Concert photos C&C

[honoryourlife]

Doods, aren't I supposed to be copping all sorts of criticism here? Thanks for the kudos.

Piggle5, #2 (Korey Cooper of Skillet) has proved to be just about my most popular photo. At least on Flickr. I thought it might just be her flexibility....:mrgreen:

Concert photography is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of hard work. Over Easter I shot a 3 day festival, up in Toowoomba (inland town set atop a range) on the 2nd night and got flooded whilst shooting one band, waiting for Switchfoot. Ended up having to climb up to side-of-stage and missed my landing...left that festival very bruised. Or couple weeks ago shooting Escape The Fate the staff had the bright idea of giving the first few rows of fanatical fanboys and girls cups of water....insert chaos here. Security guys and photogs were flat out not slipping ont he wet (lino'd) pit for the rest of the night. I regularly have crowd surfers pulled over my head to be ejected from the venue, crazy fans push past me to get to the stage, security treat me like a fly (as in bat me away without a thought) I have drinks, mobiles and various other projectiles thrown at me or dropped on me....and the lead singer of Oh Sleeper has it in for me because not once but twice he tried to use my head as a launching pad for his stage-diving antics.

So um, armour up, get fast glass and a body you can wield with ease. Prepare to wear black all the time, never be appreciated for your work, spend ages waiting around for bands to start and have bits of foam jammed in your ear canals a lot. Also to have rights grabs contracts shoved under your nose.

Even with all that, it's the most freaking fun in the world

I know exactly what you mean, I too do a lot of concert photography. Mostly smaller ones, mind you.

Maybe you could give me some tips?!

 

[piggle5]

Doods, aren't I supposed to be copping all sorts of criticism here? Thanks for the kudos.

Piggle5, #2 (Korey Cooper of Skillet) has proved to be just about my most popular photo. At least on Flickr. I thought it might just be her flexibility....:mrgreen:

Concert photography is a lot of fun, but it's also a lot of hard work. Over Easter I shot a 3 day festival, up in Toowoomba (inland town set atop a range) on the 2nd night and got flooded whilst shooting one band, waiting for Switchfoot. Ended up having to climb up to side-of-stage and missed my landing...left that festival very bruised.

I would have gladly done what you did and walked away bruised if I could have photographed Switchfoot. They're definitely one of my favorite bands!

 

[Stutterfly]

^ I never got to 'properly' shoot them. I was side-of-stage during their set (not really allowed to move from my position, not least because of the amount of electrical stuff + water) I was drenched, my gear was (I think my 24-70 still is) the stage was (as you can see) Got what I could...

They're still on my list...


honoryourlife, have PMed.

 

[e.rose]

I've been around...stalker-style ....

.

:thumbup:

 

[DThriller]

They let you into a show with a dslr?

 

[Stutterfly]

^ Well, I don't normally just go to a regular concert and happen to have my D700 in my bag...

I organise it all beforehand. Either through a publication like fasterlouder.com.au or a local mag or for the band/touring company themselves. The last one are my faves to shoot for, because they aren't specific with what they want. They're usually happy with whatever I end up with.

Some publications are all 'Oh we want 15-20 socials, 20 of each band member' blah blah. I hate that. Concerts are all about spontaneity and being 'in the moment' I find if I have a list of stuff I have to get, most of the shots come out rather boring. Plus I hate taking the social photos, because afterwards, I get Facebook messages (not sure how they're tracking me down) asking for a copy. Haha sure...it'll cost ya.

 

[fokker]

Great photos of some great artists you have there. Are you paying to get into these gigs and then just taking pics, or using the camera as a weapon of free-concert entry (which sometimes works quite well)? Or are you actually getting paid for these shots?

Oh BTW, I just flickr'd you I hope you enjoy it

 

[PhotoTish]

Great photos :thumbup:

 

[Stutterfly]

Great photos of some great artists you have there. Are you paying to get into these gigs and then just taking pics, or using the camera as a weapon of free-concert entry (which sometimes works quite well)? Or are you actually getting paid for these shots?

Oh BTW, I just flickr'd you I hope you enjoy it

I sort it all out beforehand. I haven't paid for a concert ticket in nearly 3 years... Well, except for a couple I didn't get a pass to but really wanted to see, like Muse.

I've found that one rarely gets paid to 'take' the photos, but it more likely to sell them afterwards. Either to the band, to a publication, or as stock photos for a website. Also it's led me to shoot other things (like an adult's birthday party, there is one shot of it on my Flickr stream) which I definitely get paid for.