Special treatment for photographers!

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gaz_jameison

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Gary
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I was at a small rock music festival recently, while running about with my camera I had a great time and noticed something that made me chuckle.

Up near the front of the stages, the crowds were packed tightly together as I'm sure you can imagine. You hadn't a hope of pushing your way closer to the front - unless you had a camera with you!!!

All I had was a D3100 with a 35mm lens and a flashgun mounted, but I noticed everyone moved out of my way and the security guys even let me past the barriers and right up to the very front of the stages! :lol: Even inside the bars later at night (where there were also bands set up) everyone moved out of my way, let me go wherever I wanted and even the bar staff were serving me first ahead of everyone else!!!

A lot of people were asking me where the photos were going. Sometimes I told the truth, that I was just taking them *** I enjoy taking photographs. Sometimes I lied and made up newspapers and websites lol - mainly *** I didn't want to disappoint them! :lol::lol::lol:

I have to say I found the whole thing very funny. Anyone else have any experiences like this?
 
I've been thought of as a pro, working for a paper etc.
had young girls ask for their photo to be taken so it would appear in a local (I declined politely)
also people have moved out of the way at small gigs to make room for your shot, very nice of them.
however, people don't care about throwing drinks near your camera and in the pit?..

well stage divers, other photographers getting their shot and bouncers sorting people out...you're just furniture! :)
 
I had a similar experience in Instanbul, I was in the Navy at the time and the ship I was on was escorting the Royal Yacht, We pulled into Istanbul and proceeded ashore. As we were escorting the Yacht we had to go ashore in shirt and tie... (A right Royal Pain I add)...A colleague of mine (George Newton) wanted some carpet style waistecoats for his mates back home so we went to the market and bought some ...the other lads also bought one and proceeded to wear it over the shirt and ties. Madonna was appearing in the footy stadium that night and we decided to buy some tickets... When we got there we showed our tickets and went inside. Everyone just moved out of our way and allowed us right down to the front...I still don't know to this day why but it got us a good viewing position. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me at the time.
 
Hahaha, that must've been a strange experience, something I'd love to happen to me!
 
Tugster said:
I had a similar experience in Instanbul, I was in the Navy at the time and the ship I was on was escorting the Royal Yacht, We pulled into Istanbul and proceeded ashore. As we were escorting the Yacht we had to go ashore in shirt and tie... (A right Royal Pain I add)...A colleague of mine (George Newton) wanted some carpet style waistecoats for his mates back home so we went to the market and bought some ...the other lads also bought one and proceeded to wear it over the shirt and ties. Madonna was appearing in the footy stadium that night and we decided to buy some tickets... When we got there we showed our tickets and went inside. Everyone just moved out of our way and allowed us right down to the front...I still don't know to this day why but it got us a good viewing position. Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me at the time.
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if i saw a bunch of half cut matelots wearing waistcoats made out of carpet walking towards me i'd get the hell out of their way too :lol:
 
The thing is that a lot of people assume that any DSLR is a pro camera and that anyone holding one is "working".

Apparently if you put on a hi-viz and stick the biggest lens you have on your camera, you can get pretty much free reign at many events because people just assume you're press.

It's not something I've tried yet, but next time there's something interesting on I'm going to give it a go :D
 
Along with the day-glow jackets and a clipboard, the camera with a big enough lens and/or a flashgun attached can get you almost anywhere in certain events. Honestly grab a day-glow high vis jacket and start directing traffic for no apparent reason....see how many obey your commands.
 
MackieStaggie said:
Along with the day-glow jackets and a clipboard, the camera with a big enough lens and/or a flashgun attached can get you almost anywhere in certain events. Honestly grab a day-glow high vis jacket and start directing traffic for no apparent reason....see how many obey your commands.
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and say hello to the judge afterwards :lol:
 
EspressoJunkie said:
Apparently if you put on a hi-viz you can get pretty much free reign at many events because people just assume you're press.
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I call this a high visiability cloak.

I've put on a high-vis and walked around a large college that I was no longer a student at. Staff room, the roof and even spoke to the boss of the place. He just assumed I worked there in the maintinance dept (complete with trusty toolbox) :D

ok, so I had some inside help, my best mate was the maintinance manager there, so used to walk about together and I helped him out with jobs. :D
 
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Same with bikes... wear a Sam Brown or a hi-vis tabard and you become invisible to police. Fortune favours the brave.... DSLR, big lens, hi-vis and a beermat in a plastic pocket strung around your neck.... probably get you to the front of many a high-profile event :lol:

Not condoning this type of behaviour of course, but as anyone who's ever tanked it down the fast lane of the motorway in a big Volvo will attest... sometimes folks just get out of your way...:bat:
 
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