Chronic Town; State College, PA

I've just recently begun my foray into experimental concert photography; here are a few shots from a venue at Chronic Town in State College, PA (home of Penn State). The bands are as follows:

The Melodic Plague

#1

Aha, yet another 'shutter drag' shooter. Welcome to POTN. You might want to read the FAQ near the top of the list of threads here in Performing Arts. We have a few guys who do this technique and some are rather good at it ... you might skulk around a bit and do a search on 'shutter drag'.

Nice. Thanks for the welcome and the info, I'll definitely do some "skulking." Also, I just purchased the canon 50mm f/1.4, so I was wondering if anyone could give me advice, considering my style, as to what settings to run that lense on while shooting in similar environments? Much thanks again.

So after doing much skulking, I find it interesting that I have been doing the shutter drag "wrong" all along. I have never used a flash while shooting at a venue, I've only held down the shutter as I've manipulated the camera (zooms, pans, etc.) Now, knowing the potential of this technique, I can't wait until I get a better handle on it Also, do I need to use 2nd curtain synch to get the desired effect, and if I do, does anyone know if the 430EX carries that function? Thanks.

Jeez, I thought you'd be mobbed with suggestions ... as it happens I am not allowed to shoot with flash so I have no clue, but maybe someone that knows how will take mercy on you and explain. Or you could start a thread about shutter drag!

Your posted shots are pretty good... Take the time to go back to edit and number them...

If you improve your creativity with the camera... after finding additional info here... Things can only get more positive for you... another step up from your already good camera skills, will be great...

After doing my research, I honestly have really no more questions regarding shutter drag, all that can be learned from this point on will be harvested from experience and practice. The only thing that gets my panties in a bunch about this situation is that I really wanted to hear some feedback on the individual images. I desparately want criticism! lol.

For the record, my favorites are the first Melodic Plague, and the second Slant. Just let me know what you guys think! Thanks.

haha, thx for the kind words johnstoy, I appreciate it. Now how would you suggest editing them to improve their impact? I'm not very good with photoshop, so any pointers would be fantastic-especially anything completely basic that for some reason I'm not aware of-like unsharpen mask-what the hell is that anyway? All I know is I've heard people on this forum throw it around a little bit...

The last one is kinda okay...
Rest is too blurry for my tastes. A flash would definately have helped identifying the subject...

Yeah, like I said, I should've been using flash. Now, I see these pics as more abstract art/experimental photography than true, "status quo," concert photography, and that is why they are perhaps too "blurry" for your tastes (Not something I haven't heard before :-p). Personally, I feel the only ones too blurry are the Plague ones, and the other ones IMO are decently clear/sharp, albeit surrounded by an onslaught of ambient lighting. But thx for your input Rene, perhaps I'll be able to produce images more conducive to the excitement of your taste buds in the future.