I wanted to post a better-quality videoclip of Frankie Chavez playing live since my little digicam did a rubbish job of capturing the sound and video from his performance last Saturday. The guy deserves better! He brought five guitars on stage with him and played them all, including a Portuguese guitar that I was told was meant for fado (the traditional Portuguese mournful music). It’s the third photo below. Opinions were split among our group whether this went over well, but to each his own. Personally, I love guitar and to see someone playing five different ones is a treat, especially since it was my birthday*.
However, I’m a huge dork about obeying the “no photography” rule at concerts — I get easily embarrassed if I’m scolded about breaking rules so it takes a lot for me to break them, even if I’m surrounded by people completely ignoring them. Remember the Sistine Chapel a couple of years ago? Everyone was taking photos, but it still took me ages to actually bring out my camera.
Well, my dorkness — and the fact that I’m shooting with a DSLR — is what kept me from getting in better positions for these photos. I was there for the music, and the photography came second. But at least I thought ahead and put on the discreet prime (50mm f/1.4), timing my shutter release for the louder moments, because that mirror clap has the aural equivalent of a door slamming when it’s quiet (something I’m very aware of during religious weddings).
* Turns out it was also the venue Tertulia Castelense‘s 9th birthday, which means I predated it by exactly 30 years. Oy!
Portuguese blues guitarist Frankie Chavez at Tertulia Castelense, Maia
Portuguese blues guitarist Frankie Chavez at Tertulia Castelense, Maia
Frankie Chavez playing blues with a Portuguese guitar
Portuguese blues guitarist Frankie Chavez at Tertulia Castelense, Maia
Portuguese blues guitarist Frankie Chavez at Tertulia Castelense, Maia
