BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Indoor/Low-Light Photography

Gig Photography

To love this question, log in above
September 14, 2004

To love this comment, log in above
September 14, 2004

To love this comment, log in above
September 15, 2004

	Johnny. f2.8, 1/20, iso 100, Sigma 28-70 F2.8 , Central Club, Melbourne, Australia. Andrew Hart

1. Lighting is a huge variable at Gigs. the Smaller gigs are lucky to have perhaps 4 spots of various colours lighting the stage, whereas your larger touring bands may actually come with their own lighting rigs. Unfortunately, Coloured lighting is something you'll just have to deal with. Yes, you can get rid of it in Photoshop, but, my own way of dealing with it is to either leave it in, or convert the picture to B&W. Most of the gigs I shoot are of the heavier rock or Metal variety, and as such, the only colours that the artists have on them are black, white, skin colour, maybe a coloured guitar. I usually take the BW root, but will still keep some colour shots as well.

2. a spot metering setting on your camera is of great worth, in order to guage the strength of the lighting. Once you've done a particular venue a few times, you'll get a handle on what settings to use on your camera. If you are gathering from this that shooting in manual is the way, yes, that's what I do. The only time I'll leave the exposure to the camera is when I use flash.

3. if you use flash, reduce your iso down to your lowest setting. If you are using existing light, you'll need at least iso 400. Higher if you want, but you must make the balance call between increased noise, and increased capability to stop movement.

4. shooting straight on to the stage is ok, but try shooting the artists from the side. Profile tends to come out better. Even behind the artists if you can, you can get some interesting silouette type shots that way.

5. How you deal with the movement of the artists given the likely low shutter speeds you'll be using is a challenge. If the artists are leaving the mics on their stands, you have a fixed focusing point here, and as such you be able to get reasonable shots out of this.

6. most gigs will use some kind of light show, where there will be slow pulsing lights. Learn how to take a shot when the light is it's brightest. It's tricky, but it can be done. Here is where DSLR's are better than the pro-sumer Digital camera's with electronic sights, as most have shutter lag problems.

7. get yourself a bright lens, probably a low order zoom of some kind (28-70), F2.8 at least. Brighter if you can. The commonly available, cheaper f4.5-5.6's just don't cut it under these kind of lighting conditions. Yes, I know this will be expensive, especially with your Canons/Nikons, Sigma lens' are somewhat cheaper.

8. Most important element of shooting at gigs: Courage. The instant you walk in with that lens around your neck, people will be looking at you.

9. Get up the front, put your game face on, & shoot. Be nice, polite, don't take risks if the mosh pit starts getting a bit on the violent side, if the guys on stage don't want you shooting, then don't. You aren't the show, they are.

10. if you are going to local bands who will commonly re-appear on a regular basis (monthly, weekly, etc), go to a few of these concerts without the camera, & just take note of how the bands sets up on stage, what the lighting is like, how eager the Security people are, etc. Making contacts with the band members is also good, so you don't freak them out when you turn up & start shooting them.

That's my 2 cents worth for the moment. Please see my example shot here.

To love this comment, log in above
September 21, 2004