City-based photographer Rakesh Prakash needs no introduction. His prowess in the wedding photography is well-known. Rakesh, over the years, has made many weddings into momentous occasions including some of the grand ceremonies of celebrities. Recently, Rakesh plunged himself into a new arena, that has very few takers in Chennai — concert photography. The stunning pictures of Anirudh at his international concerts are all Rakesh’s doing! At the surface, this might strike just as an event photography — just clicking pictures at an event — but there is more to it than what meets the eyes.
Photos of Anirudh taken by Rakesh
“The difference is that you are concentrating on the artistes and work with lighting that is already there. You have no control over the subject,” explains Rakesh.
“For me, it was easy because I have been shooting at weddings and sangeets which are similar to the concerts. Also, I am a big movie and music lover, so I got interested in it, and that’s how I got into concert photography,” he adds.
When asked what are the distinctive characteristics, a person pursuing concert photography should have, he says, “Concert photography is all about energy. Performing live is like a rush for the musicians, so you have to make sure that you capture them right. You cannot recreate anything here; you have to be constantly on the lookout.”
Rakesh’s transition as a concert photographer has been gradual — “Even while I was doing weddings, I was simultaneously shooting for small, local acts in Chennai at pubs. Some of the stand-up comedians like Arvind SA, with whom I have worked with back then, have become big. So, my transition has been a gradual process. Concert photography has been more of a passion for me.”
Concert photography is all about energy
bout working with Anirudh and AR Rahman, he says,“I travelled with Anirudh for all his international concerts. With AR Rahman sir, I have worked in India and also in his concerts in US, UK, Singapore and Malaysia. Travelling with the artistes helps you understand how they are going to behave on stage. Anirudh’s concerts, for example, will have a lot of power. The crowd in his concert is always standing. So, you can anticipate these things.”
At a Coldplay concert
He has also covered the concerts of Coldplay and Paul Mccartney. “I sent the images of previous projects to organisers of Coldplay and Paul Mccartney and they gave me passes to cover them. You can’t enjoy the same privileges with this international artistes since there are many other photographers doing the same thing I am doing,” he concludes.
