All Access: Your Backstage Pass to Concert Photography

Sound advice for concert photographers Restricted access, dynamic stage lights, crowded pits, and unpredictable performers are the tough stuff of concert photography. Add in the pressure of knowing there are no second chances to get a missed shot, and you′ve got a full–blown shooting challenge. Veteran concert photographer Alan Hess helps you overcome these challenges and capture the energy of a live show. From credentials and gear to camera settings and venue–specific tips, this book covers everything you need to know to capture shots that rock. This manual for concert photography is laced with advice from photographers, band publicists, and musicians. Find out why this is the best job around. If you′ve wondered . . . How to get the right credentials to photograph a concert What are the do′s and don′ts of interacting with venue staff and other photographers at a show How to deal with colorful stage lights in performance shots What′s the best gear for concert photography How to get the coveted backstage shots of a band What it takes to capture concert images that stand apart . . . find the answers here!

Introduction XV 1 Concert Photography Rocks: Capturing the Thrill of the Show 1 Picture a Musical Journey 2 It′s Who You Know 5 Be Ready for the Pressure 6 It′s a Balancing Act 9 On the Cover of Rolling Stone ... 9 Pro Tip: Billy Morrison... 10 2 Your Ticket to Shoot: Getting Credentials and Handling Releases 13 Who to Ask... 14 What You Want 19 When to Ask. 21 Why You? 22 The Request 24 The Photo Release 25 Follow Up with Thanks 27 Pro Tip: Dennis McNally 28 Pro Tip: Heidi Ellen Robinson–Fitzgerald 29 3 Pit Rules: Behaving like a Pro 31 The Players 32 The Photo Pit 37 Soundboard Shoots 39 Shooting from the Crowd 42 Pro Tip: Allen Ross Thomas 46 Pro Tip: Maile Hatfield 48 4 Oh the Gear: Working with the Best Camera and Lenses for Your Job 51 Camera 52 Lenses 60 Flash 65 Pro Tips: Scott Diussa 68 5 Lights Out: Exposure Basics for Concert Shooters 73 Measuring light 74 Metering Modes 75 Proper Exposure 77 Exposure Settings 79 Exposure Modes 85 Focus Modes 87 White Balance 87 All Together 88 Pro Tips: Drew Gurian 92 6 In the Spotlight: Composing Hot Shots for Live Music 95 Focus 96 Timing 98 Emotion 101 Background 104 Guitars 106 Drums 109 Keyboards 112 Vocals 113 Group Shots 115 Pro Tip: Hali McGrath 118 7 The Bar Scene: Photographing Music in Bars 121 Working with Bad Light 124 Choosing Exposure Settings 125 Pushing the ISO: What’s Too High? 126 Using the Flash 128 Composition 129 Pro Tip: Bob Minkin 134 8 Club Level: Shooting at Larger Local Venues 137 Professional Behavior 138 Lighting 140 Photo Pit 141 Room Work 143 Experiment 146 Exposure Settings 147 Fast Glass 149 Pro Tip: Susana Millman 150 9 Rock the Halls: Bigger and Brighter Venues 153 Great Light 154 Camera Settings 156 Work the Room 158 Shoot Outside 160 The Lighting Director 161 Pro Tip: Anthony "Groove" Pirrone 162 10 Rock Spectacle: Working the Big Shows 165 Lovely Light 166 Limits! 168 Camera Settings 172 Stand–Out Shots 174 Pro Tip: Charles Jischke 176 11 An All–Day Party: Shooting Festivals 179 Comfortable Shoes 182 Picks 182 Changing Exposures 185 The Press Tent 191 Surviving the Day 192 Pro Tip: Chelsea Lauren 194 12 Backstage Pass: Getting Behind the Scenes 197 Shooting from the Stage 198 Sound Check 203 Shooting Backstage 205 Trust 208 Pro Tip: Jay Blakesberg 210 13 Show Variety: Different Types of Bands 213 JamBands 215 Country 216 Jazz 218 Rock and Roll 218 Heavy Metal 219 Rap/DJ 221 Pro Tip: Brad Moore 224 14 More Cowbells: Handling Post Production 227 File Types: JPEG and RAW 228 Workflow Overview 230 Import Images 230 First Sort 234 Lightroom 235 Photoshop 244 Black and White Images 245 Show your Best 249 Pro Tip: Mark Karan 250 Appendix A: Accessories 252 Camera Bags 252 Memory Cards 255 Earplugs 256 Business Cards 257 Monopod 258 Credential Holder 258 Batteries 259 Battery Grip 259 Camera Strap 260 Lens Cleaning Kit 262 Flashlight 262 Appendix B: Copyright 264 Register your Images 264 Why Register 270 Digital Millennium Copyright Act 270 Appendix C: Resources 272 Index 274

Alan Hess is a professional concert photographer who has photographed such diverse acts as Anthrax, Billy Idol, Bruce Hornsby, The Grateful Dead, Slayer, Steel Pulse, Tim McGraw, and many more. He has written four Digital Field Guides , the iPad Fully Loaded series, and Night and Low–Light Photography Photo Workshop .