Concert Shooting! WHICH CAMERA/FILM? HELP!

[jake_brods]

<p>Ok,<br>

Friday I am going to a Cat Power concert at the Apollo. I want to shoot it from my seat. I read that guy's tutorial of concert photography here on photo.net, but that was aimed towards professional, behind the stage shooting. I just want the atmosphere and the concert itself. I want to shoot in black and white film, but that opens up a gate of questions:<br>

<ol>

<li>What film do I use? (Speed, brand, anything...)</li>

<li>Which camera do I use? (the cameras that I have are a Minox 35 GT, Minolta Maxxum 7000 (with AF 50mm 1.7 Minolta Lens, and with an m42 adapter, lenses that range 50-55 with apertures 1.4,1.7, and 2, and also with the m42 a 35mm 2.8 Lens), a Mamiya M645 with the 80mm 2.8 lens, and an Agfa Ventura 66 (similar to the Isolette))</li>

<li>Does anyone know the Apollo rules on photography?</li>

</ol>

ANY help would be GREAT. Thanks SO much.

<br />

-Jake

</p>

[david_barts2]

<p>Behind-the-stage shooting is pretty much a requirement because concert photogs are never allowed to use tripods or flash, so they must use fast normal lenses, and that means being close to the performer if s/he is to be bigger than a speck in the resulting photographs.</p>

<p>So your only real option is the Minolta SLR and 50mm lens shot wide-open, and hope your seat isn't too far away. And you'll have to be discreet, as photography is not often allowed at concerts.</p>

[david_barts2]

<p>Ah, I see you just want the atmosphere... in that case the Minolta and 50mm lens should work. Don't take any more equipment as it will interefere with the need to be discrete.</p>

[Spearhead]

<blockquote>

<p>Behind-the-stage shooting is pretty much a requirement because concert photogs are never allowed to use tripods or flash</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I shoot concerts all the time, from tiny clubs through major event locations and have never been told I couldn't use flash except at "quiet show" and theatrically oriented events. I'd like to know what concert photographers aren't allowed to use flash.</p>

[david_barts2]

<p>"I shoot concerts all the time..."</p>

<p>I was merely going off with what I've always heard and read, so I guess I stand corrected.</p>

[gt1]

<p>I don't shoot many concerts, when I do they're usually small clubs where no one cares what you do although a tripod would have been inconvenient here:</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2998860850_ecb4e542bd.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="500" /></p>

<p>And at larger concerts even though I don't bring my camera I usually pay attention to the still photogs, I see lots of flash, but not too many tripods.</p>

[benjaminoliverhicks]

<p>I would bring the smallest camera you have, if your not sure if you are allowed to bring one. If the have a metal detector your probably screwed, unless you can throw it in a cluttered purse (sometimes the bag checkers aren't that thorough). They don't worry about P&S's. So you might be fine with a small rangefinder. I would shoot at ISO 1600 or 3200. I will post a photo I took at a festival of Radiohead shot with Kodak P3200, when I get to my home computer. You can see it in my portfolio also. It's grainy, but I like the look.<br>

Give them a call and see what their policy is about cameras.</p>

[benjaminoliverhicks]

<p>Here's the photo.</p><div></div>

[patrick j dempsey]

<p>Your requirements really will vary with the location and the crowd. I've shot punk shows with 125 speed film, no flash and a mini tripod setup on floor speakers. The result was a very very fun blurry mess. I've also shot several shows with flash. Considering the number of cell-phone cameras with flashes, there's really no way to enforce a "no flash" policy in most clubs... unless they have a "no professional camera" policy... which some places do have. You can always try no flash and hand-held, but heres the deal... if you can get close, you can shoot hand-held with fast lenses and fast film, or flash with any lens/film combo you want (shutter drag works great for this). If you cannot get close, you want long lenses, fast film and a tripod, but metering will be difficult. B&W film (the real stuff, not C41) is more forgiving than color film and can be pushed without looking like poop, which is why many concert photographers choose it. TMZ 3200, Delta 3200, Neopan 1600, or even Tri-X pushed to 1600 are all options for hand held stuff... which is best? Well, that's really up to you ain't it?</p>

[gt1]

<p>One vote for Neopan 1600. I've had a couple of friends over helping them develop their film, we do a lot of night street scene stuff, I usually shoot med format so the only high speed option is Delta 3200, but I love my friend's Neopan 1600 results. I really, really wish it was available in 120.</p>

[furcafe]

<p>Your last question is the most important. You obviously need to find out whether you can even bring your camera to the concert.</p>

<p>As far as your 1st 2 questions: (1) Another vote for Fuji Neopan 1600, or Delta or T-Max 3200 if you're forced to use a slow lens; (2) Since you'll be in the audience, I would bring the fastest lens you have for available light shooting (sounds like a 50/1.4?)--partly contra to Jeff Spirer's post, many venues that I shoot @ do ban flash photography (perhaps SF is different from DC), though enforcement is often spotty, probably due to all the point & shoots; moreoever, since you'll be in the audience, flash will be of little use anyway unless you're very close to the stage.</p>

[Spearhead]

<p>many venues that I shoot @ do ban flash photography</p>

<p>I'm known at most of the venues in San Francisco, that may make a difference. </p>

<p>Regarding lenses, it really depends where you are shooting from and what you want to capture. Cat Power is an act where closeups really convey what's going on.</p>

 

[chuck_foreman1]

My experience has been similar to the other posters as is my advice. I never used anything above 400. The trick is getting in close enough to use a 50mm wide open F2/1.7 at abput 1/60. I shot Ektachrome 400 in small or medium clubs in the 80s and this works good. Some smaller club's lights were too warm and balanced badly I countered with a light blue filter that took a stop away..Still if close-in acceptable exposure is possible. Also Tri-X pushed one stop was also quite OK, although some shots were just too contrasty to print. If you're too far away the higher speed and the longer lenses are necessary. Freedom of movement allows you to move from the front to the sides etc, A real concert situation usually has you more or less sticking to your assigned seat and most people stand the whole time dancing and stuff so ... you want have a good time too!!

[ben_ballard]

<p>Benjamin, that Radiohead shot is excellent. </p>

<p>I would also recommend high speed film and a fast lens. The photo below was shot on Delta 3200 with an SLR and an 80mm f2.8 lens shot wide open. Try to set the exposure as best you can when the lights are medium, but it's not going to be perfect and as with flash photography, the shutter speed could quite often be irrelevant when the lighting is changing so quickly or if they are using strobes in the concert lighting. Wait for the brighter moments, or when the lighting is dramatic. I think the nice thing about this kind of environment is you can capture the atmosphere and get some artistic results, but don't expect clear close-ups of the performers.<br>

<a title="25 by benjaminballard, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2443691820_e6bc580f24.jpg" alt="25" width="349" height="500" /></a></p>

[blakley]

<p>Stage lights are pretty bright, especially at places which host a lot of shows. 400 speed film will do the trick; 1/60 @ f/2 or equivalent is usually good for lit performers, as here:<br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blakley/sets/72157594345455000/"><br /> </a><br>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blakley/sets/72157594345455000/"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/89/279464932_c8aefb3f4d.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="403" /> </a></p>