Concert Help Needed

[andyroo610]

Hi Everyone,

A local band is opening for a much bigger/popular band in 2 weeks or so and has asked me to shoot their live concert. I've never shot a live concert and I'm looking for all the tips I can get. It's going to be inside in a low light situation.

Here is a list of my equiptment...

Canon Mark III
Canon Mark II
Canon 40D
70-200mm 2.8
24-70mm 2.8
85mm 1.8
100mm 2.0
17-40mm 4.0
Speedlite 580ex

Thanks a Ton!!!!

[bohdank]

What kind of venue ?

Without any details, this is what I would recommend as a starting point.

ISO1600 or more

Manual, meter in Spot Mode on a typical well/best lit item on the stage.... the lighting your subject(s) is going to be uinder.

Use that setting, in Manual mode as a starting point.

Use a high enough shutter speed unless you are trying for some sort of affect. Typically no less than 1/320s, imo.

Sacrifice aperture for speed.

Try using the flash with -2 FEC and a diffuser of some sort for a few shots. You might light the results. I've starting doing this recently for part of a show and have gotten some excellent results. Works best on more tightly cropped shots. The mood of the stage lighting is preserved. Keep the flash in HS mode (mine is permanently set in this mode).

Read the histogram although with colored lighting it will be skewed. I rely on the "blinkies". Chimp if necessary.

Camera is set to Nuetral Picture Style to get the truest RGB histogram reading of all the built in Picture Styles.

Shoot RAW.

Camera in AI Servo.

Don't get fancy and shoot everyhting at f1.8/f2... with stage performers, they rarely stand still long enough to get them in focus with fast lenses. I would not shoot less than f4, until I have some shots in the bag. First, you need some keepers ;-)

If you have good access, the 17-40 can give you some really dramatic results. Get as close as you can with that lens.

Good luck.

[90c4]

On my 5D2 I usually start at ISO 1600, f2.8, 1/125, tungsten. You won't be allowed to use a flash.

[bohdank]

That's a pretty definitive statement, considering you don't know the venue.

Do you know where he is shooting ? Maybe he will be allowed to use a flash. If not, then no flash... no biggy.

Shooting a show under less than ideal conditions is always a struggle and balancing speed against ISO against aperture, but you should be able to get some great images.

Oh, and if you end up with noisy, OOF, slightly blutty images do what many people do when they want to salvage an image... turn them into B&W. Everybody will think you are creative ;-)

[90c4]

First three songs and no flash are the standard rules which apply to most bands, especially big and popular bands. I shot a dozen or so shows in the last month and that was the rule at all of them, except for one at a small venue. Regardless of whether it's allowed, flash ruins the atmosphere of concert shots almost every time (another definitive statement, I realize) and is distracting.

[SuzyView]

I shoot concerts with my 5D2, 70-200 2.8 IS, at ISO 1600-5000 - as the 5D series is insane for low light capabilities. I shoot always faster than 1/100 when flash is not allowed. I go all the way to f2.8 if needed. It's not hard. Just make sure you chimp often as the lighting on stage changes even during the same song and you may get too much light. I hardly ever shoot f2.8 in harsh light. But I shoot manual, always adjusting WB, usually the lights are too warm, so you have to take it down a lot. Get there for their rehearsal with lights so you know what to expect. Scout out the place you are standing or sitting. So important as this makes your life easier at the concert. Wear ear plugs. :)

[SuzyView]

Oh, for wide shots, I use the 24-70. I am working on getting another 5D so I have one with the 24-70 and the other with the 70-200. This way I don't have to change lenses, but since you have a couple of camera bodies, one wide and one tele is best.

[Rock Photo Star]

First three songs and no flash are the standard rules which apply to most bands, especially big and popular bands. I shot a dozen or so shows in the last month and that was the rule at all of them, except for one at a small venue. Regardless of whether it's allowed, flash ruins the atmosphere of concert shots almost every time (another definitive statement, I realize) and is distracting.

I share your definitive statement cause I'm not a pc wuss that has to make the flash users feel good. That said, flash users that can balance their flash so that it does not look like flash was use are tops in my book.

[andyroo610]

All i know about the venue is its the Pangea Music Festival at the Shore Ultra Lounge in Long Beach, CA...

im assuming ill know more about my do's and dont's when i get the media pass???

[SuzyView]

Yes, you will. Is it too far for you to go and scout it out?

[bohdank]

For illustration....

Here is one with flash firing. -2 FEC. I think the mood was preserved quite well. (for Suzie.... 5D, AI Servo, outer focus point).

http://www.bwkphotography.com/photos/624916042_gvYjm-M.jpg

The second one .....The only stage lighting is the lighting you see in the actual picture. There was one of those banks flanking the stage, in back, facing towards the center of the stage. Has to be the worst lighting setup I have ever seen for an audience or a photographer. Flash is/was the only way unless you got in back of the stage and shot their rear ends.

http://www.bwkphotography.com/photos/642033858_7hHaF-M.jpg

[andyroo610]

Yes, you will. Is it too far for you to go and scout it out?


with traffic it could be a 2 hour drive. it's do-able but i might just try and get there early to get their lighting rehersal.

Thanks for the exposure help everyone!!

As for shots.. what looks good? wide? tight? some motion?

[bohdank]

A bit of everything ;-)

Change angles if possible.... something I rarely have the freedom to do.

[narlus]

First three songs and no flash are the standard rules which apply to most bands, especially big and popular bands. I shot a dozen or so shows in the last month and that was the rule at all of them, except for one at a small venue. Regardless of whether it's allowed, flash ruins the atmosphere of concert shots almost every time (another definitive statement, I realize) and is distracting.

this is $20 well spent.

http://www.lumiquest.com/images/products/product-fxtra-real.jpg

[90c4]

this is $20 well spent.

http://www.lumiquest.com/images/products/product-fxtra-real.jpg

Cool - can you point me to some good example on your site of shows where you used those?

[narlus]

give me some time...i'm currently working through the ~4000 shots i took over the 3 day ATP/NY festival...and writing up the summary...

[_aravena]

I don't like flash but it can help if you know how to use it. i don't thus I don't like it. I will start experimenting though when I can.

I was going to make a gel holder but for $25, psh, I'll get that!

But yeah, 90 is quite off. Flash isn't always banned and you can get more than three. All depends on the venue and while that's regular for some "big name" bands, it's not so for EVERY band.

[bacchanal]

this is $20 well spent.

http://www.lumiquest.com/images/products/product-fxtra-real.jpg

Where the hell have I been? I've been using Rosco gels and electrical tape...very effective, but kind of a pain in the ass when switching things up.

[londonblue007]

Where the hell have I been? I've been using Rosco gels and electrical tape...very effective, but kind of a pain in the ass when switching things up.


This little puppy was shown on strobist a while back. it's awesome. plus there is a strobist gel set from rosco now. no need to get the sample pack anymore.

[_aravena]

Yeah but the sample pack was free. :D

[narlus]

plus i've lost a few of the gels that came w/ the holder...i got a sample pack but haven't taken any out to see if they are the correct size (i think they will be).

[90c4]

plus i've lost a few of the gels that came w/ the holder...i got a sample pack but haven't taken any out to see if they are the correct size (i think they will be).

Same size, according the video http://www.lumiquest.com/products/fxtra.htm