March 31, 2022

Ffotograffiaeth Cerdd Tara Bandito | Tara Bandito Music Photography:

Pan gysylltodd Tara Bethan â fi gan sôn ei bod yn rhyddhau ei cherddoriaeth newydd, ac am ofyn i fi wneud gwaith celf ei senglau, o’n i mor egseited. 

O’n i’n gwybod y bydde hwn yn gomisiwn llawn cyffro, ac o’n i’n iawn... nes i fwynhau pob eiliad o’r sesiwn tynnu lluniau a’r ffotograffiaeth cerddoriaeth fyw y naethom ni gyda’n gilydd! 

When Tara Bethan contacted me regarding the release of her new music and told me that she was interested in booking me for her singles’ artwork, I was buzzing with excitement. 

I knew that this was going to be a thrilling commission, and I was to be proved right…I loved every minute of the photoshoot and the live music photography we did together! 

Ffotograffiaeth Cerdd:

cydweithio creadigol

Mae Tara’n unigolyn creadigol adnabyddus yn y diwydiant creadigol Cymraeg. Mae wedi bod ar ein sgrins teledu ers iddi fod yn ifanc iawn. Mae’n gallu dawnsio, canu ac actio. Mae hefyd yn gyflwynydd ac yn creu podlediadau.

Mae 2022 yn flwyddyn gyffrous i Tara yn broffesiynol. Yn gerddor, mae wedi ail-greu ei hun ac mae nawr yn rhyddhau ei cherddoriaeth ei hun o dan yr enw Tara Bandito. A finne’n gerddor fy hunan, o'n i wir wrth fy modd o gael bod yn rhan o’r prosiect newydd cyffrous yma.  

Fel sawl person creadigol arall yng Nghymru, dwi wedi bod yn ffrindie gyda Tara ers blynyddoedd, er nad yw ein llwybrau wedi croesi ers sawl blwyddyn. Yn debyg i’r sesiwn tynnu lluniau y gwnes i i hen ffrind arall yn ddiweddar, Carys Eleri, roedd hwn hefyd yn gyfle i ailgysylltu gyda hen ffrind. Dyna un o perks da y job! 

Darllen cysylltiedig: Sesiwn tynnu lluniau nofio yn y gwyllt: Ffotograffiaeth clawr llyfr i Carys Eleri 

Music photography:

A creative collaboration

Tara is a very well-known creative within the Welsh language creative industry. She has been on our TV screens since she was very young. She can dance, sing, and act. She’s also a presenter and podcast creator. 

2022 is a very exciting year for Tara in a professional sense. As a musician, she’s reinvented herself and is now releasing her own music under the nameTara Bandito. As a fellow musician myself, I was thrilled to be a part of this exciting new project. 

Like many other creatives in Wales, I have been friends with Tara for many years although our paths haven’t crossed for a few years. Much like the recent photoshoot I did for another old friend, Carys Eleri, this was another chance to reconnect with an old friend. It’s a good perk of the job! 

Related reading: A wild swimming photoshoot: Book cover photography for Carys Eleri

Teyrnged i’w thad diweddar, El Bandito

I gynllunio’r sesiwn tynnu lluniau cerdd, gath Tara a finne sawl galwad fideo. Trafodon ni syniadau Tara – pob dim o’r gwisgoedd i waith celf y sengl.  

Roedd Tara wedi sgwennu tair cân newydd, a ro’dd hi wedi penderfynu eu rhyddhau nhw’n eitha’ agos at ei gilydd. Mae dau ohonynt wedi’u rhyddhau yn barod (wrth i fi sgwennu hwn yn gynnar ym mis Mawrth 2022), ac mae’r llall i’w rhyddhau ddiwedd y mis.  

Daw ei hysbrydoliaeth ar gyfer gwaith celf y sengl o boster reslo vintage

Roedd tad diweddar Tara yn Reslwr enwog o’r enw El Bandito. O’dd e’n arwr ac rydyn ni i gyd yn gweld ei eisiau. 

