Cameras at Concerts
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- mg33
I just got back from seeing the band Mew at a local venue in Chicago - place called the Metro, one of the best venues in town and holds about 1,000 people. I've taken my Panasonic Lumix TZ15MP camera there several times with no hassle.
Tonight I thought I'd take my D90 and my f1.8 lens just to see what kind of results I got. Photos were strictly for my own enjoyment. After a while when I was on the balcony, a security guy came up and asked if I had a press pass. I did not and he said, "well that's a pretty nice camera (keep in mind it's dark), what are the photos for?" I told him they saw me come in with it at the door, it was hanging around my neck.
He points out some girls with a smaller point and shoot and says "that's what people normally bring in," to which I said, "sure, I understand, that's what I normally bring too. I just got this a few months ago and wanted to see what kind of results I could get in here."
Again he says something like, "well that's a pretty serious camera," and I just cut him off saying I'd be happy to stop taking photos, no problem at all. He said "they're just for you?" I said yeah, of course. We shook hands and he just said fine, take all the pictures you want.
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My main gripe is, what constitutes a "professional" camera to people like this? I think there's a huge discrepancy in the world of music venues about what cameras are acceptable or not. Detachable lenses = professional camera... bottom line to them. What if I was there with an old ass D40? Would the pictures not be slightly lower in quality than a market-leading point and shoot?Also, if their concern is the higher quality of DSLR photos being printed, sold, posted online, etc, are they not aware of the potentially equal quality of photos from top-notch point and shoots? I've gotten tons of photos in many small venues with my Lumix - the 10X optical zoom is a blessing in a packed crowd. Many of you have seen some of those photos of mine. I'm as satisfied with those results as with the D90 when it comes to capturing what the show was like.
Anyhow, sorry for the long post but I'm sure more than a few of you can relate. Any similar experiences?
- fooler20
Last month at a Them Crooked Vultures concert they were letting people take quick shots with smaller cameras but if you held it up for more than 30 seconds security guards would swarm in making sure you weren't taking video.
- M_C_P0
this is true. i had to stop shooting some family pics at a new outdoor mall that had some bright colored walls. the security guard cited the whole terrorist thing too.
- are you brown?fooler2
- why does my turban frighten you? or the girth of my lens?M_C_P
- http://unbecominglev…fooler2
- good thing i don't look like that poor schmuck
M_C_P
- pr20
I got a better story for you.
A year ago my brother was getting married so since i'm a professional director of photography on music videos, commercials etc then i also own a nice set of lenses and a nice DSLR. So i bring it to a park overlooking New York and start taking the pics of my bro and his wife in her wedding dress. Soon enough i get approached by the park guy who ask for my commercial permit to take pics. I tell him that those are not commercial pics as he's by brother and i do it as a family favor. The guy was trying to be an asshole and hold me that i have to stop taking pics in which case i asked why isn't he stopping all those people around with small pocket cameras to which if course he had no answer. As i shoot for a living (moving images, but that's not the point) i know the right and responsibilities so i try to be cool and reassure the idiot that this is family we are talking about. So finally the park's manager comes over, the shit gets explained and i keep on taking pics no problem.- are you brown?fooler2
- sorry to sound like a racist, I just remember a story of a minority taking pics in Seattle and getting hassled.fooler2
- no, but to take commercial pics in NYC parks you DO need a commercial pics taking license.pr2
- man, same thing happens in Chicago with this thing: http://www.gallagher…mg33
- They run people off with DSLR's and tripods, but all other cameras are fine. I don't get it.mg33
- well, tripods is yet another story. with no permit you can talk your way out for most situation (pretend u r a student) but u can't use tripodspr2
- but u can't use tripids.pr2
- http://unbecominglev…fooler2
- Yeah, but then again it's easy to get a permit for most places in NYC. It's just the hassle of filing ahead of time...fuckinglol_prophet
- mg330
well, the terrorist stuff is understandable - silly, but understandable.
I've been at shows though with the Lumix and taken a couple hundred photos with no hassle. Hell, you guys have seen my Lollapalooza photos from the past few years, all with the Lumix and most came out great. Never once got hassled but no way would I have ever gotten in with an interchangeable lens camera because the rules specially state that.
