This year I had the pleasure of shooting the Governor’s Ball in NYC on assignment for Rolling Stone. Honestly, shooting for a publication like Rolling Stone is something that is always a thrill, and I was happy to cover Gov Ball for them, especially with the great line-of of talent. Here are some of my favorite photos from this New York City music festival.
Best/most wild stage treatment I saw was M83, with super atmospheric haze and lighting. Big Grams had the perfect mix of daylight and stage production.
One of the more special moments was shooting the set of the Knocks on stage to capture Wyclef Jean make a surprise appearance. Overall, just a great festival shoot. Even though the third day of the festival was rained out, this Gov Ball was still a banger to cover for Rolling Stone!
Photographer’s Notes:
Cameras Used:
Nikon D750
Nikon D750
Nikon D500
Lenses Used:
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 300mm f/4 PF VR
Computer Gear:
Apple MacBook Pro 15″ / Mac Pro
Software:
Adobe Lightroom
Photo Mechanic
This was one of the first festival gigs where I used the dual Nikon D750 combo, and I have to say, the D750 absolutely knocked it out of the park. The lighter weight, ace AF performance, and great high ISO performance were all fantastic for covering a festival like this.
In addition, I put the Nikon D500 into its first festival situation, and it delivered phenomenally. The D500 and Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 were great to get just a little more reach and a flatter perspective for larger stagers, when I wanted to be farther back toward the barricade. For the main stage of Gov Ball, I also used the Nikon 300mm f/4 PF VR on the Nikon D500, which gave me tons of flexibility in being able to move back into the alley between the mix and the photo pit, and again get a nice, flatter perspective and less cut-off due to shooting up at the stage.
My Camera DSLR and Lenses for Concert Photography
Nikon D750:
I use two Nikon D750 for my live music photography. Amazing high ISO performance in a compact body with tons of pro features.
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8:
For most gigs, the 24-70mm is my go-to lens. Exceptional image quality at wide apertures and super-functional range.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR:
A perfect pair to the Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8, I can basically shoot any job with the midrange and this lens. Superb image quality.
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8:
Ultra-wide perspective, ridiculously sharp even wide open at f/2.8. I love using this lens up-close and personal, where it excels.
More Gear Recommendations
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