Rock Band Shoot

I took pictures for Olivia Mancini and the Housemates this past weekend at the Black Cat club in DC. The red lights completely overpowered a lot of the lights in the middle. I noticed that a yellow par light was facing completely down into the crowd. It should have been on the middle stage so the lead singers wouldn't be so washed out in red. I used to deal with dj lighting effects for my old dj company and just looking at lights from the standpoint of a photographer now brings in a whole new world. Yikes!

Canon 40D shooting with Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. WB set at Tungsten, ISO 1600-3200. Shutter speeds ranging from 1/30 through 1/60, aperture at 2.8 through 5.6. Most were 2.8 though.

Please comment and give me some advice on what else I could have done to get a better shot.
Thanks!

the last one is too soft. the others look great!

i have shot a few bands as well.. and let me say.. i really hate the red lights they use in clubs. its like it just makes everything look radioactive.

shan.

but i also think that you should get even a cheap little 50mm 1.8... i think that would help you get way better shutter speeds.

shannon

I actually had the 50 1.8 w/ me. LOL. I only took a few shots with it though, didn't like the distance of it w/ the crowd and ended up back w/ the 17-50.

The last one i think i had focused on her hand, so the face moved and ended up blurry. Hm...I gotta get that shutter speed higher on that kind of shot. Sigh...very tough venue.