Need tips for shooting live concert with 10D

[amihai]

I have a Canon 10D and i'm going to try and take some pictures tonight at a live rock concert.
I'm going to use a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX APO HSM Lens.
I also have the Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens.

Need some tips for taking good pictures.
Would a flash be of any use in this type of pictures? (Canon Speedlite 420EX)
I won't be able to use a tripod. considering the low light conditions on the concert, how should I set up my camera for good results? (ISO, White balance, aperture, shutter speed, etc..)

Thanks for any tips...

[Eric DeCastro]

I would try my best with the 70-200 don't use a flash. a 50mm 1.8 would do great in this situation. I have seen some great photos come from that lens at concerts.

[FlyingPete]

I'm shooting a concert this weekend, 5th year in a row. For night shooting, DO NOT use a flash, the musos will hate you for it, and the pictures loose alot of the effect of the stage lighting.

Use a high ISO, and if neccessary use noise removal software to cleanup afterwards. I shoot on a white balance setting of cloudy, this seems to bring out the stage lights best, they are hotter (whiter) than standard tungsten. Try to keep the shutter speeds up, as things can happen quickly, I don't worry too much about aperture settings too much, I generally go for more light, as the depth of field doesn't have to be too deep.

As for metering, I just trust the camera meter to do its job!

I shoot from the media area (between the crowd and stage) so generally don't require a telephoto lens, not sure where you will be shooting from, but closer is better! I note you have a quite fast telephoto, so if may work better for you to be further back!

[amihai]

Reply to FlyingPete,

First of all, thanks for the tips...
How high would you say I should set the ISO setting for?
Do you think I should set shutter speed to a constent value (on TV mode)?
I guess that if I use everything over 125 for shutter speed I'd get poor results due to low light condition. Am I right? What's your thoughts about shutter speed in these conditions?

[Olegis]

Shalom Amit ;)

I shot a couple of concerts a few month ago and here are my suggestions :
1. ISO 1600 is not that bad on the 10D, even if the noise will be visible, you'll be able to clean it up with a noise removal software. Don't fear to bump it up.
2. Shoot in manual mode, because the lighting on stage can change very quickly - it will drive your camera meter crazy. Try to find an optimum exposure and stick with it all the time. Don't use the flash.
3. Check your histogram from time to time - the lighting conditions change too much, so you'll have to compensate your exposure.
4. Keep your shutter speeds at 1/250 and above - it will help you to get sharp images with your telephoto lens. Don't mess with a tripod - it will limit your shooting possibilities.
5. Shoot RAW, so you can worry about the WB later in post-processing.
6. Shoot a lot - statistically it will improve your keepers rate. Shoot, check the histogram and re-shoot while it's hot, if necessary. Bring a lot of storage - you'll need it.
7. Where you'll be shooting from ? The media area can be quite problematic, as you will block some viewers sight.

You can see a few examples I did using those techniques and tips in the following galleries :
Rita - live in Caesaria (http://www.pbase.com/olegis/rita__live_in_caesaria&page=all)
Play and Music 2 party (http://www.pbase.com/olegis/playandmusic2&page=all)
Street theatre festival (http://www.pbase.com/olegis/street_theatre&page=all)

That's about it. Good luck !

[amihai]

I'm going to the concert as a spectator not as a media representative so I'll probably be shooting from the crowd, hopefully from an alivated position.
I only have 1GB of storage so I think I rather shoot on JPG-Large rather then RAW so I won't run out of storage.
Can you recommend of a good noise removal software?
BTW, The concert is of Berri Sacharof...;)

Amihai

[Scott J]

Max out on the ISO -- go for 1600 and shoot at full aperture -- that will give you the faster shutter speed possible. Concentrate on getting focus

You are really going to struggle if you have to use any kind of telefoto so instead you want to get up close and personal with as wide an angle as makes sense. (when was the last time you saw a pro shooting with a tele from the back of the arena)

See if you can take a few shots before the gig starts with flash.

Some venues will allow photography --even with flash during the first number -- with the consent of the musos of course.

Well worth trying to make contact someone associated with the band -- maybe they could use your pictures?

