Taking Concert Photos

[marcotrov]

Anyone give advice on the appropriateness or otherwise of taking a camera into a rock concert? Am about to head off for the Doobie Bros concert here in Cairns at the Convention Centre. When I rang ticket link said they weren't sure and you'd have to find out from the promoters. Have tried to do this but no luck in finding out. Any advice or suggestions? Would love to get the D70 in with the 80-400VR.
cheers
marco

[xorl]

Most concerts let people in with their small digital cameras and mobile phones. If the gig has security guards there is a reasonable chance they will refuse a 400mm lens at the door. Unless the light is awesome you will probably need a fast lens (at least f2.8 ) anyway. VR won't save most photos since artists will blur heavily. I'd recomend a 50/1.4 or 85/1.4 (f1.8 is fine too). A 70-200/2.8 would be great as well if you could sneak it in. Obviously the choice of lens depends on how far away you will be located.

It might help to only take a small amount of equipment and keep it in a small bag. I would have been turned away at the last concert I went to if I had any more equipment than my D70+50mm. The guard looked rather dubious when I pointed out it wasn't pro gear, but they let me in anyway. Each concert is different you can't really do much more than be discrete and give it a go.

[Dug]

I do know a person who turned up to a Muddy Waters concert with a D70 + VR 80 200 he was ushered into the press area down the front of the stage

In front of the best seats in the house

you can be lucky!

[marcotrov]

Well finally got in contact with the convention centre with about an hour to spare and the message there are no recording devices alloed or flash photography. I said I won't be using flash ans she replied 'ok no problems as long as there is no flash'. So here's hoping they let me in with the d70 and the 80-200f/2.8.

Any quick ideas on the best settings, and i know its all relative to the stage lighting.

cheers
marco

[Alex]

Hi Marco,

It largely depends on promoters/ band/ venue management. March 2004 we went to Mark Knopfler concert and I decided to take my D70. At that stage I had no idea if the photography would be allowed. I came reasonably early to the venue just in case photography would be banned I would have enough time to return to the car and leave my camera bag there and come back to the venue before the show started. No problems. Turns out that Mark Knopfler management allowed photography, but non-professional. Venue management did not allow video equipment though. Once the venue security guard saw me with my camera (I had the kit lens plus 70-300G at the time) he said that I would be allowed the smaller lens but as for the bigger one it depends on Mark Knopfler security guards whether the will allow it or not. So the show started and I was shooting with 70-300G until a security guard approached me and said I was not to use that lens. So I changed to the kit lens and continued, no problem. Aftet the show I approached the same guard and asked him why I was allowed to shoot only with the other lens but not the 70-300G, he said they only allow focal length up to 200 mm, so 80-200 would have been alright . So obviously depends on promoters.

As for lighting conditions, I found there was no problem. I did spot metering off the band members faces and that gave me beautiful shutter speeds even with slow lens. Spot lighting was very strong. Examples are here: http://agitlits.m6.net/NikonD70/mk1.htm

Good luck

Alex

[Nnnnsic]

Yes, it's all relative.

I normally shoot at between 800-1600 ISO, but I find a lot of the time, since I'm going to be processing in black and white, it doesnt matter all that much anyway.

Bringing a monopod is a good idea.

Pretend it's a walking stick!

[christiand]

Hi maro,

please let us know how the concert was ...

Cheers,
CD

[a.briggs]

I do know a person who turned up to a Muddy Waters concert with a D70 + VR 80 200 he was ushered into the press area down the front of the stage

you can be lucky!

Sorry to be pedantic but didn't Muddy die in 1983
Maybe it's just that Nikon has some good zooms
(just jokes)

[marcotrov]

Well the concert was brilliant. Got in there with tickets and told by the ticket lady no you can't take photos. I explained I had already rung up and was told no recording equipment, videos and flash photography but photos were alright. I then had to confirm it with a manageress.

Anyhow got in seated took some test shots while support group Chain was playing. We had really good seats only about 30 metres from stage and slightly elevated and Michael Gadinski (the record producer/promoter was about 6 metres to my left.). Suddenly a very efficious blondehaired woman in black appears and says - 'Oh, sir you really can't take photos in here!'
I informed her that i'd already contacted someone who advised me no recording or video and no flash. She said but you can't take flash and i assured her I had no flash. Then she remarked that professional photgs were not allowed. I said I'm not a professional photog. She said she would check ( I quickly shot off a photo to at least get Chain with the Doobie Brothers logo in the background with the draped twin drum kits). Came running back a few minutes later and said the euipment was professional and i couldn't take picture. That was that
Oh well i had a ball and my teenagers got to know what a real band and GOOD music sounds like. Bloody expensive lesson for my wife and I at $135 per ticket. Hell we enjoyed ourselves, apart from the photog police

Here is the result of the quick take befor I was grounded
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25671594@N00/81340778/
Thanks for the advice guys here are the exif details.
Exposure: 1/60 @f/2.8 on monopod (which I pretended was my walking stick leigh- great (or is that unusual! ) minds think alike.
Exp.Prog: Manual
ISO: 1000
focal length : 80mm

cheers
marco

[Onyx]

Doobie Brothers don't ring any bells, but if their musical style could at all be described as "rock" music, http://www.fasterlouder.com.au - sign up, ask to contribute and try to sweet talk your way into a press pass from them for the event.

[Nnnnsic]

I'd love a definition of what a "professional" camera is because surely the D2X and D2h/s are professional cameras and the D70 is merely a semi-professional camera...

Still, decent shot but you're going to need to control those highlights.

