Outdoor Concert Tips needed

[mdaddyrabbit]

I have a been hired to photograph a outdoor concert with a live band. It will start in the daylight and end up in the dark or around 8:30PM EST. I have never been hired to photo a live band or the spectators. Any tips would be appreciated. I want to be able to tell a story with images.

I will be shooting a Canon 60D with Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8 and a Canon 70-200mm F/4 L


First paid event....

[rick_reno]

what are you allowed access to? can you shoot from the stage?

[mdaddyrabbit]

I was rained out today but I have 3 more concerts. I was told I could take any photos at any location just don't blind the band with Flash while on stage.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Well use less power on ETTL if you are allowed to use flash. DON'T USE MANUAL FLASH

[narlus]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

Well use less power on ETTL if you are allowed to use flash. DON'T USE MANUAL FLASH

why not use manual? at least you can explicitly control the output, unlike ETTL.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by narlus

why not use manual? at least you can explicitly control the output, unlike ETTL.

And knock out the lighting atmosphere?

[narlus]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

And knock out the lighting atmosphere?

if i want to, i can set my flash power to 1/128.


in your suggestion of using ETTL, how are you controlling the flash power to not 'knock out the lighting atmosphere'?

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by narlus

if i want to, i can set my flash power to 1/128.


in your suggestion of using ETTL, how are you controlling the flash power to not 'knock out the lighting atmosphere'?

A lot less power that at 0

[narlus]

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

A lot less power that at 0

Originally Posted by 400dabuser

Well use less power on ETTL if you are allowed to use flash

so which is it? are you saying to use ETTL, or not to use flash?


you are maddening to discuss issues w/ sometimes.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by narlus

so which is it? are you saying to use ETTL, or not to use flash?


you are maddening to discuss issues w/ sometimes.

Depends on the situation, you should know this

[chadci]

Seems like manual would be hard to meter especially if you shoot manual (exposure) and change often due to changing lights. I'd let the camera figure flash for you as well.

[narlus]

chadci, setting the flash power manually can be a bit of trial and error but at least it's consistent...the changing stage lights won't have any effect on it.

[chadci]

Originally Posted by narlus

chadci, setting the flash power manually can be a bit of trial and error but at least it's consistent...the changing stage lights won't have any effect on it.

No, what I meant was - if you're changing your manual exposure in regards to the different lighting sets on stages on a regular basis then letting the flash do the math might make it a little easier.

I'd much rather use manual flash in most cases as well, however, this is one that might not be as ideal if the flashes are in different places on the stage. If he has the flash mounted in his hotshoe then have at it

I'm following this thread because I'm doing a small show in August. It's outdoors and their lights amount to not much more than a few shop lights with gels on them. They want good shots to promote the venue a little better ( it's a campground. The stage is... well, not much more than a picnic shelter from what I understand)

My idea is to take a couple of speedlights on super clamps and mount them in a few spots around the stage, bounce the light off the ceiling and let it fall where it may. Hopefully by doing this I won't assult any of the band mates with flash nor distract the audience either.

[René Damkot]

Late to the party it seems…
Play nice guys.

On the flash: If the distance from the flash to the subject is (more or less) constant, manual will be consistent. Also: Manual flash can be triggered over long distance by a relatively cheap radiotrigger.
ETTL flash needs line of sight, not too much interference and a master flash, or (the only real option in cases like this) a more expensive ETTL radio trigger.

I use my on camera flash set to ETTL mostly (wildly varying distance to subject), but sometimes set it to manual if ETTL screws up.
I use off camera flash on manual, always.

When using a manual flash on a not easy to reach place, you can (within limits) control flash exposure by adjusting ISO or aperture. You can adjust ambient-flash ratio by varying the shutterspeed.

Audience shot, ETTL flash (zoomed in a bit) on camera, manual flash via radio trigger on the camera-left side of balcony I'm under.



ETTL flash on camera, manual flash behind them, on the balcony again.


ETTL flash on camera, manual flash just hidden behind the laptop:


Last shot is the only one where using an ETTL optical slave would have been an option. (been there, done that)

I hardly ever use flash when shooting bands, since mostly lighting is adequate.

[RichSoansPhotos]

Originally Posted by René Damkot

Late to the party it seems…
Play nice guys.

On the flash: If the distance from the flash to the subject is (more or less) constant, manual will be consistent. Also: Manual flash can be triggered over long distance by a relatively cheap radiotrigger.
ETTL flash needs line of sight, not too much interference and a master flash, or (the only real option in cases like this) a more expensive ETTL radio trigger.

I use my on camera flash set to ETTL mostly (wildly varying distance to subject), but sometimes set it to manual if ETTL screws up.
I use off camera flash on manual, always.

When using a manual flash on a not easy to reach place, you can (within limits) control flash exposure by adjusting ISO or aperture. You can adjust ambient-flash ratio by varying the shutterspeed.

Audience shot, ETTL flash (zoomed in a bit) on camera, manual flash via radio trigger on the camera-left side of balcony I'm under.



ETTL flash on camera, manual flash behind them, on the balcony again.


ETTL flash on camera, manual flash just hidden behind the laptop:


Last shot is the only one where using an ETTL optical slave would have been an option. (been there, done that)

I hardly ever use flash when shooting bands, since mostly lighting is adequate.

I did say that I used manual flash 1/128th to 1/64th power recently at a gig where the lighting was rubbish and inadequate. I did find it much better than ETTL, but has been deleted for some reasons, pfft