My favorite shots from the Wibi Soerjadi Christmas concert

February 13, 2024/in blog/by Frank Doorhof

Wibi Soerjadi Christmas Concert

Every year we close our business year with a special event. The Christmas Concert from Wibi Soerjadi in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw. An amazing place with awesome sound. In this blog, I share my favorite shots from this Wibi Soerjadi Christmas Concert.

As a photographer, I think it’s vital to get to know your subject as well as possible. This doesn’t just make the shoot go easier. But it will most definitely get you results that are more fitting the person/character you are photographing.

Wibi Soerjadi

I’ve known Wibi for years and consider him a close friend which makes photographing a concert like this at one point much easier, but also a lot harder.

It’s easier for me because I don’t really have to think about disturbing the artist. He knows I’m there and there is trust so in essence, I’m invisible to him. So, no worries on my side about interrupting him or doing something that is not allowed. This makes it much easier to move around and shoot from different locations during the concert. Now don’t take that too lightly. Because although I don’t have to worry about the artist I do have to be very aware of the audience. It’s not a rock concert. Meaning I have to walk and move like an invisible ninja and choose my timing very carefully to not stand in front of people. Or let people jump up because I scare them to death by just being there out of nowhere… Well you all know my length so this makes it pretty hard.

During the concert

A way that works really well is that I always introduce myself to the audience in the locations where I think I’m going to be moving. Make a little joke that they can always kick me when I’m in the way as long as it’s not too hard. In the end, it means that during the concert I’m actually often helped by them instead of that I get irritated responses. I do have to add, that when I introduce myself I mostly end up taking pictures of them with the room in the back so that also gives me some goodwill 😀

Also because we have worked together for such a long time I have a pretty good feel of the mood he wants in the images.

Anyway, long story short the images are my favorite ones from that evening.

See the video we made about Wibi’s birthday in Disneyland

In 2011 I was at a CD presentation from Wibi Soerjadi

Wibi Soerjadi live at the “Concert gebouw”

January 8, 2015/in blog/by Frank Doorhof

I’ve been shooting most of the material for Wibi for quite some years now, but one of the highlights is always the Christmas concerts in Amsterdam.
The “Concert gebouw” is not only an awesome ambience but it also has some amazing challenges due to the lighting which is very very dim, so it’s always a good time to test your camera to the limits.

I shot these images with the Sony A99 and all images went through DxO Optics 10 for Prime noise killing, and I have to say…. wow this combination rocks.
Normally I don’t shoot at the top ISO of the A99 so I only tested DxO Optics 10 in settings up to 6400, but it can handle the higher ISOs very well I can now confirm.

Now one of the things when taking photos is location and angle, and with most live concerts it’s not allowed to shoot the whole concert or even change your location. One of the privileges I have during Wibi’s concerts is that I can walk around and pretty much shoot from every location or angle I want, although I don’t want to disturb the audience and Wibi of course. This means that (as you can see) I also sometimes end up right on the stage next to Wibi, which is a very cool experience so close to the performing artist, but also terrifying because I’m in the spotlights with him, now you know why I always wear black 😀

Today some of the images I shot during the concert.
If you’re ever in the opportunity to visit one of his concerts make sure you do.
More information on Wibi see http://www.soerjadi.com

Wibi live shots

December 28, 2011/7 Comments/in blog/by Frank Doorhof

Every year Wibi Soerjadi gives several christmas concerts throughout the Netherlands, this year was very special because it was his 30 year celebration as a pro musician, and of course right after the release of his new CD. The christmas concerts are always great and something I love to visit. This year we choose the Concert gebouw in Amsterdam, an awesome location for a concert like this. Normally photography is strictly forbidden during a classical concert but I have certain privileges with Wibi and he asked me to make some impressions of the concert which I loved to do of course.