Where do you focus when shooting concerts?

[blur07]

I have a simpel question, How do you take a photo like this one,
http://www.rockfoto.nu/image/20090616_084718_629322.jpg

...Do you need to use manual focus or crop the image? Because if you use the auto focus you need to focus on her chest if you don't want to end up with a picture like this,
http://www.christianekblad.se/photos/image-076.jpg

...and if you focus on the chest and you're using f/2.8 I'm pretty sure you will end up with an unsharp head of the artist.

So tell me, how do I fill the images without cropping or using manual focus?

[narlus]

the first photo looks to be using a wide focal length, so DoF isn't as narrow. i am thinking autofocus near the head should be fine.

for the second one, the mic can be troublesome...autofocus tends to lock onto that as a contrasty bit of the image, even if your AF point is at the performer's eye. not sure if the 1 series does a better job as i've never used one. depending on your focal length and aperture you might be able to hit the contrast of her head/background and have sufficient DoF, or fine tune it manually after achieving autofocus.

[René Damkot]

not sure if the 1 series does a better job as i've never used one.
Even with a 1D3 I have to be careful in a situation like this..

[kmb]

I have a simpel question, How do you take a photo like this one,
http://www.rockfoto.nu/image/20090616_084718_629322.jpg

...Do you need to use manual focus or crop the image? Because if you use the auto focus you need to focus on her chest

Not really, focus where you want and then recompose, or choose a focus point which is, well, somewhere else than the chest.


if you don't want to end up with a picture like this,
http://www.christianekblad.se/photos/image-076.jpg

...and if you focus on the chest and you're using f/2.8 I'm pretty sure you will end up with an unsharp head of the artist.

So tell me, how do I fill the images without cropping or using manual focus?

Given the second picture you have three choices:
1) focus and recompose
2) use center point and crop
3) select the focus point closest to the eye (where you want to focus) and crop the rest.

I used to do 2) a lot when 5D was my primary camera and shooting with normal/tele lenses (for wide angle work focus and recompose is good). As long as the image is in the ballpark of 5mp, it is enough for most purposes (typically more than enough for magazine publication etc).

[ChrisMc73]

Do you all use Flash/Speedlights when taking live music shots like these?

[johnstoy]

Do you all use Flash/Speedlights when taking live music shots like these?

It's pretty safe to say, that flash wasn't used on these...

Most of the shooters in the Performing Arts section don't resort to flash... Though fill flash might occasionally work...

I'm personally partial to the stage light colors, and their integrity...

(But for most everything else, other than stage shows, I do use fill flash, with the 580EXII)

Also, the 24-70mm, the 580EXii, a flash bracket, all the cables and connectors, on a DSLR camera turn out to be a pretty clumsy set up... bulky to boot... Chances are the flash might get knocked around in a crowded environment... Truthfully, I never thought of even taking it along to a show.

[ChrisMc73]

Well thats what I wanted to hear, I have never shot a live band, tonight is my first one, and I will not be using a flash, just wanted to know what you all used.

[johnstoy]

Well thats what I wanted to hear, I have never shot a live band, tonight is my first one, and I will not be using a flash, just wanted to know what you all used.

If the light is still too low for a safe shutter speed... bump up the ISO as needed...

[ChrisMc73]

Thanks John, check my questions over on the other thread I started where you helped out earlier, if you don't mind.
I don't want to hijack this thread.