This gig was mad – and a massive learning experience. It’s the first time that I’ve been limited to a certain number of songs in which to photograph. I was told that I’d be let into the photographer’s enclosure at 9pm, and so with PHOTOPASS stuck firmly to my chest I waited patiently. About 45 mins later six or seven 30yr old men turned up, all wearing black and each with at least one camera slung over each shoulder. Some of the lenses were as long as my arm, and me with my one little camera hanging neatly from my neck – well I began to feel a little amateur, I tried to keep my confidence though!
The dj stopped playing and the bouncer opened the gate and let the hoard of photographers, and me, in to the enclosure. All the other photographers seemed to know eachother and were chatting away so I was getting my head screwed on and ready for the next 10 minutes, and warmed myself up by taking some photos of the crowd and the eerily quiet stage. The lights eventually went down and Kanye bounced onto the stage to a great roar, or in my case, to a great rush of shutters firing off. for the next 10 minutes I didn’t take my finger off the shutter release, and barely took my eye away from the viewfinder – to the point where I fell over another photographer at one point!
Exhausted – I’d never changed lenses or memory cards quicker. I’m not overly impressed with the results, but for 3 songs it’s ok I suppose. The positive is that I definitely know how I’d do it differently next time, namely to take 5 steps back and put on a longer lens. It’ll be a while before I can afford one as long as my arm though!
