Hi, I’m David and I’m a concert photographer.
After a career spanning sixteen years and all types of shooting, from weddings to industrial commercial shoots to Oprah’s speaking tour, I’ve focused my work on concert photography for Korean artists touring the US, as well as some rock shows.
I have a formal background in photojournalism and a long career that allowed me to be more creative with my photography.
I find shooting live music is a perfect blend of the two.
When I started shooting in 2008, I covered many local punk shows for bands my friends were in. The digital cameras were primitive, the venues were dark and dirty, and the crowds were rowdy, but I loved capturing that energy and passion.
Fast-forward sixteen years, and I’ve been able to reignite my love for photographing live performances after spending a few summers photographing Drum Corps International and now K-pop artists, who similarly spend long days training to perfect their performances.
The combination of music and motion with intricate choreography and intensity creates a unique challenge for a photographer, but it’s super rewarding to nail those shots.
Shooting concerts is a mix of anticipation and adaptation in both preparation and real-time. Every venue has different shooting locations, and you have to be prepared to shoot from under a high stage looking right up the artist’s nose or from the soundboard hundreds of feet away.
You have to be able to capture key moments in crazy lighting conditions while trying to make the artist look flattering, which isn’t unique to K-pop but maybe even more important to their company/publicists than other genres.
Canon EOS R6 and the Canon EOS R7 – The Canon mirrorless system is hands down the most capable and easiest to use. I swear it’s easier to use these cameras than snapping a photo with my phone.
The autofocus has zero issues tracking subjects even in strobe lights with pyrotechnics firing all around them. The low-light performance is better than I ever need, especially when paired with the pro lenses that capture plenty of light at wide apertures.
The weather sealing is great because concerts can be rough environments for your gear (as seen in the pouring rain shot above).
I simply can’t see how camera tech gets any better from here but I’m always excited to see what Canon does next.
I have always paired a full frame body with a crop sensor body, which allows me more versatility in my lens choices without adding more to the bag.
Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L – this combo is simply unbeatable for event coverage, and with the Canon EOS R6 and Canon EOS R7 I have 24mm all the way to 320mm FOV all at 2.8 without changing lenses on the two bodies.
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L – This is a clutch for many darker venues where I need the extra shutter speed when I’m able to get right on stage for more intimate shots or crowd portraits.
The RF lenses have a control ring that allows me to rapidly adjust my exposure without using my shutter hand, which is key when I’m shooting in the chaotic lighting of a concert.
Ansco Pix Panorama 35mm and the Yashica FX-D – I like to use film cameras when possible, mostly at bigger arena or stadium shows where I know the lighting and production will be big and will show up well on the 400-speed film I shoot.
The pano camera is a fixed f/11 lens that shoots 35mm frames in a panorama format, which is great for showing big crowds and venues.
Tokina 28mm f/2.8 – just a very versatile lens.
ThinkTank Press Pass 10L – This is a brilliant little bag that holds the three lenses and all accessories. The camera bodies go on Peak Design straps attached in the back like a holster, and I store them in a lens pouch for transit, as most venues don’t have bag storage and you don’t want to be in a photo pit or moving through crowds with a big bag.
6-inch glass prism – This is a great tool for adding creative lighting textures to the frame, as seen in the purple portrait shot above.
Loop earplugs – These are also a must for concerts, as being against the speakers not only damages your hearing permanently but can be physically painful without them, to say nothing of the air blasts or confetti guns.
Rocket Blower – You have to make sure things are clean.
I always carry basic first aid supplies, such as bandaids, medication, and lens wipes, which can save the day for you or others in concert settings.
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