[birddog114]

I'd love a definition of what a "professional" camera is because surely the D2X and D2h/s are professional cameras and the D70 is merely a semi-professional camera...

Still, decent shot but you're going to need to control those highlights.

A P&S also are classified as professional camera, don't you know about those VI?

[marcotrov]

Onyx said:

Doobie Brothers don't ring any bells

You are joking Onyx how old are you my boy
China Grove , Long Train running, Listen to the Music don't ring any bells for you
You have led a sheltered musical life

Leigh said:

I'd love a definition of what a "professional" camera is because surely the D2X and D2h/s are professional cameras and the D70 is merely a semi-professional camera...

I don't think she was keen on debating the issue

and said:

Still, decent shot but you're going to need to control those highlights.

Thanks Leigh, Yeah I was just chimping at the results to make my next adjustment when the gestapo returned.
To boot I saw her ask one of the young attendants to keep an eye on me to see if i tried to sneak some shots. Needless to say particularly at some key points in the concert i was sorely tempted. Especially when there was another lady with her point and shoot running around using her FLASH from about 25 metres
Anyhow terrific night they'll probably be in wheel chairs next time they hit town.
cheers
marco

[Zeeke]

Id like to know too.. seeing as a decent point and shoot camera can wack out upto 10x zoom and 8mp or so.. they can sometimes take a better closer photo then users with a d70... and they are more easily hidden.. and hell, a bit of crop work, it will show just as much detail as what one of our images will..

Nice image Marco, i like the lighting

Tim

[Nnnnsic]

Next time contact the Doobie Brothers directly and ask them if you can take pictures.

"I'm sorry, but you're not allowed to take --" BUT THEY SAID I COULD!!!

[Alex]

Nice photo, Marco. Sorry to hear about photography police. Well at least it was a great concert.

Alex

[curly]

Marco,
I'm not surprised at what happened to you at the concert.

My daughter photographs rock bands in Melbourne (uses a D70 I bought her) and even though she is an accredited photographer with links to promoters, venues, magazines, community radio etc she quite often will only be able to photograph during the first 2 or 3 songs then all cameras have to be put away.

The bands & managers then all want "free" photo's for the great priviledge she has been given but she is now digging her heels in... restrict the shoot & no freebies.

Are they able to walk on stage or was it walking frames & wheelies?

[christiand]

Thanks Marco,

what did your teenagers think about the music ?

I took my daughter to YES and Eagles and she loved it.
It was the music her dad listened to when she grew up.

Cheers,
CD

p.s.: I guess a very capable point and shoot ist the way for taking
photos.

[marcotrov]

Curly I've got to try and think of a way to get to photograph these gigs. There were no newspaper photogs or pros there
They loved it Christian
cheers
marco

[curly]

Marco,

Se if the local papers will give you temporary accreditation for the show. My daughter took a lot of photo's (she paid to get in) which she gave to some of the local music press free but that got her work known and led to accreditation. Once you have the backing of a recognised organisation they talk to promoters / managers and get you in.

The promoters / managers may want to see your images later and may want to use them but if it gets you in the box seat and you were willing to pay anyway...

I'ts taken Lauren nearly 3 years but now she has her photos on tour posters in the US and is being taken to a huge rock convention in Austin Texas later this year, all expenses paid including fares. She has a web site laurenbamfordphotography.com.au if you want a peek.

[stubbsy]

Curly. You really need to get the hang of embedding links. Better do something like this:

Click here to go to Lauren's web site

This was done by pasting in the URL (with all the http stuff) before the word "here", highlighting from the start of the URL to the end of the word here, clicking the URL button above the edit window, replacing the ] after the first url with a = and adding a ] before the h in here. EASY

Or if you're really lazy just type the full URL in and it will automatically be hyperlinked, but be less pretty

[curly]

Yes daddy

[marcotrov]

Here's the only 2 other captures before my plug was pulled
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25671594@N00/81442256/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25671594@N00/81442258/
CAn't seem to get the little thumbnail images attached to the posts that you told us about Peter. I'll keep trying
cheers
marco

[birddog114]

Curly. You really need to get the hang of embedding links. Better do something like this:

Click here to go to Lauren's web site

This was done by pasting in the URL (with all the http stuff) before the word "here", highlighting from the start of the URL to the end of the word here, clicking the URL button above the edit window, replacing the ] after the first url with a = and adding a ] before the h in here. EASY

Or if you're really lazy just type the full URL in and it will automatically be hyperlinked, but be less pretty

Peter,
Take it easy on him

[stubbsy]

Curly. You really need to get the hang of embedding links. Better do something like this:

Click here to go to Lauren's web site

This was done by pasting in the URL (with all the http stuff) before the word "here", highlighting from the start of the URL to the end of the word here, clicking the URL button above the edit window, replacing the ] after the first url with a = and adding a ] before the h in here. EASY

Or if you're really lazy just type the full URL in and it will automatically be hyperlinked, but be less pretty

Peter,
Take it easy on him

Hey, as my boss at work he doesn't take it easy on me, can't I get my own back just a little

[Steffen]

I'd love a definition of what a "professional" camera is because surely the D2X and D2h/s are professional cameras and the D70 is merely a semi-professional camera...

Absolutely! That's just a kind way of saying that you will only ever achieve mediocre shots with a D70, and always artistic shots with a D2*. It also completely debunks the theory that Galileo could have found those Jupiter moons with what we'd call an ashtray of a lens he had at his disposal.

Seriously, it is getting embarrasingly obvious how much of a weak link the six inches behind the viewfinder are becoming... (speaking or myself, of course)

Cheers
Steffen.