Concert photography tomorrow, tips?

Compaq · Sep 6, 2012

LOL, I never thought I'd make such a thread. Especially not a real one P

Anyway, I, amongst a few others, got selected to be part of the Photographer Team during Norway's longest student festival.

So, me and another one is covering a concert tomorrow night. I've been reading about basic tips and stuff. It's all pretty logical. I've done some reading up on who the heck is playing. I know there will be four people on the stage, and what sort of music they'll play. I'll be getting a pass, so I can wander around. I will arrive early, and see where I'm allowed to stand (ie on stage etc), find out if flash is allowed (though I'll rely on ambient light, it's nice to know).
My boss said in the assignment that he's after concert shots and general shots showing what type of festival this is, and show that people will be having a great time. I'll go for candid shots. I'm to send in maybe 8-10 good shots that I get, and he'll choose a couple to be sent to the student paper, web maybe even some local news paper if they want a story on the opening night of the festival.

I have little experience in concert photography, but I'm capable with the camera and I believe I have a good eye. All I basically need is one or two great shots from tomorrow night. Move around, be polite and unobtrusive, capture the mood and get some shots of all the musicians on stage.

I'll try manual to start with, and be aware of any changes in lighting. I've been to the location many times (not sober all the time, though.....

), and I know there will be little natural light. It's a dark time of the year, and there will be minimal, if any, light coming through windows. It's all strobes and stuff, controlled by the light&sound committee.

I will use my 40D along with my Tokina 11-16/2.8 for some wide shots, my nifty fifty for portraits and stuff (quite excited about how the AF will work. Maybe I will rely on manual focus). In addition, I got a message that my Olympus OM - Canon EF adapter arrived today, so I can now use my Olympus Zuiko 28/2.8 as well. I have a normal zoom, but it's f/3.5-4.5 or something... quite slow.
I'm also planning on loading my Yashica Minister 700 with some Ilford Delta 3200 Pro. I'll expose that one on AFA 6400, and push process, to see if I can get some grainy high contrast concert shots. This will be when I'm confident I've gotten my digital shots, and just for me personally.

Those of you who read all, get back to work! I thank you for anything you feel might prepare me better. I'm more worried about my gear than my personal skills. It's the first time I have some sort of responsibility on my shoulders.

I'm not allowed to post any shots until the festival is over, late October. Then, however, I'll post some of my favs

Regards,
Anders

Steve5D · Sep 6, 2012

Wow, there's a lot to cover.

First, gear: I use a 40D and a 5D, with 70-200mm f/2.8L and 24-70mm f/2.8L, respectively. I'm not at all familiar with the Tokina you have but, if it's a constant f/2.8, you should be good to go. I find that the 50mm f/1.8 focuses a tad too slowly for concert stuff, but I have used it in the past with perfectly acceptable results. Forget the flash. Leave it home or, at least, in your bag while you're shooting what's happening on the stage. Nothing ruins the ambiance of an otherwise good concert photo more effectively, and as quickly, than using a flash.

Since you'll be getting there early, find the guy who's doing lights (assuming there will be someone playing the part of "Lighting Director" and become his best friend. Buy him a beer/soda/bottled water. Tip him. Do whatever it takes to persuade him to provide you adequate lighting. Granted, he'll likely have lighting schemes he needs to adhere to, but I rarely encounter LD's who won't do what they can to accommodate me. I've had good results with the 40D at ISO 1600, so don't be afraid to go there. If you have to do a little it of noise reduction, it's not the end of the world.

With respect to lighting, you paint a picture of it being less than adequate. If it is, that suggests a small venue. If it is, that suggests a small stage. STAY OFF OF IT. Patrons don't want to see a photographer, they want to see a band. I've only ever walked completely onto the stage once, and that was because Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies insisted I do so. Admittedly, I got some pretty cool shots, but the reality is that I feel awkward doing it because, once you step out on stage, you're part of the show, whether you like it or not. Shoot from the wings if they're available to you.

While I can prety much nail my concert exposure from the get go, when I first started out, I would shoot in the dreaded "P" mode. I looked at that as a sort of "baseline" of what the camera wanted to see. I would then take note of the shutter speed and f-stop, switch to Manual, and go nuts.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see what you end up with!

MLeeK · Sep 6, 2012

Just remember that the bizarre colors are SUPPOSED to be that way. That was my hardest trick to get over when photographing a band. That and you are exposing for the LIGHT, not the dark, but you already know that!

