After advice & opinions

[Standard Browser]

Hi
I think this may be my first post in performing arts.
I have been taking photos of my mates band (The Interiors) at local gigs for the past couple of years and sometimes toy with the idea of branching out and doing some other local bands in small venues. Perhaps getting in touch with a venue or promoter and was just wondering what you guys thought of my 'portfolio'. What tips and tricks can you share as don’t I usually photo people

The first are taken at last summers Leeds festival

#1
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_9719.jpg
#2
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_9731.jpg
#3
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_9743.jpg

The rest are from a small dark local venue full of lighting and white balance challenges. This was also the first outing for my 50mm 1.4
#4
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_0659.jpg
#5
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_0677.jpg
#6
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_0707.jpg
#7
http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l284/stave_2006/Music/IMG_0727.jpg

[bacchanal]

Well it looks like you've got the exposure thing down pretty well. Not sure how long you've had your 50 1.4, but I try to avoid 1.4 if possible. Since your 50 shots were at ISO400 you had some room to up the iso and stop the lens down a bit if you wanted to. That may have gotten your images a little sharper. People will also say not to cut the guitar heads off and try not to cover up the performers face with the mic.
The third one is really nice in that the subject fills the frame and there aren't any distractions...not the easiest thing to do in gig photography.
You can post as many pics as you want of the chick with the sunburst strat, because those are two of my favorite things. :)
...take all this with a grain of salt of course, I'm probably more of a newb than you are.

[johnstoy]

Mr. Browser,
Some of these are real good pics and deserve to be addressed more specifically...Might I recommend you go back to your post's edit button and edit in, sequential numbers for each picture. This way we will be specific in addressing a constructive opinion...By the way, your title is vague and I was going to avoid it. Will try to get back here later.

[Standard Browser]

Well it looks like you've got the exposure thing down pretty well.
Not really I just take alot of shots. I use central prioity metering (wish I had spot) but its still a bit hit and miss, in my hands at least
I agree with your comments about using f1.4. I just got carried away with being able to shoot at ISO400 so I did. Ended up with alot of photos of in focus microphones, oof singers :rolleyes:
Dont crop guitars - check
Avoid distractions in pics - check
Any photo of a pretty girl with a nice guitar is good - I'll try ;)

bacchanal
I've numbered the pics as you suggested and agree with the title being vague. Should have been something like 'Newbie seeks advice'

[René Damkot]

Some nice images, good expressions, particulair on #2 and 7.
#6 is OoF.
All images could use a better crop. Some need to be tighter, some would have been better if there were a bit more in the frame (cropped hands or instruments)

[Standard Browser]

Is cropping the guitars really such a sin? or is it just the head of the guitar? I always thought a good musician photo showed the performers expression so needs a relatively tight crop but if i have to include the whole guitar as well this makes it a bit difficult. Or do you take two different types of photo? Just the performers face and then wider shots with the emphasis more on the performance / movement/ energy
As well as making sure the microphone is out of the way, check exposures & white balance, enjoy the show and flirt with any pretty girls.
Thats alot to remember

[bacchanal]

Is cropping the guitars really such a sin? or is it just the head of the guitar? I always thought a good musician photo showed the performers expression so needs a relatively tight crop but if i have to include the whole guitar as well this makes it a bit difficult. Or do you take two different types of photo? Just the performers face and then wider shots with the emphasis more on the performance / movement/ energy
As well as making sure the microphone is out of the way, check exposures & white balance, enjoy the show and flirt with any pretty girls.
Thats alot to remember

It's not like 'have' to do anything, but yeah in general it is good to either try to go tight and get the face or go wide enough to at least include the instrument/hands. It's just like any other photo...think about your subject and how the eye will scan the photo. You don't want to lead the eye out of the photo, and that is what is happening when you cut off extremities and stuff.

[DwightMcCann]

Standard, "rules of thumb" are there to help guide us all and quite often they have to be violated and we all recognize that ... I often have "bad" crops when shooting performers with my 300mm f/2.8 or 400mm f/2.8 because I just can't move back fast enough. Have you read the FAQ? Anyway, these are pretty nice.

[René Damkot]

enjoy the show and flirt with any pretty girls.
I don't need to be remembered of that ;)

On the cropping of guitars: I don't mind, if it adds to the image. In some cases here however, I would hve liked a bit more guitar. (#4 (mostly because his arm is also gone), 6 and 7)

[johnstoy]

I see you got # three at 300mm...it is a great shot , especially
at 1/250 and f/5.6...which lens did you use for it?

[livewire-photography.com]

I really like the Majority of these shots,2 3 and7 are awsome, Very nice set, agree with john 3 is a lovely shot.

[Standard Browser]

Have you read the FAQ?
I have now :oops:

Thanks everyone for your kind comments and advice. Next time I am shooting a gig I will try and put it into practice. It may be as soon as this Saturday with a couple of unsigned bands in one of the smallest, darkest, dingiest venues ever.

I see you got # three at 300mm...it is a great shot , especially
at 1/250 and f/5.6...which lens did you use for it?
Hmm alot of people seem to like that one.
It was taken with the Canon 100 -300 4.5-5.6, not a lens I usually take to photograph the band as the venues tend to be quite small and my 17-85 EFS IS has more than enough reach. Because I've seen the band often, I knew when Sharleen would be singing so could get into position in advance