Concert photography (what should I use)?

[tailz03]

I have been a concert photographer for a few years now and i never leave without my 70-200mm f2.8, my 50mm prime and suprisingly my 24-105mm.

 

[sharpeye]

I shoot concerts on a regular basis with varying light conditions. Mostly jazz artists and the lighting varies from very well lit to not much light at all.

I shoot with 2 Nikon D300 bodies and own one of the lenses you mentioned (18-200 VR II). Your 50mm f/1.8 will work fine, but won't give you closeups. Your Tamron 90mm f/2.8 will be good enough most of the time, but you will be shooting wide open.
The lenses I use most often are: 70-200 f/2.8, 300mm f/2.8, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and a 85mm f/1.8. Occasionally, I'll use the 50mm f/1.4, but only when really close to the stage. On the D300, the noise picks up considerably at ISO settings above 800. I tend to shoot at 1600, with a white balance set to 2700 degrees Kelvin. My typical exposure is around 1/40 second at f/4. Shoot in RAW mode and use the histogram display and the "highlights" turned on. I'll meter using the spot meter setting, then adjust the exposure based on what I see on the histogram.

In all the venues I shoot, flash is strictly forbidden.

 

[tailz03]

I shoot concerts on a regular basis with varying light conditions. Mostly jazz artists and the lighting varies from very well lit to not much light at all.

I shoot with 2 Nikon D300 bodies and own one of the lenses you mentioned (18-200 VR II). Your 50mm f/1.8 will work fine, but won't give you closeups. Your Tamron 90mm f/2.8 will be good enough most of the time, but you will be shooting wide open.
The lenses I use most often are: 70-200 f/2.8, 300mm f/2.8, Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and a 85mm f/1.8. Occasionally, I'll use the 50mm f/1.4, but only when really close to the stage. On the D300, the noise picks up considerably at ISO settings above 800. I tend to shoot at 1600, with a white balance set to 2700 degrees Kelvin. My typical exposure is around 1/40 second at f/4. Shoot in RAW mode and use the histogram display and the "highlights" turned on. I'll meter using the spot meter setting, then adjust the exposure based on what I see on the histogram.

In all the venues I shoot, flash is strictly forbidden.

..dude seriously... 1/40?? how on earth are you managing to get anything usuable with that speed? lowest i can use is 1/80 and thats only usually if the singer is standstill but mind you i do a lot of punk and rock bands that move about constantly... but still thats very low.

 

[littlesandra]

Concerts are my blood, they keep me going.

Like has been mentioned before, flash is never permitted (unless it's a smaller club, then double double triple check with the promoter).

I usually shoot at 2.8-4.0 1/60-1/100 iso 400-640 depending on the situation, how fast the band moves, lighting set up etc..

My two side kicks are my 50mm 1.8 and my 24-70mm 2.8, I'm investing in a wider angle in a month or so.

Just get out and practice at smaller shows first and get your feel for certain lighting situations. Just when you think you have it all figured out, a band will walk out on stage back lit with only one red front light and you're ****ting yourself.

 

[flightless_beaker]

I want to get into concert photography. Any suggestions on how to get my foot in the door? I know a couple musicians but I don't think they can afford to hire me.

 

[fokker]

Getting your foot in the door doesn't usually involve being paid...

 

[GRTaylor2]

Lenses are where it's at with concert photography. I use 50mm 1.8 and my 24-70mm 2.8 almost exclusively for all concert assignments. Typically my ISO is set anywhere from 400-1600 based on credential limitations and stage lighting.

Just go out and shoot as often as possible and get to know how your gear responds to the light. After that - it'll be obvious to you where you'll need to fill in the gaps.

 

[flightless_beaker]

Getting your foot in the door doesn't usually involve being paid...

Figured as much, lol.