Family Tree @ The Norva

[foto202]

Here are a few photos from a concert last night. They were taken with a 50 1.4 or 85 1.8. Any C&C would help. This was my first time doing this type of photography.


http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484524.jpg


http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484531.jpg


http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484533.jpg

http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484540.jpg

[Steve Parr]

Your first time? Man, I hate guys like you.

Hey Dwight! The guy says it's his first time!! Somethin', huh??

For a first effort, these are pretty damn impressive.

Watch out for microphone stands getting in the way. Sometimes they're impossible to avoid but, judging by the various angles you seem to have, it looks like you were able to move around a bit.

They're a tad soft, but nothing too objectionable. The lighting is excellent. Did you use a flash for the last one? I usually abhor flash in situations like this, but it looks like it worked in the last one.

Seriously, nice job for a first timer. Real nice job.

The first time I tried this, the shots turned out so bad I should've been arrested...

Steve

[Olli]

Good work! I like the last one: hairy guitar and player; red, evil spots on the eyes ...

-olli

[foto202]

Thanks for looking.
I did not want to use the flash, but the lights kept flashing redish/pink and it looked like a cool shot so I threw on the 580ex for a few minutes. I definitley like these type of shots w/o flash.
Thanks for the comments.

Oh, and thankfully I read the sticky about this type of shooting before I went out last night.

[Steve Parr]

We seem to have a growing community of photographers who shoot this kind of thing. Hope to see more from you...

Steve

[foto202]

Here's a few more. Also, here is one without the flash on that last shot.

http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484546.jpg

http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484534.jpg

http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/28/28280/13484535.jpg

[Steve Parr]

In the third shot (of the second group you posted), you left a lot of open space above the guitarists' head. Bring that down a bit...

Steve

[foto202]

Thanks for the tip Steve.
-Ed

[DwightMcCann]

Steve, yes, another one who is going to damage my ego, sigh. Hey, foto, you could crop off some of the space above on a few ... even if the lighting is a pretty color it detracts from the performers. And maybe you could sharpen them a tad. Unfortunately, these are really very good and you have good glass right off the mark, which is unusual, so we gotta' look hard for nits. I really, really like both of the furry guitar shots. It's a good thing you aren't too close or you'd have at least two new assistants! :-)

[justchris]

Where were you positioned in the venue?

[foto202]

Dwight- Thank you for the kind words. I read alot of your posts before I went out that night. To have such good remarks from you and Steve is inspiring.

I need to get CS2 to help with PP. These are all straight out of the camera.

Thanks for advice.

[foto202]

Where were you positioned in the venue?

I was right in front of the stage. There was a 2 ft space between the stage and the barrier in front of the crowd, but I stayed on the crowd side of the barrier and just walked around. I like the freedom. I had an all access pass to this show, so I could have went in that space or even on stage but I wanted to use my fast lenses and stay in front of them.

Next purchase is going to be a 24-70 2.8L .:grin:

[Olli]

These are all straight out of the camera. Even more impressive! I just can't wait to see your pics postprosessed.

[foto202]

Even more impressive! I just can't wait to see your pics postprosessed.

Thanks Olli.

[DwightMcCann]

Foto, you can a LOT with Ulead's PhotoImpact ... that's what I use ... for under $100.

[Steve Parr]

Foto, you can a LOT with Ulead's PhotoImpact ... that's what I use ... for under $100.

Dwight, I was always under the impression that you used Photoshop. What's this "Phot Impact" you're talking about?

Steve

[DwightMcCann]

Steve, I have PS CS (a real, registered copy that I paid for) ... actually I have Studio. I have also read several tomes on using it. And when I finally find that I need it I will use it. BUT, I have used Ulead's PhotoImpact since version 3 (it is now at 11.) I do all my stuff with it including my collages and am very familiar with most of its very easy to use features. It does 90% of what PS does and some things PS doesn't. I believe it is more popular in Europe. Ulead's claim to fame is actually their DVD/movie authoring software. Anyway, PhotoImpact runs about $89 I think, with upgrades available every six to 18 months for about $49. I didn't buy the last upgrade (to version 11) as there was nothing I wanted.

So, I have invested about seven years in PI and see no reason to change until it is necessary ... which may occur. I think if you are a professional then you should be able to use the professional tool, PS, but you don' have to. The advantages of PS are really the huge community of people and products that are there to support it and help you learn to use it. PI doesn't have that. But it is cheap and easy to use. It can also load and save the PS formats and run some of the PS plug-ins.

Interestingly, I have learned more about using PI from reading the PS books than I ever learned from the PI manual ... and I have several more features to try out that I didn't realize existed until I found out about them in the PS books, like masking.

So, I guess you could say that I have PS for the same reason I have Adobe Illustrator ... when dealing with other professionals I need the interoperability ... I have no clue how to use AI but I often have to open AI or EPS files and use vector graphics they support. This is the case for my winery client when new wine bottle labels are created and also some logos. But when I finally get the graphic as a GIF or PNG, I then use it in PI. :-)

I am happy to answer any questions about PhotoImpact. If there is any serious interest I will start a thread in Post Processing. I am in no way connected with them other than as a generally happy user.

[justchris]

I was right in front of the stage. There was a 2 ft space between the stage and the barrier in front of the crowd, but I stayed on the crowd side of the barrier and just walked around. I like the freedom. I had an all access pass to this show, so I could have went in that space or even on stage but I wanted to use my fast lenses and stay in front of them.

Next purchase is going to be a 24-70 2.8L .:grin:

Very good. Might I ask about the basic settings you used with the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8, as far as ISO, aperture and shutter speed? I'm about to get into this sort of thing myself and was curious.

[foto202]

Very good. Might I ask about the basic settings you used with the 50 1.4 and 85 1.8, as far as ISO, aperture and shutter speed? I'm about to get into this sort of thing myself and was curious.


I stayed at ISO 800 and 1600. Mostly 1600. I also shot in Av mode. I also didn't shoot wide open. I'll look up the info later and post that.