Photography for a DJ

[hmarie]

Hello,

I have a friend who is a DJ and he has asked me to do some shots of him on the job at a nightclub. He has some specific shots that he is looking for.

Google Image Result for http://www.thestranger.com/binary/f849/vignette-REPLACE-500.jpg

Google Image Result for http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z239/kyo-_bucket/dj.jpg

http://goo.gl/PRAEl

http://goo.gl/aryuR

I have never done indoor shooting especially with the lighting that you see at a nightclub. Does anyone have experience with this and can offer some advice? I'm excited about the challenge but also want to go in with some sort of preperation

[Ads]

[Overread]

What kind of equipment do you have to take these photos with? And if you have one, do you have any budget for equipment investment/rental - also what kind of photography have you done? (have you any online portfolio you can show?).

We really need a lot more info before we can give more specific advice suited to your situation.

[AaronLLockhart]

From having LOTS of experience in shooting at nightclubs, I will tell you that most of that stuff is shot over exposed a bit in RAW format and then adjusted later in photoshop. The first image you posted is actually two images merged together. I have pulled this stunt many times. The first photo is long exposure with no tripod, and the second is a still image of the dj. The dj is then cropped out of the still image, and pasted over the over exposed image.

Once again, an effect created in photoshop... Not the camera.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

[DiskoJoe]

First shot you need an external flash. Shoot in manual and use these approximate settings: f2.8 - 4, shutter speed 1/30 - .4, iso 100-400 and flash bounced at 1/2 power to possibly full power depending on how dark it is. The flash will freeze the subject then you just move the camera to get the drag effect.

2nd photo is just a wide angle shot.
3rd photo just a typical shot with a blue light behind the dj. I have one almost just like that.

20hz dj by DiskoJoe, on Flickr

None of these is that difficult really except the first which is just a simple trick once you get the hang of it.

[DiskoJoe]

From having LOTS of experience in shooting at nightclubs, I will tell you that most of that stuff is shot over exposed a bit in RAW format and then adjusted later in photoshop. The first image you posted is actually two images merged together. I have pulled this stunt many times. The first photo is long exposure with no tripod, and the second is a still image of the dj. The dj is then cropped out of the still image, and pasted over the over exposed image.

Once again, an effect created in photoshop... Not the camera.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

You can do all of these with just one shot and no tripod.

[MK3Brent]

1. First curtain flash, with a 1-2sec shutter. (hand held camera, so the movement will blur some of the lights.)
2. Wide angle lens (14-24, 12-24.. etc.) High ISO, depending on the light you'll be in the neighborhood of 1/100 to 1/250.
3. Nothing special there.
4. Shallow depth of field, and proper lighting on his/her face. (70-200 2.8 would do nicely. 85 1.8 1.4 would also work nicely.)

[AaronLLockhart]

You can do all of these with just one shot and no tripod.

I don't disagree with that a bit. My experiences have been only with my camera, and no external flash. You could get that direct shot using pop up flash and longer exposure as well, but the results are not that promising.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

[DiskoJoe]

You can do all of these with just one shot and no tripod.

I don't disagree with that a bit. My experiences have been only with my camera, and no external flash. You could get that direct shot using pop up flash and longer exposure as well, but the results are not that promising.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

Yeah it would look horrible with a pop up flash but with an external flash it would be fine. Flash is essential for night club photography if you want to do this trick.

[Schwettylens]

From having LOTS of experience in shooting at nightclubs, I will tell you that most of that stuff is shot over exposed a bit in RAW format and then adjusted later in photoshop. The first image you posted is actually two images merged together. I have pulled this stunt many times. The first photo is long exposure with no tripod, and the second is a still image of the dj. The dj is then cropped out of the still image, and pasted over the over exposed image.

Once again, an effect created in photoshop... Not the camera.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

Nope.. just long shutter + flash. Doesnt matter 1st or 2nd curtain for this case.

[MK3Brent]

From having LOTS of experience in shooting at nightclubs, I will tell you that most of that stuff is shot over exposed a bit in RAW format and then adjusted later in photoshop. The first image you posted is actually two images merged together. I have pulled this stunt many times. The first photo is long exposure with no tripod, and the second is a still image of the dj. The dj is then cropped out of the still image, and pasted over the over exposed image.

Once again, an effect created in photoshop... Not the camera.

Nikon D5000 | 18-55mm AF-S VR | 50mm 1.8G | HB-47 Hood

Nope.. just long shutter + flash. Doesnt matter 1st or 2nd curtain for this case.

This is right.
The longer shutters your curtain will matter. First curtain you'll see some ghosting on your subject, vs. a solid exposure in the 2nd curtain. (Again, when shutter duration is about 8 sec or longer. )

[leeroix]

rear curtain sync...

[austriker]

i was in your same shoes a few years ago.. never had shot at a club, let alone been at one and my friend was a DJ who wanted some shots..

basically do a lot of research, search and read.. that will help but the best way is to actually go there and shoot. It took me a few times to get it right to be honest. It is quite a bit different than normal shooting but do not get frustrated.

Use an external strobe, or pop flash. use long exposures and move the camera around to attract the 'light streamers' (terrible descriptor, sorry)

Here are some galleries of mine which you can see the settings I used, including speed, etc. Let me know if you have any questions and good luck!
Gallery 1
Gallery 2

[Dylan11523]

Thank you guys so much for the info. I was looking at some photos on another photographers facebook page and she didn't seem to want to give me info on how to do this type of photography.I mostly wanted to know how she pulled off shots like this Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More with the lights streaming around the DJ like that. It makes sense now after reading this post.

[OctoberMoon]

The 2nd pic looks like an old friend of mines photo. He is one of the top DJ photographers in the world. He goes by Rukes. Check out his website (just Google 'Rukes'), he gives some tips on it in the FAQ section.

[proberok]

snap the photo and move the camera. that does it.