You're going to be using HIGH ISO's so make sure you aren't under exposing at all. Expose so you are just before blow out on something unacceptable.
Manual may prove tough if you aren't truly adept at it because the stage lights will change quite a bit. The white lights are a WHOLE LOT MORE than the colored ones...
I am probably going to get shot for this one but... I'd suggest shutter priority for this much of the time. You know you don't want your shutter to drop. There's a lot of action in music! Then when you know you've gotten a good money shot experiment with shutter speed and motion. It can be pretty amazing in band/music photography. Especially if it captures the intensity of the song.

If you have something at this one that really stumps you put in flickr private and ask those you trust to look and help you for now.
HAVE FUN!

Steve5D · Sep 6, 2012

MLeeK said:
I am probably going to get shot for this one but... I'd suggest shutter priority for this much of the time. You know you don't want your shutter to drop. There's a lot of action in music! Then when you know you've gotten a good money shot experiment with shutter speed and motion. It can be pretty amazing in band/music photography. Especially if it captures the intensity of the song.

Hey, I know plenty of people in the pit who shoot in shutter priority. I also know a lot who shoot in Manual, and even some who opt to shoot in Program mode. All come away with nice images.

It's all what you're comfortable with...

Kolander · Sep 6, 2012

Do you mean classical music?

Compaq · Sep 6, 2012

Nope, not classical music, Kolander.

Thanks, Steve, great advice. I'm prepared to boost my ISO. I happen to know the chief light light guy, I'll see what I can do. I wouldn't have thought of that if you didn't mention it.

I got the adapter, as mentioned. I found out that I have a 70-210/4.5. That lens is most likely too slow. I also have a 35-70/2.5-3.5. That will prove very useful, especially at the wide end, but I already have the 28/2.8 I don't want to carry too much gear as well.

Would you guys carry a ruck sack with equipment? How useful will my tripod be? I don't have a monopod, which I think would be more useful, and my tripod is a bit heavy for monopod usage.

I plan on taking the following shots:

- get some of the musicians
- get some shots conveying the fun the audience will be having (ultra wide of the crowd, candid portraits etc etc)
- try to get a picture showing what festival this is
- get some decent shots with my analogue system

MLeeK · Sep 6, 2012

Compaq said:
Nope, not classical music, Kolander.

Thanks, Steve, great advice. I'm prepared to boost my ISO. I happen to know the chief light light guy, I'll see what I can do. I wouldn't have thought of that if you didn't mention it.

I got the adapter, as mentioned. I found out that I have a 70-210/4.5. That lens is most likely too slow. I also have a 35-70/2.5-3.5. That will prove very useful, especially at the wide end, but I already have the 28/2.8 I don't want to carry too much gear as well.

Would you guys carry a ruck sack with equipment? How useful will my tripod be? I don't have a monopod, which I think would be more useful, and my tripod is a bit heavy for monopod usage.

I plan on taking the following shots:

- get some of the musicians
- get some shots conveying the fun the audience will be having (ultra wide of the crowd, candid portraits etc etc)
- try to get a picture showing what festival this is
- get some decent shots with my analogue system

On that 70-210 don't count it out. I try to shoot at 4.5 or about there for most night games and even on my crappiest field I can do it if I try. Your camera doesn't have the GREATEST ISO handling, but it's pretty darned good too. You'll have to remove noise in post, but the noise removal in LR/ACR is pretty damned powerful. If you don't have the newer version you can always download the trial of Imagenomic's Noiseware. It's pretty good! And if the lighting is pretty bright on stage for some of the show? You will not have any problems.

I probably wouldn't bother with the tripod if you can't put it somewhere safe during the show. Maybe with the lighting guy? You probably won't use it, but there's a chance.
Yes, I'd carry a lens bag with my options in it including a flash too. A monopod is nice but may not make it thru security anyway. If you are shooting with 2 cameras I'd guess a black rapid would be more useful than a monopod and the monopod might just be a PITA with balancing and trying to catch things with your analog camera every now and then. If you haven't a double camera strap, then I keep my cameras on straps that are relatively long so they can go across my torso with one hanging on each side. It can be a tangle as you pick the one on the bottom strap up, but it's doable.

Steve5D · Sep 6, 2012

I wouldn't bother bringing a tripod or a monopod...

