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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Calling all media photographers!
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11/29/2004 05:00:35 PM · #1
(sorry, second thread in one day)

I know there are a bunch of professional photographers on here who do some really interesting work. I'm wondering what sort of equipment you take to a big event like a huge concert or something along those lines......I'm not talking local stuff, but for professional musicians, actors, politicians, etc. Mainly, what's the one lens you can't live without?

11/29/2004 05:32:21 PM · #2
One lens? Bwahahahahaha

I do Motorsports shooting for the speedway as one of the pool of photographers. I bring...

[2] Camera bodies (10D/20D)
[1] 70-200mm
[1] 17-40mm
[1] 24-70mm
[1] 400mm
[1] 1.4x teleconverter
[1] 580ex
[1] 550ex
[1] Quantum battery pack for flashes (with cable)
[1] a collection of CF Cards
[1] laptop with necessary accessories
[1] camera equipment belt (Kinesys)
[1] set of pocket wizards

I think that about covers it. I also bring pens/pencils, notepads, sensor cleaning supplies, etc.
11/29/2004 05:36:07 PM · #3
why two flashes?

(my 550 has the cable damn-near permanently attached, the camera store literally gouged out the flash compartment so the door shut with the cable in it - it hasn't been opened since...about 5 years ago lol).

11/29/2004 05:37:04 PM · #4
P.S. you must have a huge entourage to carry all that equipment for you :-)
11/29/2004 05:37:58 PM · #5
Originally posted by GoldBerry:

why two flashes?

(my 550 has the cable damn-near permanently attached, the camera store literally gouged out the flash compartment so the door shut with the cable in it - it hasn't been opened since...about 5 years ago lol).


That's what I was wondering...

What camera store did that, and why?!
11/29/2004 05:40:55 PM · #6
Originally posted by singe:


What camera store did that, and why?!


The battery compartment door won't shut with the cable attached. It's either carve a spot for the cable to sit in or use velcro or whatever to keep it shut. Velcro looks wayyyy worse.

My 540EZ did the same thing. The Quantum cables are just too big. It was nice of them (at the store) to do it.

11/29/2004 05:41:09 PM · #7
When walking thru the pit areas and garages I will have a flash on both cameras as a fill flash.
11/29/2004 05:42:17 PM · #8
Originally posted by Jason:

When walking thru the pit areas and garages I will have a flash on both cameras as a fill flash.


gotcha.

11/29/2004 06:47:18 PM · #9
Originally posted by GoldBerry:

(sorry, second thread in one day)

I know there are a bunch of professional photographers on here who do some really interesting work. I'm wondering what sort of equipment you take to a big event like a huge concert or something along those lines......I'm not talking local stuff, but for professional musicians, actors, politicians, etc. Mainly, what's the one lens you can't live without?


I was just shooting some big Canadian music acts the last couple of days in Montreal and Ottawa, in smaller venues. I mostly used my 50/1.8 and 70-200/2.8 but also had (and used for a few shots) my 105/2.8 Micro which turned out to be the perfect range for the clubs, just way too hard to control in the difficult shooting circumstances. Although I had my SB800 with me, flash is not permitted during the show.
11/29/2004 06:53:03 PM · #10
I believe every single media photographer I've seen in the DC metro area shoots with at least 2 bodies. It takes too long to switch lenses. You might miss something. :)

Clara
12/01/2004 03:14:40 PM · #11
Found this this website and it pseudo had something to do with this thread so thought I would post it.

Concertshooter.com
12/01/2004 03:47:02 PM · #12
GREAT site. Lots of information for a gal like me who knows nothing.
12/02/2004 06:08:48 AM · #13
Back when I pretended to be a pro.... :-).

1x OM4ti with 70-210
1x OM10 with 50mm F/1.4

Roll back on the OM4 (500 shots or so, depending on how tight I rolled the film!), lots of film canisters for the 10. Power winders on both cameras..

Sunpak flashes on both bodies, canna remember the models now, but they were as big as I could afford....

'Fishing vest' with Pockets full of crap.. Filters, Spare batteries, notepad, cleaning gear, reflector cards (pre-omnibounce days), remote cable...

