Who are you shooting tonight/this weekend?

[narlus]

still waiting to hear about this saturday's PJ Harvey/John Parish gig...yesterday i did get confirmation for Decemberists/Robyn Hitchcock (next week) and The Church (next month).

[Dom87SS]

Just got back, I'll post some shots when I get a chance (probably be a week or two!).


on a upside they all came to the bar afterward and we drank all night. some very cool down to earth guys. and had we not just watched them perform, they would have been just a bunch of guys out at the bar. was a great experience.

[trials2k]

Big job for me on Sunday night!
Shooting for Future Music & ITM @ Winter Sound System, heaps of big internationals on the line-up that im very much looking forward to seeing, and maybe even introduce myself hehe :)

Main acts ill be shooting for:
16 Bit Lolitas
Armin Van Buuren
James Zabiela
Guy Gerber
Popof
Anja Schneider

[DDCSD]

on a upside they all came to the bar afterward and we drank all night. some very cool down to earth guys. and had we not just watched them perform, they would have been just a bunch of guys out at the bar. was a great experience.

I left before the show was over ( I live about 60 miles from where the concert was and have a "real" job), but my friend that stayed for the whole show (and afterwards) said the exact same thing.

[narlus]

pj harvey tonight.

[namasste]

got my favorite reggae artist on Wednesday night...Taj Weeks and Adowa here in Cleveland. Should be fun as he wants more behind the scenes stuff this show.

[narlus]

Decemberists/Robyn Hitchcock

[DwightMcCann]

Carlos Mencia on Thursday.

[narlus]

loudly accuse him of stealing others' material.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7841918711943453918

[blackshadow]

Friday night Lily Allen (subject to confirmation)
Tuesday night Tommy Emmanuel (confirmed)

[narlus]

Decemberists/Robyn Hitchcock

it really sucks when you get to the venue only to find out that the band's tour manager made a last minute decision that it's a soundboard shoot, and the soundboard is about 100 yards away from the stage. and you only have full-frame cameras.

i guess i was fortunate that i brought my 1.4TC but it really didn't make much of a difference.

[ies photos]

Tonight its Katy Perry

[skifurthur]

Through a number of odd circumstances and after a 14 hour drive I find myself in Manchester, TN with a confirmation but not all my sign in information.

Bonnaroo!!!

Jimmy Buffett just got added to the bill and a number of acts have restrictions, limited approval and releases. The media credential sign in opens at 10am local time and I will figure out everything else that I need to figure out then.

I'm sure this will be a richly interesting experience on many levels. LOL

[DwightMcCann]

it really sucks when you get to the venue only to find out that the band's tour manager made a last minute decision that it's a soundboard shoot, and the soundboard is about 100 yards away from the stage. and you only have full-frame cameras.

i guess i was fortunate that i brought my 1.4TC but it really didn't make much of a difference.
If it's a big deal group I usually put my 400mm f/2.8 and big tripod with Wimberley head in the truck just in case this crap happens, although I haven't done it this year yet ... haven't had a 'lightboard only' shoot either so I guess my karma is holding. But I've gotten some really nice images from just behind the lightboard from my tripod! :-)

[skifurthur]

Real men don't use tripods from the soundboard!!!

:-P

[narlus]

i don't have anything longer than the 70-200 but the combo of being able to crop a 21MP photo and enough light to use a 1.4TC meant it wasn't too bad. just no variety.

http://narlus.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p883699742-4.jpg

[skifurthur]

Awaiting Bonnaroo approval for Nine Inch Nails, Mars Volta and The Beastie Boys. Everyone else seems good to go.

[namasste]

i don't have anything longer than the 70-200 but the combo of being able to crop a 21MP photo and enough light to use a 1.4TC meant it wasn't too bad. just no variety.



looks like you made the most of it. solid shot and the lighting and wardrobe do compensate a bit for the lack of shooting variety.

[narlus]

Awaiting Bonnaroo approval for Nine Inch Nails, Mars Volta and The Beastie Boys. Everyone else seems good to go.

good luck, those are the grabby kind of waivers from what i've heard.

[Nouks]

I've got Vive la Fête, Papa Roach, Nine Inch Nails, Regina Spektor, dEUS, Tori Amos, Massive Attack, Depeche Mode and Rammstein on my list. Don't expect to do them all, though. More photographers aiming on Depeche Mode, Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails for the same website (but I was the first one on Depeche Mode and most photographers on Nine Inch Nails want to do Mars Volta aswell, who plays in The Netherlands on the same day as NIN).

This far noone to write a review on Vive la Fête so I guess that's a no, Papa Roach is mine (when approved), and I'm the only one (this far) for Regina Spektor and Tori Amos.

