Quick n dirty strobist goes to youth jam

[Carzee]

Gear - 30D and 3 Noink SB-28s. PWs, umbrellas. ISO 400. 14mm Siggy and 35L. I just threw the light out there and adjusted exp on the fly. The results made me happy enough. Ran it fine, almost late because of the traffic: set up in under 10 mins.

3 guitarists, 1 drummer using what looked like well used instruments. Sounded very rocky and loud in our small church. :) Kids had a lot of fun and loved it of course.

I took the pix for me (to learn/practice) and for the band (to encourage them). There was no lighting and my strobes added some stage effect.

Pros will probably look and get nostalgic. Remember when you were a newb with little idea of the finer points that really matter.... and you just winged it? :)

http://www.mygraphix.com/index/u/9/214/2223.jpg

http://www.mygraphix.com/index/u/9/214/2222.jpg

[Carzee]

http://www.mygraphix.com/index/u/9/214/2225.jpg

http://www.mygraphix.com/index/u/9/214/2224.jpg

[Carzee]

In the second shot you can see the extent of light thrown from the SB-28 on the "stage" floor. I forgot a hotshoe connector somehow and made do with a pot plant:

http://www.mygraphix.com/index/u/9/214/2226.jpg

EDIT
In the last shot its working to good effect.
Also in the last shot you can see the camera right stand/umbrella/SB and the camera left set as well. The camera left unit failed after a few minutes and I do know why -too much of a hurry in set up.

GALLERY:
http://www.camerajuice.com/ccc
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[taygull]

As a concert shooter I hate flash, as an "artsit" I like what you have done here.

You've taken what would have been pretty boring shots and made them interesting. The ones with the light stands visible don't work for me but nice job if the "artsy" different look is what you were going for. The B/W really helps.

Good job.

[narlus]

these are excellent. well done.

[DwightMcCann]

Fabulous, Carzee ... thanks for sharing with us.

[Carzee]

taygull, if there was stage lighting, flash is out I agree of course. But they don't got no money for lighting...

narlus and dwight thx for looking.

I found the 22mm (14mm x1.6crop) and 56mm (35mm x1.6 crop) just about right for the shoot. I used a stick and remote release. I went to session on concert shooting this week and learnt about press photos and concert photos. Unless a mag editor says here's an assignment... seems to be little money in concert shoots unless its top draw.
They said "Press photos" can be okay. If you do good and the group "click" with you, they may repeatedly come back wearing the new clothes, the new "Do" and wanting the new "pix" for the web etc. Sounds fine in theory.

[gmen]

Excellent.... I've really enjoyed these... strobe-tastic indeed... and love the B&W too...

---- Gavin

[Carzee]

Thx Gavin. The lenses worked well. Although the 14mm Sigma was prone to flare, it was the appropriate glass for the job. I think flare in concert shooting is fairly normal anyway.

[blackshadow]

Some very nice shots - good job.

I think taygull's comments pretty much sum up my way of thinking but I understand that you had to use flash in this situation and you did it creatively with good results.

[Carzee]

Once I knew there were no stage lights etc -all the band has is their energy and their instruments- the stands and strobes would be the only way to go. I recently shot a large band in a carpark at night with only street light, and thats when I tried the power of low throws from a flash etc.
pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37959469@N00/250254928