Saturday, June 19, 2010

Concert photos - a little rant


I have photographed a lot of concerts. It's not always fun (especially if the music isn't to your taste) but there are a few things that really annoy me when I go to gigs, and they mostly have to do with the attitude of photographers. I was at one gig a couple of months ago where there were lots of people wielding a variety of cameras. I move around a lot during a gig, trying not to stay in one place and not to get in any one persons way for too long. However, the front row of this gig was bristling with cameras throughout. I spent maybe half the gig down front and moving in and out of the crowd to get different angles, keeping a low profile and only using the flash a few times. One guy was well over 6 foot and spent the whole night in one spot, waving his camera high in the air and in the faces of the performers. This is the reason many clubs have a rule that photographers can only photograph the first three songs and not use flash. It's thanks to selfish photographers that that rule is put into play.



Also, be careful when moving around and taking shots. just as you would if you were trying to get through the crowd to go to the bar. There is nothing more annoying for a paying concert goer than to be jostled and pushed by a photographer trying to get a shot. Move about between songs, not during them and if you can't get through to where you want to go, leave it and try somewhere else, seeing if you can get there at some later point. I've been a fan in a crowd and when you've paid your money, queued up to see your favourite band and then some guy pushes in front of you with a big old DSLR, it is most annoying.



A camera does not give you a license to behave in an arrogant and disrespectful manner. Always be aware of how your actions affect those around you.

Oh and as for holding up your camera in the air and firing off 200 shots....



That's what regular concert goers do. And their cameras don't get in anyone's way and they have way more fun while they're at it.


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