[skifurthur]

good luck, those are the grabby kind of waivers from what i've heard.

Still no word for Nasty Little Man (PR firm for the above...and what a perfect corporate name for a rights grabbing PR outfit!) but if I don't get the Beasties I have David Byrne pretty much at the same moment.

Bonnaroo is sick! Day 1 was filled with getting a feel for the venues...more that 8 all filled most of the time...dealing with some snafus as to access...tornado watches...massive t-storms...wet everything...mud....dust earlier. One highlight was shooting and then hanging with Danny Clinch. Danny has a band, Tangiers Blues Band and he blows a mean harp. He takes some ok photos also. lol

[skifurthur]

Day 2 done and gone. Katzenjammer, Tift Merritt, Animal Collective, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Al Green, Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, David Byrne, Phish and Public Enemy. 14 hours of making it all happen.

More togs that I knew existed at many shows. Top acts are getting 200-300 in a pit. This is tough work.

[90c4]

Top acts are getting 200-300 in a pit. This is tough work.

That's amazing - take some pit photos for us!

[DwightMcCann]

More togs that I knew existed at many shows. Top acts are getting 200-300 in a pit. This is tough work.

Some things are simply not worth it!

[narlus]

That's amazing - take some pit photos for us!

yeah, that's nuts.


i think the most crowded pit i've ever been in was 12-15 for the Weezer tour opener.

usually it's 2-4 other shooters, up to 5-7 on occasion.

[skifurthur]

That's amazing - take some pit photos for us!

I will see what I can do. Elvis Costello yesterday was literally so packed that you got a spot and couldn't move one inch in any direction. I have been leaving the big shows, sometimes after 1 song just to get position at another show before everyone else gets there.

One very good thing is that the security, for the most part, and the PR firm, Big Hassle, are amazingly good. At the beginning of the festival Big Hassle told everyone that access for Springsteen was going to be extremely limited. When the list came out, there were less than 20 names on it. Big Hassle had a huge hassle on their hands because there were so many togs expecting to get in. They negotiated up until the last minute (literally 5 mins before being ushered in) and ended up with 50 passes. Now that's a PR firm that works with the media, not against it. Bravo Big Hassle.

Now, Nasty Little Man...well their name says it all.

[narlus]

One very good thing is that the security, for the most part, and the PR firm, Big Hassle, are amazingly good. At the beginning of the festival Big Hassle told everyone that access for Springsteen was going to be extremely limited. When the list came out, there were less than 20 names on it. Big Hassle had a huge hassle on their hands because there were so many togs expecting to get in. They negotiated up until the last minute (literally 5 mins before being ushered in) and ended up with 50 passes. Now that's a PR firm that works with the media, not against it. Bravo Big Hassle.

i'm curious as to what sort of negotiations took place...was it the media outlet talking w/ BH directly to lobby to get their shooter a spot, or was the photog left to try to do this on their own? and if it was the latter, what sort of leverage could they actually have?

[skifurthur]

i'm curious as to what sort of negotiations took place...was it the media outlet talking w/ BH directly to lobby to get their shooter a spot, or was the photog left to try to do this on their own? and if it was the latter, what sort of leverage could they actually have?

I would say a little bit of both. Mostly the tog presented the best case they could to BH and BH ended up making the decision who and who could not come in. Basically they went with the nationals/internationals and local press. I was feeling good when I got to Bonnaroo and they told me that the only people they already knew were approved was myself and Danny Clinch (who is the official photographer of Bonnaroo.) There were a few other Bonnaroo togs that got added next. Then the wire services and large media. When the original list was complete there were 16 names on it...no locals at all. And the list came maybe 6 hours before showtime. All hell broke loose. Imagine all the uncomforts of shooting 14+ hours a day, non-stop for 4 days and telling your editor that you can't provide the headliner. For the "real" working togs, I felt for them. It seemed that many photographers had, shall we say, vague pedigrees. Those people I didn't feel so bad for because they were not working with others in the pits/shooting point and shoots...lots of kit lenses around.

For all the hassles, I am rather happy with what I got. I figure I have at least 20 portfolio quality shots and a ton of excellent shots. Now comes the really hard part...full processing of around 30 gigs of RAW files.

