So we’ve trundled out a couple of Best Of 2012 lists so far. We gave you our Top 20 International singles, Top 20 Irish singles, Top 10 International albums and Top 10 Irish albums.
So we asked our photographers to choose their favorite photo from the last year, and tell us why. It’s very tough to rattle through all their photos of a year and pick just one photograph, but they have managed to select one photo which stood out among the rest, either due to the gig, the lighting, the subject or the emotion attached or emitting from these great photos.
So this is Goldenplec’s amazing photographers top live snap of 2012.
Sean Conroy
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Black Veil Brides at The Academy
Black Veil Brides was arguably the noisiest gig I’ve ever attended; 14 year olds sure know how to scream. Thankfully, the band were a visual treat, posing like pros, prancing about like lunatics and generally making me glad I was there to take photographs.
Black Veil Brides at The Academy
Aled Owen-Thomas
Anthrax at The Academy
There was a palpable sense of excitement in the venue as I stood in the pit talking to the other photographers covering the show. The house lights dropped and Anthrax hit the stage running. There was so much energy coming off the stage that I found myself smiling from ear to ear whilst my shutter button finger went mental. I’d soon filled a memory card due to all the action, and while I was changing cards at the side of the stage, the singer, Joey Belladonna, ran over and started messing with my camera bag. When I looked up he was smiling like a mischievous kid. Although he looks like someone’s grand dad in a comedy wig, he has all the energy and enthusiasm of a 13-year-old boy who’s just discovered heavy metal.
Basically this is my favourite shot of 2012 because it’s a band I like, the lights were prefect, the venue was jumping and for me the image encapsulates growing old disgracefully.
Anthrax at The Academy
Debbie Hickey
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Marina and The Diamonds at The Olympia
I’ve always loved Marina’s unique sound and bubbly character, I tried to see her twice previously but failed, alas, 3rd time lucky, and she was certainly worth the wait. I particularly like how Marina’s facial expression and the moving veil is captured in this moment.
Marina and The Diamonds at The Olympia
Michelle Geraghty
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Ham Sandwich at Electric Picnic
Ham Sandwich never fall to disappoint the crowd… confetti canons and Podge’s crazy antics always give the fans something to remember. And the music ain’t half bad either! But they are truly a photographer’s dream! I was lucky enough to be allowed hang around the pit for the end of one of their shows at this year’s Electric Picnic and long after the other photographers had moved on, it happened. Podge bounded off the stage, over the barrier and into the crowd. I have the entire series of shots but this one is my favourite. Not sure I’ve ever seen a guy enjoy his job so much! Fair play lads. Catch ye next time for more of it!
Ham Sandwich at Electric Picnic
Owen Humphreys
Kasabian at Marlay Park
The largest gig I’ve shot so far. Kasabian are incredibly energetic performers, unlike Noel Gallagher who seemed to be welded to the floor. The best single set of photos I have are from this gig. My favourite being this one; where, through the constant jumping around, I caught Serge looking over to the lead singer with his face nicely framed by the shadow on his jacket, looking like something out of Casablanca.
Kasabian at Marlay Park
Yan Bourke
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Dirty Three at The Button Factory
I think I knew shooting this gig, I was going to get my shot of the year there, and it ended up being hard to choose just one. Everything came together; all the things I’ve learned shooting for GP over the past two years, a fancier camera, lights, and one of the most fun live bands I’ve ever shot. I realised talking to another photographer about what picture to choose that what I always want to catch is movement, so this photo of Warren Ellis thrashing around was always going to be a winner for me.
Dirty Three at The Button Factory
Aaron Corr
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Purity Ring at The Button Factory
The band had loads of lanterns overhead on stage which I thought would give me plenty of ambient light for shooting but singer Megan James kept herself in the dark for most of the first 2 songs. I began to wonder if this would be another gig with just a good silhouette shot if I was lucky. Thankfully she picks up a light from the floor and waved it around from time to time so I was able to capture her at a good moment to get this shot.
Purity Ring at The Button Factory
Alessio Michelini
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Steve Vai at Vicar Street
Steve Vai at Vicar Street
Aisling Finn
Death in Vegas at The Button Factory
Seeing Death in Vegas play was one of the highlights of my year and the gig was made even better for me by having been given the task of taking photos at it. Over the past year I have found that the main challenge when taking photos at gigs is the lighting. This is a challenge I have enjoyed. It is the lighting in this photo that encouraged me to pick it as my favourite from the year. What I like about this pic is the contrast of the light shining through the guitarist’s hair as well as the glow of white defining the profile of his face against the dark background. Coupled with his expression of concentration, I feel I managed to capture a seemingly quiet moment at this gig.
Death in Vegas at The Button Factory
Sean Smyth
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Lisa Hannigan at Iveagh Gardens
For me, the Lisa Hannigan gig in the Iveagh Gardens was one of the highlights of the summer. She was having a ball up there and it just shows in the photos.
Lisa Hannigan at Iveagh Gardens
Mark Earley
Kanye West and Jay Z
By no means a perfect photo, but certainly one that captures an unforgettable gig. Two rappers playing to a rammed venue with everything from pyrotechnics to raised platforms and 50ft tall flags. The music was brilliant, the atmosphere crazy and the performances very impressive.
Kanye West Jay Z at The O2
Aidan McCarthy
Rammstein at The O2
Rammstein at the O2
Paul Dowd
Icon on Fire at Indiependance
As a quiet enough year snapping wise for my self i tried focusing on documenting my friends band Icon on fire. Finalists in this years Redbull Bedroom Jam Competition .There prize was to play at some pretty big festivals for the summer months and i took the opportunity to try something outside my comfort zone and document them with my camera . This image took my about four times to master the way i wanted and it just proves with enough persistence that image in your head is always possible!
Icon on Fire @ Indiependance Paul Dowd
Abe Tarrush
Lianne La Havas at The Sugar Club
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An amazingly intimate show, one of her earliest in Dublin. Playing live, she surpasses the already impressively high standards of her recordings. 2013 shall be a very good year for Lianne La Havas.
Kieran Frost (Photo Editor)
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Muse at The O2
I have photographed gigs for the last five years, and in that time, when ever I requested a pass for Muse, something went wrong…so finally, in November this year, I managed to get a photopass to one of their gigs, expecting to be sent to the back of the O2, but no, we were sent to the pit, which made me happy….and then this happened…
Muse at The O2