Hopefully a non-repetitive concert photography question...

I took about an hour to view this forum, and have gotten some great ideas, but I was hoping to post my own question to see what you all think. I apologize in advance if this is a "asked a million times" question...

On May 5th, I will be bringing my 3-1/2 year old son to his first concert, the Disney group called "Imagination Movers". It will be at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI. I have never been therre before, and it is a pretty traditional theater that seats about 3,100 people. We will be sitting in the 4th row.

For my gear, I shoot a 50D, and have the following lenses: a "nifty-fifty", a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, and a Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8. I don't have a flash yet, so I unfortunately rely on the stock flash, but may get one by then.

So, of course, my question is: what lens?? A person at the venue said I could bring my whole bag, so I am going to. I am thinking that I might want to shoot the 70-200, so I can get some close-up shots of stuff happening towards the back of the stage, this group uses all of it. And hopefully the lighting will be such that I can stay relatively wide-open, without bumping up the ISO.

Sorry for the long question, and any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

I have some outdoor concert pics on my Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/kenjancef

Was my first "real" photography of a show, but some are pretty good.


Thanks all!!!!!


Ken

My first thought is that if you've purchased a ticket and are sitting in the audience to not even take the camera, or to take 1 lens and limit yourself considerably. You won't have a lot of room to change out lenses, so you could possibly annoy the people next to you as you attempt to clammer around with no elbow room. Also cameras clicking on and on around you can get annoying. The people around you purchased tickets to listen to the show, not your camera. On top of that you pointing around and moving a lot will be distracting to others and also require more room that you'll have in your seat.

Shooting from the crowd at a standing concert you can get away with a bit more without being completely annoying, but in a seated venue like that you must consider those around you that also paid to get in.

kenjancef wrote in post #12135299
I took about an hour to view this forum, and have gotten some great ideas, but I was hoping to post my own question to see what you all think. I apologize in advance if this is a "asked a million times" question...

On May 5th, I will be bringing my 3-1/2 year old son to his first concert, the Disney group called "Imagination Movers". It will be at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI. I have never been therre before, and it is a pretty traditional theater that seats about 3,100 people. We will be sitting in the 4th row.

For my gear, I shoot a 50D, and have the following lenses: a "nifty-fifty", a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8, and a Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8. I don't have a flash yet, so I unfortunately rely on the stock flash, but may get one by then.

So, of course, my question is: what lens?? A person at the venue said I could bring my whole bag, so I am going to. I am thinking that I might want to shoot the 70-200, so I can get some close-up shots of stuff happening towards the back of the stage, this group uses all of it. And hopefully the lighting will be such that I can stay relatively wide-open, without bumping up the ISO.

Sorry for the long question, and any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

I have some outdoor concert pics on my Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/kenjancef

Was my first "real" photography of a show, but some are pretty good.


Thanks all!!!!!


Ken

This doesn't sound like a good idea in a number of ways. First of all, who is "a person at the venue"? Here's the link to the FAQ at the venue, and there's a specific question on cameras:

Can I bring my camera with me into the theatre?

Cameras are not allowed at any time, unless the photographer is approved by both venue and artist publicity.
http://www.ppacri.org …p?ppac=15&urlke​yword=faqs

So if you're dead set on shooting, you need a lot more than the ok from " a guy." You can try and get the approvals from the venue and the artist, but this is Disney. They're pretty protective.

Do you really want to shoot this though? Your son is so young, and this is his first concert. It would be nice if he and the show had your full attention so you could enjoy this memory together. This is the stuff your kids remember when they're grown up. The last thing you want to do is try and get the camera in without the appropriate oks and get hassled by security. Seeing Daddy getting ejected isn't exactly a happy memory for a little one.

Wow.. Not exactly the responses I would have figured. Instead I guess I am a distraction, and unable to share this event with my son.

Silly me, I thought I would get some tips here. Guess I was mistaken.

You know, I thought I finally found a place where I wouldn't be afraid to ask questions and get advice, so forgive me for being upset.

Have a good day.

kenjancef wrote in post #12141008
Wow.. Not exactly the responses I would have figured. Instead I guess I am a distraction, and unable to share this event with my son.

Silly me, I thought I would get some tips here. Guess I was mistaken.

You know, I thought I finally found a place where I wouldn't be afraid to ask questions and get advice, so forgive me for being upset.

Have a good day.

now you're pouting like a 3 1/2 year old. seriously, do you really think it WON'T be traumatic if security goes after you because you're shooting with an unauthorized camera? from the fourth row. and apparently you think a flash would also be appropriate. you're getting honest, REALISTIC advice. This would be a terrible situation to put your little one in. the venue's position is clear; you need permission. so either get it or leave the camera at home. but when you're shooting a show, you're definitely not able to share it with someone else, especially a young child. so are you going for a photo-learning experience or to have a special time with your child? you say you wanted advice. you definitely got advice; you're upset because you didn't get advice you liked.

