Comments on: Concert Photography

By: pshemek

pshemek — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:05:53 +0000

Great article, I would love to start doing concert photography. This article is very helpful.

By: Greg Taylor

Greg Taylor — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:13:17 +0000

Great article. Concert photography is an especially rewarding form of photography. It’s hard work and you have to battle bad lights, lots of movement and everything else.
I always plan for the unexpected. My quick words to someone starting in concert photography would be: know your surroundings, know your settings and trust your instincts.

By: Doug Lewis

Doug Lewis — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:50:12 +0000

I shoot every show with a Nikon D40 with f/3.5-5.6 55mm-200mm and a 18mm-55mmf/3.5-5.6. and use a Manual Flash I get rude looks from some Big Lens Photographers but My work proves I just have to work a little harder. I have photographed Bachman Cummings Band, Kim Mitchell, and Shoot for The Carpet Frogs (Backing Band for Bachman Cummings. Have Shot Rik Emmett of Triumph and Many local acts.
I bust my ass and enjoy all of it.
Thanks for posting the Inspiring article

By: Book: Put another dime in the jukebox - Photography Today!

Book: Put another dime in the jukebox - Photography Today! — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:29:11 +0000

[...] of fond of this whole concert photography thing – and I’ve written about it at length here on Photocritic, and I’ve got a big(ish) portfolio of concert photos over on Flickr. One thing I’ve [...]

By: Book: Put another dime in the jukebox :: Photocritic photography blog

Book: Put another dime in the jukebox :: Photocritic photography blog — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:47:34 +0000

By: Concert Photography « Jenni Green Photography

Concert Photography « Jenni Green Photography — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:59:17 +0000

[...] By jennigreenphotography I found this cool site that talks about band photography and I think anyone interested in doing this should check it out! Here is some more of my images, [...]

By: Let’s rock this joint « Jon’s Place

Let’s rock this joint « Jon’s Place — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:24:31 +0000

[...] show — which was snapped, in breach of official “Are you a proper photographer?” guidance, in auto mode as I couldn’t twiddle the dial fast [...]

By: bbackerson

bbackerson — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:11:09 +0000

Speaking of concert photography,Billboard and PDN just extended the deadline on the ultimate music moment photo contest to Sept 18th. Billboard and PDN are gonna give out a bunch of cool stuff and publish the images of whoever can capture the best pic of an artist, crowd, or music moment on their magazines and websites. They’re taking both amateurs and professional, more details at http://www.billboardphotocontest.com/.

By: Mário Pires

Mário Pires — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:39:25 +0000

I have been doing concert photography for some time now. The advice i can give is that you should move a lot (except when i am not allowed by the venue, or musicians agent). Fast lenses are something photographers should consider also.
Other than that is just a question of having your eyes open and “read” the moves the musicians make.
Every concert is a challenge, most of our photos will be “average”, but sometimes we can get some real good ones!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/retorta/sets/

By: 10 ways to break photographer’s block :: Photocritic photography blog

10 ways to break photographer’s block :: Photocritic photography blog — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:19:20 +0000

[...] Photography generally comes in a ton of genres, and I bet you a lot of money that you’re not as conversant in all of them. So why not try to work on improving your work in one genre? For me personally, portraiture really clicked after I had done a load of animal and live band photography. [...]

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:38:54 +0000

Hi Patrick – can you post a couple of links to concert photos taken at 6400 ISO which have no noise in them?

By: Patrick Beaudry

Patrick Beaudry — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:29:40 +0000

First of, I’m going to try my best to staying civil here. You’re making it hard for some of us Pro Photogs, that make a living on concert photography. Your insight on how to obtain a photo pass is not something that should be done, even less suggested.

The industry doesn’t need to be saturated with “wannabe” concert photographers that are prostituting the market with free services. What the heck are you thinking?? Some of us do this for more than a hobby, and need to put food on our tables. Work is work, and should be compensated!

Now on a more technical side, your comment on ISO settings is no very coherent. Buy decent equipment, and you’ll be able to set your ISO value to 6400, without the slightest amount of noise whatsoever.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:19:14 +0000

Hi Haje, I’d like to use a photo you took from Sonisphere (August 1,2) in my article. This photo is also featured on Wikipedia. I just want to obtain your permission to be sure I’m being compliant with copyrights, etc. I’d be happy to credit you as photographer, of course and put a link to your article here. Please e-mail me and let me know a.s.a.p. Thanks in advance.

By: samantha

samantha — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:39:09 +0000

I heard about this photo contest Billboard and PDN are having…basically you could either be an amateur or a professional and all you need to do is submit your photos from a concert or of an artist. The winner gets a completely free trip for 2 to a Billboard star-studded event plus your photos published in Billboard magazine and on Billboard.com. The link is http://www.billboardphotocontest.com/ and the deadline is Sept 8th…check it out!!

By: Haje Jan Kamps

Haje Jan Kamps — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:26:35 +0000

As long as you’re not making money of the photos; yes. You can’t use band photos for commercial purposes anyway (unless you pay the band a fortune, and then it’s usually done in an advertising context), so use the photos for news, features, and your portfolio, and nothing else :)

By: Vince

Vince — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:07:27 +0000

can you post pictures of bands on your professional portfolio website without a signed release form?

