A Tale of Three Concerts
Nikki Cardiello hits a trio of hard-rocking shows with her Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 VC G2, 28-200mm, and 20-40mm F2.8 lenses.
Author: Jenn Gidman
Images: Nikki Cardiello
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Nikki Cardiello hits a trio of hard-rocking shows with her Tamron 24-70mm F2.8 VC G2, 28-200mm, and 20-40mm F2.8 lenses.
Nikki Cardiello has been covering the concert scene with her camera since she was a teenager, taking her first photos at a German glam-rock band concert in New York City when she was just 15. Since then, the Long Island native has honed her craft with an increasingly cutting-edge arsenal of gear, including a range of Tamron lenses that help her capture every lighter-waving ballad, hard-rocking anthem, and instance of emotional crowd reaction.
Whether she’s shooting in a major stadium, outdoor music fest, or more intimate venue, Nikki comes prepared with her Tamron 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD G2 standard zoom, 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD all-in-one zoom, and her latest acquisition, the 20-40mm F/2.8 Di III VXD ultra-wide-angle zoom, all of which she used at three recent concerts with her Sony mirrorless camera system. “The 24-70mm F2.8 VC G2 is any concert photographer’s go-to lens,” she says. “My 28-200mm gives me the extra reach I need for more flexibility, and I’ve been unbelievably excited to work with the 20-40mm F2.8 wide-angle lens—especially when I’m in a tight space like the photo pit and want to capture fan-artist interactions.”
Here’s Nikki’s take on those three shows.
Concert No. 1
The first two photos are very special to me. I was hired to photograph one of my favorite rock bands, Greta Van Fleet. They put on an incredible performance, as you can see in the first photo with guitarist Jake Kiszka and the pyrotechnics. As I was able to shoot the entire show from the pit, I procured all different types of shots—wide-angle, close-ups, you name it.
When photographing concerts, the ISO of a camera is usually pretty high, depending on the kind of artist you’re shooting. If I’m taking pictures of a high-energy artist like Greta Van Fleet, I’ll usually throw up my ISO and push it between 2000 and 4000. Doing this, plus having a steady aperture of F2.8, gives me the opportunity to capture the lighting and movement but still create a sharp image with a high f-stop.
One of my favorite things that Greta Van Fleet does is constantly interact with their fans, so the 20-40mm F2.8 was on my camera for most of the show. I think we often forget that fans are really what makes concerts so special, and I definitely wanted to capture that energy as seen in the second black-and-white photo.
Concert No. 2
The next four photos are of the Australian singer-songwriter Ruel. I was hired by his record label to capture a one-night-only show in New York City. Since he was playing the Gramercy, I was very confident having the 20-40mm lens on my camera most of the night. The photo pit is rather small, so I knew connections between the artist and the fans were going to be promising. The wide-angle lens captured the energy of the crowd so well, but it was also helpful being able to zoom into 40mm for a more intimate portrait-type of shot without having to change my lenses.
The black-and-white shot of the fans at the barricade is one of my favorite shots I’ve ever taken of him. I didn’t have to do anything extra—no filters or involved editing. I just observed fans losing themselves in the feeling of their favorite song. Color didn’t do this photo justice, as it was such an intimate, simple moment.
Concert No. 3
For the final four photos, I had the opportunity to photograph American duo The Driver Era. They’re also a super-high-energy band that always makes the effort to include their fans during every part of the show.
Since they were playing on the stage in Central Park, I packed my 28-200mm, knowing I’d be using this particular lens for more than half the set. When you’re photographing multiple musicians utilizing a bigger space, you want to be able to capture them as fast as possible, as they can be very unpredictable. That means being able to zoom in as quickly as you can without having to change lenses, but still being able to grab wide-angle shots if needed.
NIKKI’S QUICK CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Research beforehand.
In the photo pit at a concert, you’ll typically have just three songs or so to capture your pictures. That can sometimes feel like only five seconds. By prepping beforehand, you’ll be better positioned to get the photos you want in that short time frame.
Check out the performers’ set list and listen to those first three songs to see if they’re high-energy or low-energy tunes. That will give you an idea on how you want to shoot them, and maybe even inspire different angles or tricks to capture a particular shot you want.
Avoid burnout.
You never want to experience that early on in your photographic career. Take a break when you need to, but then, if you feel a sudden creative spark again, jump on it. That spark could emerge from watching a TikTok or just hearing a song that elevates your energy.
Never compare yourself to other photographers.
It’s tempting if you’re just starting out with concert photography, and inspiration can be hard to come by at first. But look to other photographers more for inspiration than for competition. You want to develop and nurture your own style, and be open to it evolving over time.
To see more of Nikki Marie Cardiello’s work, check out her website or Instagram.