band photography advice

[ictionalfuture]

Hi

I was asked to take some pictures of some local bands in Sheffield. After spending time reading posts in this forum, which were really helpful. I went along to a few gigs

I enjoyed it so much, but i need some advice and some practical comments & critisism to improve my technique and composition.
Im currently using a canon 70-300mm and a sigma 10-20mm. (Although not much) I dont have a great selection of lens to work with yet .

http://www.fictionalfuture.com/livemusic.htm


Thanks

Jamie

[Burrelly]

You are better posting a few images on the forum using the img tags as many will not click on link to external sites.

Have a read here and give you some decent posting guidelines :)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=226809

[danielhoney2]

Sounds like you got some pretty slow glass. Some of the pics are blurry as well.

I would recommend the usual: Buy a EF 50mm f1.8 and use that. The only other fast glass at a reasonable price is the 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, or the 100mm f2. If you got cash and shoot from further away maybe the EF 135mm f2L would be ok too.

Also use your iso 1600, or 3200 setting or under expose and then boost (I think "push" is the correct term) the exposures back up (this will require shooting in raw).

Daniel

[Burrelly]

Sounds like you got some pretty slow glass. Some of the pics are blurry as well.

I would recommend the usual: Buy a EF 50mm f1.8 and use that. The only other fast glass at a reasonable price is the 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.8, or the 100mm f2. If you got cash and shoot from further away maybe the EF 135mm f2L would be ok too.

Also use your iso 1600, or 3200 setting or under expose and then boost (I think "push" is the correct term) the exposures back up (this will require shooting in raw).

Daniel

I would not advise shooting under exposed and pushing the exposure this just highlights the grain. Much better shooting iso 1600 and getting the exposure as close as possible the first time.

Saves alot of time in post processing. I am shooting most days and would not have the time to edit all the set and images I take like this so get it right on the camera and it saves you alot of time!

[ictionalfuture]

I almost gave up on people replying :)

I have been looking into a 50mm 1.8mm it seems like a good lens to add to my collection. I reallly want to get crisper images .Thanks for the advice.

Ive not heard of "pushing exposure, using raw" sounds like it might be worth looking into though.

I realise that posting a link , rather than pictures is a bit hit and miss , so thanks for taking the time to look. I really appreciate it.


Jamie

[DallasPhoto]

I love the 50 1.4 for concerts... Also my 17-55 2.8 IS if there is enough light... I also try and overexpose slightly and pull em back down in post processing as that reduces noise GREATLY.

[RacEcaR]

were you using a flash at the Sheffield show? im guessing not. tose seem TO ME like decent exposeiers for the lense you were useing. anytime i go to a local concert i always use my 50mm 1.8 but i realy hate trying to focus on moving subjects with such a shallow depth of field...
heres an example:
its brightly lit, to bright in my opinion, but i have no depth of field... thats the draw back with f/1.8
http://i31.tinypic.com/2h33rf9.jpg

[Burrelly]

You could have prob pushed the f up a little as there seems to be quite alot of light there.