Words and Light

Third Eye Blind lead singer Stephan Jenkins likes to perform barefoot, apparently.

As I wrote last week, I photographed a Third Eye Bind concert last Tuesday. Two projects and a wedding weekend later, and upon the insistence of my friend Cat, I’m finally posting these photos.

Third Eye Blind guitarist Tony Fredianelli.

When I was assigned to cover the concert, one of the editors referred to Third Eye Blind as “everyone’s favorite band from 2000.” Since I’ve had my head (and ears) stuck in a 1960s/70s rut for the past 21 years, I wasn’t sure I was familiar with the band’s music.

So Jeff had me listen to six or seven songs. And of those, I immediately recognized at least five from the opening chords.

It was definitely a throwback to contemporary radio play during my adolescence, and it definitely helped explain why the concert at The Blue Note was sold out.

One thing that made shooting this concert difficult: Before it began, some of the fans at the front warned another photographer and me that the band always played its first three songs in pitch darkness. Not exactly what we wanted to hear, especially since concert photographers typically get to shoot only the first three songs of any given concert.

Fortunately, we ended up staying for five songs. And for the first three, I was definitely on aperture-priority, constantly changed my exposure compensation to make up for the completely unpredictable stage strobes and struggled with autofocus.

While we were there, pressed up against the stage and doing our best to make photos, I wasn’t excited about having to respond and adapt to the ever-changing light situation. If you could view my entire take from the show, you’d see quite a few frames that are pitch black and others that are blown out because of a sudden stage light. But now, in retrospect, this is the kind of challenge that concert photography presents, and it’s actually a fun one.

Fans shout out a countdown before Third Eye Blind takes the stage.

As always, you’re welcome to view more photos here.