By: amie

amie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:07:38 +0000

great photos, and great writeup! just starting out a photo blog so i’m happy to have come across this site..

By: concert photography

concert photography — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:27:05 +0000

really very interesting post!concert photography is great...love this article.thanks for sharing.. digitalpicturezone

By: Mary Lupo

Mary Lupo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:23:37 +0000

THANK YOU for any help you can supply me with.

Mary

By: Mary Lupo

Mary Lupo — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:18:31 +0000

Hi:

I have been added to a credential list for a particular concert in a couple of weeks. The woman is the media coordinator of the venue, and she emailed me back, after I emailed her requesting this. I gave her all the proper info. I have a canon 40d and have a 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 lens and a 50-250mm 4.5-5.6 lens. I am thinking of getting a 70-200mm 2.8 lens as I know I need a very fast lens. I need to know if after taking the pictures if I am in a pit, do I get to sit in my seat, as I was invited to the concert also. I have contacted the venue and they said that cameras are allowed. I would take more pictures in my seat, but my flash won’t reach even though it is powerful. I have a point and shoot fuji s7000 with a telephoto attachment, and have taken photos indoors in a concert and I was in the 25th row and then in the 14th row in another one and got great shots with it, and I used an external flash unit. Do you think I would be able to sit down after taking the pictures since I was given a ticket. I don’t want the person to lose a lot of money. I would rather sit down then have to leave after taking the photos up front, and take my chances by shooting from my seat.

Thanks
Mary

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:06:15 +0000

Fantastic article. I’ve been shooting concert photography for about 6 months now and keep coming back to this article.

At the level I am at, I can usually shoot for the whole show. It’s a great way to practice: go to small local shows. The challenges are the same and it makes you get to know the surroundings and the camera.

I wrote a short guide as well: http://tinyurl.com/mtxa2n

By: Jane Macneil

Jane Macneil — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:23:19 +0000

Good tips.

I’ve found just as a music fan going to concerts, my trusty point-and-shoot has been great. Granted you haven’t got the advantage of using an DSLR with a bright lens, but then to get permission to use these cameras, your only allowed in the pit for 3 songs. (I’ve heard reports of people only being allowed in the pit for mere seconds!) I find getting to the venue early, so you can get as close to the front as possible is the biggest advantage. Once you’ve done that, everything else is easy. You have the WHOLE concert to take photos. Like you say, you tend to dump 90% of the shots, but if you have a full 90 minutes – 2 hours to take your photos, your bound to get some good ones right?

By: Photocritic Greatest Hits vol.2 :: Photocritic photography blog

Photocritic Greatest Hits vol.2 :: Photocritic photography blog — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:35:39 +0000

[...] 4 – Try nude photography 5 – Top 50 Photography Websites 6 – The top 15 digital SLR cameras 7 – Concert photography 8 – Creating a photography portfolio 9 – Nude photography Avec Renoux 10 – The Ultimate guide to [...]

By: StubHub Coupons

StubHub Coupons — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 19:02:43 +0000

Interesting stuff.

I like the photo tips for concerts.

Cool blog site you got going on.

Keep it up!

By: alyssa

alyssa — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:45:46 +0000

this was helpful-
i’ve been do 5 shows now where i’ve had a photo pass and i love the opening of this article haha. thats exactly how it’s described, and its one of the most nervewrecking nights you will ever have. ive gotten stuck in between the security guards legs while they were pushing off the stage to push a crowd surfer back, while the other security guard was yelling at me to ‘get the f*ck out of there’. also, at my last show, there was a kid in the photo pit with his little digital camera, just shooting away, with flash, and actually for the most of the show was kneeling on the floor so i pretty much tripped on him every time i needed to get by him.

By: Katie Metcalfe

Katie Metcalfe — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:47:40 +0000

Just wanted to drop a line and say thanks ever so much for the insight, inspiration and technical as well as the common-sense-we-often-forget knowledge.

By: Jayman

Jayman — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:34:15 +0000

Great, this is going into my photo Bible. Thankfully I live some where where the first two rules have not been introduced yet so it is free hunting season for amateur and pro shooters and been a great platform for me to go and get pics of bands and then show them how I can get great candid moments of them and many hire me next time and it is paying for itself now and hope to take some of your print advice too and give them some big prints too and sell them to the band members or for their fan clubs.

The hardest thing is getting good moments to the lighting, moments come regardless if the lighting techy gives you the best or worst lighting possibilities for that moment but you got to take your shot anyway or up or down your ISO or other aids to get the shot in a split second, it grows on you though and I’m getting to where it’s a “junky” rush, I hate portrait set shoots, give me rock and roll baby!

By: Redwall Photo

Redwall Photo — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:49:31 +0000

Great tips – I already practice many of these and am glad to see someone is willing to say it!

By: The quiet revolution in photography by Photocritic

The quiet revolution in photography by Photocritic — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:27:23 +0000

[...] photographs. When I’m out taking photos in difficult lighting situations (such as dancing, concert photography or similar), I now routinely dial back the exposure by a full [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:34:40 +0000

Nice article…I can relate well. I took hundreds of concert photos of rock bands in the 80’s and it was always a challenge.

I tried fast films, slide films, even had some 3D pics too. After all these years I finally made some of my collection available for viewing.

My concert photo website is evolving and will have more as time goes on.
Thank you

http://www.liveloudphotos.com