dark nighclub photos....please help

[Wrench]

Here are some pics of a friends band. I've had my new 10D at their last two shows and these are the best I can come up with. Pics were taken with no flash because that tends to make the shot too bright and ruin the "mood". Existing lighting sucked to say the least. Could you guys offer me some advice to take some better shots at their next show? Or possibly some PS techniques to make these shots look a little better? Most of these were taken at 1/10 f/5.6 or thereabouts with my 10D with 28-210 and existing light. And if I remember correctly it was ISO 400. Thanks.

http://community.webshots.com/album/247501347IHglBO

[DeeplyDigital]

I shoot a fair few gigs (no flash ever) and recommend shooting RAW,
plus using a fast lens.
Depending on how close you are allowed and/ or willing to get, use a fast lens
like the 50mm 1,4; 85mm f1,8 or 200mm f2,8. They are my favourites for gigs.

I have also had good results with 24-70 2,8 and believe it or not 70-200 f4.

A good option might also be the less costly 50 1,8.

J.

[Wrench]

I was thinking a faster lense would help. I'm good friends with the band so can get as close as I want even on stage if I want, but I like to stay in the shadows. I'm kinda shy. I've been thinking of getting the 50 1.4 for portraits, but for the gigs I'd like to get a zoom. Maybe a 17-55 (not the rebel kit lense) if I can find one fast enough. Can you give me some tips to clean up those shots in PSE 2.0?

[neutral]

I shoot a 50mm f1.8 when I do indoor shows.

As you can see in these photos, I am really close to the stage though.

http://inevitabletruth.org/upload/imgs/Tim-Fans%20(Large).jpg
http://inevitabletruth.org/upload/imgs/fans%20(Large).jpg
http://gallery.inevitabletruth.org/albums/SysFailure1605/IMG_1875_Large.jpg
http://gallery.inevitabletruth.org/albums/sysfailure1104/IMG_0984_Large.jpg

I'm still working on getting the shots down :o

[DeeplyDigital]

The problem is that your subjects move constantly,
and the light is most likely to be low - so you need
a fast lens
my best band shots with 10 D are something like
iso 400 50 1,4 @ 1,4 1/60
iso 400 50 1,4 @ f1,4 1/80
iso 800 200mm 2,8 @ 2,8 1/125

One of my pics shot with 17-40 made it onto an album cover,
it was shot with 17mm @ f4 1/30 - but I wouldn't recommend it.

I don't think you can fix those shots in any PS. What's not there
can't be got with software.
If you are getting the 50 1,4 as a portrait lens anyway, try it at the
next gig - it does no good to be shy as a photographer - you won't get
your shots.

As a zoom the 24-70 2,8 L is a good option, too. Expensive but with the
added benefit of people getting out of your way...

J.

[richpix]

Here are some pics of a friends band. I've had my new 10D at their last two shows and these are the best I can come up with. Pics were taken with no flash because that tends to make the shot too bright and ruin the "mood". Existing lighting sucked to say the least. Could you guys offer me some advice to take some better shots at their next show? Or possibly some PS techniques to make these shots look a little better? Most of these were taken at 1/10 f/5.6 or thereabouts with my 10D with 28-210 and existing light. And if I remember correctly it was ISO 400. Thanks.

http://community.webshots.com/album/247501347IHglBO

Wrench, first thing I would do is use a higher shutter speed. 1/10 sec is too slow for handholding even with a still subject. Get it as high as you can under the circumstances. That may mean pumping up the ISO and dealing with the noise, or using a wider aperture and getting less depth-of-field, or a compromise between the two.

I prefer to use a fast lens and deal with the limited d-o-f, so I carefully choose where to focus.

If you must use a slower shutter speed, learn to anticipate peak action--where the subject's motion stops for a split second.

Shoot many frames. Even in the best of situations the ratio of shots to keepers will be low, but will improve as you work on your technique.

Focus manually. Autofocus can take a while or be fooled by changing light. I prefer to pre-focus where I know the subject will be when I press the shutter.

If possible, use a monopod or tripod. If you can reduce one variable in the blurring equation it will help overall. If you can't use a pod, find a way to brace yourself on a tabletop, railing, support pole, etc.

Here's an example made in really tough conditions:

http://richmason.com/temp/redband.jpg

10D w/50mm f/1.4. 1/30 sec. @ f/1.4 ISO 1600 Horrid red lights...

[Wrench]

Yeah, I definitely need a faster lense. Thank you for all of your advice. I know being shy isn't the way to get the shots, but I'm working on that. Getting close isn't a problem so I think I'm going to pick up that 50 1.8. Will the fixed length limit me? Is there a zoom fast enough to shoot in low light but still not kill my bank account?

Neutral, I like the third shot the best, all of them are great.

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Divyak]

If you can setup a light or two with some Gels, that might make it easier for you to get a good exposure. I shoot with a 50mm 1.8 and a 180mm 2.8 during low light conditions and they both work well with an 800 ISO setting.

[trihokie]

I hope you don't mind me borrowing one of your photos. Here is a photoshop technique that I use on some of my low light nighttime soccer and football games. If you have Photoshop click the toolbar labeled "filter" > "Sharpen" > "Unsharp mask...". For this before and after comparison I used the following settings: Amount = 250%, Radius = 2.0 pixels, and Threshold = 10 Levels. The bottom is the before Photoshop, and the top is the after Photoshop manipulation. I agree that a faster lens is your best fix, but this is a technique that will enhance your photos even after you get a faster lens.