Eurovision Song Contest 2014 – 9

Karin Ott

I want to show some more images of the scene. This is how tall the wall of cubes is – notice the figures in the right hand corner.

Karin Ott

The floor of the scene is also a multimedia screen. The V-shaped part with the circles in it is filled with water as a tribute to the halls history as a ship yard. The circle is where flames, steam and fire works come out. The two ‘run ways’ leading from the center can be used both as part of the performance or as here, in the case of Conchita Wurst, as a screen.

Karin Ott

By the time Spain was rehearsing ‘Dancing in the rain’ in the last round of open rehearsals I think most of us thought we’d seen it all but there was an audible gasp when huge rain drops began beating down and collect at the bottom of the cubes. The song is not my personal favorite but the effect was!

Karin Ott

 

Finally one of the dreamy blue images I first created by accident and later added to my collection on purpose. Already this is history. The last rehearsal I attended was a dress rehearsal yesterday – the last one open to the press – and rather to my surprise 6000 kids had been brought in to create an authentic mood.

Eurovision Song Contest 2014 – 4

Karin Ott

My posts are longer than my usual ‘one photo a day’ during the Eurovision Song Contest as I am in this unique position. I hope you’ll either bear with me or enjoy it 🙂

The EU Song Contest is not meant to be taken too serious. It’s grand show with glittering dresses, eomotional ballads, colourful pop songs – all perfect for bringing out your inner diva. Humour – voluntary or not – is large part of the tradition too as well as plenty of space for people who are a little out of the ordinary.

Above is the Polish entry. Yes, that is an overblown cleavage in the background. You should see what the young women are doing to the laundry and the butter churner. I must say they are very thorough.

Karin Ott

Karin Ott

The Austrian entry calls for different emotions. But there’s a bit more to it than just a diva dress. Conchita Wurst wears the dress with long hair as well as a well trimmed beard.

Karin Ott

Not your average song contest…

A little tech stuff at the end. I always like to read the ‘what’s in the bag’ section on photographers websites. So what’s in mine for this event?

Karin Ott

Wel, certainly not this lens! I have very little to work with. This is part convenience and part economy. Okay, muscle strength as well…

I’m a ‘one camera, one lens’ kind of gal. I have a Nikon D5100 (a midrange DX) and I take most of these images with a 50 mm 1.8 prime lens. That’s it. I do plan to experiment with my 55-200 mm next time but the prime is a better lens and the zoom needs more light – not readily available. I combine my preferred lens with 2500 ISO and a single focus point.