SHOOTING FROM THE MOSH: SEX PISTOLS WITH FRANK CARTER
As a somewhat older gent with extremely varied music tastes, I was excited to learn that one of my favourite bands of all time, the Sex Pistols, was touring the world (and more importantly, coming to Brisbane). Minus their usual frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), the band was bringing vibrant new front man Frank Carter who promised to inject new life and energy into the admittedly now aging four original members of the legendary punk band. I for one was ecstatic.
To capture the moment I was determined to bring a film camera with me. But venue restrictions made it clear that big pro SLRs and similar were out. I was going to need a little pocket banger, one that could handle the vigours of the mosh pit and at the same time handle the impossible task of focusing under “bouncy” conditions.
Enter the Rollei 35SE, a tiny marvel of German engineering. About the size of a packet of cigarettes, with a cracking 40mm f2.8 Sonnar lens, and the ability to zone focus. Loading with high speed Ilford Delta 3200, I could afford to set the camera to 1/125th of second, f2.8, and max focus range – and then enter the moshit and hope for the best!
The result was fairly blurred, grainy shots, that I personally love and will forever have in my home printed and framed as a testament to one of the most fun concert events I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. And as a bonus, the camera came through the experience intact and will live on to capture many more memories to come.
