The Neon Moon Grand Halloween Ball took place this past Saturday. Those who have been reading my blog might remember the post from the previous Neon Moon Circus that I photographed. The director then as now was Ruby Truelove. This Ball was a super-sized version located in the Guild Hall in the middle of Cambridge. I have been passing by the Guild Hall for years, but never really known what was in the building.
Just before leaving home I had checked the EXIF information of my old photos to see what lens I had used last time. I thought it was the 50 mm, but it turned out that it was the new 35 mm that had been on my camera then. So at the last moment I swapped the 50 mm lens for my 35 mm lens. In tight spaces, with large crowds of people, I figured it would be easier to get everyone in with a wider angle lens. On the other hand I would have to be close to the performers to get any good photos. When I arrived I saw that the hall was way bigger than I had expected. To have a chance to photograph the performers I asked if it was okay if I occupied the stairs in front of the stage. Luckily that was not a problem. A few times during the evening I had to move to make sure the performers and a few people from the audience could get passed, but most of the time it was not a problem. Also it meant I could sit down a few stairs down, so I would not obscure the audience.
I have said it before, and I will say it again. Photography is great, it takes me to do and see things I would otherwise not try. The Neon Moon shows are a visual treat, and provide a lot of opportunities for great photos. There are, however, some dangers when photographing a show like this: You have to watch out for glitter. Glitter gets everywhere, and I learned that scotch tape was quite effective at removing it from the camera. If you see someone taking out a bottle on stage, dive for cover! These performers like to share their drinks by spraying them all over. I guess I could say that my camera has been baptised now.
Next time I do an event like this I will probably bring a second light source. Not for shooting the show, but for shooting the guests. There were a few scattered light sources, but not nearly enough. The best place to shoot was from behind the bar, where LED lights on the wall illuminated the guests ordering drinks.
Special thanks to Priscilla and Nadia for helping me get some proper halloween make-up in the break between the shows!
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