[DwightMcCann]

I would say a little bit of both. Mostly the tog presented the best case they could to BH and BH ended up making the decision who and who could not come in. Basically they went with the nationals/internationals and local press. I was feeling good when I got to Bonnaroo and they told me that the only people they already knew were approved was myself and Danny Clinch (who is the official photographer of Bonnaroo.) There were a few other Bonnaroo togs that got added next. Then the wire services and large media. When the original list was complete there were 16 names on it...no locals at all. And the list came maybe 6 hours before showtime. All hell broke loose. Imagine all the uncomforts of shooting 14+ hours a day, non-stop for 4 days and telling your editor that you can't provide the headliner. For the "real" working togs, I felt for them. It seemed that many photographers had, shall we say, vague pedigrees. Those people I didn't feel so bad for because they were not working with others in the pits/shooting point and shoots...lots of kit lenses around.

For all the hassles, I am rather happy with what I got. I figure I have at least 20 portfolio quality shots and a ton of excellent shots. Now comes the really hard part...full processing of around 30 gigs of RAW files.
Which is why I am forever grateful that I have my one little venue where the togs now have to report to me ... when there are any ... and I am always approved. :-)

I'm shooting Big & Rich on Thursday.

[Nouks]

Nice stories Ski, interesting to read.

[skifurthur]

Nice stories Ski, interesting to read.

Oh, I have a ton more from this gig. Part of why I have access to so many is that I have the wisdom to decide which ones to tell...lol.

Here's a fun one. One "photographer" was from a very small local paper in TN. Her try at getting approved for Bruce was that because Bruce never plays somewhat local and that she was 63 years old she should be approved because she would probably die before she got the opportunity again. Her and her point and shoot was not approved.

[narlus]

so was Bruce a soundboard shoot or did they allow up front shooting?

[skifurthur]

so was Bruce a soundboard shoot or did they allow up front shooting?

Back of pit, which is normal for festival shows. A little closer than soundboard.

[johnstoy]

Yup... I was shooting too, this past weekend... Our Carbon County Art League had our Annual Competition and Exhibition... So as a brand new member of the group, I exhibited 5 matted and framed photos, and even got me an Honorable Mention prize...

Thereafter, I also shot the entire last day of the event, and put the pics from the show on my web site.

It took me several trips to various frame shops to get the appropriate mats and frames... washing the glass, was a real pain in the butt, as most of the glass had unfinished edges, and was sharp as hell... Some of the frame corners were damaged under the protective wrapping too... and between the returns, exchanges, credit swaps, etc. I must have gone a dozen times, to far away towns to get the service I needed...

Now that it's over, now I'll have time to shoot some pro sessions at my local Florist... We're doing a wedding flower arrangements shoot, all day this Friday and Saturday...

It sure beats fighting for a spot in the mosh pit at the local concert hall... but I'll be back at shooting a concert eventually.

[Wynder]

Tomorrow I'm doing a studio shoot for a fashion designer to show off their new line and Sunday I'll be hitting Dover Airforce Base with the family to try to get some good photographs of the Thunderbirds.

[narlus]

Condo F*cks (aka Yo La Tengo) and The Bevis Frond on sunday.

[DDCSD]

Maybe King's X tonight. Have to see when my pre-tourney meeting gets over tonight.

[Nouks]

Next week (27/06) Papa Roach :)

[DDCSD]

Maybe King's X tonight. Have to see when my pre-tourney meeting gets over tonight.

Didn't make it, and glad I didn't. Loooong day today and another tomorrow.

[DDCSD]

Next week (27/06) Papa Roach :)

Sweet. I'd love to see them live.

[shadowkipper]

Next Sunday:
The Dead Formats

[malibubts]

I've got Rise Against tonight; plus their openers, Rancid and The River Boat Gamblers. First show, wish me luck!

[narlus]

good luck!

next show i have is wednesday...prog legends Van der Graaf Generator and Strawbs.

edit - it's tonight...for some reason i thought it was a day later...

[DwightMcCann]

Donna Summer on Thursday.

[Nouks]

Nice, all!
malibubts, what happened to Rancid that they are the support of Rise Against? Haven't heard of them in a very long time but they used to be pretty big (and more well-known than Rise Against might be ATM, IMO)...

[90c4]

I've got Femi Kuti on Wednesday. Shot John Brown's Body last Friday.

[malibubts]

Nouks- I think they were a big influence to Rise. Their lead (Tim) kept talking about Rancid and Rancid is in the actual tour. Riverboat Gamblers was just at this venue but Rancid is going everywhere Rise goes. Why?; Don't really know.

[johnstoy]

While watching TV last night, I caught an old taping from the Chumash Casino Resort, in Santa Ynez, CA... Dwight's resort project... It was a boxing match from way back in 1994... Smith vs Bailey... Looked for Dwight among the photogs on the scene... It might just have been before he got the boxing assignments at the Casino.

Now, we'll have to pay more attention to the shows on ESPN... just might see Dwight on the scene.

