Concert photography tips

[Reflection]

I'm 'employed' by a website for concert photography, but only just getting my first gig and press pass. I've taken photos in the venue before, which didn't turn out too bad, but it was unstressed, was my choice to take them and I had the whole set to take them.

Now that it's coming to a real thing, I'm a little nervous! The venue is Mean Fiddler in London for those that know it. I have a Canon Powershot A80 and I will also be taking my dad's Minolta dImage 5 for the zoom if I need it (although I prefer my Canon, I'm used to it). This is going to be the first 'three songs, no flash' rule for me.

Basically, does anyone have tips? I'm guessing just to get my camera set up before the main act come on so that the settings are ready as soon as the band come on stage and to shoot as many photos as I can so I have choice of which ones to send in, but any tips will be gratfully received!

[etaf]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=60841 (http://[url=)
Take your dad's Minolta dImage 5 out and learn how to use it, before the event...
have a read here
http://www.photo.net/learn/concerts/mirarchi/concer_i (http://[url=)

[Reflection]

I've already used it and know how to change the settings and such (Although I will try it out more beforehand), but I just prefer my canon. Also, the swivel screen is rather handy if trying out different angles. Thanks for the link.

[etaf]

your welcome - just make sure that in the heat of the moment you dont miss a great shot because you are fumbling around with cameras and camera settings - good luck, post some examples for us to see

[RockSlut]

Heres some of the general rules I apply...
- tight shots tend to work better than wide
- keep your shutterspeed as fast as you can. 1/50 is generally the minimum I get away with at the wide end of the lens
- Keep your apeture wide as close to f/1.8 as your camera will allow
- bump your ISO to 200-400 (200 is preferable on digital prosumer non-slr camera)
- I find wb set to tungsten is most reliable
- avoid flash if you can

All of the above will however depend on the quality of your light source. Sorry, I know that's probably not the best information, but I'm not familiar with either camera and it's very hard without knowledge of the venue.

Without intending on sounding like an equipment snob...concert photography in anything less than optimal conditions (ie most of the time) is incredibly difficult with a digital compact. I know because I used to shoot with a G3.

Good luck!

[Reflection]

Thanks RockSlut for that advice.

Etaf - I was planning on taking some 'test photos' of the support band just to check the settings out and have it ready for all shots.

Some examples at this venue:
1 (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/15126610/)
2 (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/15126274/)
3 (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/15127443/)

The lighting for that concert was probably quite basic due it being an unsigned band night, but it gives an idea of what I can get. They were all taken with my Canon, just as I was starting out.