Music Through The Photography Lens: Interview with Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke is a music and concert photographer, regularly capturing artists, concerts and music festivals. In this interview, Music Through The Photography Lens, we have the opportunity to gain some insight about his experience. We can learn things we can do to help music photographers in capturing that amazing photo.. This can then be used for building brands as a musician.

Throughout this post, Darren has kindly provided some of his incredible photography. Please note that this is his property and is not to be taken and used without his personal consent.

There is so much value to be gained in the below interview.. so let’s get straight into it!

Who is Darren Clarke in everyday life?

In everyday life I am a husband and a father. My wife and I have three young boys at home, so helping to care for them keeps me busy. I also have a great love of mountain bike riding. I love to get out whenever I get some spare time.

What really lights you up?

Besides my family, really anything that inspires my creatve side. I really love to create and be ‘artistic’. As for what inspires me, It could be something in nature like a beautiful sunset, or hearing new music from one of my favourite musicians.

Could you let us know a little about what you currently work on?

In Melbourne, we are all locked down in Stage 4 restrictions, so unfortunately at the moment I’m not currently working on much,
I do have a few photography projects waiting to happen.

Normally, I’m a concert and music photographer. I’m more known in the Country music circuit, having shot Bill Chambers “1952” and Benny Allen’s “Never Knew I was Country” album covers. I’m a photographer for 3MDR 97.1fm and occasional creative portrait photographer.

What was it that first got you into photography?

I got into photography as something to do to relax. My Wife Leanne, has the “Corporate” Job and I was at home raising our young children.

Previously I was an airbrush artist, but with young children I didn’t have time to lock myself away for hours at a time painting.

My father-in-law gave me a camera and I went out photographing landscapes and learning my way around a camera. My first exhibition was landscapes and wildlife photography.

What does photography mean to you?

Photography to me is, capturing memories. Photos aren’t always valued at the time they are taken, but when looked back on, when the memories have faded and you’re looking back at what you remember as one of the best times of your life, photos suddenly become very valuable. Sometimes on the rare occasion they can become historically significant, like a lot of band and music photography from the past. When Jim Morrison, David Bowie, Janis Joplin were first photographed, they were totally unknown.

How did you end up moving into working within the concert and festival space?

I’ve always loved music, I own several instruments, but can’t play any of them.

I volunteered to photograph a buskers festival in Belgrave, years ago and it was a bit of a “lightbulb moment”. I knew then, that was what I was meant to be doing.

Then a music venue opened a couple of streets from my place.. I discovered, I actually knew the owner so I offered to take photos. I ended up being The Skylark Room’s house photographer from the day they opened until the day they closed their doors.

That’s where I learnt to photograph gigs, in low and tricky light conditions, with no flash, while trying to not get in anyone’s way. Good times!

From there, its been various music festivals, gigs and the station photographer for “The Dotted Line” 3MDR 97.1fm.

What kind of gear do you like to use? Do you have a favourite type of lens?

I shoot with 2 cameras attached to me, a Canon 6D with a Tamron f2.8 28-70mm lens.. and a Canon 5D MK IV with a Tamron f2.8 70-200mm lens.

They can get pretty heavy, especially if you are walking around with them for days, like at something like Tamworth Country Music Festival. I learnt very early on, with concert photography, you really don’t have time to be fumbling around in the dark changing lenses, by the time you’ve done that, you’ve often missed your shot.

Who have been your biggest influences in your photography style?

That is a really difficult question, one I’ve been asked a few times before. I actually don’t really have one. I like Mick Rock’s work, but that’s mainly because of the artists he photographed over the years. I love the candid backstage and tour photos.

My approach to photography is possibly a bit like how some musicians write songs. I try and capture “how it feels”.

What has been your experience working with musicians?

I have had an amazing time working with musicians, hanging out at festivals and concerts and getting to know them as people.

I’ve made a lot of wonderful friends in the process and I’m really feeling for them during this difficult time of COVID-19. If you can support an artist by buying an album, t-shirt or donating to watch their online event, please do. A lot of these artists only income is their music, and sadly I’ve heard of musicians selling instruments just to pay the rent recently.

Have you experienced times where the subjects have been unhappy with the photos you have taken? What happened and how did you handle it?

When I’m booked, I always tell the client, if I don’t manage to photograph what they want, I’m more than happy to re-shoot it. Fortunately it hasn’t happened yet, but I think that’s because those that hire me are very aware of my style of work.

It’s important when you hire a photographer you are very familiar with their work. Like the music industry, the photography industry is full of some very talented artists and they all have vastly different styles and ways of seeing the world around them. You wouldn’t hire Rammstein to write country music. Research your photographer well..

What has been the proudest moment in your career to date?

I’ve had a few highlights.. One was, photographing “The Waifs” at and for Burrinja Cultural Centre In Upwey. I’ve been a big fan of The Waifs for 20 odd years, so It was a thrill just to be photographing them in concert. When Donna Simpson, motioned to me to climb up on stage and photograph. I was a little starstruck.

We later had a conversation about photography, as Donna is a photographer herself and she said she loved the photos I took of them last time they played at Burrinja. I was amazed they even knew who I was.

What has been your least proud moment?

I was the house photographer for “The Skylark Room” during the few years the venue was open and we had a very well known Australian singer performing.. Incredible singer but unknown to me, she had a reputation of being a little “Difficult”, so while onstage, she put me in my place and made it quite clear, she didn’t want any photos taken, embarrassing me in front of the whole venue. So as not to annoy her anymore, I went and hid in the kitchen and ate hamburgers. Amazing artist, scary Lady!

What has been the story around the photo that you would consider your best work?

It’s difficult for me to choose what my best work is, I have so many favourites. Certainly a very significant photo shoot for me was doing the photography for Benny Allen’s debut album, Never Knew I was Country. As this was my first album cover I was a little nervous. I had nothing to worry about though, Benny is a great guy and it’s been a pleasure to work with him.

What are some of the biggest challenges that you face, photographing shows?

The lighting when photographing a show can be tricky as it’s important to have a good understanding of lighting and how to shoot in “Manual”. Often the other big challenge is being able to work and move around the room, especially if it is crowded, without getting in the way of the audience – whilst still getting the best shots possible for the artist.

What is one thing that you wish you knew when you started your journey?

I think the most valuable advice I could give to any photographer starting out, that was given to me by a very good friend and an amazing musician himself, is to remember that the photographer is just as much an artist as the musician on stage.

As well as being a talented photographer, you are also a phenomenal artist, as I have seen with some of your drawings on Instagram.. Do you use this skill professionally as well?

I have sold the occasional piece and given a few good friends portraits of themselves but it’s really something that I just do to relax, often while listening to some great music. For me it’s a way to relax and unwind so I don’t see myself as a professional artist in that sense.

From a photographer’s perspective, what advice would you give to musicians?

I would say it’s really important to be mindful of the lighting on stage and the colour of the lighting that is used. It may look really great to the audience but it can have a big impact on the outcome of photographing a gig.

If an artist is working with a photographer, what can they do to best support the photographer that they are working with?

It can really be a big help to the photographer if the musician has some ideas and thoughts about what sort of photos they are after and what they would like to get out of a photo shoot. The clearer the vision, the more successful the outcome for both sides. And if its to photograph a concert, a little space in front of the stage is a huge help.

What’s next on the radar for you?

For now I am riding out the COVID-19 restrictions we are under here in Melbourne. I am looking forward to a return to our local music scene and being able to get out and photograph some live gigs again.