There were three photographers photographing the first 3 songs of the show. MTS Centre photographer Dan Harper, Winnipeg Sun photographer Marcel Cretain, and myself for the Winnipeg Free Press. We were all warned prior to the show that Ozzy has a foam gun, and would be spraying the crowd in either the 3rd or 4th song. We were also told that if he saw a photographer at the front, he won't hesitate, and in fact, Ozzy enjoys spraying photographers. Just prior to the show Marcel joked to me that he would stay up front and get sprayed if I would put him on the cover of the Free Press (the direct competition to the Winnipeg Sun).
When the third song started playing, Dan Harper and I cautiously stayed up front, while Marcel played it safe shooting with a long lens from the side of the stage. About 3/4 into the third song (Mr. Crowley) Ozzy still had not picked up the foam gun, so Marcel came back to the front of the stage to continue shooting with us. About 30 seconds later Ozzy turned around, picked up the foam gun, and started spraying the crowd.
My decision to stay at the front for the third song, knowing full well that Ozzy could and would enjoy spraying us was due to my thinking that I could easily outrun a 61 year old Ozzy Osbourne. As soon as I saw him reach for the foam gun/hose, I bolted to the side of the stage, running right into one of the security guards in the process (it was like running into a brick wall). After I was safely out of what I thought was the reach of Ozzy's foam gun, I shot the above frame of Ozzy spraying the crowd. A moment later, Ozzy spotted Dan at the very front of the stage trying to blend in with the giant speakers, and front a few feet directly above him, released the foam, soaking him from head to toe, including both of his Nikon cameras!
I continued shooting frames of Ozzy on stage foaming the crowd, and as the 3rd song (and last song we were allowed to shoot) winded down, I ran back to the front of the stage to grab some shots of the crowd that was now white with foam (which made the cover of the Sunday newspaper) slipping all around the foam covered floor in the process.
Here are some aftermath photos of Dan and his cameras (Nikon D3 w/ 14-24 f/2.8 & Nikon D3X w/70-200 f/2.8 VRII for the gearheads). I gotta say that Dan took it surprisingly well. I would have been just a wee bit mad and probably a little vocal about it. We will see how well the Nikon weatherproofing holds up...
Here are some of my favourite frames from the concert.
