Snow Business

Rock’n roll photographer tracey Welch tells why shooting a concert with the Z 6 mirrorless was music to her ears…

Northern Irish band Snow Patrol and I started our careers at a similar time and my early pictures of them go back to 2002 at a music festival in Sheffield, when I was still shooting on film. Since then I’ve shot them three or four times, mostly in arena-sized venues but also, once, an intimate acoustic set in the local Forum Café Bar. Wherever they are, and however big the audience, they have a way of connecting with people that’s really direct and down to earth.

I’d been talking to Nikon about my work, and was interested to see how their newest mirrorless Z 6 would perform in a live music and broadcast context, where the virtually silent shutter could be a benefit. They suggested I trial the camera for them, and with the Snow Patrol Wildness tour coming to town I thought it’d be a great opportunity. Not only are they a brilliant band, but the light shows are amazing. The band were also keen to get some decent shots from the back of the Arena for the last three songs of the main set. So I was basically given freedom to roam. It’s great to shoot the entire gig and venue – even when you’re on a commission for Q magazine you don’t always get that.