AC/DC @ Gillette Stadium

[constrict]

First 3 songs as usual, second song lighting was really yellow/green. I had 2 decent seats 25 rows from the front (it was also my step-dad's birthday so he was psyched about the seats). When we were escorted out of the pit I tried to go back to my seat but they grabbed me and made me leave the stadium...I didn't have the keys and had to be escorted in (without my camera bag) to get the keys so I could bring my gear back to the car which was like a mile walk. Finally made it back into the venue about 5-6 songs later. I saw another photographer shooting from behind the barricade and I think he had the right idea by staying out of the pit so he wouldn't be escorted out of the stadium. To me, the 3 song rule is a load of b.s., especially at shows like this when flash isn't allowed and the stage is like 10 feet high. All the photogs were situated at the bottom of the ramp of the catwalk, for the beginning I was a bit closer than everyone else and at one point one of their guys literally put his hand on my chest and pushed me back as I was taking photos...fortunately for him I'm not a large or very aggressive person because I know some people probably would've dropped him on the ground for even laying a hand on them. I did think that was kind of uncalled for...oh well, I got to shoot ac/dc!

View entire set here:
http://photos.tomcouture.com/acdc/

1.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v3/p776603592-4.jpg

2.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v6/p732545657-4.jpg

3.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v5/p712149388-4.jpg

4. this one makes me lol.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v3/p678765839-4.jpg

5.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v5/p1035735210-4.jpg

6.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v6/p1053401676-4.jpg

7.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v2/p939570185-4.jpg

8.
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v0/p1021234769-4.jpg

[constrict]

The openers were:

ANVIL: http://photos.tomcouture.com/anvil
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v1/p1046347567-4.jpg

THE ANSWER: http://photos.tomcouture.com/theanswer
http://photos.tomcouture.com/img/v0/p1018958562-4.jpg

[narlus]

#7 is a great shot, i love the contrasting colors. #4 looks like angus stuck his guitar neck up brian's arse. :lol:

i can't see any stadium show where you would get to shoot more than the 1st 3 unless you were somehow closely connected w/ the band or doing a special feature on them via a big mag. that's just the breaks.

who were you shooting for?

[constrict]

I know the 3 song rule is considered standard but doesn't mean I still don't think it's a total b.s. rule regardless of show/venue size.

I started a facebook group about this a few weeks ago (a joke, somewhat)
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=103784116547&ref=ts

I want to make t-shirts that say "3 SONGS AND GTFO!" hahah.

[amareica]

Kinda bummed I didn't get to shoot this. Nice set Tom - 2, 3, and 8 are my faves!

[giuseppetornielli]

Wow great set...#7 is my favorite

[René Damkot]

I like #2 and 7.
I think I'd crop and/or tilt #3 a bit (leave in the ACDC on the locomotive, but loose a bit on the top left)

In retrospect: "do you have any images of the support act?" < so I don't have to delete the two excess images ;)

[constrict]

Kinda bummed I didn't get to shoot this. Nice set Tom - 2, 3, and 8 are my faves!

thanks :)

It was on-off-on for me up until the last minute. Glad it worked out.

[constrict]

Wow great set...#7 is my favorite

thanks!

[constrict]

I like #2 and 7.
I think I'd crop and/or tilt #3 a bit (leave in the ACDC on the locomotive, but loose a bit on the top left)

In retrospect: "do you have any images of the support act?" < so I don't have to delete the two excess images ;)

lol, I'm glad you asked..........

[zincozinco]

well you were lucky to even be in the pitt, i shot the boss the otyher day and we were all 50 meters back (150feet) my largest was a 320mm..... some of the others had their 400 2.8 plus tcs:( but in the end all is boring as you all leave with the same shots in full figure from more or less the same vantage point....

great set!!

p.s i shot them in Sydney 1996 i think it was for the ballbreaker tour and i thought they were old at the time....

[BPL]

Great set! Were you using the 70-200 2.8 IS for these shots?

[BJWOK]

2 is the winner for me. nice stage design too by the look of it! (aside from the height of it!)

[constrict]

Great set! Were you using the 70-200 2.8 IS for these shots?

yup. 70-200 and 24-70.

[Tim Snow]

Anyone else shoot this tour in their towns? I'm shooting it Saturday here in Montreal, and want to make sure the whole tour is being shot from the pit. I don't want to plan to shoot from the pit and wind up at the FOH.

As for the 3 songs, while I don't agree with it, I do see the management's point of view. If you're working for a newspaper, you are almost always on deadline so you usually have to file your shots anyways. Also, if you can't nail a few good shots after the first 3, no offense to anyone here, what are you doing in the pit in the first place? Also, security doesn't want to have to deal with a half dozen photogs all night...

My blog, which I haven't updated in ages and really have to start doing again, was actually named for it...www.first3.wordpress.com

[constrict]

As for the 3 songs, while I don't agree with it, I do see the management's point of view. If you're working for a newspaper, you are almost always on deadline so you usually have to file your shots anyways. Also, if you can't nail a few good shots after the first 3, no offense to anyone here, what are you doing in the pit in the first place?

You don't agree with it, yet you seem to agree with it.

See this thread:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=731483

[jic2]

Nice shots man.

[JulieNick]

nice set :)
They are performing right now 5 hours from where I live and here I sit at home.

[Tim Snow]

You don't agree with it, yet you seem to agree with it.

Right, it's one of those semi-hypocritical things...I don't agree with it, and when I'm given a full set to shoot I enjoy it more than anything.
I do not agree with it as a photographer, but putting on my band manager shoes (which I'm not, but let's pretend), it does make sense.
Anyways, the way some artists' managers are handling things lately, I'm happy with the 3, many times I have only the first 2 or even the dreaded first song only...

[totalphoto]

The 3 song rule is a real tough one!!!! I understand about submitting and all and getting in the way and all, but THE GOOD STUFF.....
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/3725475365_f4172bded8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3522/3726279062_62b918828c.jpg

....is usually in the middle, when they start sweating!

[jtfdzn]

Great shots.

#4 is hilarious. RIP Brian Johnson -- getting ran over by a locomotive.

[PhotoTails]

Nice set Rock n Roll forever AC DC

[Cyclop]

Excellent captures! Angus rules!