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View Full Version : Perth Symphony Orchestra in concert (8 photos)

Mike Bell
1st of March 2006 (Wed), 15:27
My wife plays in this mainly amateur orchestra in Scotland and she runs their web site http://www.perthsymphonyorchestra.org.uk

I take most of the photos for the site and have had a few published locally. It's not my main photographic interest - I mainly shoot macro and landscapes as you can see from my lenses. I am strictly an amateur.

But I wanted to improve the quality of my shots as I have recently upgraded to my new Canon DSLR and lenses. A lot of you helped me prepare for this concert with advice in response to my earlier thread here: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=139472 Thank you all.

Here (for better or worse) are some of the results:

1. EF-S 60mm. 1/100sec at f3.5, ISO 400
http://static.flickr.com/56/105797839_7af70bc759_o.jpg

2. EF-S 60mm, 1/100 at f3.5, ISO 800
http://static.flickr.com/47/105798177_b04bfb8e88_o.jpg

3. EF-S 60mm, 1/100 at f3.5, ISO 800
http://static.flickr.com/19/105798181_4f7512ba50_o.jpg

4. EF-S 10-22 at 22mm, 1/100sec at f8, ISO 1600 (mistake - should have lowered it and opened lens!) Deliberately underexposed. Exp comp - 1.66
http://static.flickr.com/48/105797843_c0431ddc22_o.jpg


5. Sigma 150mm on monopod, 1/200sec at f 3.2, ISO 400. Exp comp -1
http://static.flickr.com/35/105797841_e86cc173ec_o.jpg

6. Sigma 150mm on monopod, 1/200sec at f 3.2, ISO 400. Exp comp -1
http://static.flickr.com/51/105797842_a27e35626a_o.jpg

7. Sigma 150mm on monopod, 1/320sec at f 3.5, ISO 1600. Exp comp -0.66
http://static.flickr.com/36/105797837_76c42ce59c_o.jpg

8. Sigma 150mm on monopod, 1/200sec at f 2.8, ISO 800. Exp comp -0.33
http://static.flickr.com/44/105797835_fd3047c226_o.jpg

All shots PPed in Photoshop Elements and/or Paint Shop Pro (colour improved, unsharp mask, noise reduction, a bit of Levels)

C&C welcome:)
Nidz
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 07:57
Nice photos mate.
shortie
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 07:59
wonderful shots
René Damkot
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 09:22
Some nice shots. I like the 'panorama's and #4! #5 and 6 are a bit too much 'in between' for me: To much or too little in the frame. Pity you didn't recompose #6.
All in all a big improvement over your recent post!
Curtis N
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 10:33
Great job in a tough environment. The last shot shows how brutally uneven the lighting was. I think you did a good job finding the right compromise between shutter, aperture and ISO.

Only one question - Was the cellist's face really that red?
Mike Bell
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 13:50
Thank you all for your comments.

I had only two viewpoints as you cannot move around during a classical concert. 2, 3, 7 and 8 were taken during the first half from the stalls about 20 yards back. 1, 4, 5 and 6 were taken from the balcony.

Rene - not sure how I could 'recompose' 6 but I could try a different crop. It's difficult fitting a triangle of players into a rectangular frame!

Curtis - yes, it was that red! David is naturally highly coloured and was very intense especially when playing. I worked hard to expose accurately for all the players' faces despite the very harsh vertical lighting. I then spent a lot of time in PP getting the skin tones accurate.
Harold_L
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 15:52
I like these candid shots - especially the sectional shots. The shot of the cellos and basses grabs me, with the great color of their instruments against the black clothes.
rlhphotos
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 15:55
The first couple seem a tad over exposed..might able to adjust them with a simple levels adjustment...mask off the back as it seems to be good exposure but then adjust the center of the first image..that or its just me being too picky...
Mike Bell
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 16:04
....mask off the back as it seems to be good exposure but then adjust the center of the first image...

I agree but don't have the skills to do that. Could you talk me through it? (I have PS Elements and Paint Shop Pro). :)
rlhphotos
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 17:09
IM a horrible teacher but heres a little tutorial on quick masking

http://www.grafx-design.com/12photo.html

once you have everything masked off you can then just adjust the levels for that area(or curves) so you end up with something like this:
(very quick sample, mainly done to eliminate the bright floor)
http://www.megapixelphotos.com/images1/perth.jpg
Mike Bell
2nd of March 2006 (Thu), 17:33
IM a horrible teacher but heres a little tutorial on quick masking

http://www.grafx-design.com/12photo.html

once you have everything masked off you can then just adjust the levels for that area(or curves) so you end up with something like this:
(very quick sample, mainly done to eliminate the bright floor)


Thank you very much, rlhphotos - that is a big improvement!:)

You have inspired me to learn how to do masks. Thanks for the link - I'll work my way through that tutorial tomorrow. :)
rlhphotos
3rd of March 2006 (Fri), 15:49
^^ For something like this I ended up using the laso tool also which is nice quick way to do some selections.