Photos: Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort

Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
Black, white and red composite of Pretty Lights performing at Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV...

It has only been about a year since I had the happy accident of coming across the music of Denver, Colorado based Pretty LightsDerek Vincent Smith, the man behind the moniker, has seamlessly crafted one of the most unique electronic music hyperniches that I’ve had the pleasure of coming across in my musical exploration known as life.  Take the crate-digging elements of past hip-hop sampling gods a la mid-to-late 90’s DJ Shadow and mix with the likes of A.D.D.-friendly electro mashup groups like The Glitch Mob and sprinkle in a dash of old school Philadelphia soul and you (essentially) have the music of Pretty Lights.  The music however, cannot even begin to describe what takes place at a Pretty Lights show here in late 2011.

The lighting is mindblowing, pure and simple.  For reasons beyond my journalistic prowess, I can only assume that the creators of this interactive organic lighting entertainment system have indulged in multifaceted psychedelia and aim to entrance concertgoers in ways never before achieved.  Photographing this madness was no easy task, but I was able to walk away with several shots that make me proud to hold my Nikon D7000 DSLR.  The attached Nikon 50mm f/1.8D lens was fast enough to slow down the mile-a-minute lighting programming, while still communicating the excitement and elemental balance of the man at the helm.

The settings which I did keep static were the aperture and shutter speed at 1.8 and 1/250th of a second, respectively.  The ISO was something that I manually adapted to each stage as the lighting programs were unleashed, successfully utilizing a range of 100-3200 to achieve many favorable captures.  I invite you to view the full Pretty Lights gallery and share your favorites here and with your social networks; and for those of you who haven’t been to a Pretty Lights show in the past month or so — this is all brand-new — so get out there and rage on!

VIEW THE FULL PRETTY LIGHTS GALLERY HERE

Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
Pretty Lights taking the stage at GSR...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
Slightly reminiscent of Daft Punk's Alive 2007 tour...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
There are few words for how beautiful the interactive lighting was that evening...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
BOOM! Pretty Lights delivers a punch...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
Pretty Lights? Check. Lens Flare? Check...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
The man in the mist...
Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
A wider angle take on the sensational Pretty Lights live performance...
Pretty Lights Crowd @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
Silhouette of the raging Burning Man decompression crowd...
Pretty Lights Crowd @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
A spotlight washing over the sold out audience at Grand Sierra Resort...

 

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

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Super-Happy Fun Bonus Pics!!!

Pretty Lights @ Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV 2011-09-06
The happiest man ever...

Photos: Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Gibby Haynes rendered in an almost 3D pose on-stage at The Knit...

While most of Reno was en route to the playa for a sold-out Burning Man this August, I had the distinct pleasure of staying in town and catching a performance by one of my childhood heroes.  Yes, Butthole Surfers were prevalently featured listening in my household while growing up in the mid-late 80’s.  My father’s vinyl collection was ripe with alternative surf punk psychedelia in the vein of Ye Ole Buttholes while spanning many other ‘questionable’ micro-genres as well, but one thing listening to records as a babe in arms couldn’t prepare me for was the no-holds-barred vividness of this band’s live performance.

As per some recent recommendations on Reddit, I decided to boost my Nikon D7000‘s ISO to a constant rate of 3200 and throw the aperture wide open on my 50mm f/1.8D lens to f/1.8, enabling maximum depth of field and a substantial ‘natural’ lighting effect.  I did keep the shutter speed within my usual comfort zone, holding steady at 1/250th of a second.  With these elements combined, and a headbanging opening set from Los Angeles’ heavy metal / hardcore band, 400 Blows, the magic was flowing in time with psychedelic, albeit horrifying at times, imagery as the ever-evolving backdrop to Butthole Surfers’ unique brand of psychedesert-alternia.

VIEW THE FULL BUTTHOLE SURFERS GALLERY HERE

 

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Paul Leary swirling in guitar-driven psychedelia at Knitting Factory Concert House...
Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Jeff Pinkus unleashing his bass-fueled frenzy on the crowd...
Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
King Coffee sharing a peculiar glare with the camera as he pounds out a hypnotic beat on the drums...

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

Nikon 50mm f/1.8D


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

Do you buy stuff online? Do you buy camera stuff online? If this post or anything else on ishootreno.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and making your next photo gear, music or general purchase through one of our affiliate links:

Every time our readers buy new gear through our affiliate links, it helps us bring to the table more of that which brought you here in the first place — the ‘money’ shots!

The best part?!  It doesn’t cost our readers anything extra to show their support!

If our readers do pick up some new gear, please drop us a line … we always love to hear about your new additions!

Comments, Praise, Feedback?  We’re all ears!

Please let us know what you thought of this post on ishootreno.com!

Super-Happy Fun Bonus Pic!!!

Butthole Surfers @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-08-31
Butthole Surfers Setlist at Knitting Factory Concert House...