Smuggling 'big' cameras into concert arenas.

Poosen wrote in post #14594112
Look, apologies for anything, but hopefully to a point you can understand why i'm irritated, especially with comments like 'Also, this is officially the funniest first post I've ever seen. Are u seriously flying just to go to a lady Gaga concern?' Or 'I love how...'. It's just a bit 'stuck up'. Come on.

I haven't said I'm biting the bullet and going ahead, i'm asking if anyone has successfully done it and produced great photos.

Anyway.

Here's another approach to try.

Take the advice of previous posters and leave your camera at home...this time! Watch what the pros are doing, then make a list of all the events coming up that you CAN take your camera to, and practice, practice, practice.

Then, when you have accumulated a portfolio of worth-while shots, take them to some magazine or newspaper and see if you can get accreditation to take pictures for them at up-coming concerts. Don't expect access to top-flight performers straight off, though you never know...if your work is good enough you may get lucky! And if at first you don't succeed, keep trying.

And it will help if you stop being a bit bratty!

Took my 7D + 100-400L into an IL Divo concert. From previous experience, the security is pesky about this.

Hence, I pack the 2 items seperately in a normal hiking bag with an S95 on top. They checked and let me in.

During the concert, i took a few photos and was stopped. Opps. I hid the lens inside my open top backpack whenever I am not using it.

Snap snap,hide hide. Took the photos only during their high pitch/voices, where the shutter sound will be drowned out. Will not shutter away like that idiot Nikon behind me. It was super irritating and disruptive to the enjoyment of the show.

The photos were OK as the lighting were tricky.

Poosen wrote in post #14593904
Part of me wants to because point and shoot cameras for concerts are just crap, but part of me is absolutely shi-ting it.

Well I wanted to bring my DSLR last time Jean Michel Jarre held a concert in Denmark but that was not allowed so I only brougth my Canon G10 and I got lots of memorable photos. Definately not the top quality I could have gotten with a better camera/longer lens but I would not be without those photos and the small video clips I took. AND I did not have to worry about getting caugth.

So my advice is to leave your DSLR at home and bring a small compact camera such as Canon G-series. Maybe the new G1X.

Ricardo222 wrote in post #14594165
Here's another approach to try.

Take the advice of previous posters and leave your camera at home...this time! Watch what the pros are doing, then make a list of all the events coming up that you CAN take your camera to, and practice, practice, practice.

Then, when you have accumulated a portfolio of worth-while shots, take them to some magazine or newspaper and see if you can get accreditation to take pictures for them at up-coming concerts. Don't expect access to top-flight performers straight off, though you never know...if your work is good enough you may get lucky! And if at first you don't succeed, keep trying.

And it will help if you stop being a bit bratty!

Best advice so far!

Poosen wrote in post #14593904
Simply, I'm attending the Gaga BTW concert on the 24th june 2012 in Sydney, and I bought a canon1100D stupidly, without checking the entry requirements to the Allphones Arena in Sydney, which does not allow 'big and professional' cameras. I'm dead inside, seeming as this concert will be a once in a lifetime experience for me, I'm flying interstate to see her, and I'd just love good quality photos for my own enjoyment. I'm very young, 15, so I'm obviously not a professional. I sent the arena an email:

http://tinypic.com/vie​w.php?pic=2crrs6c&s=6
http://tinypic.com/vie​w.php?pic=6zo3sy&s=6 (Thought I owned them with that last inquiry.)

Feeling sick to my stomach about this, I'm SO devastated. This black and white rule is complete bull----.

Main question: Has anyone been successful within sneaking 'big' cameras into concert arenas or grounds where they are disallowed?

I was thinking of cutting the lining of my small bad open and placing the camera and 300mm lens attached under there. I've done it and you wouldn't suspect a thing at ALL, but there is the possibility of metal detector checks. If I get caught out, I'd accept it, but it would ruin the night, so it's a big risk to take. It could work or it couldn't. I'd hate to be caught out during the concert if I got past the bouncers. Part of me wants to because point and shoot cameras for concerts are just crap, but part of me is absolutely shi-ting it. I know there are rules to abide by, but the sneaky bast-rd side of me is still there tempting me. Like I said, i'm fully responsible if I get caught out. I don't know. It's so annoying.

SO dissapointed, sick to my stomach. Kind of ironic when gaga yells 'take my picture little monsters.'

