Concert Photography

OnionJ

I would like to bring my digital camera to an outdoor concert later this summer. The pictures would be for my own use, and would not be published or distributed to anyone else.

I know that most promoters don't allow cameras at their events, even though most bands couldn't care less.

Has anyone any advice on this? Should I bother trying to bring the camera at all?

peter1892

Judging by the amount of digital cameras I see at concerts now you should be OK. That said, the cameras are usually either compact cameras or camera phones (rarely dSLR's).

What you could do is put a small (e.g. 16MB) memory card into the camera, if security ask you to remove it then do so, but have your normal (1GB etc) card in your pocket & put it into the camera once you're inside.

Some venues are less strict on security than others. I've found it to be the case that the bigger the venue, the tighter the security.

This is just advice based on my own experiences - it's entirely at your own risk, remember that the terms & conditions of sale for any gig will be printed on the back of your ticket!

leinsterman

It really depend on the camera you use also ... a simple pocket based P&S should be easy to smuggle in ... and you should not get any hassle once inside the gig ... only problem is anything pocket sized is not likely to have enough grunt unless you like the melee in the mosh pit ... even then the flash won't have enough power ... and there are very few discreet P&S that perform well at high ISO or offering fast lenses ...

I was at a gig this weekend in Malahide castle and there was a fella there with what looked like an EOS 30D or 5D and 70-200 F2.8L IS ... this is a pretty non discreet combo ... he looked just like a punter ... but there was no sure way of tellin short of asking him ...

Bearing in mind most gigs take place in the evening you also need to consider bringing along something that can handle poor/low light conditions ... flash tends to not have the range and/or wash out all the atmosphere ... so anything faster than F2.8 and preferably a Canon camera in which you can push ISO up without introducing too much noise ...

you could also try contacting the promoter for a press pass ... but you need to be very good a bluffing ... this has worked for me in the past with sports ... but I have student membership of NUJ which includes a press pass ...

melekalikimaka

mwhahaha going to a festival later this summer with my full slr kit and press pass to take pictures of everyone for them mwhahahaha, much later in the summer of course

on a side not i'm going away on a trip down to the country tonight, be back monday....mwhahaha.

but i honestly dont think theres an issue with the big cameras to be honest, depends how close you go

helios

I was at Malahide castle a few weeks ago, and they were saying that we couldn't bring in any cameras that 'take high quality pics'. So by their logic I could bring in a low quality SLR....

unreggd

What gig are you goin to and what camera do ye have?

They rarely get confiscated, as Peter1892 said they usually take the battery or the mem card, or just say make sure ye dont use that.

I was so pi55ed that I could have easily brought my S5600 to Justin Timberlake!!!!


The best idea is to bring a compact cam with lots of zoom, like the new Lumix one has a wideangles lense and 10X zoom, and its the size of most regular compacts

peter1892

leinsterman wrote:

... so anything faster than F2.8 and preferably a Canon camera in which you can push ISO up without introducing too much noise ...

Wise words - and here's one I made earlier with a Canon Powershot at 400 ISO:



Mind you, last night at a gig I won't mention (featuring the sometimes Black Sabbath front man) the front rows got pretty wet - I'm glad I wasn't up there with my camera!

Sebzy

My advise would be bring a small P&S. if you want to bring the big guns contact the promotor or even the bands they can pass you through as crew if you strike a deal.

Always ask first.

Third_Echelon

I brought my canon eos 400d to the Garden Party recently and they stopped me at the security check. They made a bit of a fuss, but i just stressed the point that it is just for personal use for taking pics of friends etc. I had a regular lens on it and a pretty beefy zoom lens (200 mm). The girl didn't really have a clue of the zoom capabilities.

I seemed to bluff it pretty well. It turns out I didn't take too many of the acts anyway, but more of the day and the other events that were on...

I take pics sometimes at smaller gigs in Dublin in Temple Bar music centre etc. There is never any problem. These are a few I took at Cap Pas Cap and Channel One in TBMC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmnscttirl/sets/72157600413408957/

At electric picnic last year, I just brought along my canon powershot A80 and it did the job ok. Good camera for the size of it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dmnscttirl/sets/72157594270742970/

mikeanywhere

I was turned away at the gate when I went to Slane castle a while back as my camera was deemed too professional - go figure!!

RCNPhotos

I had the battery taken from my 20D at Marley recently. My advice would be bring a second batt in your sock or something. Alot of it can depend on who the security at the time is also. They might be a dick or sound. But you do get some sound people who are just doing their jobs. I was awful annoyed tohugh.

5uspect

I hope you got your battery back!
Maybe do that with a memory card too incase they take that.

DonnaDarkoPhoto

5uspect wrote:

I hope you got your battery back!
Maybe do that with a memory card too incase they take that.

yeah i second this. just put a an old memory card (even 16mb) in the camera until you get past the security.

RCNPhotos

Ah yeah I did get it back. The guy who took it was very cool, gave me his name and stuff so I could find him later. Even with a photopass I've had trouble sometimes, having to run round with security to get it sorted. Or when you're told you have a pass and your name is down etc but when you get there and you're not on the list, can be annoying

sineadw

I think the key is to go to smaller gigs. I never ever have hassle, most of the time the bands are delighted when they see me (little do they know.. :rolleyes: ) and I get in for nothing Plus, smaller gigs are usually infinitely better anyway. You get right up in front and can have a chat with the sound man beforehand about the lighting. Actually, most of the best shots I have from gigs are from the sound check. Better lighting, if cheating slightly.

thebaz

The ever expanding and vigilante style private security firms , ar the no. 1enemy of all photographers , i got stoppped from photographing in Dublin port, as i was at risk of setting the place ablaze , by a few snaps with my flash turned off

then , as Jools predicted , in Dundrum i was treated like a terrorist for taking photos in Dundrum shopping centre , i think many of these failed Guards, target photographers or other minor law breakers , to boost there ego.

5uspect

I used to work security between my undergrad and postgrad as a store guard.
Its the worlds most boring job so any excuse to be an asshole is relished.
Sad but true.

EDIT: I've recovered now!