Many photography genres challenge visual creatives with extreme conditions, subjects, and scenarios.
The pursuit of the perfect shot often involves juggling various elements, including lighting, composition, and erratic subjects.
However, there aren’t many photography gigs that involve dodging pyrotechnics or mosh pits.
Unless, of course, you’re standing in front of a stage photographing heavy metal concerts.
Concert photography is one thing. Heavy metal concert photography is next level!
So what does it take to shoot a heavy metal concert, or any concert for that matter?
Is a passion for music a vital element of the genre, or is it purely another job to get the shot and pay the bills?
A key element of any paid photography gig is to have the best gear for the job.
The question I intend to answer today is: can you shoot concerts with a Fujifilm kit?
Beyond that, I’ll talk about the best Fuji cameras and lenses for concert photography.
While I’ve photographed many events in my time (and a recent concert), I’m happy to declare that I’m not a pro.
I reached out to my mate Shane Henderson to get to the heart of the craft.
Not only is he a concert photographer, but he’s also a passionate follower and fan of heavy metal music. Alright, let’s rock and roll!
Concert Photography In A Nutshell
Shane Henderson | Cassidy Paris | Fujifilm X-T3 + XF 50mm f/1.0 | ISO 1600 | SS 1/250 | f/3.2
Have you ever wondered how photographers get such dynamic and intense shots of music acts on stage?
It’s undoubtedly a challenging environment to work in. For starters, concert venues are usually cavernous and very dark – at first. You have to master low-light photography!
Once the act kicks off, the lighting conditions become dynamic and unpredictable.
Managing your exposure and white balance is an ever-changing operation as stage lighting fires from every possible angle.
In the case of heavy metal concerts, you can expect to contend with fog machines and pyrotechnics, too.
All of that is often before the musicians appear on stage, when you’ll have to track their erratic movements to nail the shot.
In essence, concert photography documents a musical performance’s dynamic and dramatic moments.
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The genre covers everything from orchestral performances to hard rock acts.
Shane Henderson | King Parrot | Fujifilm X-T3 + XF 50-140mm f/2.8 | ISO 800 | SS 1/500 | f/2.8 | @106mm
Typically, concert photographers have special access to a run between the stage and the front row of the audience.
That way, they have unhindered access to capture close-ups of the performance and musicians belting out ballads.
Many concert photographers will use longer lenses to document elements of the performance from an audience perspective.
Concert photography can often be combined with review writing to report on the gig for avid fans.
As a result, the images from such events appear in print and online publications.
Often, concert photographers work directly with a venue or even a band to help promote events and new music or to create content for websites and social media.
For a greater insight into concert photography, check out our guide here!
Rock ‘N Roll With Fujifilm
Shane Henderson | Heilung | Fujifilm X-H2 + X F8-16mm f/2.8 | ISO 3200 | SS 1/125 | f/2.8 | @16mm
The question lots of people ask is whether Fujifilm cameras and lenses compete in the professional photography industry.
The simple answer is yes! Fuji X and GFX Series gear are used in every professional genre, both photography and videography.
(See also: Is Fujifilm Pro Enough?)
It’s all about finding the right tool for the job that suits your budget and work.
In this case, Fujifilm gear is ideal for concert photography as it features the necessary elements the genre demands.
Fuji X Series flagship cameras, such as the X-T5 and X-H2S, boast exceptional low-light performance.
Both top-tier cameras feature an incredible ISO range, in-body image stabilization, fast autofocus, and fast readout speeds.
The processor performance is essential in low-lit concert settings as you often shoot in continuous burst modes at up to 15fps at full resolution.
However, you don’t need a top-shelf flagship Fuji camera to shoot concert photography.
Older generation X-T, X-H, or even X-Pro series cameras are just as capable of nailing the shot in any lighting conditions.
Fujifilm X-T5 + XF 56mm f/1.2
As for lenses, fortunately, the Fujifilm X series range extends to over 40 prime and zoom lenses with varied focal ranges.
What’s more, some of the more common focal ranges include a premium option with a wider max aperture and a more affordable option with a narrower aperture.
For example, the Fuji XF 16mm f/2.8 is an affordable wide prime suitable for most lighting conditions. However, Fuji also offers the XF 16mm f/1.4, which has a far wider max aperture at a higher cost.
The right lens for concert photography depends on several factors.
The most significant deciding factor is how far you’ll be from the stage and the performers.
If you’re up close to the stage, you’ll need a wider focal range to capture the whole stage and a tighter shot for photographing individuals.
Another factor is whether you want to shoot with a single body and a zoom or a double camera setup with two primes.
You’d choose the latter option if you preferred primes with much wider apertures than most zooms can accommodate.
Either way, you’re looking at a 16-50mm APS-C focal range (24-70mm full frame equivalent).