[DwightMcCann]

While watching TV last night, I caught an old taping from the Chumash Casino Resort, in Santa Ynez, CA... Dwight's resort project... It was a boxing match from way back in 1994... Smith vs Bailey... Looked for Dwight among the photogs on the scene... It might just have been before he got the boxing assignments at the Casino.

Now, we'll have to pay more attention to the shows on ESPN... just might see Dwight on the scene.

I will shoot Steppenwolf next week. I started at the Chumash Casino Resort at the end of 2004 and have shot everything there ever since ... I'm getting to be one of the senior guys in terms of longevity in the Entertainment Department, almost all of us being contractors, but I am somewhat ancillary rather than integral as I am not part of the production crew.

As for my boxing, I only shoot at the casino at this time and that is all Showtime, so you won't see me on ESPN or HBO boxing TV. They do occasionally buy my images via FightWireImages wire service of which I am a charter member. I also have a few images scattered around in various print and online boxing/fight mags.

[Nouks]

Tomorrow: Papa Roach :D

[René Damkot]

Papa Roach in a few hours...

[DwightMcCann]

Now see, I keep saying Rene and Anouk are a "thing"! :-)

[kandyredcoi]

tonight
http://www.pinoygigs.com/blog/2009/06/star-magic-world-tour/

[Nouks]

Now see, I keep saying Rene and Anouk are a "thing"! :-)

Whut? :lol:

Maybe this would be a nice gig to both start a thread on so you can see how different we are (or not). I'll ask René. :)

[johnstoy]

Nouks... you're on the spot... We here in the states need to know, what be happenin' over there, across the pond, in them there, Netherlands...

And Rene' had better chime in and give us the skinny, on this.

[johnstoy]

Now to business... We are having a fundraiser for one of four, of our volunteer local fire departments.

It is a horse show at a local horse farm, owned and operated by one of our County Commissioners...

After discussions with the Horse Farm people, I was given the go ahead to shoot the event... and possibly portraits of horse and riders for sale. I also got the blessing of the Fire Chief, whom I've done some projects for previously...

It should be noted that this particular fire dept. is hosting a state wide fire department truck convention, next year on site.

Opening ceremonies start at 8:30AM... I'm taking my "L" glass, including the 400mm f/5.6, and the 10-22mm too... Both bodies, 30D and 50D, and the 580EX II, for fill flash on the opening ceremony group shots... But flash might be better avoided with the horses... The tripod (my new Bogen Manfrotto carbon pro with Bogen's best hydraulic ball head) will be for the long shots of the horse riders with the 400mm f/5.6...

Our County Commissioners are occasional patrons of our local concert venue where I often shoot... It will be a pleasure seeing them again.

Now, to continue to charge all my batteries, pack the gear into one of five cases, and get some solid sleep.

[Nouks]

René didn't photograph Papa Roach... They forgot to take care of photo passes for press and since I was press, René was shooting for the venue, René didn't really feel like taking photos and I could deliver the photos for the venue aswell, he gave me an Atak-shirt and his pass... Really sucks. The lighting did too, by the way...

[johnstoy]

That's exciting, Nouks... Wish I had friends like that around here.

[Nouks]

Yeah that was really sweet of René :)

But I guess the "big ones" in Atak won't ever be my favourite evenings. I really hate it when you have to worry more about having like *any* space to do your job, have to worry about the stage being really dark lit (I don't like ISO 3200 F2.8 1/30....), have to worry about getting through the audience to get a few shots from other spots aswell (had been asked for and lighting wasn't really good frontstage), etc etc, while I'd like to just be able to do my job and focus on the photos instead of all-other-things-and-being-less-focused-on-the-shot...

[DDCSD]

Saving Abel and Pop Evil tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

[90c4]

Joe Cocker tomorrow night (1st 2 songs)

[DwightMcCann]

Joe Cocker tomorrow night (1st 2 songs)
I didn't find Joe very visually exciting:
http://dwightmccann.com/Images/JoeCocker05212009/thumbs/JoeCocker0022.jpg http://dwightmccann.com/Images/JoeCocker05212009/thumbs/JoeCocker0014.jpg http://dwightmccann.com/Images/JoeCocker05212009/thumbs/JoeCockerCollage-1024.jpg
although it was a pretty good show.

[narlus]

The Church tmrw night.

[Nouks]

No Mogwai tonight. I cancelled because of having a cold (how sarcastic; 32 degrees Celsius over here...)

[DwightMcCann]

No Mogwai tonight. I cancelled because of having a cold (how sarcastic; 32 degrees Celsius over here...)
That sucks! You're boiling and have a cold!

