Concert photography c&c!

[Mbnmac]

First time shooting a concert last Saturday.
Here are some of my favorites, just wanted some feedback on what some of you think?
kinda limited by the venue being small and only just lit, would you recommend a flash maybe?

On the plus side I may have some work going forwards with one or two of the bands

1. The Haze 14th May 2011 13 by mbnmac, on Flickr

2. The Haze 14th May 2011 22 by mbnmac, on Flickr

3. The Haze 14th May 2011 7 by mbnmac, on Flickr

4. Dissolution 14th May 2011 1 by mbnmac, on Flickr

5. Dissolution 14th May 2011 4 by mbnmac, on Flickr

6. Dissolution 14th May 2011 14 by mbnmac, on Flickr

7. Dissolution 14th May 2011 16 by mbnmac, on Flickr

 

[Derrel]

2 and 4 are interesting in the way the compositional space is used. 6 seems to be frames far too low, with excessive dead space at the top and left and right edges. Frames 4 with the gel-fitted light being placed in the ULC, and with the light beam angled down on the diagonal,and the guitar player's expression and pose--AWESOME!!!!!!!!

 

[Village Idiot]

Did people seriously forget how to read today?

 

[Mbnmac]

Asking about lighting, concert technique and requiring flash so GTFO

So thanks derrel for some pointers on composition, that number 5 was a total stroke of luck.
I have tried to not crop where I can help it, but on that head shot I do see a need to do so

 

[Village Idiot]

Asking about lighting, concert technique and requiring flash so GTFO

So thanks derrel for some pointers on composition, that number 5 was a total stroke of luck.
I have tried to not crop where I can help it, but on that head shot I do see a need to do so

How about learn to post in the right section.

 

[Davor]

Settle down boys... @OP - i think they turned out great for your first time concert shoot, don't be afraid to use more ISO as they look pretty tack clear from here. As far as lighting goes, using the lens is just fine and always preferable simply because of the concert lighting which gives off a more "On stage" and natural feel to it so to speak.

 

[Mbnmac]

Settle down boys... @OP - i think they turned out great for your first time concert shoot, don't be afraid to use more ISO as they look pretty tack clear from here. As far as lighting goes, using the lens is just fine and always preferable simply because of the concert lighting which gives off a more "On stage" and natural feel to it so to speak.

Yeah I'm wondering about ISO, except the shots are at 1600 on a d90already, I'll try 3200 this week, see if I still get good noise/clarity ratio as some of the shots I would like to have a little less motion blur...

Getting lots of opinions on the flash for concerts thing too so Ill have to experiment

One thing I did discover, green lighting suits exactly no one!

 

[dandaluzphotography]

I really like number 6. You can almost hear what he's singing. Nice shots!

Danny

 

[Davor]

Settle down boys... @OP - i think they turned out great for your first time concert shoot, don't be afraid to use more ISO as they look pretty tack clear from here. As far as lighting goes, using the lens is just fine and always preferable simply because of the concert lighting which gives off a more "On stage" and natural feel to it so to speak.

Yeah I'm wondering about ISO, except the shots are at 1600 on a d90already, I'll try 3200 this week, see if I still get good noise/clarity ratio as some of the shots I would like to have a little less motion blur...

Getting lots of opinions on the flash for concerts thing too so Ill have to experiment

One thing I did discover, green lighting suits exactly no one!

Unless you have your flash off camera and setup properly on the stage you will just ruin the ambient that the stage produces. Ive tried all ways and natural works best, unless you really know what your doing and setup the flash in the best possible position.


Examples of flash properly setup, positioned almost right beside the guitarist with a diffuser on a stand as high as it the stand went.

 

[sandsmarc]

Asking about lighting, concert technique and requiring flash so GTFO

So thanks derrel for some pointers on composition, that number 5 was a total stroke of luck.
I have tried to not crop where I can help it, but on that head shot I do see a need to do so

I think all good concert shots are basically luck. You just shoot hundreds while you are there and you always have a few that turn out good from random chance. Let's face it, you cannot control when a spotlight comes on and the fog is just right and the facial expression is cool. So concert shooting is more of a numbers game than anything else.

 

[vfotog]

Settle down boys... @OP - i think they turned out great for your first time concert shoot, don't be afraid to use more ISO as they look pretty tack clear from here. As far as lighting goes, using the lens is just fine and always preferable simply because of the concert lighting which gives off a more "On stage" and natural feel to it so to speak.

Yeah I'm wondering about ISO, except the shots are at 1600 on a d90already, I'll try 3200 this week, see if I still get good noise/clarity ratio as some of the shots I would like to have a little less motion blur...

Getting lots of opinions on the flash for concerts thing too so Ill have to experiment

One thing I did discover, green lighting suits exactly no one!

It just makes no sense to me to shoot flash for concerts. Lighting in all its variety is part of the concert experience; changing that with flash and you're not capturing the real look and feel of the live performance.

 

[chaosrealm93]

i like the lighting in #2. really nice =)

 

[Stutterfly]

Asking about lighting, concert technique and requiring flash so GTFO

So thanks derrel for some pointers on composition, that number 5 was a total stroke of luck.
I have tried to not crop where I can help it, but on that head shot I do see a need to do so

I think all good concert shots are basically luck. You just shoot hundreds while you are there and you always have a few that turn out good from random chance. Let's face it, you cannot control when a spotlight comes on and the fog is just right and the facial expression is cool. So concert shooting is more of a numbers game than anything else.

Um...yes. Though the more you do it (especially in the same venue, with the same lighting people) you can sort of 'predict' 'Ah yes, they do the epilepsy-inducing flashes at THIS point' or 'pink spotty will swing across NOW'.

Yeah to the numbers game too. In a 3 song space I can take ... 300 - 500 photos? I think. Maybe. If I'm lucky that night, 50 will turn out decent, 20 great, and 5 absolutely freaking spectacular.

You want to use high ISO and a shutter fast enough to erase that motion blur.

Using a flash does remove the ambience, in my opinion. Colour is cool, go with it. Also, you don't need a flash to get a sharp, bright image.