I was getting stuff like that all three days, up close from the VIP stage sections this past year.
- fooler20
more importantly, who is mew?
- A completely excellent Danish band, kind of proggy, but just epic. http://www.myspace.c…mg33
- acescence0
their strategy doesn't sound totally illogical if their goal is to allow casual photography while limiting professional photography. a pro is more likely to have a dslr, and someone who would bother to lug a huge camera to a show would seem somewhat more invested in taking photos. if you can get one over on them, more power to you.
- _salisae_0
blondes are perceived as having more fun. removable lenses are perceived as professional/for commercial use. i understand you're frustrated but these people are paid a relatively low wage and given basic instructions to prevent people from obtaining free image rights to their public setting.
- sure, I agree with that. he said it was fine to keep taking pictures, but I just felt odd at that point.mg33
- i think you were itching to brag about your camera and your time at the show ;p_salisae_
- no, honestly no. the pics weren't even that great. a bit too far away.mg33
- just teasing you. i'm jealous. all i do is work work work lately._salisae_
- me too, work constantly. so the show was a good night. :)mg33
- juhls0
Big lens or big camera = suspicion. It's all up to whoever sees you with it.
- ninjasavant0
A lot of venues distinguish the difference as any camera with a detachable lens is considered to be a professional camera.
- version30
- you Naziutopian
- :Dutopian
- haha i laugh you're taking sneaky pics of a girl but unwittingly point at some dude's kids and get locked upProjectile
- bigtrick0
time to get a panasonic gf1, then!
i had a huge problem at the vic trying to take my dslr in a few years back. they made me leave it in their office. now, the empty bottle, i asked them up front two years ago if i could come in and practice with my dslr + huge ass flash, they said go ahead.
there's something to be said about the little indie venues.
- interesting. I hate the Bottle! I wish they'd tear it apart and build a proper room with better sound and stage.mg33
- but then it would lose its indie (i.e. shitty) vibe and people would start drinking stella instead of pbrbigtrick
- I'm sure you're right. I've just never been pleased with the sound. The Tycho show there, though, was great.mg33
- Empty bottle ! cool place, very hard to get good photos there... had a friend who lived above it years ago....vaxorcist
- Projectile0
I've actually had my Nikon D80 taken off me. No kidding.
Basement Jaxx gig. I thought the bouncer was just being a cock when he said I couldnt come in with it. I just asked him if he could guarantee its safety in the cloakroom and so he just said dont take any pics.
So of course I did, but from right in the middle of the crowd. and only about 3 pics. Next thing im being dragged out, made to delete the photos in fromnt of them and then they took it off me and said I could get it back at the end!! fuckers!! ok they warned me, but still. fuckers.
- no one is taking my 5D2 off me. I'm going down with it. and so are u. >:Osherm
- bigtrick0
i wonder what would happen if i tried to take my rb67 into a concert...
- They'd have told you to get back in your model-T and fuck off home granddad.shitehawke
- you'd probably be shot on sitemonospaced
- lovely camera though squire. I'd love one. Where'd you get it?shitehawke
- keh.com
mine was ~$250 for body, 90mm lens, waist level finder, 120 backbigtrick - + another $120 for the prism finder with the meter in itbigtrick
- Hmmm. Seems reasonable. Whats the quality like?shitehawke
- you could kill zombies with this thing and still take pictures with it afterwards. a fucking tank.bigtrick
- baseline_shift0
do you expect a security guard to know anything about the nuances of compact vs DSLR lenses? You have to admit, that the bigger the camera, the more 'professional photographer' you look.
- baseline_shift0
also, when do you plan to start selling mew posters?
- brandelec0
Brought to you by Panasonic Lumix TZ15MP
- DRIFTMONKEY0
I was asked to stop taking pics with my shitty camera phone at a Ryan Adams concert a couple years ago. This was at Spreckles in San Diego. Every 5 minutes you would see a cell phone light come on, and security would stop them within seconds...
Camera phone.
- that serves you right for going to see ryan adams.Samush
- harsh but fair7point34
- Yeah? well... I just... it's just that... Damnit! Screw you guys!DRIFTMONKEY
