Faces You May Recognize

In my earlier days I seldom travelled without a camera. Nowadays my cellphone camera is always nearby.

So back to the “older times”. While attending trade shows, expos, concerts, sports games and other events I’ve had the opportunity to photograph “famous” people sometimes with a press pass and sometimes as a bystander.

My collection of faces have grown over the years.

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Jackson Browne, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI	Tony Bennett, Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Johnny Mathis, Soaring Eagle Casino 2012 – Mt Pleasant, MI
Al Downing, pitcher Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY	Aretha Franklin, DeVos Performance Hall 2017 – Grand Rapids, MI	Art Buchwald, American Booksellers Association Conference – Washington DC
President Barack Obama, Campaigning 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Barbra Streisand, United Center 2006 – Chicago, IL	Barry Keane, drummer Gordon Lightfoot band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI
BB King, DeVos Performance Hall 2007 – Grand Rapids, MI	Ben Taylor, James Taylor band DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Billy Davis Jr, Fifth Dimension Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI
Bobby Baun, Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square 1966 – Garden New York	Brian Watson, Detroit Red Wings practice 1965 – St Clair Shores, MI	Burt Bachrach, Ballys Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV
Carter Lancaster, lead guitar Gordon Lightfoot Band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Christie McVie, member Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Area 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Chris Wragge, news anchor 2008 – New York, NY
Senator Debbie Stabenow, parade campaigning 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Dionne Warwick, Little River Casino 2013 – Manistee, MI	Donald Fagen, member Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Arts Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI
Elston Howard, catcher at Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY	Erica Hill, news commentator 2010 – New York, NY	Eric Clapton, Van Andel Arena 2006 – Grand Rapids, MI
Fifth Dimension, Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Florence Henderson, American Booksellers Association Conference 2011 – New York, NY	Florence LaRue, member Fifth Dimension at Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI
Four Tops, NRHS Concert 1966 – New Rochelle, NY	Frankie Valli, Aladdin Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV	Garrison Keilor, American Booksellers Association Conference 2008 – New York, NY
George Armstrong, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	President Gerald Ford, campaigning 1976 – Grand Rapids, MI	Glen Campbell, Michigan State Fair 1970 – Detroit, MI
Gordie Howe, right wing Detroit Red Wings practice 1966 – St Clair Shores, MI	Gordon Lightfoot, DeVos Performance Hall 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI	Graham Edge, drummer Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI
Harrison Ford, actor at Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI	Ira Joe Fisher, broadcaster 2008 – New York, NY	James Taylor, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI
Jim Neilson, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	John Lodge, bass Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	John McFee, Doobie Brothers Meijer Garden 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Justin Hayward, lead guitar Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Lil’ Ed, blues Rosa Park Circle 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Maggie Rodriquez, broadcast anchor 2010 – New York, NY
Marcel Pronovost, defenseman Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Marilyn McCoo, Fifth Dimension Univ of Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Mark Douhit, saxaphone improvisation – Grand Rapids, MI
Michael McDonald, Meijer Gardens 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI	Michael Richards, near Greenwich Village 2010 – New York, NY	Mick Fleetwood, drummer Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Mike Heffernan, keyboards Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Moe Rocca, humorist near Central Park 2010 – New York, NY	Muhammad Ali, aboard airline flight – Los Angeles, CA
Neil Diamond, Van Andel Arena 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Neil Sedaka, American Bookseller Association Conference 2010 – New York, NY	Pat Simmons, Doobie Brothers Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Patty Wagstaff, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show – Oshkosh, WI	Paul Anka, Computer Electronics Show – Las Vegas, NV	Pete Rose, Caesars Palace 2008 – Las Vegas, NV
Pete Stemkowski, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	PeteTownsend, guitarist The Who Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI	Richard Daley, Mayor at graduation ceremony 2011 – Chicago, IL
President Richard Nixon & Pat Nixon, campaigning 1971 – New Rochelle, NY	Rick Haynes, bass Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Governor Rick Snyder, at graduation ceremony 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI
Rodney Charters, cinematographer at National Association of Broadcasters Show 2010 – Los Angeles, CA	Rod Seiling, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Roger Daltrey, The Who at Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
Ron Townsend, member Fifth Dimension at Univ of Michigan 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Sean Tucker, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI	Sigfried Fischbacher, Sigfried and Roy at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
Stephanie Izard, Iron Chef at Girl and the Goat 2012 – Chicago, IL	Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Terry Clements, lead guitar for Gordon Lightfoot Band at Orleans Casino 2009 – Las Vegas, NV
Tim Horton, defenseman for Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Tom Johnston, Doobie Brothers at Meijer Gardens 2015- Grand Rapids, MI	Representative Vern Ehlers, campaigning in parade 2009 – Grand Rapids, MI
Vic Hatfield, left wing for NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Walter Becker, guitar for Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Art Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI	Wayne Newton, at Aladdin Casino – Las Vegas, NV
William F Buckley Jr, political commentator and journalist at Univ of Michigan 1969 – Ann Arbor, MI	Willie Nelson, street concert 2011 – Grand Rapid, MI	Willie Mays, Shea Stadium 1965 – New York, NY
Kate Markowitz, with James Taylor Band at DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Wolfgang Puck, Chinois Restaurant 2008 – Santa Monica, CA	Arnold McCuller, with James Taylor Band at Van Andel Arena 2021, Grand Rapids, MI
Whoppi Goldberg, following Broadway performance – New York, NY	Reggie Flemming, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Governor John Engler, British Airways dedication at Western Michigan University 1988 – Battle Creek, MI
Christopher Cross, Soaring Eagle Casino 2022 – Mt Pleasant, MI	Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 2019 at local Grand Rapids restaurant

