Need your advice on an upcoming show!!

Ok, I have only shot a few concerts before with mediocre results, and now I have the opportunity of a lifetime(to me at least). I have been a HUGE Bleeding Through fan for a few years now. I have been to their EVERY Denver show, and always really wanted to photograph them but never had an opportunity because they are a bigger/more popular band than any locals. They're coming here next Friday and I thought you know what, maybe I will try to contact them and see if they need/want a photographer for the show. Well as of now it looks like for the first time I will be given credentials/pit access to shoot this show(unless something goes wrong, im keeping my fingers crossed!) for them.

Now for the question, Ive got a 17-40(which even at F4 I THINK may still be useful for wide shots because it's usually a decently lit theatre) and the 28-75 F2.8. Do you guys think it wise to perhaps rent something better than the 28-75 since it has a bit of a hard time focusing in anything less than bright conditions? Or is there another lens you might recommend?

Thanks!

What is the size of the venue? Id hate for you to get there and you are required to stay at the sound board stuck with only a 70mm lens.

Also, I would suggest you look into renting/buying a 85 1.8 and DEFINITELY buy a 50 1.8 (for 65 bucks its dumb not to). f4 is usually not enough, but some people can manage to get by.

Or, buy the 50 1.8 and rent a 24-70L. If its a larger venue, use what you have and rent a 70-200 2.8is. Face shots are usually more interesting than wide shots.
Remember, with your body do not be afraid to crank it up to 1600 (i usually shoot at 1000-1250).

if it's well lit, you might be ok w/ the f/4 lens...i've seen lots of concert shots @ ISO 800 and f/2.8 lenses, so it can definitely work but is event-specific.

buying the cheap prime is a very good idea, as it's useful in a lot of situations and is a good bailout plan if the lighting is very low. if you want to rent a fast zoom (assuming you're under the 3 song rule), then the 24-70L is a good choice.

I use the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 at the moment coz it's all I can afford...but the venues I usually shoot at is fine for ISO800 2.8 125+
For hardcore bands like Bleeding Through, I have seen quite dark stage lighting....though I have not shot them personally (will do so in Feb 08)

Agree with the above, get a fast low light prime like the 50mm or 85mm, just incase

I don't think you will be restricted to the soundboard for them

In a small venue, rent a 17 - 55mm f/2.8 IS for the 20 D. It is a seriously good concert lens, especially if you are up close. I would put a 70-200 f/2.8 L on the 1D. That would give you great coverage for most focal lengths you could want to use. Don't be afraid of ISO 1600 or even 3200 if you have to.

For me, the trade off between faster primes or more versitility is an easy choice. Give me more versitility.

Its a small venue, i was looking at another local photogs shots from another band there and he was shooting @ 16mm f2.8 ISO 200 w/ a flash on its lowest power setting firing straight up at the ceiling(just barely kissing the band with any light) and the shots were amazing so im not too concerned with the f4 for the wide shots.

I am thinking im going to stick with the 28-75 and the 17-40 and then rent a 15mm fisheye. 75 is plenty long to get in close. Ill be extremely close, its a small pit right against the stage which isnt too tall. If the fisheye is out of stock ill rent the 85F1.8 to see how it is since im considering buying it.

As far as the cheapo fifty goes, I actually have one sitting right next to me...in two pieces it broke so im not going to replace it until ive got the $$ for the 1.4.


How do you guys feel about fisheye shots for concert photos? Good or bad? I love the fisheye look, but if you guys think id be better off without then ill skip that.

thanks for the tips!

Okay. I was at the first show on this tour. If they stick with the lighting they had here: way too many strobes and when they didn't have strobes, for the most part red light during the first three songs. They did have some of their own lights on the stage to come in from the sides but not the greatest for lighting. The did have a segment with blue lights but not much front lighting. I was shooting with a 17 - 50 2.8 .... would have loved something with a bit more light coming in at times and no strobes.

303villain wrote in post #4204142
How do you guys feel about fisheye shots for concert photos? Good or bad? I love the fisheye look, but if you guys think id be better off without then ill skip that.

thanks for the tips!

Depends on the genre of music. Its pretty much all personal preference.

And don't use a flash if its not 100% required...pleaseee.

i wont use the strobe if its not necessary, im hoping the lighting isnt like that, the venue doesnt usually use many strobes so ill cross my fingers

303villain wrote in post #4204459
i wont use the strobe if its not necessary, im hoping the lighting isnt like that, the venue doesnt usually use many strobes so ill cross my fingers

Congrats on getting thre credential.

If you ever want to get them again, don't use the flash. I've seen photographers banned from venues for that...

if there's no restriction about not using flash, be prepared if the lighting and stage motion requires it.

the fisheye lens is kinda neat...i just got one and used it on a crop body for 3 shows last week. on a crop, the effect is not that pronounced, but it makes for a good fast very wide prime, and you can de-fish in PS if you want.

I know for a fact that this venue has no restrictions against flash. The other photographer whos work I mentioned has shot there many times(all with flash) including shooting BT last time they were here. Like i said, he was using it on the lowest power setting possible, straight up(and into an omnibounce) so it was just bareley lighting the band, just enough to stop their movement, but I honestly dont think it's necessary at this venue.

At any rate, ill take my 430EX/OB and if I dont need it then hooray.

When they were just here, my pass didn't say "NF" for the no flash rule but then again it didn't say 1st 3 and the rule was for 1st three. The flash rule isn't a venue rule as much as it is a band rule (not that the band always cares, comes from the tour manager etc.). I didn't use flash. They had lights the way they wanted to have lights so I dealt with it.

oh cool, thanks for the info earplugs!

Using Earplugs is a good idea as well