Photography at Music Festivals

CarlukeDave

CarlukeDave

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I'm heading up to the Hydro Connect Festival at Inverary in a couple of weeks. I've been emailing the promoters to try and get permission to take in my camera. The FAQs on the website say that no "professional" camera is allowed, they then go onto describe a pro camera as anyone with a removable lens!

I'm not going without the camera, but was thinking about just taking the 350D with the nifty fifty and maybe the 18-55mm kit lens, as they'd be easiest to conceal.

Has anyone had experience with taking cameras into venues where they're meant to be prohibited? Am I likely to get asked to put it away or get slung out?

Dave
 
From all of the events that I have been to I have only ever been asked to leave from one when they saw me with my camera. More often then not I have been ignored in the crowed.

Don't know what others experiences have been, but the worst things that can happen are that you are asked to leave and lose out on the money you have paid for your ticket, or you kit gets damaged.
 
I suppose my 350D without the battery grip wouldn't be that different from a bridge camera, and in a dark tent it may be difficult to tell!
 
there were plenty of folks kicking about T in the park this summer with small consumer dslr's like 350's and 400's etc. etc. they didn't seem to be getting any hastle at all, but none that i saw had anything more than small kit zooms or 50mm's on them etc. etc. they look fairly similar to a bridge camera to most of the security i'm sure, and i doubt they're very clued up. anyway, the point being is that DF concerts run both events, so the security is likely to be the same.....

i wouldn't advertise the fact you have a camera when going through the gates, and don't put a big zoom on it etc. etc. and i would imagine you'll be fine. i'll be there on the saturday and sunday with the pap machines so i'm hoping the weather is good and there's not too much beer and p**s being thrown towards the stage!
 
nowler said:
there were plenty of folks kicking about T in the park this summer with small consumer dslr's like 350's and 400's etc. etc. they didn't seem to be getting any hastle at all, but none that i saw had anything more than small kit zooms or 50mm's on them etc. etc. they look fairly similar to a bridge camera to most of the security i'm sure, and i doubt they're very clued up. anyway, the point being is that DF concerts run both events, so the security is likely to be the same.....

i wouldn't advertise the fact you have a camera when going through the gates, and don't put a big zoom on it etc. etc. and i would imagine you'll be fine. i'll be there on the saturday and sunday with the pap machines so i'm hoping the weather is good and there's not too much beer and p**s being thrown towards the stage!
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Thanks for the info.

Think I'm just heading up for the Sunday, if it wasn't for Sigur Ros playing I probably wouldn't bother!
 
i'll try and get you some close-up shots if you want, if i'm not at one of the other stages at the time.
 
I saw Sigur Ros at Benicassim this year, they are pretty good live :)

Never heard of that festival, looks really good! Pretty descent lineup, great location too, i'd love to camp next to a Loch in Scotland...awesome!

Anyway, as far as DSLRs go at festivals it's hard to tell becuase the security at festivals varys so much.

You might be able to get it in since the 350D is a small DSLR, but my friend was unable to get hers in at Benicassim last year as they were very strict. Depends on the event though, they may not be strict about it at all, but if it states that no professional camera equipment is allowed then they are likely to be a bit tighter about it.
 
nowler said:
i'll try and get you some close-up shots if you want, if i'm not at one of the other stages at the time.
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That would be great mate, appreciate it! :thumbs:
 
The danger is if they see it and tell you that you cant take the camera into the venue and there is nowhere to leave it, then you will have to dip out on the festival and leave withyour camera, some of the security staff can be total knobends, my mates 9 year old son even had his bottle of water taken off him at a meatloaf concert.

having said that, I went to see the zutons outdoors at delamere forrest a couple of months ago and loads of people had dslrs and massive lenses, even monopods and no one seemed to care, but you would need a long zoom because in front of the stage was raining plastic bottles and gallons of water and beer in plastic cups, not the place for a camera unless its waterproof or surplus to requirements.
 
350d without grip in one pocket, small kit lens or a 50 in the other pocket and you'll be fine..... failing that, i'll get you some money shots.
 
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