To My Surprise

A couple of years ago I opened an email from a curator at the Smithonian Institution. Preparations were underway to open their National Museum of African American History & Culture and she was asking for permission to use a photograph that I had taken in 1970.

Let’s go back 45+ years. Then I was a student at the University of Michigan and a volunteer for the University Activities Committee. I was assigned to cover the Martin Luther King Jr memorial concert where the popular Fifth Dimension would perform. I was armed with a press pass and free to move throughout the huge stadium. But I was careful to avoid annoying the audience as I roamed around the stage area to get to different vantage points. And so I took a few dozen rolls of film that evening.

In 1970, as a 20 year-old youngster this was just plain fun for me. Nonetheless it amazes me that an event from long ago resurrected itself so many years later.

Anyway, here are some of the shots from that evening that led to the inclusion of my photo in one of the Smithonian Museums.

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This photo has been on display at the NMAAHC of the Smithonian
Billy Davis Jr and Lamonte McLemore	Lamonte and Marilyn McCoo
Florence LaRue and Marilyn McCoo	Ron Townsend
Florence LaRue	Billy Davis Jr
I was able to speak to the group briefly backstage after the concert
And I was lucky enough to get their autographs too.

Having grown up in the late 60s, I was excited to learn that one of my contemporaries – James Taylor – was going to be performing in Grand Rapids on March 8th. I anxiously waited for tickets to go on sale, but they were quickly sold out in less than an hour. Fortunately, I found two available last minute tickets through StubHub so I was still in luck.

Through the years, I’ve done my fair share of event photography. But nowadays when I go to a concert or show, I’m usually attending as a spectator and not as a working photographer with a press pass. Since one of my hobbies is to collecting pictures of celebrities, I continue to take a small camera with me – just in case.

Typically, show venues are a mixture of dark backgrounds with strong spotlights. For effect, the performers are often “creatively lit” (read dimly). This stage lighting makes for a very contrasty scene.

So the challenge is to be able to use the theater’s available light to capture the performers. Flash is a no-no.

 

Wait for the right moment
Although my camera is set for dim lighting (ISO is set to 1600), the dim lighting forces a slow shutter speed – in this case about 1/25 second. Here the performer is moving slightly so I end up with a blurred image. Performer: Arnold McCuller	The solution to the blurred image is to carefully watch the performer and snap when he/she is in a more or less stationary position. With a little practice, you’ll be able to anticipate the times when the performer is positioned like a statue.
Adjust the exposure
Most cameras determine the exposure by averaging the amount of light in a scene. On a dark stage with bright spotlights, the camera is usually “fooled” by the darkness. This overexposure causes the brightly lit faces to be washed out. Performer: James Taylor	To prevent the his face from being washed out, I set the camera to reduce the exposure. For this shot, I used the camera’s exposure compensation to make a -2 (f/stop) adjustment. Although his guitar is darker, his face is now properly exposed.

 

For stage performances, you can use relatively inexpensive equipment. On this occasion I used a Canon SX210 IS point-and-shoot which has a 14X optical lens. Our seats were fairly close – the seventh row – but the lens allowed me to zoom in to grab a decent shot.

Just a quick note about courtesy: The auditorium was filled to the brim. Everyone paid for tickets with their hard-earned money so I go out of my way to keep as unobtrusive as possible when taking photos. I’m careful not to put my camera in front of another spectator and to be silent as I snap (usually a menu selection for “silent mode”). They are there for the performance, not to be disturbed by a rude and noisy picturetaker.

And since my real reason for being at the concert was to hear the performance, I make sure that I get to enjoy the music without being overly preoccupied with my camera. And by the way, the performance was great!

You can see more celebrity photos from my hobby celebrity collection here.

 

Written by Arnie Lee

 

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