question on stage position

[bluesmap]

based on your experience is it really beneficial to shoot a concert from right in the middle and front near the stage? or would it be wise to be slightly to the left or slightly to the right of the stage? whenever im in the middle i always get the microphone right at the mouth. or is it best to be at the center and front and then jsut wait for a good shot since there is better chance of getting eye contact?

and since im here in the performing arts area, whats your favorite lens for shooting performances? i hate to ask but please entertain that last question also

[bndgrl]

I don't ever stand in one spot. I try to get shots from all angles. Otherwise it would be kind of boring to have all of your pictures from the same angle, imho. Typically though I'm either to the left or the right. If I'm standing in the middle, I'm usually shooting to the left or right if that makes sense.

As far as lenses, my arsenal is pretty limited but I used the 85mm f.1/8 this weekend for the first time and it performed brilliantly!! I'm pretty sure it's my new boyfriend.

[narlus]

at a lot of the shows i shoot, there is no pit. and it's usually crowded, at least up front. i tend to get there early, pick a spot (either to the left or the right of dead center, for that mic issue you talked about) and shoot from there. i don't like to force my way through/over/around people to get 2-3 more shots up close. if i want a different angle (depending on the club), i'll move to the wings or balcony and use a longer lens.

the potential hazard w/ picking a spot early is that when the headliner comes on, the mic stand placement could be far different from how it was when you first got there. to avoid this, look for tape markings on the stage floor for stand placement (initials for the headliner's names), and also do a search for photos of the band taken at other gigs, as they typically don't change their stage positioning all that much.

favorite lens? it all depends on the shot you are looking for, and the lighting you are working with. it has ranged from a 15mm fisheye to the 70-200 f/2.8 and all the ones in between.

[bluesmap]

thanks. i think i learned early on that being dead center might not be the best for me. im still pretty new at this but over time that mic has become my worst enemy. i am going to try and shift around slightly to one side and hopefully that helps me.

thanks much

[narlus]

btw, dead center is great for a 3 piece.

edit - the other important consideration is left vs right. there are pros and cons to both.

[DwightMcCann]

It has a lot to do with the performers. If the performer loves to suck on the microphone even during pauses between verses and never gets to the side, then the center isn't too good and being off to the side is better. The more professional performers often make an effort to pause off to the side, look and at the photographers and do something interesting. The newbies tend to be frozen in one spot to the microphone stand. I have easy access in my venue. I start near the stage, stage-left, then move to the center isle, then back to the lightboard, then into the raised seats, back to light board, then stage right and that's usuall three songs and I am done. During all this the patrons are seated. At clubs it is a whole different universe. But unfortunately there is on easy answer that always works. A huge portion of concert photography is luck.

[René Damkot]

Originally Posted by narlus

edit - the other important consideration is left vs right. there are pros and cons to both.

Left vs. right: I'm on the left mostly for singers: That way the singer is facing right on the photo. (If you were to shoot for a magazine cover, this is important!)
There is a difference how the same image works when facing to the right vs. to the left.
IIRC facing right comes across as more active/aggressive, facing left is more passive.

(see the images below; I think there is a difference in perception)

For guitar and bass players the right might work nicely sometimes because of the guitar neck.

Light placement can also influence from where i shoot.

[PhotosGuy]

I'd rather not have them eating the mic, so I moved around for these:

The Johnny Headband Band

Barbara Payton & Her Band @ ISO 3200

Barbara Payton @ ISO 3200

[Bukanza]

Great tips here. I'm shooting my first show at a small, crowded club in a few weeks and plan on getting there early to find a sweet (close, just off-center) spot. My fear is that due to the density of people I won't be able to move to the other side of the stage as well without being "the jerk photographer".

I don't mind getting in people's faces in street photography, but the last thing I want to do is ruin somebody's show that they paid to see.