Shooting the Big Day Out

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10 years ago i went to my first Big Day Out. I don’t remember it too well, just random things. One memory i have is that i only knew the famous songs by the bands. So when Rage Against The Machine played i was just waiting till they played Killing in the Name Of. I also remember the song Drugs by long since disbanded Australian group Ammonia was particularly popular that year, with no one really knowing or caring for their other tunes.

It was at my first big concert like this – having to contend with the masses of shirtless, sweaty, drunken, moshing yobs in the crowd – that i peered into the photographers pit down the front enviously. I remember thinking how cool that would be, to just be able to wander in to the front of stage, and take photos of rock stars – photos just like the ones that adorned my bedroom wall and school folders.

Well kids, dreams do come true. Ten years down the track and i’ve scored myself a photographers pit pass for the Sydney Big Day Out. I’ll be right at the feet of artists like Iggy Pop, The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand and Wolfmother (again). And i’ll be representing SPIN magazine, one of the mags i used to rip photos out of and stick on my walls.

Here’s hoping i take some decent photos. Either way, it’ll be a thrill just being there.

28 Comments

  2. hey, good job!
    i remember watching ammonia play on the big stage at the adelaide big day out.
    it was a smallish crowd, and they stood stillish, nodding their heads a little, atlking to each other, then drugs started and everyone moshed. the whole audience jumping up and down in unison. there was no ‘pit’ as the crowd was too small, there was just a mass of people screaming the chorus and moving as one.
    then the song finished and some people even walked away

  3. Congrats! That’s way awesome, and Spin couldn’t have a better rep there.

  4. Like ‘they’ said, congratulations Dan. Armed with that 70 – 200mm 2.8 lense and your unique style, you’ll come away with some brilliant shots I’m sure. Good luck!

  5. I really can’t wait to see the shots you come out with too!
    70mm-200mm f2.8?? Isn’t that rather a heavy lens?
    I’ve never been to the BDO myself. Which is strange really…somehow it passes every year minus my attendance. Have fun in the pit Dan 🙂

  6. Yeah that lens is a bit of a monster, i’m hiring it for this special occasion. I used it once before to shoot Green Day and My Chemical Romance. My arm ached for a week afterwards.
    I should be getting myself into training right now.

  7. Yes that was my first, and favourite big day out as well!
    Porno for Pyros goes down as my all time favourite concert. Perry was abso-f’n-lutely amazing 🙂

  8. heh..yeah, I contemplated the same for Falls but I’m far too lazy and unathletic to train.
    I didn’t know lenses could be hired. I must look into that one day.

  9. oi, OT, but are you going to be official photo dude for grogblogging 3 [sydney]? ha, i am sure we can create an atmosphere of shirtless drunken nerds that will be almost as fun as a yobathon…
    City RSL (565 George St) from 7.30pm on Saturday January 28th or so they say….

  13. Great stuff Dan! In 2000 I was fortunate enough to be involved in the team who was doing the BDO Webcast. Pretty exciting stuff for me as my fave band Nine Inch Nails were one of the co-headliners. Got to hang out backstage and do all sorts of crazy things! heh! It was an incredible time and some of the footage… let’s just say… it NEVER aired or will air!

  15. Fantastic news Dan. I’m envious. I haven’t been to a BDO in a few years now (never in the right hemisphere for it). Enjoy the unrestricted roaming your pass affords. Looking forward to seeing the photos!

  16. Have fun with that 70-200 2.8! I snagged a killer deal on a used one last year and love it.

  17. Similar to your ammonia story, I remember seeing the Flaming Lips at Alternative Nation at eastern creek back in…1994? Most of the crowd was content to bop and sway, feet stuck in the mud, until they played that tangerine song. Everyone jumped around for that, afterwards back to non-commital swaying and nodding heads to unfamiliar tunes.

  18. Onya Dan!
    By the way did you ever hear any more from Debbie about everynight?

  19. Thanks for the kind words everyone
    Darren – nope haven’t heard anything.
    Simon – it sure is the curse of the one-hit-wonder. Flaming Lips resurrected themselves though, when i saw them at the Big Day Out in 2004 the crowd was into them for the whole set.
    Omom – i’d love to own the 70-200mm lens, but the cheapest i’ve seen it is around $2600, way over my budget.
    JR – you’re a tease, i wanne see the footage! 🙂
    Glen – don’t think i’ll be able to make it this time.
    Zosia – yep, i’m sure there’d be lens hire places in Melbourne. I’m hiring mine from a place called Baltronics.

  20. Congrats! Really look forward to your shots. I’m sure they’ll be beautiful as per usual. Oh! Take ones of Jack and Meg for me! 🙂

  21. green green green with envy
    sun
    booze
    pics
    rock
    pass
    little more enjoyable then soggy london
    get to the subways. they will kill it.

  22. As ever, I’m enormously proud. You deserve it.
    On camera matters, I sure as hell ain’t snapping rocksters with my new purchase…..
    A Pentax K1000! A fully manual SLR, last produced in ’75, with a lever to wind on film!
    Wanky student art shots here I come….

  25. Congratulations! There’s no going back. From now on anything less than AAA (or free) will be really disappointing. 😉

  27. That is an awesome opportunity! I know they’ll love the stuff you come back with – after all, we’ve seen you’re work; we know how good you are. Beyond getting the great shots, I hope just the whole experience is great. You’ve waited a long time to be there.

  28. Hey,
    Some friends and i had some photos taken at the big day out in the boiler room by someone from this website. I was just wondering how we would go about looking at them. Thanks.
    Renee

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