TCampbell · Sep 6, 2012

I don't think I qualify as a seasoned concert photographer, but I do enjoy shooting concerts and I've done number of them by now.

The biggest thing I've noted about concert photography from a "technical" perspective is that the reflective light-meter built into the camera will try to expose for the "scene" which is largely dominated by dark areas with a few bright highlighted areas. This means the camera will try improve the exposure in all that "darkness" and that blows out the highlights. I find I either need to (a) spot-meter the highlights (e.g. a performer's face) to get a more accurate exposure or (b) if shooting in any of the semi-auto modes (e.g. Av, etc.) set the exposure compensation down at least to -1... and possibly as far as -2.

If the light is highly variable... "manual" can be a real problem because the lighting effects can change too rapidly for you to keep up. There's no shame in using a semi-automatic mode when called for, but just make sure you're setting exposure compensation.

In one-shot mode the camera wont shoot if it doesn't think it can focus. It may not think it can focus if the lighting switches to a dim moody light and the camera can't detect enough contrast to focus. I do sometimes actually have to switch off auto-focus when shooting concerts because, just occasionally, the focus doesn't want to lock if the lighting is wonky. Be ready for that.

I shoot with a 5D II and can manage to get away with ISO 6400 in a dark concert event with an f/2.8 or f/2 lens. There's noise in the image ... but it's easily manageable (better to have noise than a blurry shot.) A shutter speed as slow as 1/30th isn't unusual (most of my shots are a bit faster... but there are a number that are as slow as this.) Even when wide-open and using a high ISO the shutter may be dangerously slow for a hand-held shot and yet a tripod isn't practical. I find anything to lean on that I can... railings, support columns, etc.

Watch the performer and you'll find that their motions change with the music... and you can anticipate when a steadier shot may be possible.

Take that last tip with a grain of salt and some balance... the best shots are the shots that convey the energy of the event... the performers and the audience all feed the energy, drama, tension, etc. A performer standing perfectly still on stage isn't nearly as interesting as a performer filled with energy where your shot will convey the mood. Basically there's a balance between a blurry shot (an overly active performer) and a performer who stands still and looks boring. There's much to be said for shooting at that "decisive moment."

Compositionally, try to look at how the performer plays to the audience. The mic is usually between them and the audience, so often the front & center shooting position means every shot will just have a mic blocking a good part of their face. Slightly off to one side is usually better. But some performers favor one side so "which" side to stand on varies by performer. You just have to watch for this. I have a LOT of shots with unfortunately placed microphones.

A few examples:

This shot (Chris Koza) is shot with the 5D II, 135mm f/2L at ISO 6400, f/2, & 1/60th. 1/60th is a bit on the slowish-side for a 135mm focal length. This lens does not have image stabilization.

Chris Koza in Concert by Tim Campbell1, on Flickr

This shot (John McLaughlin) is with the 5D II, 70-200mm f/2.8L at 200mm using ISO 6400, f/2.8, & 1/160th -- again, pushing the shutter speed as compared to the focal length although this was the image stabilized version of the lens. I love the energy in this shot, although I do think it's a touch soft. John is REALLY animated in concerts (really a fantastic performer). John's agent gave me permission to shoot him only for the first three songs. I think they wanted to make sure I didn't portray any shots when he was fairly sweaty toward the end -- I certainly understand they want to portray a good image, but the "sweaty" image certainly does bring out a strong level of energy in the photo, so i wish they'd have let me keep shooting.

IMG_1134 by Tim Campbell1, on Flickr

This last shot (Cary Brothers) was taken with an older camera body... a 500D (aka T1i) which maxes at ISO 3200 (well... if you don't enable the extended ISO mode) and it's taken at ISO 3200 using the same 70-200mm f/2.8L at 160mm, f/2.8, and 1/125th. This shot actually had a LOT of noise in it (no surprise) but I de-noised it using a Photoshop plug-in (in my case it was Imagenomic's Noiseware Pro). Notice I don't even bother to try to expose for the blacks... I just let them go black. This means that while his face looks great and there are no blown out highlights anywhere, the blacks of his jacket and hair completely fade into the background. I'd have to be able to control the lighting to fix that... something you usually cannot do at a concert venue. You'll likely find that high noise goes with the territory. Invest in some good de-noising software or plug-ins. I used Noiseware Pro, but Noise Ninja is also pretty popular. I've never found Adobe Photoshop's built-in de-noising capability to be adequate for the task.

