The best time to shoot an artist in the recording studio is during rehearsals or during a break in the control room. Even better, let them play for a while just for you. Always remember that studio time is expensive, so keep your session as short as possible. Figure out beforehand what you want to do, take your shots, and leave the studio before the producer starts nagging. During a studio session, you are always an intruder in the creative process, even when you are in the control room. Interfere as little as possible with the activities, don't get into a discussion with anyone, don't touch anything, and most of all, keep your opinions about the music to yourself. If you stick to these rules, you will be allowed to come back again.
Figure 33.2. Ilse De Lange and Zucherro Fornaciari in duet, Studio Milan, 2007. Nikon D2X, 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, 24 mm.
Taking a photo of a DJ on stage is comparable to shooting a keyboard player. You have to look at the backside of all kinds of unattractive-looking equipment (if you get to see it at all), and you can tell the DJ is doing something—but what? In this situation, try to take a photo when the hands of the DJ go up in the air, like DJ Tiësto is doing here.