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How to use speedlights when shooting live music performances

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There seems to be a popular conception out there that you don’t use flash under any circumstances during musical performances. While good manners and etiquette might suggest that this should be the default position to take when not told otherwise, there are times when flash is allowed and can bring you some fantastic results that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to achieve.

Like, if you’re there specifically to photograph the band. But how do you use the lights? How do you know where to put them for a live event when you don’t know what your subject’s going to do and where they’re going to do it? Well, this video from professional music photographer Todd Owyoung via Creative Live is going to tell and show you how.

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Yes, gear matters when you shoot concert photography

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Yes, you have read it right. When doing concert photography Gear matters! Compact cameras, bridge cameras, DSLR, crop cameras, full frame cameras, mirrorless cameras, zoom lens, prime lens, the list goes on and on. But I’m not going to talk about camera bodyies and lenses (surprised?). That really doesn’t matter, the best cam or lens are the ones that we have, we just have to learn how to use them and how to make the most out of them.

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How to shoot amazing concert photography

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Taking a break from their usual “X tips in Y minutes” type videos, COOPH interviews concert photographer Michael Agel in this one. It’s a peek into the world of somebody who’s been doing music photography for a living for over 30 years. COOPH caught up with Michael during the Montreux Jazz Festival, where offers up some advice for budding concert photographers.

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This is what’s in my bag for Music Festivals and why it’s in there

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Now that the music Festivals are starting, I think it’s a good time to share what’s in my bag for Music Festivals. Last year, I was the official photographer of eight Summer Festivals here in Portugal, and this was the gear that I’ve used on all. On one of them, I also took an extra monitor, but not in my bag.

As the official photographer, I have a place to safely store my extra gear. I also have a place to transform into my office for the festival days, so I don’t have to carry all the stuff with me.

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Record label blasts photographer after stealing her photographs

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Copyright infringement is all too common these days. It seems especially so in the music industry. One would think that fellow creatives, like musicians, would understand copyright and know better. But it turns out that they often don’t. Typically, when the photographer contacts them about it, the ensuing conversation is quite amicable. The images are taken down, or credited, and occasionally a fee is paid.

In this instance, however, not so much. When concert photographer Adrienne Row-Smith recently discovered some of her photos were being used by the band and its record label, she reached out. And while the band were being quite pleasant about the whole situation, their record label most certainly was not. DIYP reached out to Adrienne to find out more.

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What it’s like to shoot behind the scenes on tour with Bon Jovi

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Photographing huge gigs like those of acts like Bon Jovi is the dream of just about every would-be concert photographer. To go on tour with them, get exclusive behind the scenes access, and have millions of people see your work? Well, that’s just fantasy. For most of us, at least. But for photographer David Bergman, that’s been his reality for the past seven years.

This video from AdoramaTV profiles David’s journey as a concert photographer. David talks about how he started off his career, and shot for big clients including Sports Illustrated, through to finding himself touring with Bon Jovi.

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Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme apologises for kicking photographer’s head

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At KROQ Acoustic Christmas on Saturday, a video shows Queens of the Stone Age frontman, Josh Homme, violently kick toward a female photographer’s head during his performance. Like any professional, Chelsea Lauren, a photographer for Shutterstock, composed herself and carried on to shoot the headline act that came on next. Then she spent the rest of the evening in the ER.

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How to prepare for music festival season

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Now that the Festivals season is starting, I already have 3 confirmed festivals and 3 more to confirm, I thought it would be a good idea to write an article about how I prepare for the beginning of the season.

This text is about my process, other photographers do it differently, and serves only to share what has worked for me. If you have any other way to prepare for the festivals please share it.

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How I photographed the incredibly talented trumpeter Spencer Ludwig

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Recently I had the opportunity to photograph an incredibly talented trumpeter by the name of Spencer Ludwig. You’ve definitely heard his song ’Diggy’ in all of the Target commercials lately, and he’s currently touring throughout North America kicking out the jams.

After some emailing back and forth we decided that the best spot to shoot Spencer would be at the hotel where he was staying, following his show that night in Denver. Hotels aren’t usually the most interesting places to shoot in, but I knew with some scouting that ideas would come together eventually.

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White House Lifts Ban on Photography, But With Limitations

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In a move reversing a 40-year ban that I didn’t even know existed, the White House has lifted its photography restrictions.  For more than four decades, visitors to the White House have not been allowed to take photos during tours.  With this new decision, you will be allowed to document your visit, selfie all over the place, and share your bunny ears on Secret Service guards on social media.  However, there are still restrictions…

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