OK, here's my last post on this subject:

1. Yea, ok, maybe you're right, it wasn't the advice I was looking for, but I NEVER said I was going to use a flash, I wsa just DESCRIBING what was in my kit. I am pretty proud of myself for spending almost $1800 in gear from the "Sell" board.

2. I NEVER saw the link that you posted from their site. I filled out a question form, and the next day a "guy" called me, and CLAIMED to be the head of the box office, and he said I could bring a camera, but it would be under the discression of the band to take pictures. He said that there will be signs inside the theater saying yes or no, but he couldn't tell me for sure. I TOTALLY understand that, and even if I wasn't with my son, I have the utmost respect of the people there to know NOT to use a camera if told not to.

3. My son LOVES pictures. I have about 35GB of pictures, and I take the silliest pictures for him because that's what he likes. I took a picture of a moth on the ground (still living of course), and it's one of his favorites, so I FIGURED he would love to have the memory of the show in pictrures, since he LOVES these guys.

4. We paid extra money for the VIP package where we all get to meet the band afterwards, and was told by "The Guy" that I could DEFINITELY bring a camera there, but that there would also be a staff photographer there. I know enough to not step on anyone's toes, but I am sure that I would probably not get to see the staff pictures, or that they would charge an outrageous fee for them. So what do I say, "Oh wait, let me walk 4-5 blocks to my car so I can get my camera from my car..."?

I am just going to bring my camera and one lens. If they say no, then it's no, fine, I can deal with that. But if I don't bring anything, and it turns out that I could, I would NEVER forgive myself because he will be asking for pictures.

Thanks.

kenjancef wrote in post #12141008
Silly me, I thought I would get some tips here. Guess I was mistaken.

Remember, this is the internet. Pretty hard to read facial expression and body language on here

vfotog wrote in post #12140892
you need a lot more than the ok from " a guy." You can try and get the approvals from the venue and the artist

Sounds like pretty good advise to me.

kenjancef wrote in post #12141264
the head of the box office, and he said I could bring a camera, but it would be under the discression of the band to take pictures. He said that there will be signs inside the theater saying yes or no, but he couldn't tell me for sure.

That's basically what vfotog told you: you need approval from both venue (which you have) and artists (which remains to be seen)

kenjancef wrote in post #12141264
I TOTALLY understand that, and even if I wasn't with my son, I have the utmost respect of the people there to know NOT to use a camera if told not to.

That's good. Problem is that if there's a "no cameras allowed" policy, you might not be allowed to bring the camera inside. (Or maybe you have to leave it at the wardrobe?) Depends on the venue I guess. So I think it's a good idea to ask that as well.

kenjancef wrote in post #12141264
4. We paid extra money for the VIP package where we all get to meet the band afterwards, and was told by "The Guy" that I could DEFINITELY bring a camera there

That's nice & you could use flash then as well.
My previous point is still valid however.

kenjancef wrote in post #12141264
I am just going to bring my camera and one lens. If they say no, then it's no, fine, I can deal with that. But if I don't bring anything, and it turns out that I could, I would NEVER forgive myself because he will be asking for pictures.

Good point.
On the one camera and lens: If you can leave your gear somewhere safe, I'd bring the flash and the Tamron for the meet and greet, and a longer lens for the show.

If you never shot performance on stage: Don't be afraid to use high ISO (1600 and up) with wide open lens. Whitebalance probably tungsten (depending on lights used. In big venues, lights may be closer to daylight balanced). Good reason to shoot Raw.
You need pretty fast shutterspeeds (1/125s and up) with the 70-200, which might be hard, depending on lighting.
Try to expose well: Underexposure will lead to excessive noise. If exposed well, ISO 3200 is perfectly usable.
Measuring light might also be tricky, depending on lights and background used.
If (front)lighting is pretty constant, M might be the best mode to use.

If you can practice in a similar scenario, do that.

Hope this helps

Thanks Rene.

I have a VERY small bag, just big enough for my 50D and the Tamron. The 430EX II will DEFINITELY not fit in this bag, it's that small. I didn't even have an external flash till yesterday (well, technically, I paid for it, should be in this week). Was just going to use the built-in for the meet and greet. The bag is small enough that I can stow it under the seat.

I am going to call them again, because I really didn't see the link that vfotog referenced, the head of the box office called me after I emailed them, so I ws going by what I was told. Hey, if I can't use it, I stow the bag under the seat, and save it for afterwards. He did say that I could bering a bag in because he told me right out that I could bring my own in for afterwards. I'm not going to want to run out to my car to grab it.

Thanks for the reply, and I apologize to all for how I reacted...

Ken