Ar lefel bersonol, odd e’n sbesial i fi achos o’dd ’da fe ffydd ynof i ac yn fy ffotograffiaeth, hyd yn oed reit nôl ar ddechre fy ngyrfa. Fe wnaeth e ofyn i fi dynnu lluniau o dwrnament reslo yr oedd e wedi’i threfnu nôl yn y 00au. O’dd hwnna’n brofiad epig, a bydda i wastad yn ddiolchgar iddo am hynny.  

Dwi’n mynd off trac nawr, felly nôl i Tarabandito... ;o)

A tribute to her late father, El Bandito

To plan out the music photography shoot, Tara and I had a few video calls. We discussed Tara’s ideas – everything from the costumes she was planning to wear through to the single’s artwork. 

Tara had written three new songs and had decided to release them quite close to each other. Two of those have already been released (as I write this in early March 2022), and the other is due to be released at the end of the month. 

Her inspiration for the single’s artwork comes from a vintage wrestling poster. 

Tara’s late father was a famous Welsh Wrestler back called El Bandito. He was a hero and we all miss him. 

On a personal level, he was special to me because he had faith in me and my photography, even right back at the beginning of my career. He booked me to photograph a wrestling tournament he had arranged back in the ’00s. That was an epic experience, and I will always be very grateful to him for that. 

I’m going off track now, so back to Tarabandito... ;o)

Sesiwn tynnu lluniau albwm cerddorol â naws y syrcas 

Roedd Tara ishe cynnwys naws reslo/syrcas i mewn i waith celf ei sengl wrth iddi greu ei delwedd gwbl unigryw ei hun. 

Mae wrth ei bodd â gwyliau cerddorol a phartis, felly roedd ei gwisgoedd yn sbesial – yn theatraidd ac yn edrych yn grêt ar gamera! 

Roedd y sesiwn tynnu lluniau wedi ei chynnal yn ei stiwtio ioga yng nghefn ei thŷ. Dyma fi’n gosod fy ngoleuadau, chwarae miwsig, a nath Tara'r hyn mae’n ei wneud orau.

Nes i dynnu ei llun yn erbyn cefndir gwyn, plaen fel y gallai ei dylunydd dorri’r delweddau yn y cam ôl-gynhyrchu, er mwyn creu’r gwaith celf terfynol.  

O’dd e mor cŵl gallu cydweithio gydag artist digidol yn y ffordd ’ma, ac mae’n sbesial gallu nawr gweld yr hyn mae wedi’i wneud gyda fy nelweddau. 

Music album photoshoot with a circus vibe

Tara had wanted to incorporate the wrestling/circus vibe into her single’s artwork while creating her own unique image. 

She loves festivals and a party, so her costumes were fabulously theatrical and looked great on camera! 

The photoshoot took place in her yoga studio at the back of her house. There, I set up my lights and we stuck some music on, and then Tara did what she does best. 

I captured her against a plain white background so that her designer could cut out the images in the post-production stage, in order to create the final artwork.

It was really cool to collaborate with a digital artist in this way, and it’s great to now be able to see what she’s created with my images. 

Gig gynta’ Tara:

Roundhouse Rising Presents

A finne dal yn teimlo’r cyffro ers y sesiwn tynnu lluniau, rai wythnosau wedyn pan gyhoeddodd Tara ei gig cerddoriaeth fyw gynta’, nes i gysylltu gyda hi’n syth i gynnig rhywbeth. 

Wedes i wrthi am fy syniad i ddogfennu ei gig gynta’ mewn lluniau, gan gofnodi’r diwrnod cyfan yn hamddenol, ac o’dd hi’n dwlu ar y syniad! Wedodd hi, “Ie, grêt Bets! Neidia ar y bys gyda ni i Lundain.” 

A finne wedi cymryd y byddai’r gig yng Nghaerdydd. 

