Well - looks like I have my first concert photo pass!

Hi,

first, forgive me if this is the wrong forum for these questions...

A band is performing here in town, which I'm moderately interested in.
So, I e-mail the publicity team, and they say "Sure - you can have a photo pass"

This will be the first concert where I wasn't covertly trying to photograph the band.

I have a 60D, and was planning on taking theEF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
trying to find out if the hotel will allow a monopod or not...

Any tips / tricks for a first time DSLR concert shooter?

If I can get close, I'll use the 18-135, and try it handheld...
however..
If I will be shooting near front of house audio, I have a 55-250 (also 5.6)
using a monopod (if the hotel will allow it in) at this location.

ISO's available on the upper end are 3200, 6400, and 12800 (don't mind noise/grain - might add to feel of the band/concert)

Can only shoot the first three songs, so I need to get in, get the shots and get out...

The camera can shoot / write .jpg faster than RAW, should I just go for .jpg
or continue with RAW/.jpg, or Raw only?

Used to guerilla shoot concerts back in high school, sneaking the camera in under a jacket, or in a girlfriend's purse.
(pre-metal detector days - in fact, back in the "film" days!)

Shooting this just for fun (cause I like the band), and for a little practical experience in
shooting concerts (something I'd like to do on a more regular basis)

Any tips, tricks, ideas, suggestions greatly appreciated...

thank you

Depends on venue man, but you might not have enough light with your lenses. If you are comfortable in shooting jpeg and card speed is a concern I say go for it. Granted many photographers I know will always shoot in raw to give them tweaking room. Shooting jpeg/raw is just retarded.

if you are in the pit my only advice - keep your shooting arm's elbow down. so you don't elbow other photogs, you don't elbow security, you minimize your space

other than that have fun i guess, its a band you like.

Bring an email conformation from the publicist!! Last two shows I was supposed to have passes for, the publicists screwed up and never submitted my name to the box office, so no photo passes were waiting for me. Only thing that saved me was showing the tour manager a copy of the email.

As far as camera settings go, I always start in Manual at f/2.8 @ 1/125 and 3200 ISO which is perfect for 80% of the concerts I shoot. I'll try to shoot at 1/160 - 1/200 though if it's a more energetic band. I try to stay away from shooting with 6400 ISO but sometimes it's unavoidable.

And use RAW only. No JPEG!

If I could make just a general suggestion: if you really have an 18-300, 18-135, 28-135 and 18-55 then I would sell all of those but the 18-135 and get a 50 f/1.4.

thanks for the suggestions - especially about printing out the e-mail confirmation!

Go through this section of the forums and read previous threads about suggestions. Yours might be the 4,532nd thread stated with the same question.

Shoot RAW only and by all means leave the monopod at home. You will need much better glass unless it is really well lit. Nork had a good suggestion of starting settings, but if you do not have a 2.8 lens, which mean all your 5.6 lenses need two more stops, which means 12,800, which I am not even sure the 60D can do, never mind do well. I usually start at 2.8, 1600 and 1/125. I will adjust depending on energy and lighting conditions. There are times I need to break out a 1.4-1.8 because 2.8 simply does not cut it. Also, try not to drop speeds below 1/100. You might be able to get a keeper or two, but most shots will be rubbish.

Good luck with e shoot and you might want to pick up a cheap 50 1.8.

At the very least, I would try to rent something in the f/2.8 or f/1.8 range.

I think you're going to be disappointed shooting with the lenses you have...

With the kit lens, you'll be at ISO 3200 even in decent light.

Shoot Raw. Shoot lots (bring enough CF cards!)

Have fun

billinvegas I seen this and thought I would give you some advice. Im a pro music
photographer of over 25 years. I do tour photography for many national bands,record
labels,managements and music magazines.

First off.. you don't need to shoot at ISO 3200!!
I'm assuming this is a smaller show, cause most publicists wont give you a photopass
unless you have some kind of publication assignment or you know someone from the
band. Also they should send you an email conformation before the show. If not, call
them and confirm.

Now..Depending on the lights, hopefully you will have some front of house spot
lights..and cause you have to shoot between F3.5/ F5.6, you should be fine between
ISO 1000 and 1250. If its not.. jump the ISO up. But 1000 should be good. I very rarely
go above that. I suggest out of the lenses you have..the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is
the one you should try to use. Also shoot in Manual. Open the lens all the way up,
and lock the click wheel. Then just adjust your shutter speeds accordingly.

