I’ve lately been getting into shooting DJ’s doing their thing.. Not club DJ’s, but some of the big names in the business. DJ/AM, (Rest in Peace), MSTRKRFT, and a few more on the way.

On Dec 9th 2009, DJ Z-Trip rocked Pop Opera in Vancouver with his amazing mixes, and after missing him last time, I was excited to shoot him this time around. The event was a charity fundraiser put on by Donnelly Nightclubs for the Vancouver Food Bank Society.

If you would like to donate to the Vancouver food bank, follow this link. A $20 donation buys $60 worth of food, so if you have some spare funds, be generous!

I borrowed a fish eye lens from my roommate, and took my flash and sync cord, and found my position at the front of the DJ booth, and did some one second rear curtain exposures. I was hoping to get a little more light effects, but only his hands were lit, so I got some funky trails that I am really quite happy with.

I really like the fish eye, except that it usually leaves a frame with a little space to crop out. I wish that The Venue, Pop Opera, had a little more lights, but I worked with what I had.. I think every photographer should know how to shoot properly in the dark.. ; ) without bitching about it, that is..

Some of the long exposures show you how much work is really going on, that DJ’s are constantly working.

Z-Trip recently took over DJ / AM’s post at RAIN Friday Nights at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and having seen both of them in action, I can honestly say they made a good choice.

I have both of their music on my playlist, I like Z-Trip a little more for the ‘thicker’ sound he has, if that makes sense.. (listening to Adam’s Elton Mix #2 right now)

A little bit of ghosting to the right of his head.. I would have loved to see a little more definition there.

The SC-29 is my favorite single piece of lighting equiptment, I love shooting off camera flash, and pocket wizards are nice, but roughly three times the price, and liable to break

There wasn’t enough light to shoot available with the 50/1.8, so I kept the flash on

I would imagine that the club scene is a little more intense in both Vegas and LA.. But the crowd loved him.. if not just a LITTLE tame…

My favorite shot of the night..

Then I had to go and breath on my 18-50/2.8.. though, I still like the shot.. haha

And thats it for the night… I have a lot more shots that I am happy with, but I am going to try and keep an eye on things here, and keep the photos to a minimum, the best of the bunch..

If you want to hear more Z-Trip, head on over to his official website, for some embedded .mp3′s and some downloadable mixes. I recommend “LIVE IN LA”, and “OBAMA MIX” (pre presidency)

Cheerss to Thorsten for linking me to Z-Trip in the first place