Robbie Williams @ Aussie Stadium, Sydney, 09/12/2006

[houghty]

Without wishing to start another ethical debate on concert photography after my U2 post, I thought I'd share a selection of photos for C & C which I shot at the Robbie Williams concert in Sydney last weekend. There were lots of people with cameras, and at one stage in the show the lights were turned off and Robbie asked all the fans to fire their flashes to illuminate the staduim. So Robbie clearly never had an issue with fans taking photographs.

It was my first time seeing Robbie live, and he put on a great performance. He is a natural born entertainer.

I admit the variety of photos isn't that great since I shot them all from the same spot with the same lens (70-200mm with 1.4x extender). The floor was packed out and it was pretty much impossible to move around. I would have liked to have been closer to the stage to capture some face shots (or had a 400mm 2.8 :D), but I wasn't prepared to queue up for hours beforehand to get the front slots.

Anyway, let me know what you think. Most photos were shot on full manual as I preferred the extra control over AP.

Robbie #1
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie1.jpg

Robbie #2
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie2.jpg

Robbie #3
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie3.jpg

Robbie #4
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie4.jpg

Robbie #5
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie5.jpg

Robbie #6
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie6.jpg

Robbie #7
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie7.jpg

[houghty]

Robbie #8
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie8.jpg

Robbie #9
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie9.jpg

Robbie #10
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie10.jpg

Robbie #11
http://www.houghty.com/potn/robbie11.jpg


That's it.
Regards,
Houghty.

[TeeJay]

Nice shots - well captured.

I cannot believe that security actualy let you in with a 70-200mm lens!! How did you do it? Dismantle it and spread it around you pockets?

Robbies been doing that "1-2-3-Click" routine for years now (and looking suitably blinded by the result!) - but I think it's only intended for camera phones and the like - not a dirty great professional camera with a 70-200 lens hanging of it :rolleyes:

You must have had some accreditation, surely?

I still like the photo's though.

TJ

[Dragonfli Spirit]

OMG! You got your camera in!! I didn't dare - and as it was, saw a few confiscated during the nights I was there!

Anyway - great photos - I'm green with envy :D

[livewire-photography.com]

Numbers 4 5 and 10 are great, cool shots.
James..

P.S i really like No.10.

[DwightMcCann]

So we're gonna hafta' talk photography instead of politics? Steve Parr will never put up with that! Anyway, the color images look a little cool ... what sort of stage lighting? Would you have had room for a 400mm f/2.8? :-)

[MagicallyDelicious]

Ive seen Robbie sooo many times now and have to agree is is amazing at what he does!

You got some great shots!

[verty]

good on ya!
these fotos are fantastic!
dont worry that they are in the same spot.. they are great..
so good 2 hear you go thru with that equipment...

[hooookup]

I really dig #1 and #3. Nice job!

[blackshadow]

A nice set of shots.

Your habits of taking gear like this in are going to get you unstuck sometime - don't say you weren't warned.

I don't understand why not take the time to get proper accreditation if you want to shoot concerts with the gear you've got.

[houghty]

Thank you for all the feedback. I'll try and address the various comments that were prompting an answer.

Teejay - I actually showed my lens to security and I still got through. They were more concerned about glass bottles, etc that could be thrown and potentially cause a safety hazard. And no, no accreditation. Regular punter.

Dwight - I'm honestly not sure what sort of stage lighting it was as I'm not an expert on the matter. However what I can say is that it was a huge concert, with multiple light sources (even including fireworks and flame throwers at one stage), but there was generally always a powerful spot on Robbie throughout. If someone is able to elaborate on this, feel free to chime in.

I have to say though that the images never stuck me as being cool, however it could possibly be my untrained eye, or my uncalibrated monitor....

And would I have had room for a 400mm 2.8? Well I can tell you that I'd always have room for a 400mm 2.8, if I had one :-) The 300 or 400 2.8 is certainly on my shopping/wish list, although I suspect that the aforementioned security may draw the line at one of those - the 70-200 is probably pushing my luck as it is :-)

Blackshadow - thanks again for your comments. I dont disagree with you that I'm likely to eventually run into trouble at some point if I continue to take my chances, and I certainly wont pretend I wasn't warned. I'm not a newcomer to taking 'risks' though, and my primary hobby of skydiving probably goes some way to backing this up :-)

As for getting proper accreditation, I honestly wouldn't know where to start on the matter. I like to do this as a hobby, but I'd by lying if I claimed that I wasn't jealous of the credentialed folks down at the front of the concerts I go to, shooting away freely. I'd certainly be open to any advice you have regarding going about it properly.

Regards,
Houghty.

[Aray_Of_Art]

I won't get into all the "infringement" thing, I just wanted to say; Great photos! I've always wanted to take pics of performances, but didn't want to bring the camera in for all afore mentioned reasons.
Oh, well...anyway very cool shots.

[narlus]

this is not meant in any way to belittle yr photos as they are of good to excellent quality, but whenever i see this guy, the very first word which comes to mind is WANKER.

[blackshadow]

Houghty there is some good advice on how to go about getting credentials here http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=191016&highlight=accreditation

Don't think you will automatically get them for big concerts for a while such as U2 or Robbie Williams but there are plenty of opportunities for smaller shows and in time you'll get the big ones.