I've got Steppenwolf tonight.

[Nouks]

Really sucks indeed, Dwight. Not able to do anything because of the heat, and not being able to do anything because of the cold. I should have done a lot of Photoshopping yesterday & today but I may have done 5% of what I could have done...

Anyways, have fun tonight!

[narlus]

No Mogwai tonight. I cancelled because of having a cold (how sarcastic; 32 degrees Celsius over here...)

damn, you missed an incredible band. not too much in the ways of stage action but what a glorious sound they create.

if it makes you feel any better, i just spent a week's vacation in 60F rain.

[sapearl]

Just found this thread.... a little late coming to the party, but a few weeks ago it was Michael York, Ruby Dee and Susan Stamberg:

http://pearlphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/creative-voices-evening-with-ruby-dee.html

[Nouks]

if it makes you feel any better, i just spent a week's vacation in 60F rain.

I wouldn't mind that ATM...

[90c4]

Burning Spear on Wednesday. BTW Dwight - I found Cocker to be pretty visually exciting. He was really belting them out.

[DwightMcCann]

Burning Spear on Wednesday. BTW Dwight - I found Cocker to be pretty visually exciting. He was really belting them out.
Super ... for my show he just stood in front of the mic in magenta light ... hardly waved his arms around and never rubbed his neck. :-)

[narlus]

Judas Priest.

[narlus]

wilco/conor oberst

[blackshadow]

Judas Priest.

Priest are great to shoot... so many Tappesque moments.

[90c4]

King Sunny Ade on Wednesday

[DwightMcCann]

Liza Minelli on Thursday.

[Nouks]

No Regina Spektor tomorrow, I guess.

[narlus]

Homegrown psych fest starts tonight, day 1 of 4.

[narlus]

Datsuns/Future of the Left

[narlus]

Green Day

[DwightMcCann]

Jewel on Thursday.

[narlus]

are they going to make you shoot her from just one side? doesn't she get upset when her wonky tooth makes an appearance?

[DwightMcCann]

are they going to make you shoot her from just one side? doesn't she get upset when her wonky tooth makes an appearance?
You talkin' to me? Huh? You gotta' problem? Eh?

J/K ... I have no clue about Jewel ... they'll let me know Thursday and then I'll have to tell anyone else who shows up to shoot her. We just shot Liza only from front and stage left ... but I've take the attitude that most of these mature ladies know what looks better so they are really doing me a favor by reducing my deletions ... I'm not interested in getting unflattering images ... it's just not my style.

[blackshadow]

Friday Night - The Gutter Twins
Saturday Night - X + SixFtHick (I may leave my camera at home for this one and just have fun sans camera)
Sunday - A heap of pysch bands including Black Cab, Sand Pebbles, Beaches and Sun Blindness

[FIXXER04]

Dave Matthews Band tonight, may the Rain Gods go away for the night. Nothing better than outdoor concerts and RAIN!!!!!

[90c4]

Grupo Fantasma tomorrow, Ratdog on Thursday.

[DDCSD]

Stimulate This Tour tonight: Staind/Shinedown/Chevelle/Halestorm/Lo-Pro.

[blackshadow]

I was supposed to be shooting Janes Addiction on Thursday but their tour was cancelled but I am now shooting White Lies on Thursday night.

[90c4]

Newport Folk Festival on Saturday and Sunday, possibly Government Mule on Friday.

[90c4]

Incubus on Saturday, if I can get there in time after the Newport Folk Festival.

[pr0digal]

I'm shooting the WNFX/Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll 2009 tomorrow...or at least I hope I am. I was told by one of the media groups that work with The Gaslight Anthem that I have a pass for the show.

My XTi is getting repaired so I am shooting on my neighbor's 20D with a rented 16-35L.

Anybody else shooting the show?

[narlus]

Paul McCartney/MGMT, then Joe Pernice tonight.

[DwightMcCann]

"The Golden Boys" tomorrow night: Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Frankie Avalon.

[blackshadow]

Paul McCartney/MGMT, then Joe Pernice tonight.

Did you hire a mothertruckin' lens?

[narlus]

i have the 500mm f/4 waiting for me today.

since i only have full-frame cameras, i've borrowed my friend's 40D. and i've got a 1.4TC as well.


now all i just have to hope that i'm in the 70% and not 30% (http://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/graph/USMA0046?begHour=19&begDay=217&from=hrly_graph)

[René Damkot]

i have the 500mm f/4 waiting for me today.

since i only have full-frame cameras, i've borrowed my friend's 40D. and i've got a 1.4TC as well.

Curious for the outcome...