Ond, roedd y gig yn y Roundhouse yn Llundain. Roedd hi’n mynd i gymryd rhan yn Roundhouse Rising Presents; cyfres o gigs cerddorol yn arddangos artistiaid hot newydd, wedi’i chynhyrchu mewn partneriaeth â Horizons/Gorwelion – cynllun BBC Cymru Wales mewn partneriaeth â Chyngor Celfyddydau Cymru i ddatblygu cerddoriaeth gyfoes newydd ac annibynnol yng Nghymru.  

Er bo fi’n egseited am y syniad o gael trip i Lundain, o’dd e digwydd bod wedi cwympo yn ystod yr un wythnos ag o’n i fod jyglo helpu fy rhieni i symud cartre’, gwneud gig gyda fy mand fy hunan, Pwdin Reis, ac ar y dydd Gwener yr wythnos ’na, o’n i fod yn un o’r beirniaid ar banel Cân i Gymru.

Am wythnos!

Tara’s first gig:

Roundhouse Rising Presents

Still feeling pumped from the photoshoot, a few weeks later when Tara announced her first live music gig, I contacted her straight away with a suggestion. 

I told her about my idea to document her first gig in photographs, in a day-in-the-life style, and she loved it! She said, “Yeah, great Bets! You can jump on the bus with us to London.” 

I had wrongly assumed that the gig was to be held in Cardiff. 

In fact, it was at the Roundhouse in London. She was to take part in the Roundhouse Rising Presents event; a series of music gigs showcasing hot and breaking artists, produced in partnership with Horizons/Gorwelion - a scheme delivered by BBC Cymru Wales in partnership with Arts Council Wales to develop new, independent contemporary music in Wales.

Although I was excited about the prospect of a trip to London, it happened to land on the same week that I was due to be juggling helping my parents move home, doing a music gig of my own with my band, Pwdin Reis, and on the Friday of that week, I was to be one of the judges on the Cân i Gymru Panel. 

What a week!

Creu dogfen ffotograffiaeth cerdd

Ta beth, o’n i ddim yn barod i golli cyfle i weithio gyda Tara Bandito eto, felly bant â ni i Lundain mewn fan o’dd wedi’i llogi tua canol dydd achos o’dd yn rhaid inni gyrraedd y Roundhouse ar amser ar gyfer sound check am 4 pm.

Fy jobyn i oedd dal popeth oedd yn digwydd ar gamera fel y gallai hi gael cofnod ffotograffaidd o’r dechrau i’r diwedd. 

Creating a music photography documentary 

Anyway, I wasn’t prepared to miss an opportunity to work with Tara Bandito again, so we set off London-bound in a hired van around midday as had to arrive on time for her soundcheck at the Roundhouse at 4 pm. 

My role was to capture everything that was happening so that she’d have a photographic record from start to finish. 

Profiad swreal yn y Roundhouse, Llundain

I fod yn onest, o’dd cyrraedd y Roundhouse bach yn swreal. 

Fe yrron ni i’r ardal cefn llwyfan, a deall bod Gwobrau Comedi Channel 4 yn cael eu cynnal yno hefyd, felly roedd lot o bobl yn cerdded o gwmpas wedi gwisgo’n smart yn eu siwts, ffrogiau a bow teis. Na’th rhywun weld cast Sex Education hefyd.

Ar ôl y sound check, ethon ni i’r dafarn gyferbyn i gael diod cyn bwrw nôl i ddal diwedd set Yazmeen’ – rapiwr o Gaerdydd a oedd hefyd yn perfformio yn nes ymlaen yn y dydd. 

A surreal experience at the Roundhouse, London

To be honest, it was a bit surreal arriving at the Roundhouse. 

We drove into the backstage area to find that the Channel 4 Comedy Awards were being held there as well, so there were a lot of people walking around all dressed up in their suits, frocks and dicky bows. Someone saw the cast of Sex Education too. 

After the soundcheck, we went to the pub opposite for a drink and food before heading back to catch the last bit of Yazmeen’s set – she’s a Cardiff-based rapper who was also performing later that day. 

Ffotograffiaeth Cerddoriaeth Fyw

Roedd perfformiad Tara am 8:10 pm, a nath hi berfformio ei dwy gân gynta’ ar ei phen ei hun ar lwyfan yn canu’r gitâr tra ei bod yn taro'r trigero traciau cefndir gan ddefnyddio drymstic. Odd e’n ddechre theatraidd i’w set!  