If you were shooting on Assignment for a publication. I would say Yes, go spend the
money and rent F2.8 lens. But your not and only doing it for fun. So don't waste your
money.

Also shooting in RAW is the best way. You should have the Canon Digital Photo
Professional software to convert the files. Sounds like you are new at this,so If you
don't feel like having to convert all the files, or know how to properly use the
software. Then just shoot in jpeg. But RAW is just that. The image is RAW data and
uncompressed. It is the best way to have totally control over your image. Also I know
the 60d uses SD cards. They are fairly lesser expensive then CF cards and I would
suggest getting at least a few.

Even though I have F2.8 and F1.8 lenses...I never shoot at that. At least for me I find I
get a little bit more sharpness shooting at F3.5. Most times I shoot a ISO 650 F3.5 and
I get shutter speeds of around 350th of a second. But....remember I shoot national bands
with huge light rigs and every show is different. You have to decide when you get there
and see what the light set up is...

Ohh and please leave the Mono pod at home. Don't be one of those guys!!!!

You can see my work here http://carliniphoto.wo​rdpress.com

Thank you all for the recommendations, suggestions and tips...

The show is tomorrow night, so we'll see if it happens or not (due to two things)

a) it's been raining every night this week, chance of rain tomorrow. Of course, it's
outdoors...

b) The band's PR / Marketing firm has been wonderful, great communication, lots of
e-mails, and information from them...I have no problems whatsover...

However, (there's always a however) the hotel's PR department is sending mixed
messages. I've forwarded them all pertinent info regarding the band's PR firm being
OK with the shoot, where to pick up the pass, restrictions on shooting (only 1st three
songs, no flash etc) but the hotel folks weren't returning e-mails or calls.

So, here it is at 4pm, the night before the show, and they e-mailed me and informed
me that they are "working on getting me a photo pass for the property"

Oh well, I guess we'll see tomorrow...

BTW - based on recommendations and suggestions, I did get a 50mm 1.8
I've been wanting one, so this seemed like a good time to do it. Just hope I get to use it tomorrow night...

thanks for everything!

Why would you contact the hotel? They have nothing to do with clearing you to shoot
a band. They probably don't know what to tell you. Did you tell them you were already
clearded by the band? Emailing the hotel...its just gonna cause confusion. You have already
been cleared by the bands publicist.

That is the bands Management and Publicist job. The Publicist should tell
you where to get your pass, which most likely will be at the will call,
and what the restrictions are...aka First 3 songs..no flach...ect.

I'm still curious to know how you got cleared with No assignment?

Carlini has some great shots, but as someone who also shoots countless shows a year, primarily shooting small venues (1000 or less, sometimes less than a couple hundred), there are shows I could never shoot without at least 2.8, a minimum of 1600 ISO, and shooting at 1/125 to get publish worthy shots. It really depends on stage lighting. When I shoot national acts, I can get by with Carlini's suggested settings. With you current lenses you might be able to shoot at 5.6, but you will be shooting at 1/30 and most will be blurry. Try with your current zooms, but I think you will find yourself using the 1.8. Again, all depends on venue lighting.

Have fun with the shoot. Enjoy the music.

Thanks for liking my images...

I did say in my first post...remember, I shoot national bands with huge lighting rigs.
I also said you really need to evaluate your metering and setting when you get
to the gig and see what the lighting is like. Every show is different.

He also said the show is outside, so depending on what time it starts, he may have some
daylight left. I think at ISO 1000 he will be fine...probably get readings of 150th sec at
F5.6. If not...just up the ISO to 1250 or 1600...

I might as well chime in and warn you that the 50 1.8 doesn't focus for crap in anything but good lighting conditions. Anything even remotely dim and it'll hunt. I tried using it at a friends wedding during the reception and it couldn't focus for crap.

carliniphoto wrote in post #13104846
Thanks for liking my images...

I did say in my first post...remember, I shoot national bands with huge lighting rigs.
I also said you really need to evaluate your metering and setting when you get
to the gig and see what the lighting is like. Every show is different.

He also said the show is outside, so depending on what time it starts, he may have some
daylight left. I think at ISO 1000 he will be fine...probably get readings of 150th sec at
F5.6. If not...just up the ISO to 1250 or 1600...

Sorry, I missed his follow up post that it was outdoors, that of course has it's advantages for lighting. Yeah, even at 1/150th he should be able to do alright outdoors.