Very different from your usual shooting style... I hope you have enough light and a monopod :lol:

[narlus]

monopod yes.

from what i've heard, there's a spot on Paul pretty much all the time, so f/4 shouldn't be a problem.

we'll see about f/5.6

[johnstoy]

Wow Tim, that's way, cool... Good luck with the major task at hand...

Here's what is happening with me:
I'm still not back to shooting concert shows... the other local resort near me, has some major jazz festivals, but the upcoming two day event costs a lot to get in... It's just 3 miles away from my place, but I'll wait till next year.

This weekend, I have another baptism to photograph at a local church...

Made a photo book from last month's church photo shoot (different church).

Last month, I also shot a horse show, at a nearby horse farm... Great amount of hits and even purchases of photos from the horse show.

Penn's Peak, my local rock concert venue, has mostly repeat shows of bands, I've already covered before.

Bought a wireless remote shutter release, from the POTN store for the 30D and 50D, and a "better beamer" long distance flash enhancer for the 400mm f/5.6, and they both work pretty well.

[René Damkot]

monopod yes.

from what i've heard, there's a spot on Paul pretty much all the time, so f/4 shouldn't be a problem.

we'll see about f/5.6
Then again: you'ld want a shutterspeed of at least 1/500s or so...

[narlus]

i'm just looking @ them now...1/100th was fine for sharpness most of the time.

[René Damkot]

:shock:


Note to self: Lay off on the coffee intake :lol:

[narlus]

well i'm sure the monopod/IS combo helps quite a bit.

it was a good learning experience. i wish i had more than six minutes to work, as looking back i'd have tried a couple of different things.

1 - moved around more (macca tended to have mic-mouth for most of my shots).
2 - try to get on the ramp which led up to the soundboard (i'm fairly short and shooting over standing people was not particularly easy).
3 - swapped bodies w/ the big lens; i'd lose the crop reach but gain resolution and could have gone higher ISO to get faster shutter speeds.

[blackshadow]

well i'm sure the monopod/IS combo helps quite a bit.

it was a good learning experience. i wish i had more than six minutes to work, as looking back i'd have tried a couple of different things.

1 - moved around more (macca tended to have mic-mouth for most of my shots).
2 - try to get on the ramp which led up to the soundboard (i'm fairly short and shooting over standing people was not particularly easy).
3 - swapped bodies w/ the big lens; i'd lose the crop reach but gain resolution and could have gone higher ISO to get faster shutter speeds.


It's a pain in the butt when you have to shoot over a crowd from a soundboard and you aren't elevated - they have a tendency to stand up and wave their hands around - makes things a little difficult. Any elevation you can get helps.

You generally don't get much of a chance to move around - you just have to make the most of it and grab any decent moments when you can. When I shot Leonard Cohen from the soundboard earlier this year a lot of the time he wasn't in a decent position to shoot - back to camera - mic etc - we had one song only and there were only a two or three moments during that song where he presented a decent angle for shooting - you just have to make sure you nail those.

When do we get to see the shots?

[DwightMcCann]

Just reading about your experience, Narlus, I'm glad that I can always get an elevated spot at or behind the sound and light boards and even get room for a tripod above the heads of the crowd. I hope I catch your thread when you post.

[narlus]

definitely mirrored my experience, Richard.

the waiver was for single editorial use for the outlet i was shooting for, and i submitted my photos to my editor just now. hopefully they will be up in short order.

i felt sorry for a couple of shooters who didn't know it was a long-distance soundboard shoot...i think they were relegated to just shooting images off the screen. the majority did have 400 or 500s...the Fenway/Red Sox shooter showed up w/ 3 bodies (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) and found out it was a long shoot. he returned ~10min later w/ a brand-spankin' new 400 or 500 (i don't know nikon gear). must be nice! :D

for a sampling, here are the Globe and Herald Galleries:

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1189500
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/gallery/08_05_09_mccartney_at_fenway/

i'll post my link when it's up.

[londonblue007]

definitely mirrored my experience, Richard.

the waiver was for single editorial use for the outlet i was shooting for, and i submitted my photos to my editor just now. hopefully they will be up in short order.

i felt sorry for a couple of shooters who didn't know it was a long-distance soundboard shoot...i think they were relegated to just shooting images off the screen. the majority did have 400 or 500s...the Fenway/Red Sox shooter showed up w/ 3 bodies (14-24, 24-70, 70-200) and found out it was a long shoot. he returned ~10min later w/ a brand-spankin' new 400 or 500 (i don't know nikon gear). must be nice! :D

for a sampling, here are the Globe and Herald Galleries:

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/general/view.bg?articleid=1189500
http://www.boston.com/ae/music/gallery/08_05_09_mccartney_at_fenway/

i'll post my link when it's up.


