Possible to shoot concert w/o a tripod? If so, how???

[3p0rtlnd12]

Landed free tickets to see Sum 41 here in Sydney, wondering if its possible for me to take good pictures w/o using a tripod! TIA

Amber

[robertwgross]

A few questions:
(1) Indoors or outdoors?
(2) If outdoors, day or night?
(3) What kind of camera are you using?
(4) How close will you be to the performers?

---Bob Gross---

[CoolToolGuy]

Is a monopod out of the question? If so, have you ever heard of a chainpod? take a length of very light chain (6 feet or so) and attach it to an eye bolt with a 1/4 - 20 thread (available at most hardware stores). Screw the eye bolt into the tripod socket. Drop the chain to the floor, step on the end, and pull up until it is taut. Rope or string could substitute for the chain.

The chainpod is not as steady as a tripod, but you might have an easier time getting it into the venue.

Have Fun,

[robertwgross]

Is a monopod out of the question?


The doorman has to let you take a monopod inside. It's your walking stick!

---Bob Gross---

[CoolToolGuy]

Is a monopod out of the question?


The doorman has to let you take a monopod inside. It's your walking stick!

---Bob Gross---

Good one! Paint it white and wear sunglasses and they can't refuse!

Have Fun,

[RockSlut]

Hi Amber,

Yes you can get great shots without a tripod/monopod. As Bob mentioned, there are several factors that will affect your chances.

You'll want to be as close to the stage as possible or have a very long lens. No-one will disagree that the 50mm f1.8 prime (aka the "nifty 50") is a great lens if you can get in close - if you're shooting with an EOS camera.

Also be mindful of the fact that you can bump your ISO to maintain a decent shutterspeed. I find that if you shoot Shutter priority (Tv) with a shutter speed on around 1/50 you should be able to make use of the stage lighting and get good effect.

One thing you should check before hand that photography is ok. Especially if you're going along with an EOS digital. It's amazing how many venues are ok with you taking photos just as long as you don't look professional. Unfortunately in most cases SLRs (digital or film-based) get picked as being "professional".

Monopods and tripods are often ok in smaller venues or when you know the band. I think you'll find a chain pod (which sounds like an awesome idea) will not get through. Venues are very fussy these days (when I went to see Marylin Manson earlier this year they didn't allow studded collars - you should have seen the bin-fulls of collars and wrist bands they seized on the door! When I saw Muse last month in Brisbane they pulled me up on my 50cm wallet chain, but I digress.)

In short, yes it can be done and to great effect. I manage to get some decent shots with my Canon G3, so with an EOS digital you'll no doubt have some luck. Be sure to take lots of CF card space and a spare battery or two.

Feel free to check out my website below, most recently I shot the Living End, Dallas Crane and Van Lustbader.

PS - be careful, Rock'n'Roll photography is addictive. If you're not careful you'll never be able to see a concert without a camera, because it will feel just wrong!

Rock on!

[Jesper]

Ofcourse, if there's not much light, you'll need to make sure that you can use fast enough shutter speeds so that you don't get too much motion blur.

- Use fast lenses (i.e. with a large aperture - small f-stop number)
- Turn up the ISO to 800 or 1600
- Use lenses with IS (Image Stabilizer); however, this only helps to counteract the shaking of your hands, not the movement of the subject

Here is a tutorial: Concert, Stage, and Low-Light Photography (http://www.photo.net/learn/concerts/mirarchi/concer_i) - it talks about film etc., but a large part is also applicable to digital cameras.