Advice for Warped Tour Newbie

I just got my credentials to shoot warped tour and I'm very excited. I've shot bands before but never a festival as large as this. I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask. I'm sure some of you have shot festivals even warped tour. Here are my questions...

What lens should I primarily use? I was thinking Tamron 28-75 2.8 or 50mm? Maybe even Sigma 70-200 but it's really heavy.

Should I bring both my bodies? is there any secure place in the press area to store gear?

I have some room in my bag leaving all my flashes behind so I can totally fit the majority of my bodies/lenses.

What do you guys recommend?

ps. I'm going and buying 2 more batteries and about 8gb more memory.

Thanks in advanced!!!

didn't mean for this to sound like a total newb but I could really use some feedback

The feedback will come, don't need to beg for it. I can't really give you advice on Warped Tour, since I've never worked one before. But I will say that if you leave your gear, even in a designated storage area, you are braver than I.

Personally, I'd probably take the 28-75 2.8, although don't see it listed in your sig, and you can't go wrong with the 50. The 70-200 would probably be good to have if you aren't shooting from the Pit all day. Stick with your fastest lenses, and as you had already said you were going to do leave the flashes at home.

Lucky you. My daughter has just come back from the US and was at two of the Warped Tour dates. She says the main stages are smaller than she remembers them in 2004, so your 28-75 and/or your 50 should be fine. There is generally a press tent at the shows.

She says for more info you should go to the Concert Photographers Group on Flickr where you will find a thread dedicated to this year's Warped.

ok i haven't picked up that tamron lens yet but I've been waiting for a reason so it might be here.... What are you thoughts on bringing both bodies?

bring both bodies and put the shorter zoom on one, the longer zoom on the other.

Did they tell you where you are shooting from? Pits or Soundboard? I just did Cruefest and we had to shoot from the soundboard. If that's the case, then all you'll need is the long one.

For Cruefest they walked us in for the first 3 songs then walked us back out. If we wanted to go back and catch the rest of the band's show then they had someone who sat there with our equipment. After Motley Crue played, we had to walk our equipment back out to the car and use our ticket to get back into the venue.

This was my first time shooting anything of this size so I have no idea if that's the norm or not but it seemed like it was pretty standard.

narlus wrote in post #5874832
bring both bodies and put the shorter zoom on one, the longer zoom on the other.

+ 1

Maybe I'm way off base here, but I'd bring at least one flash. These are all day festivals and you'll get some harsh shadows in the mid day sun. Some fill flash might be very nice to have.

Both bodies also, like Narlus and skifurther said.

bring the flash, atleast one

they dont allow flashes that's why i'm leaving them behind

No flash - both bodies as Narlus and skifurther said. I find my 70-200 is my go to lens for most festivals.

Looks like I was way off base.....

Woodja wrote in post #5874007
I just got my credentials to shoot warped tour and I'm very excited. I've shot bands before but never a festival as large as this. I have a lot of questions I'd like to ask. I'm sure some of you have shot festivals even warped tour. Here are my questions...

What lens should I primarily use? I was thinking Tamron 28-75 2.8 or 50mm? Maybe even Sigma 70-200 but it's really heavy.

Should I bring both my bodies? is there any secure place in the press area to store gear?

I have some room in my bag leaving all my flashes behind so I can totally fit the majority of my bodies/lenses.

What do you guys recommend?

ps. I'm going and buying 2 more batteries and about 8gb more memory.

Thanks in advanced!!!

If you are the in the pit, bring the Tamron and the 50mm, you will be WICKED close, like staring up at the artists. I have never done photography for warped tour, but I have been to it enough to know you will be very close to the stage

(bring ear plugs)

pr0digal wrote in post #5876407
I(bring ear plugs)

HUUUUUUUHHHHHH????????