From my point of view it was also a great example of what Shoot Anything is about – I’ve never covered an event like this before, have no direct experience dance, but still managed to get the shots everyone wanted.

We did have a certain amount of luck on the day as the organisers kept the bacon sandwiches flowing (I know, I know!) and we had plenty of space. When shooting anything involving movement you need as much space as possible. Even with a wide and high background you’ll always run out of it just when you need it most, but on top of that you’ll need space to have the lights out of shot and far enough away to be even. So what starts out as a tennis court sized room can soon have a light in each corner and a photographer in the hallway!

Shown in the photo here, is one of any shooting days first tasks – shooting a colour chart for reference later when processing the images. Even though the space we shot in was white, with very little coloured kickback, the main hall it was attached too had deep green walls, not a colour you ever want reflected onto people.

In my about me blurb I mention that I’m open to doing some charity events as I have had some pretty serious heart problems in the past, So when Jane Brown got in touch and asked if I could come along to their comedy event I was happy to oblige. However, as no good deed goes unpunished it was slightly ironic that the the date for the event was bang in the middle of the Newmarket Dance Festival weekend. So on Saturday 8 am we arrived at Bottisham, worked right through till 8.30 pm, then drove 40 miles to Sawtry and shot till midnight. Then home to bed, to rise again at 8 am for another full day at Bottisham and finish at 10 pm. This is pretty much the standard life of a photographer – or person waiting for a bus – nothing for ages, then loads all at once.

On the plus side, the comedy was genuinely great – Arriving late I missed the first act, but the two I did see were shockingly good. I have no idea how a six foot four Maori gets feedback on his routine though, as anyone with any sense would clearly laugh at ANYTHING he said, with very little prompting.

All photos from the night are here http://shootanything.co.uk/?portfolio-item=sawtry-1st-responders-comedy-night

Shooting events like this is something of a busman’s holiday but still very enjoyable. Technically, it’s challenging in that there’s no natural light and the action is fast. On the plus side it’s a very photogenic sport, especially in B&W where the white and sliver outfits really set off the dark masks, and the longish shutter speeds mean the blades blur just enough to show movement.