I saw all you guys standing there with your insane gear. I was hanging out to your left, back against the barricade near second base. I was going to swing by and say hello except i wasn't exactly sure what you looked like and wandering from photog to photog going "Are you Tim? Tim? You Tim? Know a guy named Tim?" would be kinda odd.
Looked like quite the task. If I got passes, the best I was going to be able to come up with was a 70-200 with a 1.4x. With a 50D crop sensor and 15MP to play with, I could crop stuff down ok, but nothing would nearly have been as good as what you got.

My video pass let me go ANYWHERE in the stadium. I could have brought a bag with me and it never would have been checked. Some of the other video shooters had large purse like bags with them and the security folks at gate C just waved them through. I probably could have pulled off a satchel bag with my 50d and 24-70 just fine. I shot a bunch of video in the 2nd and 3rd row and to shoot photos from there would have been bad-ass. (the 70mm would still be too short, but anything big and white like a 70-200 would attract attention).
I shot a bunch of footage from the roof decks above 3rd base with the stage on the left of the frame and the pru to the right. then on the 1st base roof deck with the citgo sign over the stage. Was up there for Live and Let Die and got AWESOME wide angle shots of the fireworks over the stage.

[narlus]

man, that sounds great. what sort of vid camera were you using?

i could have slipped you my 135 and TC for a good stealth-to-reach ratio :D

[londonblue007]

man, that sounds great. what sort of vid camera were you using?

i could have slipped you my 135 and TC for a good stealth-to-reach ratio :D


Haha, so this is the funny part. We used FLIP HD cameras. the things are the size of a cell phone, but record in HD. The footage is for use in the McCartney DVD, both the concert portion and for some "documentary" portion. It's being run out of McCartney's "Office" and sponsored by FLIP.

They are only shooting this video at the NYC and Fenway shows. I was initially concerned for the obvious equipment reasons, but considering I got into the show for free and go anywhere I wanted... I'm not complaining all that much.
I did ask how the NYC footage looked and the people running this thing said "amazing, better then expected".
I guess I won't know until I see the DVD, but I would imagine that it's pretty good. The 1.5" screen will do the HD video absolutely no justice. My blackberry photos looked better then the screen on the FLIP. I pretty much just tried to frame what I could and disregard how utterly ****ty it looked on the tiny screen. I just hope that with my choices of shooting locations, that my footage gets used. When I shot in front of the stage, I saw every single other person who was a part of this thing. No one was doing anything different. All they wanted were the close up Paul shots.
I took a different approach and figured, as a filmmaker, one would try to mix close, medium and wide shots to keep it from being monotonous. If everyone was shooting close shots.... then I wanted to be the one with the medium and wide shots. That's why about 70% of what I shot was from near the sound board or on the roof decks.

You know, in my wandering around the stadium, the numbers of DSLR's was staggering! Some with the cheap 70-300 f4-5.6 lenses. I bet we could have gotten away with it.

[johnstoy]

That's quite and adventure, you guys had at Fenway Park... Looking forward to seeing some of your results... It sounds incredibly exciting... Cheers.

[londonblue007]

That's quite and adventure, you guys had at Fenway Park... Looking forward to seeing some of your results... It sounds incredibly exciting... Cheers.

I can't wait to see the results either... but unfortunately, I have to wait for the DVD release just like everyone else. :(

[blackshadow]

The New Christs tomorrow night.

[kandyredcoi]

kids birthday party here: http://www.pumpitupparty.com/ca/huntington-beach/home-p1q21.htm

[narlus]

Pretenders/Cat Power/Juliette Lewis.

[DwightMcCann]

Rodney Carrington on Friday.

[ChrisRabior]

Crue Fest in Detroit (Clarkston actually) at DTE tomorrow.

[90c4]

Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad Friday, BB King Saturday.

[blackshadow]

Tonight I am attending an exhibition opening that features some of my work (see here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=8488661#post8488661))
Eddy Current Suppression Ring on Friday (tomorrow night)

[Nouks]

Last night: dEUS. Next up probably will be Geuzenpop Festival with amongst others Infadels, Sonic Syndicate, Drive Like Maria, Hit Me TV and Elle Bandita.

[imposterjeff]

have hearts final tour is who i will be shooting this weekend.

[90c4]

Dr. John and the Neville Brothers on Friday, Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic on Saturday.

[DwightMcCann]

Toby Keith on Thursday ... already have the draconian shooting rules, which is very unusual at the casino as I usually get them from the talent buyer: first 60 seconds of first two songs from lightboard. I'll take my 400mm f/2.8L IS and Wimberley just in case they'll let me set it up but I'll expect to shoot with 300mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8, sigh.