Same formula seems to work these days though, I have a couple of friends who shoot events and they both carry two bodies, in one case with a 17-40L and 70-200L on 2x10D's and the other with Nikon F5's and similar lenses.. For the flashes as much power as you can get with TTL metering seems to be the standard.

The thing that varies, and is more interesting is what people carry in their pockets.. The 'Tricks of the trade' type things.

Scott carries an almost complete makeup kit with him, and every manner of colapsable reflector ever made. Soft focus filters, closeup filters, ND grad, ND 1,2 & 3stop, star filters, model release forms, Duck tape, super glue, swiss army knife, kitchen sink.....

On the other hand, Heather (The girl with the F5's, and a strong back from lugging them around!) carries a blower bulb, lens cloth and her business cards. As it happens I reckon she's the better photographer as well, by a long shot...

Based on that observation, if I had stuck with photography as a career, I would have eventually lost the fishing vest with all it's pockets, and I'd be down to carrying all my accesories in a bill-fold... :-).

Cheers, Me.
12/02/2004 03:16:14 PM · #14
Ohmark,

Thanks for all the details! You have confirmed my suspicion that 'the bling don't mean a thing'.

I work with a girl who's in high demand and she has one camera body, D60, two cheap lenses (no L glass, that's for sure), and one 550EX flash. That's about it. ANd no accessories other than a white piece of board for a bouncer. She does some of the best work I've ever seen, locally or otherwise.

It's all in the wrist I guess.

Thanks again!
12/02/2004 03:59:14 PM · #15
Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Thanks for all the details! You have confirmed my suspicion that 'the bling don't mean a thing'.


Absolutely...

The discussion has been had on this site a number of times, and in just about every other photography forum, electronic or not.

Skill, technique, and the all important 'eye' make up a huge part of the value of a photographers kit. You can't get experience by purchase, it takes more time and effort than that.

Heck, if all it took was purchase, I'd be taking some of the best photos on this site. In reality, I know that I'm like many other folks on this site, an enthusiast with a new toy, err, tool.

Cheers, Chris H.
12/02/2004 06:43:17 PM · #16
Originally posted by GoldBerry:

Ohmark,

Thanks for all the details! You have confirmed my suspicion that 'the bling don't mean a thing'.

I work with a girl who's in high demand and she has one camera body, D60, two cheap lenses (no L glass, that's for sure), and one 550EX flash. That's about it. ANd no accessories other than a white piece of board for a bouncer. She does some of the best work I've ever seen, locally or otherwise.

It's all in the wrist I guess.

Thanks again!


That's great news!
Are we still talking about concert photography here?
Have you got a link to any of her photos?
12/02/2004 07:19:06 PM · #17
I am not one who is doing any of this, but I thought I could contribute with one of my good friend's work.
//www.themusicphotographer.com/
He's one of my closest friends since college. He usually is equipped with a wide angle & standard lens. His shots on the website are done with Nikon D100, D1X and D2H (Used to be a Minolta guy :)) . He started with one camera and he carries 2 now.
He likes to use flash 1 - 2 stops under.
12/02/2004 07:25:09 PM · #18
I do the occasional event/photojournalist style photography on the side, and I find I'm pretty well covered with my 17-40 and 70-200 F4Ls and my 420EX flash.

A newspaper photographer I frequently saw covering the same stuff as me would use a 1D and just two lenses: 17-35 and 70-200 F2.8Ls and two 550EXs - one on the camera on a flash cord and one slave.
12/02/2004 07:56:51 PM · #19
I talked to a guy a couple of weeks ago who is one of the top Rock(n roll) photographers anywhere. He uses a Hasselblad camera with a 1.4f lens. He also uses a Nikon 35mm camera. You can check his work out here. By the way he says Digital is evil. His day rate would be hard to argue with.
12/02/2004 09:06:39 PM · #20
Originally posted by jimmythefish:



A newspaper photographer I frequently saw covering the same stuff as me would use a 1D and just two lenses: 17-35 and 70-200 F2.8Ls and two 550EXs - one on the camera on a flash cord and one slave.


yes, normally this is the 2 lens (or Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM) that PJ's need.
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