Ymunodd ei band â hi am weddill y set, ac odd hi’n wych! Odd hi a’i band yn anhygoel! Nath hi fy ysbrydoli gymaint ac o’n i mor browd ohoni! 

Ar ôl y set, ethon ni am ddiod i ddathlu. Gan fod lot o ffrindie Tara o Lundain wedi dod i’w chefnogi, o’dd e mor sbesial gallu dal hyn mewn lluniau hefyd. Ac ar ben ni nath ei mham hedfan o Tenerife i Lunden ar ben ei hun bach yn sbesial i weld ei mherch yn perfformio. Briliant o'dd gweld hi a'i chwmni

Live music photography 

Tara’s performance was at 8:10 pm, and she performed the first two songs alone on stage playing the guitar while triggering backing tracks with a drumstick. It was a theatrical start to her set! 

Her band joined her for the rest of the set, and she rocked! She and her band were amazing! I was so inspired and proud of her! 

After the set, we went for a celebratory drink. As many of Tara’s London friends came to support her, it was really lovely to capture this in photographs also.  And on top of that Tara's mother flew into London from Tenerif on her own and joined us at the gig. Was so good to see her again, she's great company.

Wythnos roc a rôl o ffotograffiaeth a miwsig!

Yna, bant â ni ’nôl i Gaerdydd, a rhoddon ni lifft nôl i Yazmean hefyd. 

Gyrhaeddon ni ddim nôl tan 3am y bore wedyn, ac wedyn o’dd rhaid ifi ddihuno am 9:10 i wneud cyfweliad radio gydag Aled Hughes am y rhaglen Cân i Gymru a oedd yn Aberystwyth y diwrnod canlynol. 

Digon yw dweud na fydda i byth yn anghofio’r wythnos ’na! Odd e’n wythnos roc a rôl go iawn o ffotograffiaeth a miwsig! 

A rock and roll week of photography and music!

Then off we went back to Cardiff, and we also gave Yazmean a lift back too. 

We didn’t arrive until 3 am the following morning, and I then had to wake up by 9:10 am to do a radio interview with Aled Hughes regarding the Can i Gymru programme that was being held in Aberystwyth the day after. 

Suffice to say that I will never forget that week! It was a true ‘rock n roll’ week of photography and music! 

Dilyn Tarabandito

Ewch i ddarganfod mwy am Tarabandito a’r traciau newydd! Dilynwch hi yma ar Facebook ac Instagram .  

Darllen cysylltiedig: Diwrnod Rhyngwladol y Menywod: Lluniau <https://www.celfcalon.cymru/blog/celebrating_welsh_women/> yn dathlu menywod o Gymru

Follow Tara Bandito

Do check out Tara Bandito and her new tracks! Follow her here on Facebook and Instagram.  

Related reading: International Women’s Day: Photographs celebrating Welsh women

Ffotograffiaeth y diwydiant cerddoriaeth

A finne’n gerddor a ffotograffydd wrth fy ngwaith, mae ffotograffiaeth cerdd yn cyfuno dau o’r pethau dwi fwyaf angerddol yn eu cylch. 

Os byddwch chi’n chwilio am ffotograffydd i greu delweddau proffesiynol a chreadigol ar gyfer clawr albwm cerddorol, i dynnu lluniau o fand neu i ddogfennu digwyddiad neu ŵyl gerddorol, cysylltwch â fi.

Gallwch hefyd weld mwy o fy lluniau masnachol, gan gynnwys lluniau o ddigwyddiadau a gwyliau cerddorol a gigs yma ar y wefan. 

Music industry photography

As a working musician as well as a photographer, music photography combines two of my biggest life passions. 

Should you be looking for a photographer to create professional and creative images for a music album cover, band photography or to document a live music event or festival, do get in touch

You can also view more of my commercial photography, including music events and gigs that I’ve covered here on the website.