Photography equipment
If you’re interested in trying your hand at festival photography, you’ll need to pack more than your camera. Some extra equipment you will need includes:- Spare camera batteries. You’re unlikely to have an opportunity to charge your camera on site. Bring plenty of spare batteries if you want to take photos all weekend long.
- Spare memory cards. They’re small, lightweight and will save you the frustration of missing great shots because you’re out of memory space.
- A comfortable camera strap will make your experience much more comfortable, and will minimise the risk of dropping your camera in crowded areas.
- Waterproof camera bag and cover. Even if the weather forecast is good, err on the side of caution.
- Hand wash and a bottle of water. Sun cream, mud and sticky drinks are all substances you don’t want on your camera. So be sure you can wash your hands before you reach into the camera bag.
- Lens wipes and micro fibre cloths. As with your hands, there’s always a risk of flying mud, rain or dust. Ensure you can give your camera a quick clean if necessary.
- A tripod or monopod will help you capture those atmospheric night time shots in difficult lighting, although they can be cumbersome to carry around and set up.
- Zoom lens. A 24-70mm f/2.8 is widely considered to be the best “walk around” lens. Versatile and great for both close portraiture and distance zoom, it’ll help you get more out of your festival photography.
- Telephoto zoom lens for zooming in even closer and capturing the performers on stage. A 70-200mm f2/8 should be especially helpful if you can’t physically get so close.
- Ultra wide-angle lens. These are fantastic for capturing the scope and scale of the festival. Perfect for huge crowd shots, and capturing the whole stage.