First Show

[Punisher77]

I just picked up some new lenses (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=187751) and wanted to test out my 50 f1.4 and 100 f2.8 primes in some low light conditions so I decided to shoot my friend's band last night. This is from the Super Robertson Supper Show (http://srsuppershow.blogspot.com/) at the Railway Club in Vancouver every Wednesday Night at 7:30pm.

Link to all images (http://lolley.ardist.com/photo/default.asp?ShowSub=People/Peter/Supper%20Show/).

What do you think?

[Steve Parr]

Pretty good for a first outing.

I would, though, suggest posting one or two shots in the body of your post. Some folks won't take the time to look without some sort of preview. Some of these folks are the very people you want looking at your concert shots...

[Punisher77]

I would, though, suggest posting one or two shots in the body of your post. Some folks won't take the time to look without some sort of preview. Some of these folks are the very people you want looking at your concert shots...
I updated the post with a few samples. Thanks for the tip.

[René Damkot]

Nice. The light is a bit boring, but that's not your fault.
First one could be lighter in the face, and it's a bit unclear to me what the guy is doing. Did he cut his thumb? ;)

[Punisher77]

Nice. The light is a bit boring, but that's not your fault.
Yeah, it was in a really small venue and all I could do was get the technician to give me a bit more light. In smaller venues do you actually change the position of the lights to benefit the shots? What do you consider 'good' lighting? I've attached a few better lighting samples. They're all from the site in the first post.
First one could be lighter in the face, and it's a bit unclear to me what the guy is doing. Did he cut his thumb? ;)
He's 'brooding'. ;)

[DwightMcCann]

Let me suggest that you put more useful information in your titles, like band name, venue name, date, etc. It is a great help when searching for specifics later, like all the Coldplay images here or everything at the Bijou. And if you build/have a website you are allowed to embed more images than the two maximum you are allowed to attach, with larger sizes.

[Punisher77]

Let me suggest that you put more useful information in your titles, like band name, venue name, date, etc. It is a great help when searching for specifics later, like all the Coldplay images here or everything at the Bijou. And if you build/have a website you are allowed to embed more images than the two maximum you are allowed to attach, with larger sizes.
Yeah, I didn't bother putting any band or venue information because I'm positive nobody would know either. ;)

I couldn't figure out how to embed the images properly but I'll figure that out for next time.

[Photodawg1]

Yeah, I didn't bother putting any band or venue information because I'm positive nobody would know either. ;)

I couldn't figure out how to embed the images properly but I'll figure that out for next time.

It means zilch to me to look at pics of a band and not know something about them. You owe it to us, the poor uninformed and certainly the band who worked so hard for your photographic pleasure...they could probably use and appreciate your props....

[DwightMcCann]

Yeah, I didn't bother putting any band or venue information because I'm positive nobody would know either. ;)

I couldn't figure out how to embed the images properly but I'll figure that out for next time.

That's why you put in the name and venue ... so we will come to know them ... that's significant part of what we are all about, supporting the talent and making them known. This is essential ... unless you thought they were terrible!

As for embedding images, you use the little square icon under the "undo" arrow that has two mountains and a dot (moon, sun?) and paste the URL of the image itself (not the html page) in. If you try and have trouble then ask someone to help ... do NOT let this be too hard as it is a skill you will need on almost any forum or online posting host. We are happy to help. :cool:

[Punisher77]

It means zilch to me to look at pics of a band and not know something about them. You owe it to us, the poor uninformed and certainly the band who worked so hard for your photographic pleasure...they could probably use and appreciate your props....
I've updated the title and body. :)

[René Damkot]

Yeah, it was in a really small venue and all I could do was get the technician to give me a bit more light. In smaller venues do you actually change the position of the lights to benefit the shots? What do you consider 'good' lighting?

More light makes work a little easier, not neccesary better. There is a difference between quality and quantity of light. A lot of people (light techs) get these two things mixed up ;)
First; I usually change *my* position. I have no influence over how the lights are hung (or rather: I don't want that influence ;)). By changing my position, I can mostly get the light to be not too flat. (For instance if the light is coming from the left side of the stage, I'll be on the right, so the subject is side lit instead of frontally. Like the 'Sim Special' shot on page 2 of your link; this is much better then it would have been when taken from the left)
What I consider 'good' lighting? Hhmmm, mostly it would be a little backlight. Not too contrasty (so a bit of fill is nice), but not too flat either. Seperates the persons from the BG & with a little smoke is adds some 'drama'. Also an evenly lit stage is nice for 'overview' pictures: Not a 5 stop difference between singer and drummer or so.
Secondly, I mostly do not like green front lighting, or red used exclusively. Makes for horrid skin color and clipped red channels respectively.
I like this for instance:
http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/060415Osdorp/source/image/rhd20060415osdorp0558.jpg

[Punisher77]

First; I usually change *my* position. I have no influence over how the lights are hung (or rather: I don't want that influence ;)).
I was doing this but the venue was quite small so it didn't affect things too much. I did notice a big difference in left/right with regards to the lights. In the future I think I would have gotten the tech to reduce the number of lights and increase their intensity so that you can get some more contrasty shots.

Secondly, I mostly do not like green front lighting, or red used exclusively. Makes for horrid skin color and clipped red channels respectively.
Hmmm, good point. Do you alter the chanels to correct this if there are only red/green lights turned on or do you leave it alone? I liked the red light shots artistically but maybe that's because I just started out. :D

PS: That's a great shot!

[DwightMcCann]

Rene, is this guy scratching his nose or just pretending to have a moustache? :-)

[narlus]

Rene, is this guy scratching his nose or just pretending to have a moustache? :-)

he's miming to his song 'smell my finger'

:lol:

[René Damkot]

Hmmm, good point. Do you alter the chanels to correct this if there are only red/green lights turned on or do you leave it alone? I liked the red light shots artistically but maybe that's because I just started out. :D
I shoot raw nowadays, so adjust WB in DPP. Apart from that I use the channelmixer in photoshop, or this action (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/restore-clipped.shtml).
If the light really sucks, I put away my camera ;)
Example (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1503167&postcount=8) of the correction on a jpg. (Don't know for sure, but I think I used the action and channel mixer together.)
Dwight: I think it's just a 'cool' way to hold the microphone. I agree it looks kinda silly though ;)

[DwightMcCann]

Dwight: I think it's just a 'cool' way to hold the microphone. I agree it looks kinda silly though ;)

Ah, yes, my 4-1/2 year old daughter has taken to chomping off 1/4 of a Cheerio and then attaching the rest of it to her lip and saying, "Look! I have a lip piercing!" because she thinks it is cool! [Note: she goes to daycare on the university campus and they have student interns some of whom have piercings and ink.] I guess these guys are still pretty young, too. :rolleyes:

[René Damkot]

Well, be glad she fancies a lip piercing ;)
Then again, I do have a few piercings myself, and I'm 35, so I guess it's more a 'mental age' thing :lol:

[DwightMcCann]

Well, be glad she fancies a lip piercing ;)


Hey, she's only 4-1/2 ... can you imagine what she'll want to be into when she's 15 ... Oh, Lord, Saints preserve me! :lol::lol::lol: