Comments about Rocky Nook Three Songs, No Flash!:

For those familiar with concert photography, "Three Songs, No Flash!" is a great title for a concert guide. Loe Beerens is an seasoned veteran in the industry, which is obvious from even a casual glance at the pages of this book. This visual guide is a keeper simply to revisit the photos for inspiration.

This book falls short in being an instructional guide for those looking for a lot of technical how-to and step-by-step directions. The flow of the book is more of a commentary on why various photos are included and what is good about the expression, story or character captured. To me that aspect is a great resource as I am a visual person that finds inspiration in seeing great ideas to look for the next time I am making images.

Right off Beerens says this book is for the experienced photographer, and by that he means he is not going to get into the nuts and bolts of how to operate your camera. Though I can understand this approach, the book would have been well served to include a few chapters of instruction to augment the rest of his visual approach. The black background to the entire book does well to showcase his impressive photos, but immediately told me this would be a coffee table book, not an instruction manual.

A strong point of this book is the straightforward talk of your place and proper etiquette as a photographer at concerts and the realities of the business side of concert photography. For those trying to break into the field, you are well served to know these things. You are the low man on the totem poll and the world does not revolve around your needs. It's reality, learn to work with it.

Classifying myself as an experienced concert photographer, I looked forward to this title with child-like anticipation. Though it fell short of my expectations in some ways, I am happy to have this title in my library.