This Is Where It Ends

Dear New-generation Gig Photographers of AY2007/2008:

I’ve been meaning to write an open letter for some time but never got around to it for fear of offending the wrong people. I’m like that — I don’t like stepping on toes much. But once in a while something annoys me so badly that I have to say something or I’ll never be able to forgive myself for not doing anything about it, and reading a recent post from someone I respect gave me the extra push to write this. So, here it is in a nutshell:

It’s not a popularity contest.

The audience does not pay $15–$20 to see you run around on stage in full view of everyone; they pay that money to see the bands. I’m not saying gig photographers should not exist… Where would we be without them? I’m just saying that there should be some sort of etiquette; a set of guidelines, if you will, for shooting gigs.

This is all you really need to read, but if you want to get annoyed at me (and I know some people will), read on.

1: Don’t get in the band’s way
I think everyone follows this one… if not we’d have a lot of headstock injuries :)

2: Don’t stand in front of the crowd
Stand around, stand behind, barge your way to the front if you have to get that great, once-in-a-lifetime shot (if there’s a photographer’s pit, so much the better) but don’t remain in the middle of the front row waltzing around and elbowing people for 10 minutes straight. The people next to you will get annoyed. Also! Very important: Do not stand on stage, in the middle, possibly in front of the vocalist or guitarist, shooting the very active mosh pit in front of you. You will find another opportunity; those things are a dime a dozen. Sides are fine.

3: Guidelines for using flash
Flash is fine. Just not <1m away from the singer’s face, because he just might kick your camera for blinding him like that. I’ve had a good friend tell me he almost kicked my flash off because I fired it too close to his face. Then again, that’s good because if nobody told me off like that I wouldn’t have known it was so damn annoying.

4: Don’t leave your shit on stage
The stage is for the band, not for you. Keep your camera bag under the stage, next to the subs, whatever. The best thing would be for you to keep your bag around you at all times anyway — who knows what might happen to that precious $1250 35-70mm f/2.8d lens? For those who know, think Slipknot. You don’t want your shit kicked off the stage like that, trust me.

5: Ixnay on the adders-lay
Okay… ladders (and the resulting height) will give you interesting shots, I’ll grant you that. But please please please don’t put your ladder on stage, in front of the lights so everybody can see what you’re doing. It annoys the shit out of the techs. Go right ahead if you’re in the shadow… just not in the light.

6: Ditto tripods for small gigs, unless you’re doing video
Seriously. Where are you going to find the time to set everything up nicely? Bring a monopod if you have to.

7: Don’t spam
This isn’t exactly an etiquette sort of thing… it’s more of an aid to get you better shots. Think before you shoot, because in the current age of DSLRs it’s so easy to let your 8FPS camera do the trick for you and all you have to do is go home and delete the shitty ones… out of 1200 photos. Try shooting film; try shooting full-manual if you can’t afford film, though if you’ve got a DSLR you should be able to afford a few rolls. The high cost of developing and scanning your negatives will make you think more about your shots.

8: Stay stealthy!
Don’t walk around like you own the stage. Seriously. Please.

Shooting at any of the Esplanade’s recital studios or halls will give you a ridiculously good lesson in self-restraint. No flash photography, no movement, no red-beam-of-AI-assist. It’s like being a sniper; park yourself in one spot, don’t move an inch and wait for the money shot to come. Not that you should do that for every gig, but it helps in controlling yourself.

I don’t think I’m a very good gig photographer — I haven’t brought a camera in to a gig in over a year already. In fact, I’m so apprehensive about shooting gigs that I’ve turned down people who’ve asked me to do so several times… so I stick to doing press shots. I could just be an old fart ranting about the kids today, but I believe there’s some truth in what I’m saying. I’m pretty sure some will agree as well. Think about it — what happened to all the photographers who were around 3 years ago? We’ve all disappeared from actively shooting gigs. Go figure.

Remember: Stay subtle!