| <<< Previous: "discography" page | Index | Next: "chords" page >>> coming soon |
|
|
| click on the image for a larger version |
While the "news" page should probably be the most updated page on a site, I think that a section detailing past live performances can play an important role.
First, it demonstrates in a more tangible way that stuff is actually
happening and the "news" page is not merely a place for musing on what
Stephen might or might not do next.
Titling a section "live" can be misleading, as some people may think this is
where they discover information about his upcoming gigs. Alternatively, they
might think that this is where they read press coverage of his live
performances. The text at the top of the page is designed to clarify the
aim of the page and steer any confused folks in the right direction.
When a visitor clicks on one of the listed gigs, they might arrive at a page
like this one:
The minimum amount of information I try to include on each page is a photo
from the gig and the list of songs performed. This particular gig was a little
unusual as it featured a full band (guitar, drums, bass) so I've presented a
range of photos. For more regular gigs, such as his acoustic shows at the
Rosstown Hotel, I might present only one photo.
Sensibly, all photos are thumbnails of the full versions of the images, which
can be accessed by clicking the thumbnails. Below each photo I include an
appropriate caption (for obvious reasons) and I also give some technical
information about the physical size of the image file that will be presented
when the thumbnail is clicked. Visitors who are using slow net connections
may find it inconvenient if they click on an image to discover that it's
twice as large as their screen and they will need to wait 2 minutes for it
to download. Providing the technical information is a courtesy.
I also provide the obvious information about the date and location of the gig
plus a list of the musicians on stage. When available, I try to include any
fan thoughts on the performance, whether it be a rant written by myself or
a review from another fan that has been posted to Stephen's email discussion
list.
In this case, all of the photos have been taken by me. I use a digital camera
which simplifies the whole process of getting the image onto the computer. It
also allows me to take as many shots as my digital "film" can hold, due to it's
re-usable nature. An important consideration for the quality of the photos and
for the performers is the fact that I never use a flash when shooting. Why?
Because a photo taken with a flash always looks like a photo taken with a
flash - it doesn't look natural. Another important reason is the fact that
both the performers on stage and the audience around you can find a camera flash
very annoying. If you went to a gig, which would you prefer to remember: the
wonderful performance or the idiot with the flashing camera who wouldn't put the
bloody thing away?
click on the image for a larger version
<<< Previous: "discography" page
Index
Next: "chords" page >>>
coming soon