Dave
I think I have shot it 4 times now from 2009 when you were accredited and able to use the images to this time last year when you are invited by Canon and can't use them. I slipped in with an invite from a pro-shop last year, but that looks to have been stopped and you need to be a Canon user to get in.
In the September last year the raised catwalk had gone and so it changed the perspective somewhat, I haven't been for a year and so there might be some changes from this. There is a small amount of height gain across 3 raised large wide "steps" which form the pit. Usually Canon have a reasonable number of people attending who actually show up ~40-60 and I suspect on London Fashion Week proper there are 120+ press in the same space. So you have it lucky really.
You'll get plenty of tips from the CPS guys in the briefing beforehand and it is worth listening to them as they will also give the Kelvin temperature of the lighting on the catwalk for you to set to get the images at the right temperature in camera - which is handy, and which might vary from AW to SS shows and each year. Last September it was 4100k.
So to answer your questions from my experience....
- You won't *need* a flash. Lighting is very good from front to back of the catwalk and you have a bank of lights above and behind the pit area which front lights the models. You'll be somewhere around ISO 1000, 1/400, f/5 from my EXIF.
- You can shoot on manual exposure, it really is that constant front to back. No point in checking it until the show starts as the main lights don't come on until then. Again you may get a guide in the briefing. Obviously on Manual anyone with a flash will be a pain in the ass.
- Your go to lens will be the 70-200mm - you'll get full length through to half length on it on your FF camera and maybe even a head & shoulders if you are close to the front of the pit. I suspect you'll only use the wide zoom for a general view or some alternative viewpoints - but you won't be able to move around much if at all. Certainly take it. I personally wouldn't use the 2x, if you had a 1.4x I'd say lock it on but you'll loose on quality with the 2x and given that you can't sell the images commercially or as prints then you are on personal use at best. I'd crop and keep quality up. With a 5D MKIII you'll still get a decent sized personal print if you want to make one.
- I would take a monopod and use it with the 70-200mm - 40 mins show and potentially being in a cramped position means it will assist you and takes up no room. it also allows you to quickly and effortlessly switch between portrait and landscape view on the tripod collar.
You will find there is a bit of a bun fight for centre position at the front - sometimes there is a large video camera in the primary position. If you get to the front you *should* be sitting or kneeling and not standing up. You are told not to move around, but without fail I have had people bobbing around in-front of me - seemingly aware they are dancing around and blocking several people. My tactic for this on my final trip was to take a small folding plastic step with me, head to the back of the pit and then add the 8" of step height to shoot over the top of everyone ;-) It did mean I required a slightly longer lens or crop (I shot the first show with a 400mm f2.8 and the second with the 70-200mm) - but at least I had a good view !
If you get to shoot the same show twice as some of the days allow then try to do something different on the second iteration otherwise you'll end up with the same shots. Or if you can find any issues with your technique after show 1 then amend and reshoot on show 2.
Sadly the biggest issue you'll face is the quality of the models if it continues the same way as it has in recent years. Back in 2009/10 when Canon hadn't got their hands on it (it almost certainly isn't Canon just the experience of the models) the models were still working for the photographers at the end of the catwalk - you'd get a pose, a smile, wink or some attitude before they headed back off down the catwalk. In SS 2013 you barely got any eye contact - there was only one model who was making any effort for the pit - and in AW 2013 they changed the configuration to a U shaped floor level runway and the models just head towards you turn right and carry on. It is a shame because it removes some real connection in the images - but there you go.
It is still very much worth the trip up and you'll have a good day.
Here are two blog posts from my first trip in 2009:
http://www.meonshorestudios.co.uk/blog/2009/09/london-fashion-weekend-catwalk-models/
and then last September:
http://www.meonshorestudios.co.uk/b...on-weekend-catwalk-trend-show-somerset-house/
Hope this all helps.
