I generally hate festivals – no Warped or Lolla for me – but for some reason, I really like Mayhem Fest. Odd. I don’t even like metal music.
Bullet For My Valentine opened the main stage. I didn’t know much about them going in, and was surprised to find that they were English (from Wales, actually). The band claims that their influences include Metallica, Slayer, Megadeath, and Judas Priest (amongst others), and it’s definitely noticeable in their riffage and heavy guitars. Overall, they were entertaining, but paled next to Killswitch Engage, who followed their set.
Shooting Notes
Despite the main stage at Midwest Bank Amphitheatre being covered, the daylight really helped fill in the light for Killswitch Engage’s set. Once the sun set, the light was much harsher, or maybe it was just the rough, dark lighting that Slayer and Marilyn Manson employed. Either way, the sun filtered in for this set, and added a bit of a light boost. The lighting wasn’t hard to work with at all for BFMY, with most pictures shot at the 1600ISO, f/4, 1/200 range. The 24-70mm and 70-200mm were perfect for the stage and set-up.
The difficulty for this set was the fact that Bullet For My Valentine tended to stay a bit far back on the stage, and when the stage is five feet high, and you’re five-foot-four, that’s an issue. Especially when the front of the stage is covered in monitors and risers. So, not too many full body shots, and lots of shooting across the stage to get clear angles. However, that’s okay, because for a girl who loves local shows and thus frequents small local venues, the lighting used in a large amphitheater is a treat, and not much can ruin it!
