bad gig but the one that come to mind is a most recent one. This year was at Dillinger Escape Plan; I got my pass and went straight in then was told by security I wasn’t aloud in the pit as there was to many passes allocated and not enough space in the pit.

I don’t take no for an answer especially if the media you are shooting for is presenting the show. After several minutes arguing I was let in. The band manages to carry around $5000 in lighting but don’t use it at all. Still being limited by 3200 ISO it didn’t make much difference having no front lighting at all I had to try and capture all the most available flashes of light they gave us.

What would be you number one tip for aspiring photographers?
Don’t be intimidated by other photographers if there gear is better or more expensive than yours. Remember it’s not the gear that takes great photos it’s the photographer and the way he or she photographs.

Try to be more unique in your photographs.

If you are inexperienced take a step back and take notes of what more experienced photographers are doing don’t be shy to ask questions.

When in the pit respect all fellow photographers around you. Don’t wear your bag on your back in the pit, try not to step in front of another photographers frames and definitely don’t hold your camera up in the air in front of other photographers.

Don’t be too nervous and just remember to have fun and one day you could be living your dream.

Check out some of Masteryodes favourite shots