JPG Magazine: Stories: Photo Essay: When He Sang He Made Me Cry

When He Sang He Made Me Cry

By rory cobbe

28 June 2008

I got a press pass for Live At The Marquee a fantastic festival in Cork. It's a three week festival of Music and Comedy in a 5,00 seater Marquee in Cork's Docklands. In recent years it's played host to Zepplin, Diana Ross, The Flamin Lips, Bell X1, Brian Wilson and Roger Waters. Not to mention Elton John and Lional Richie, oh I just did ah well.

Anyway it's a proper gig run by a proper promoter Aiken Promotions who are a pleasure to deal with.

This year the big ones were Clapton, Lou Reed doing Berlin, Neil Young and Morrissey. I got permission to shoot Morrissey, the usual rules apply. First Three songs, no flash and a contract which says NO!!!!!!!

We meet Sarah the really cool photographer Liaison, three of us Miki Barlok (great photographer) a chap from the East Cork Journal and me.

'Alright lads here are the contracts, we may as well get this over with. It' all the usual ask Miki' Says Sarah

Mkik nods, he's a regular at these events. The other chap, who is a nice fella looks more used to doing openings of car showrooms than gigs, he's all questions.

I just sign and pass the thing back not cause I'm being cool but hey it's the doings and if i get sued I get sued. I'm not that bothered I'm here, I'm happy.

'Right lads' says the Sarah 'I'm going to have to take the bags. New York Dolls are nearly over, Morrissey is on at 9.15. Back here in 45 minutes collect the bags and I'll take you up to the pit.'

So we drop the bags and in to the gig for a look. For me it's like being back in a club I used to run in the late 80's. Heads everywhere older balder but much the same people from Friday Night In Sir Henry's. I get a sore neck from nodding 'hello' to people who know my name but who's names I can't recall, it's the curse of the bar man and it's very embarrassing and people often think I'm an asshole because of it, that's not why I"m an asshole but hey I digress.

I get accosted by some people I haven't seen in almost 20 years. I'm getting old. So after a quick look around and a reccie of the pit I head back to the box office. Meet Sarah and the lads and off we go. The adventure begins.

Showroom Boy susses that Miki has experience of these things.

'What's the light like?

'About f4 1/80th of a second but it depends. It changes'

'Right Right. Whats the best ISO'

'About 1000 but it depends' offers Miki. He's a nice fellow and talented too as his site shows.

'f4 you say' says I taking out my Bronica. ok I was going to shoot at 2.8 but I'll give it a bit of f4,

'You shoot on Medium format? says Miki looking at me as if I have just announced I'm a nun about to enter a brothel looking for a partime job.

'Is it a digital back?''

Nah are you mad?? too expensive, Its film, xp2 And I"ll set it at 125 just to see for the laugh'

Now he's looking at me the way a dog does when it doesn't understand what your are saying, head all to one side.

'Yeah but I have my d200 too for safety.'

'Ahh' says Miki 'Good idea'

What I didn't tell him was that I had an 85mm almost permanently fixed at 1.8 with a compensation to about 1/80th at 640 ISO. He has the full Canon range with him. He's a pro and a good one.

So the gig starts I get out there. Its fun as always being in the pit. The rush of the need to get 'The Shot'. I get out my Bronica and have a look around. all around me are the digital zoom 17-1000's, click click click.

I'm focusing waiting for the moment 15 shots, only 15 shots, do I have the right expsoure, speed..ah well here goes.

Clack, first one. damn he moved,

Clack, second dunnno oh where is he. There click that's three.

'I know' says I 'I'll hold it up over my head and use the waist level finder overhead like the old Papparazzos used to do with their Rollies. Clack great I think that was a shot, thats 4. There's 5.'

Better grab a few digital shots just in case, click click. First song over damn that was quick. Morrissey is really putting on a show, He's so elegant and moves from pose to pose on the stage like the old ham he is. It's has all the makings of a great performance.

It's Ask, my nephew Paddys song, he's 11 and loves Morrissey, cool kid.

So I pick up the Bronica thinking of Paddy and his own version of Ask. Damn focus??!! I pull the waist level, now overhead, to my eye boph.. argh

Straight into my eye ball, I'm blind

Ask Me Ask Me Ask Me

Shoot for god sake man shoot.. click wind click wind, I'm blind..argh

Third song damn the 15 shots are gone. Get the d200 out shoot the ...... out of it...water eyes pain.. It feels like I have a finger in there.

'Are you ok' says Miki.

'Yeah yeah. I got the viewfinder in the eye..'

'you better get that seen to Roar. You need your eyes like'

'Why bother I haven't used them up to now.'

We laugh and it's out of the tent. Sarah takes the bags again til after the gig.

I meet some friends and retell the story (a story which has been on repeat for four days now). It's a great gig and he even does How Soon Is NOw. Great Band and a performer who is back to his best.

When He Sings He Makes Grown Men Cry, I think to myself. He certainly made my eyes water.

And Here is the shot that caused me this blinding moment.

Heaven Knows I"m Not So Miserable Now