If you’re much further away from the stage, then a Fuji prime or zoom from 50mm onwards is ideal.
Again, the choice of prime or zoom is personal and depends on the size of the kit you want to carry.
For a deeper dive into the best lenses for concert photography, check out our guide.
My Experience With Concert Photography
Greg Cromie | Cap Carter | Fujifilm X-T5 + XF 56mm f/1.2
Fujifilm Australia recently asked me to participate in a unique and intimate concert experience with Australian singer-songwriter Cap Carter.
It was a one-off concert experience, and at first, I was baffled as to why Fuji wanted a street photographer on the job.
However, it became clear that they wanted me to document the concert and behind-the-scenes moments in my style.
It was a very challenging yet fun assignment for me.
Due to the bright stage lights, I found it difficult to strike a balance between capturing just enough detail from the shadows and not overexposing areas.
As for my kit, Fujifilm Australia provided me with an X-T5 and an XF 56mm f/1.2 prime lens.
I was also supplied with the new Fujifilm X100 VI. Being a street and travel photographer, the X100 VI was a perfect camera for me to capture the BTS shots during the soundcheck and rehearsal.
It was also an excellent solution for capturing wide shots of the audience, the fantastic event space, and the band in action up close.
The Fuji X-T5 and 56mm were also a great combo, and they were ideal for taking shots from behind the seated audience.
It also served me well when I wanted to get close-up shots of Cap and the band while they performed without getting in front of the audience.
You can read more about my experience in our article here.
How Do Pro Concert Photographers Use Fujifilm?
Shane Henderson | Make Them Suffer | Fujifilm X-H2 + XF 8-16mm f/2.8 | ISO 3200 | SS 1/500 | f/2.8 | @8mm
Yes, it’s true. I’m not a pro concert photographer. I can’t be good at everything.
My single concert photography experience was a unique opportunity to apply my style, skills, and approach to a new genre.
While it was exciting and challenging to push my boundaries, it was also anxiety-inducing. I was documenting a one-off event on behalf of Fujifilm Australia.
If you’ve read my other articles here on Shotkit, you’ll know I’m a paid-up cardholder to the Fujifilm Fanboy Society.
The last thing I wanted to do was to stuff up and disappoint the unicorn overlords at Fuji Australia.
However, I did the job and got the approval I so desperately craved. All’s well that ends well.
Long story short, I’m not a pro concert photographer, but I know plenty of people that are.
I enlisted the help of my fellow Fujifilm Fanboy Society member, Shane Henderson, to learn a thing or two about concert photography with Fuji.
Shane Henderson – Heavy Metal Concert Photographer
Shane Henderson | Slayer | Fujifilm X-T2 + XF16-55mm f/2.8 | ISO 3200 | SS 1/250 | f/2.8 | @40mm
Shane, thanks for taking part in this interview. Before we get into your concert photography work, tell us a little about your love of live music. What music are you most into?
Heavy metal has been my passion since I was about 12 years old. I remember buying an Iron Maiden cassette because the album cover, ‘Killers,’ featured their mascot, Eddie, a zombie character wielding an axe. I thought it was the coolest album cover ever. Turns out the music was awesome, and to this day, they are my all-time favorite band.
What’s been the wildest concert or music event you’ve ever attended, and why?
Metal shows, in general, with mosh pits, circles of death, crowd surfing, and stage diving, can get pretty wild, but to me, it is one of the healthiest ways to let off a bit of steam. Pantera’s show at Festival Hall in 1994 is probably the most memorable. It was everything mentioned above on overdrive. I was just a young buck at the time and had the stamina to keep up.
Please tell us a little about your photography journey. When did it start, and what was your first camera?
I always enjoyed taking pictures as a kid/teen with various 35mm film point-and-shoot cameras. But it was when I moved to London in my early 20s that the photography bug took hold. How could it not, with all the amazing architecture and awesome streets to explore? As I started getting better, I became dissatisfied with my point-and-shoot camera. So, I guess you could say my first proper camera was a Canon EOS 3000 SLR purchased in the early 2000s. My first digital camera was a Canon EOS 350D, which I picked up around 2005.
Shane Henderson | Cavalera | Fujifilm X-T2 + XF 16-55mm f/2.8 | ISO 5000 | SS 1/250 | f/2.8 | @35mm
How did your passion for music influence your decision to become a concert photographer?
It wasn’t something I had really considered. A friend’s band was doing some gigs locally and asked if I could come along and take some images.
What sort of gigs were you photographing in the early days?
Mostly just friends bands in pubs and small clubs around London. I was a new dad at the time, so I didn’t have the energy to pursue it any further than just for a bit of fun. Once I moved back to Melbourne in 2012, I continued shooting local bands in pubs when I could find time. Eventually, I got on board with a publication, and that’s when I really dived into shooting shows as often as possible.
