Shooting music festival, have questions!

[ftblplyr46]

So I ventured up to where they are holdin a music festival in our small small town, and offered to photograph for free, long as I and a guest get free access. Offered it free as I am no pro, and do not want to be held liable for bad quality. Anyways, I have a few questions, as Im quite nervous now.

1. Only lens I have for this event are my kit lens, 18-55, and a Nifty Fifty. I figure these two should be fine, but was wondering if I should use the Nifty Fifty more, due to the larger Aperture?

2. Not sure how the lighting will be at night, would my on board flash suffice long as I am close enough to the shot?

Any other tips/suggestions would also be very much appreciated!

[johnstoy]

Are these shows all night events?

How many memory cards do you have? RAW uses up memory cards much faster... and you'll need to take a lot of shots in RAW.

Get up close to the stage... real close... use the 50mm f/1.8 without flash and shoot a lot of shots... Use the highest ISO you can...Shoot in RAW... you'll be able to compensate for exposure where needed, in post processing...Crop, to enlarge portions of pics... Expect to take hundreds of pics... sort only using your computer after the shows...

Aim for the closest eye, with one of the center spot focusing points... (the middle center spot is most frequently used).

Share only the very best photos with the venue... (less is more in this case)

If you use flash, you won't be able to shoot as many pics... most of the colorful stage lighting will be blown out, and the bands might object to flash too...

[ftblplyr46]

Are these shows all night events?

How many memory cards do you have? RAW uses up memory cards much faster... and you'll need to take a lot of shots in RAW.

Get up close to the stage... real close... use the 50mm f/1.8 without flash and shoot a lot of shots... Use the highest ISO you can...Shoot in RAW... you'll be able to compensate for exposure where needed, in post processing...Crop, to enlarge portions of pics... Expect to take hundreds of pics... sort only using your computer after the shows...

Aim for the closest eye, with one of the center spot focusing points... (the middle center spot is most frequently used).

Share only the very best photos with the venue... (less is more in this case)

If you use flash, you won't be able to shoot as many pics... most of the colorful stage lighting will be blown out, and the bands might object to flash too...


Thanks, I had most of that in my mind, just needed some reassuring from some expierenced people!:D Just heard on the radio this morning rain is expected all weekend, so dont know if Ill be able to or not, as I told him I dont mess with it in the rain. It starts at 6 on Friday, and 12 on Sat and Sun, so can get a lot in the sunlight still. I figured RAW would needed to be used, so Ill do what I can, and share with you guys for suggestions for the next time. Thanks again!

[narlus]

find out if flash is allowed. look into borrowing/renting a longer lens.

[ftblplyr46]

find out if flash is allowed. look into borrowing/renting a longer lens.

I dont think Ill need a longer lens. Its a very small town, and the whole thing is being held in a rather small parking lot. So Ill prob be able to get within feet of the stage and other things. No big bands, just local bands and that kind of stuff.

[skifurthur]

Long lenses are not only for being far away. Some head shots are taken rather close to the stage. The more options you have in your bag the more likely you are to succeed.

[namasste]

Long lenses are not only for being far away. Some head shots are taken rather close to the stage. The more options you have in your bag the more likely you are to succeed.
agreed, I shoot at 200mmm when almost touching the stage at some shows.

[Nouks]

...And I've shot whole festivals with nothing more than max. 70mm.
...And I've shot a giant festival with nothing more than 85mm on both 1.6 and 1.3 crop.
(Okay, on that last one I had a x1.4 TC available, but the 85mm definitely doesn't like the TC so I didn't use it *at all*)

You don't *need* 200mm, especially not with smaller events. Using more wide lenses can in fact be (or will most probably be) a lot more interesting. And even with 50 or 55mm you should be able to get quite some pretty close shots. Not close enough? Well, you've got 8 megapixels...

Only using long lenses can be pretty "easy scoring" and besides that pretty boring (all the same shots). Just bring whatever you own, feel free to lend/rent something longer or wider if you'd like, and use whatever you've got available. You'll see: you most probably will manage absolutely fine. Whatever your gear might be.

(By the way, I might have missed the fact whether it's indoor or outdoor, daytime or in the dark. That might be something to think about when packing.)

[ftblplyr46]

Well, some turned out good I think, have to wait and see tomorrow when I load them up. Event started out slow, but picked up as night came on. I got some pretty decent shots of the bands I think, which were really the only thing worth shooting IMO. It was a setup where, basically anyone could just stand against the stage or even step up on it if they wish, so basically I was able to get as close as I wanted. Ill post up some shots in the appropriate sections when I get them uploaded. Thx for the tips guys.