Gig photography

m_hancox

m_hancox

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Michael
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Hi all, I was watching The Wombats yesterday and I saw a couple of amature photographer taking photos throughout the performance and I thought that looks like my sort of thing. Seeing the band up close with out the crowd and taking photos, can't get much better :lol:

I was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction with going about giving it a go. Like how do I get the access? Do I have to contact the venue for a pass? Or even if there's any specific equipment that would really help me out? Any tips and tricks with this sort of photography would have me out still.

Thank you for any feedback and advice :)

,Michael
 
Hi Michael

There is shed loads of advice on here! I would do a search on gig and concert photography first, have a read up and the come back with questions.

I would suggest you start at local gigs first, write to local bands and learn there first. To get in the 'pit' at concerts you will need accreditation from the band or the PR company. Generally you will not be allowed to use anything sophisticated as a paying customer from the the front row, security may have you out quite rapidly!

You will need fast glass, ideally a good quality camera that can cope with high ISO and low noise, ear defenders and a strong wish not to make any money at it!

Dunc
 
Thank you Duncan.

I planned on starting out at a small venue just outside of the city centre and that sounds like a very good starting point. I didn't intend on making money from it just do it for my love of photography and music

Thanks for the advice and I'll look around a bit :)
 
A nifty fifty is a great start as some of the venues lighting will be like nothing you have ever seen before......... The only down side is that close up you can't get all the performer in, so learn to 'move' early and get your feet to do the composition!
 
Give it a go, i do it allot its loads of fun man! A fifty might have quite a big zoom if you have a crop sensor.. I use a 35 1.8 :)
 
I started off going to my local pub that has open mic nights and now I know quite a few bands that ask me to go along to take photo's for them, even got a festie to cover this year .
Just need to save up for a better performing camera in low light, my old 20D is pretty noisy over 800 ISO.
 
DropDead said:
Give it a go, i do it allot its loads of fun man! A fifty might have quite a big zoom if you have a crop sensor.. I use a 35 1.8 :)
Click to expand...

35 1.8 does seem like a really nice sharp and fast lens so I wouldn't mind saving up for one especially if it would help me here, thanks Jake :)

happygolucky said:
I started off going to my local pub that has open mic nights and now I know quite a few bands that ask me to go along to take photo's for them, even got a festie to cover this year .
Just need to save up for a better performing camera in low light, my old 20D is pretty noisy over 800 ISO.
Click to expand...

My idea was to start off small but it wasn't sure how small I should go but pubs sound good especially if I could get a pint out of it :lol:
Well My 400D isn't too bad at 1600 iso but I could try and get the 3200 upgrade for it and see how it is then. Thanks Andrew
 
I shoot gigs in a relatively small venue (1500 or so max) regularly and get by perfectly with a 7D and a Tamron 17-50 2.8. As for practice, pubs are useless because the biggest issue you're going to face is the constantly changing light. Find a small venue that puts on local acts with any sort of a light show and work from there. In this age of social media, getting in touch with local bands is easier than ever before. If you're a music fan, there's nothing to match the high of being in the pit and connecting with bands, especially if you're a fan of the band. I've shot many bands I'm a fan off and gotten to meet most of them. It just takes some detective work, professionalism and persistence to get photo passes, but if you want to shoot more popular bands, unless you're doing so on behalf of a press outlet, you've got very little chance of getting a pass issued. If you ever have your eye on a specific band that's not Foo Fighter or U2 like status and can't get anywhere with a pass, let me know. Maybe I could help with contacts.
 
well, you probably need both, long(ish) lens for really nice close-ups and 50 or 60 (macro) for the rest. Another idea that comes to mind is to get a fish-eye for some of the odd shots too...
 
shufflemoomin said:
As for practice, pubs are useless because the biggest issue you're going to face is the constantly changing light. Find a small venue that puts on local acts with any sort of a light show and work from there. It just takes some detective work, professionalism and persistence to get photo passes, but if you want to shoot more popular bands, unless you're doing so on behalf of a press outlet, you've got very little chance of getting a pass issued. If you ever have your eye on a specific band that's not Foo Fighter or U2 like status and can't get anywhere with a pass, let me know. Maybe I could help with contacts.
Click to expand...

Thank you so I'll try getting in touch with small venues rather than pubs then. My cousin Djs at weekends and regualarly has light shows so I think I'll try and get a little practise on him.

I'm not going to aim too high on going for big bands but small local bands will be perfect for me so I don't think I will be shooting for any press outlets any time soon ;) :lol:

Thank you for your advice and it's really helped :thumbs:
 
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