What have been some of the highlight concerts you’ve had the pleasure of working at?
Bucket list shoots have been Slayer, Megadeth, and Pantera. Any show by Melbourne’s King Parrot. Also, great shoots from Cattle Decapitation, Napalm Death, and Good Things Festival 2022.
Shane Henderson | ANA | Fujifilm X-H2 + XF 8-16mm f/2.8| ISO 800 | SS 1/30 | f/4 | @8mm
What Fuji Kit do you take to a typical live concert?
I always shoot with two camera bodies. Currently, I have the X-H2 and X-T3. I rock the XF 8-16mm f/2.8 on my X-H2 90% of the time. I love to shoot wide and up close when possible. If the stage is a bit high, then I swap the 8-16mm for the XF 16-55mm f/2.8. On my X-T3, I most often shoot the XF 50mm f/1.0 and, more recently, the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2. If the venue/stage is large, then I’ll shoot with the Fuji XF90mm f/2 or XF 50-140mm f/2.8. In short, the venue/stage dictates what lenses I shoot with.
Why did you choose to shoot concerts with Fujifilm? Benefits, pros and cons.
Like many Fujifilm shooters it started with me looking for a smaller camera I could use as my everyday camera. I ended up with an X-E2 with the kit lens and XF 27mm f/2.8 pancake. I started taking it to shows and was amazed at how well it performed with the pancake lens. The EVF sold it to me, though. Seeing the exposure live is a game changer. At the time, the big two camera brands were really lagging behind. Within 6 months, I’d sold my Canon full-frame gear and went to Fujifilm by upgrading to the X-T2.
How well does a Fujifilm kit perform in a concert environment?
Hmmm, well, I’ve never really had a situation where I wished I had another camera brand. Each new camera is always an improvement on the last version. For me, Fujifilm does everything I need it to.
Shane Henderson | Cattle Decapitation | Fujifilm X-H2 + XF8-16mm f/2.8 | ISO 6400 | SS 1/320 | F2.8 | @13mm
What are your typical settings for ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed for a concert? Do you use autofocus or manual?
As I shoot mostly the heavy metal genre, lighting is often dark either to create a certain mood or because the venue lighting rig is shite. With that in mind, I always manually select ISO, shutter, and aperture. Often ISO is at 6400, and the aperture is the largest the lens can do, with f/2.8 being the min. Shutter, I like to keep it at 1/400 if possible. I will always lower the ISO if possible, but not at the expense of a slow shutter. I always shoot in low burst mode and Autofocus single square but face detection is enabled on the X-H2.
What’s the best piece of advice you could give to anyone wanting to get into concert photography?
Get out and practice shooting local bands in pubs. There will be no photo restrictions i.e., the first 3 songs only. Also, as the lighting is usually not great, so you will become a better photographer for learning to shoot in less than ideal situations. Once you have enough content to showcase I would contact the many online publications and ask to shoot for them. They will get you much better access to bigger bands. Of course, stay in touch with local bands and shoot direct. You never know who will be the next big act.
Shane Henderson | Avatar | Fujifilm X-H2 + XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R | ISO 6400 | SS 1/1000 | f/2.8 | @11mm
Who do you take photos for?
I shoot for one publication, ‘Silver Tiger Media,’ and also direct for bands and venues.
Are there any other styles of photography that you enjoy using your Fujifilm gear for?
Fujifilm shines for any type of portrait work. The skin tones are amazing from Fuji sensors, and the XF 50mm f/1.0 and XF 90mm f/2 primes are outstanding. In general, I love to shoot people in any genre.
Where can readers check out some of your best work?
A lot of my shows are posted to silvertigermedia.com.au. Instagram is the best place to see my images or contact me @crimsondawnphoto.
Encore
Fuji cameras and lenses are perfect for concert photography, including the most extreme performances involving mosh pits, circles of death, crowd surfing, and stage diving.
X Series cameras and lenses are durable, have excellent low-light performance, and deliver the level of performance concert photography demands.
It’s also important to remember that a Fuji kit is far lighter than one from a full-frame competitor.
Shooting a long concert late into the night is exhausting. You don’t want fatigue from the weight of your gear to impact the job.
As Shane has clearly demonstrated, Fujifilm can withstand the heaviest of heavy metal and deliver outstanding images in the process.
I want to thank Shane for contributing to this article, including the mind-blowing images and his thoughts on the genre. Be sure to check out his work.
Have you ever shot a concert? If so, what was your experience, and what gear did you use to capture the essence of the performance?
Featured image at top – Shane Henderson | Pantera | Fujifilm X-H2 + XF 16-55mm f/2.8 | ISO 1250 | SS 1/500 | f/2.8 | @27mm
