This is the first year the Crash festival has been held. It is in recognition of the 17 who died in a rail crash just outside Abermule in 1921
I was lucky enough to blag my way into a local festival last weekend. This is the first year it has been put on, and I have to say the organisation was fantastic. The Festival was run in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ format where local judges and the audience vote for who they think were the best bands on the day and the winner received a cash prize. There was also a prize for the junior section who were on in the afternoon.
A heavy storm blew over in the middle of the afternoon which paused the fun for half an hour or so, but after sorting a couple of technical stage problems the organisers got everything running again with some very talented musicians performing. I was so busy shooting away I didn’t get a running list of the bands, so I’m afraid I cant blog who they are. Oops! There’s a lesson to learn?

One menber of an early band on stage. I love the composition of this. f2.8 to get the background as out of focus as I could.

Just before the sun set behind the hill I had about 15miniuts of fantastic light. I took the opportunity to wiz round the field taking candid shots of the audience. I would always show my result to the whoever it was I captured, and if they didn't like it I would delete. Yes I know I have the right to keep the shot, but that’s not a good way to get invited back.

A candid shot taken back stage as the heavens opened.

Kick light from a gelled up flash fixed up high. I think a blue gell would have worked better, but hey?

Tried shooting through a lighting stand to get the forgroung out of focus here. Good strong zig zags make this work for me. Again f2.8 on my much loved 70-200mm.

I took a couple of candid shots of this group, showed them, then they wanted to pose. Who am I to refuse? Fantastic back light. F4 at 1/250, ISO400.

Spectacular red hair, nails and lips. A sparkley jacket, and a fantastic voice. This girl has the lot. As I said, I wish I had grabbed a play list and could tell you who the performers are. 1/80, f2.8 and ISO400. . . .getting dark now!

Great sunset over the field. Don’t ever remember seeing such a classic fan of sunbeams as Saturday evening. Such a shame that more people didn’t come along.

For such a new event, the organisation, lighting and performances were 1st class. If anyone is reading this and decided not to go – You missed a treat!

Lets just hope that the event is put on next year, and that more people come along. A full field would have been a superb sight. Why weren’t YOU there?