Tyler Bryant
12.29.2009
I don’t like hype. But sometimes something awesome has a lot of hype. So when I tell you I’ve never seen anyone play guitar like Tyler Bryant, please believe me. This 18-year old guitar beast from Honey Grove, Texas (population 1,839) moved to Nashville in early 2009. His talent is undeniable. If you ever get a chance to see him play, you must! I would bet you’ve never seen anyone like him either. On the Friday before Christmas, Tyler and his band – Caleb Crosby, Calvin Webster, and Jason Stoltzfus – played at The Rutledge in Nashville. The fantastic Australian rocker, Sinead Burgess, also made an appearance.
SHOOT NOTES
Interesting facts and what I learned.
- Tyler wanted me to get a shot of his amp and guitar (the first picture) because he loves the sticker on the amp (which he got at The Escape here in Nashville) – of two angels smoking and drinking. “Playing with fire” indeed!
- When you first start shooting concerts in small venues, you’re HYPER self-conscious. At least I was. I thought, “Oh man, these people are going to be mad that I’m in their way or something. I bet they’re staring at me.” While it’s important to keep yourself as much out of the way as possible, it’s also important to recall what YOU think when you see a photographer taking pictures at a venue. You’re not mad at him. You just think, “That guy’s taking photos. I wonder what they look like.” Then you go back to watching the show. You’re not watching them. Unless a photographer is being really annoying by blocking people’s view to the performers, no one sees a photog crouched down in front of the stage. When I shoot now, I’m AWARE of people around me so I don’t ruin their view, but I’m much more comfortable in sticking my nose into the mix. That’s where the great shots are! You need to force yourself to be bold in those first few shows so it becomes a habit.
- On the final song of the night, Tyler broke 3 strings on his pink Stratocaster.
- The girl in some of these photos is Sinead Burgess, an Australian who was in Nashville recording her new album for the past couple months. She and Tyler became friends and wrote some songs together – one of which they performed.
- Technically, I learned that I need to do better in getting coverage of the other band members. It was a thought of mine before I went into the show, but when I imported my photos, I realized I really didn’t have that many photos of the other guys. What I got was ok, but I need to get better at covering the entire band.
Throughout 2009, I shot a crazy number of photos but never posted them. For 40 consecutive days, I'm going to post these shoots. Something new every day!
You rock man. That is all.
TotallY bad ass. Impressive Andy! and Tyler and the band of course…
Seriously. These are ridiculous. I second tyler…you ROCK.
BEEEEEYAAAAAAWWWW!!!
Can I second everyone? So good Andy!!
unbelievable shots brother…
Thanks a lot, peeps! The feedback means a lot to me! Like for real. It means a lot! More pics from different things in 2009 are coming over the next 3 weeks. One shoot per day. This is what I’m trying to do for a job now. Know what I mean? Concert/sports/behind-the-scenes photography. For the dolla billzzzzzz$$$$. Word to your mother. And your dad, too.
Better than Rival! These are truly awesome and I am sincerely impressed.
Hahaha! For anyone that might read this later, Benny was my boss when I was a computer programmer here in Nashville. Rival was a program I wrote. So he’s telling me I should stick to photography! Or at least that I’m better at photography than computer programming.