[hooookup]

Street Scene in San Diego Friday and Saturday. 6ft stages! whoo hoo.

[blackshadow]

Alice Cooper on Friday Night
Black Cab + Sand Pebbles on Saturday night
Sunday the Winterlong Benefit (http://www.thethornburytheatre.com/page7/page60/page60.html)

[jsphotos]

Neil Hmaburger, Eyedea & Abilities, Matt & Kim

[blackshadow]

Tuesday - Monster Magnet (and I can't wait!)

[narlus]

wyndorf makes better music when he's on drugs, sad to say.

[DDCSD]

The Veer Union tonight.

[narlus]

Motörhead/Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy.

rawk.

[blackshadow]

Motörhead/Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy.

rawk.


Nice triple act!

So you'll be shooting the greatest rock n roll bass player ever (Lemmy) as well as the sexiest bass player in rock (Karen from Nashville Pussy)

[blackshadow]

wyndorf makes better music when he's on drugs, sad to say.

The last album was a disappointment but from what I've seen of the setlists nothing from 4 Way Diablo is played it's all classic Monster Magnet. Wyndorf has porked up a treat from what I've seen of recent live footage but Monster Magnet are hitting their straps and sounding great.

I hope there are strippers and burning guitars...

[DwightMcCann]

I'm shooting Peter Frampton on Thursday night.

[kandyredcoi]

today: http://www.greystonemansion.org/

[Nouks]

Still hoping to shoot a local festival this weekend....

[Rock Photo Star]

Decyfer Down, December Radio, Remedy Drive and others at a festival

[narlus]

Chicago punk rock pioneers Naked Raygun.

[DwightMcCann]

So, as I mentioned earlier, I will be shooting Peter Frampton at the Chumash Casino Resort tomorrow night. As an interesting side note, Mr. Frampton is meeting with Seymour Duncan (the guitar pickup guru) before the concert. Seymour is an acquaintance of mine and we are going to meet before the concert. I have offered to tag along and take pictures of Seymour and Peter and his group. As it happens, Seymour, who is an utterly warm and likable guy, LOVES pictures. I've given him two 24" x 26" prints of ZZ Top, who are clients of his. When I talked to Seymour on the phone tonight he said, "I have a busy day tomorrow! I have to take my wife to the airport. Then I have a going away party for an employee. Then I have a meeting with AC/DC. And then the concert!" I almost offered to shoot at the AC/DC meeting but felt that would be a bit presumptuous! :-)

If you don't recognize Seymour's name, Google Seymour Duncan Guitar Pickups. He makes custom pickups for lots and lots of folks you know! His shop is just down the road from the University where I have my day job. Maybe I'll ride my bike down there in a couple of weeks.

[Dom87SS]

saliva and smile empty soul at a local bar. i called and they said cameras are good as long as they arent big. I think my XSi with the kit lens fits into that category.

[tylermoney]

Well, it was two weekends ago, and it wasn't exactly a concert. A friend of mine set me up with some other friends of his. They're a Croatian band. Shots turned out pretty good overall. It was fun, and a great experience. Shot in a casting studio with soft box lights on the ceiling.... they were super helpful. Took a few shots outside too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tggorton/sets/72157622202166820/

[Chosenbydestiny]

Shooting a music group called Asian Dolls this weekend

[narlus]

Shooting a music group called U2 this weekend.

[blackshadow]

Shooting a music group called U2 this weekend.

Do you reckon they'll amount to much?

[narlus]

the lead singer shows some promise...the band's got some spunk...we'll see how they turn out. :D

[DwightMcCann]

Creedence Clearwater Revisited tonight for the third time.

[hooookup]

Creedence Clearwater Revisited tonight for the third time.

Shot Chickenfoot in Los Angeles last night. Not much of a concert shooter myself so I photographed the soundcheck and left the actual concert to those that really had to be there or wanted to be there.

[Nouks]

After weeks of not getting any reply, then a "well just a few photographers allowed we'll do what we can for you", then a "no" now it's a "yes". Nina Hagen on Thursday.

[narlus]

the next few days will be busy.

wed night - Butthole Surfers/Psychic Ills
fri night - Dinosaur Jr/Lou Barlow + Mike Watt's band
sat night - Bruce Springsteen

[René Damkot]

Nina Hagen tomorrow.

[DwightMcCann]

Brooks & Dunn tomorrow.

[tfd888]

SF LovEvolution and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

[blackshadow]

Friday night I have Slayer and Megadeth