If a tripod is out how about a monopod -- can be worth 2 stops if you really concentrate.

You say you want to go for JPEG instead of RAW but you have a 10D which isn't the fastest camera around. You might want to think of taking fewer shots which you can rescue in your RAW converter. It goes against good practice (expose to the right of the histogram) but you could well be able to rescue an underexposed RAW image that would be impossible in JPEG.

[amihai]

Thanks for the tips guys...
Last couple of questions -
Lens hood, Yes?, No?
Filters, which ones should I use?

Amihai

[kb244]

I'm gona go againts what people are saying here. USE THE FLASH on occasion. You can use a lower ISO this way, but to make it better for concert, set your flash to second curtain mode, this will flash the subject at the END of the exposure rather than at the beginning.

Do not use Adapters, Filters, or anything else that will cause more stop of light, a UV filter is ok, but nothing other than that. Lens hood no, you need all the light you can get.

Basic idea set the Aperture to the lowest in Av mode, Set flash to second curtain when you use it. Check your shutter value with out flash, set the ISO up til when you half click the shutter it shows around 1/125 for the shutter when using max aperture. When using flash its not as picky. You could shoot in manual mode in a slower shutter, then use flash on second curtain so you absorb the light around them and get the subject clear from the flash at the end of the exposure.

Furthermore that 70-200 is probally gona be the only lens you'll be able to use due to it's f/2.8 aperture, I used a 50mm f/1.8 at a concert recently ( but I have a rebel and could not do the second curtain flash ). the 50mm I had was bout the ONLY lens I could use at the concert, the Sigma 100mm f/2.8 Macro was a possibility but I stuck with the 50mm.

[Scott J]

Lens hood, Yes?, No?
Filters, which ones should I use?

Amihai

Lens hood: yes

Filters: no -- shoot RAW and sort the White Balance / Tint in your RAW converter. NB possiblities for correcting White Balance problems caused by mixed lighting if you shoot RAW.

[Mike Panic]

i wouldnt shoot anything higher then 400iso... 200iso if your using a flash... use the 2nd curtain sync w/ the flash.

if there are a good amount of stage lights, dont be afraid to hold otherwise unthinkable shutter speeds... some of the shots listed below were as slow as 1/3 second, no tripod, no flash and from 50+ feet off stage w/ a 28-200 zoom on it

http://www.mikepanic.com/photos/KMFDM_Pig_Bile_Concert_Trocadero_Philadelphia

the biggest thing is to drag the shutter w/ the flash

for filters, ive used circ polarizers before w/ outstanding results. relize that you will loose 1/2-1 full stop w/ them though

[ripster]

I'am with KB244 on this, use AP mode, set the aperture to 2.8! Make sure camera is giving you at least 60 shutter speed or pictures will blur! Higher ISO to get the shutter speed you need! Goodluck and lets see some pics!

[Huckaback Photo]

Hello Amihai
I think concerts are often great places to capture some great images and for me its a sort of challenge to be able to work with available light in all its different colours (ie. stage lighting).
The use therefore of any kind of flash does nothing for me,other than create problems,
it can annoy other people who have sometimes paid good money to see the show, it will often haras the performers on stage, it will get you spotted and removed from certain venues, unless you are right at the front row it could pick up the backs of other peoples heads and of course destroy the distant stage image, flash wont always recycle fast enough to keep up, etc. etc.
do you get the picture ? so far.
Now stick with what you have to start with dont be tempted to go out and spend lots of cash on new kit till you decide if this sort of photog is for you. Yes its the more expensive faster lenses you really need usually with a letter "L" in the name.
A lens you will always find a use for could be invaluable, both the second hand 50mm f 1.8 ef mk1 and the newer 50mm f 1.8 (not forget 50 f1.4) there is much better advice about lens in other posts on this forum.
so use high iso settings 1000 - 1600 whatever works for you, wide open apertures and reasonably high shutter speeds, if pos move arround for different shots light etc.
keep your filter on the lens at all times and the lens hood at a outside concert more than once i have been showered with booze or coke yes someone shook a can then sprayed it around i was in the fron media area.
hope this all helps you just get out there have a go.
Cheers
Martin (huckaback photo)