Once who has been successful with 'smuggling" - extremely jealous. http://www.flickr.com …m/sets/72157624​410297443/

The 1100D is not really a professional camera, but security/venue will assume it is no matter if it isn't. Your best bet is to check with the venue beforehand. There was this lady who had smuggled in a slr camera when I was shooting the Florence and the Machine concert back in March, security threatened to take the camera off her or thrown out of the venue if she was seen to be shooting the gig with the camera

i am not sure where the '3rd elevation' is but it sounds like without an 800mm lens, you'll get crappy images. leave the camera at home and enjoy the show.

Sirrith wrote in post #14594137
Email her or post on her twitter or whatever and ask how you're supposed to take her picture when you can't bring your camera inside. Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll get picked up by one of those weird magazines or "news"papers.

Actually it may be more of a venue thing than a Gaga thing. A lot of stadiums etc. have huge permanent signs not allowing "professional" photography or gear.

narlus wrote in post #14596817
i am not sure where the '3rd elevation' is but it sounds like without an 800mm lens, you'll get crappy images. leave the camera at home and enjoy the show.

Agreed.

I've been on assignment to shoot Gaga 3 times. Unless you spent 1000's of dollars for VIP tickets, you're going to be far away. Even the CREDENTIALED photogs are put far away. We had to shoot from the soundboard, and I was using my 400 2.8IS which was still a bit short.

Gaga's security has people right in front of the stage who look for people with cameras. Not really worth risking getting kicked out, etc, especially since you're FLYING to see the show.

Poosen wrote in post #14594112
Look, apologies for anything, but hopefully to a point you can understand why i'm irritated, especially with comments like 'Also, this is officially the funniest first post I've ever seen. Are u seriously flying just to go to a lady Gaga concern?' Or 'I love how...'. It's just a bit 'stuck up'. Come on.

I haven't said I'm biting the bullet and going ahead, i'm asking if anyone has successfully done it and produced great photos.

Anyway.

Ok, some of this doesn't make sense. You originally implied you bought a DSLR for the show. But then when you read the email and you've got two zoom lenses too? And you bought all that equipment just for this show? but then you say you've done a lot of testing with the long lens... so which is it? You just bought this camera and two lenses just for one concert? uh huh. And you think you're going to "produce GREAT photos?" umm, concert photography is one of the most difficult areas in photography. It takes a lot of practice & know-how to produce "great" photos. So if you haven't been shooting shows before, that's too much equipment for you to even get mediocre images. and if you just bought that camera and lenses, you could probably return or sell it. if it's really just for the show. yes, you are sounding bratty and not even 15. Just cos you are only 15, if you're 15, that doesn't mean the rules don't apply to you. Flying to the show? Are your parents coming too? Maybe you should talk to them about this. did they buy you all this equipment and plane fare, etc, just for the concert? and think about how they and how you would feel & whether it would be worth the expense if you were physically ejected from the venue and not only didn't get to shoot the show but didn't get to even see the show.

vfotog wrote in post #14619641
Ok, some of this doesn't make sense. You originally implied you bought a DSLR for the show. But then when you read the email and you've got two zoom lenses too? And you bought all that equipment just for this show? but then you say you've done a lot of testing with the long lens... so which is it? You just bought this camera and two lenses just for one concert? uh huh. And you think you're going to "produce GREAT photos?" umm, concert photography is one of the most difficult areas in photography. It takes a lot of practice & know-how to produce "great" photos. So if you haven't been shooting shows before, that's too much equipment for you to even get mediocre images. and if you just bought that camera and lenses, you could probably return or sell it. if it's really just for the show. yes, you are sounding bratty and not even 15. Just cos you are only 15, if you're 15, that doesn't mean the rules don't apply to you. Flying to the show? Are your parents coming too? Maybe you should talk to them about this. did they buy you all this equipment and plane fare, etc, just for the concert? and think about how they and how you would feel & whether it would be worth the expense if you were physically ejected from the venue and not only didn't get to shoot the show but didn't get to even see the show.

That would be a bummer :P Just out of curiosity... OP, how did everything go?

I work at a concert venue.

The artist does not make the rules, the promoter and the artist's rep makes the rules. When 13,000 people are coming in the door, there is no way to address each camera as "pro" or "non-pro."

When you are credentialed and allowed to take pictures for press you usually have to apply. And if the tour approved your publication you can be approved to photograph the show. Usually they have media photograph the first two numbers in the show. You can't have your camera and watch the show and take pictures when you want.


This is just an industry that tightly controls the images that get out.