Cary Brothers by Tim Campbell1, on Flickr

Something to notice in these... I'm using fast lenses... f/2.8, f/2.0, etc. and I'm pretty much just leaving the camera at those wide focal ratios. An f/3.5-5.6 variable focal ratio "kit" lens would be stuck at f/5.6 for these focal lengths and that's 1/4 to 1/8th the light... that would never do. You definitely need a good low focal ratio lens. I'd also note that for most of these I'm using a full-frame camera where the minimum shutter speed for a hand-held shot is equal to the inverse of the focal length... and them I'm pushing that limit even when I wasn't using an image-stabilized lens. The point is... you'll be pushing the limits of what you and your camera can do.

Notice I'm trying to keep the mic "mostly" out of their faces by being slightly to the side except for that first shot... where the front & center shooting position resulted in a mic in front of his face.

Best of luck! I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I love doing concerts.

Compaq · Sep 7, 2012

Thanks, campbell! I appreciate your help.

4,5 hours until I start

Compaq · Sep 7, 2012

Okay, sooo, evening done!

I was nervous before I started, but eased into it after a while. The event was to "different" things. 1) A conference where the committee released the artists that's coming to the festival the coming October. The lighting was HORRID, pretty much the only thing that lit the audience was the white slides of the power point presentation. I talked to the light guy before hand, and got a strict message saying they didn't take any request regarding some white light during any time of the concert - I just had to accept what they had set up. Getting proper shots of the conference was hard, to say the least. Pushing ISO-1600, even H setting (3200) on my 40D @ f/2.8 on the 28mm.

The concert itself was awesome. Small space, but I had access to the pit the entire concert. The guards were very nice. They watched my camera bag, even, almost the entire event. I stuck to my nifty fifty and my olympus OM 28/2.8 manual lens. Didn't bring out the 11-16 at all. I could fit these small primes in my breast pocket, so switching was smooth.

I've just seen through my shots, and I shall start the selection process now. I have lots of awful, underexposed shots of the audience, but it became better in time. I got some nice moody shots, some sharp portraits of the musicians. I'm happy with the results. I was very anxious before viewing on the laptop, as you never know how they look on a big screen. I definitely got some keepers.

I also did some portraits for a journalist who interviewed some of the attending guests, asking them about the release list etc etc. I had picked a spot with a nice, yet unobtrusive background beforehand. I bounced my flash in the roof. Nothing fancy, but it was dimly light and my flash worked as a main light. I chose a warm, woody background. I also did some test exposures beforehand to ensure I could do the portraits swiftly, without making too much of a bottle neck effect.

All in all, I'm happy. This night has learned my lots and lots, and I'm really looking forward to future concerts! We were two photographers covering the event, and I think I did better than the other, which helps with my ego LOL.

Anyway, once the festival is over, I will post some of my best shots on here. That won't happen until late October, maybe early November. I have a deadline 1300 tomorrow afternoon, so I'll do some selection tonight, sleep on the shots and edit tomorrow with a fresh eye.

BUT, I came very early, and decided to shoot some of the sunset with my manual 70-210/4.5 lens. I got a LOVELY abstract, but formatted the memory card before I started taking shots inside. I really thought I had a great shot, but it's gone forever. I must return there some other time and try to replicate it. At least it looked awesome on my LCD screen!

Also, I ran out of memory towards the end of the concert. I looked through my entire room, but couldn't find my other CF card. I relied on a single 4GB CF card. Guess what the first thing I saw when I got back...................my other CF card

Soo, awesome experience, very fun and a great concert. The lighting was okay. I was at ISO-1600 pretty much all the time. f/2 or f/2.8 depending on lens, and ss ranging from 1/20th to 1/100th.

Compaq · Sep 7, 2012

Step 1: 304 down to 68

And the selection continues...

(wow, that's a low "decent ratio"... I haven't even made it to the number of keepers yet...!)

edit: 68 down to 35....

Compaq · Sep 8, 2012

Shots edited and handed in.

My equipment balanced on its boundaries yesterday. Just having a lens with a good AF would have made things a LOT easier. And possibilities to go to ISO-6400, and get good results, would have been awesome.

Anyway, thanks a lot for all the help in preparing!