First Concert shoot------Photos and my experience inside!

Biggs88 · Feb 18, 2011

WOW. Talk about a CRASH COURSE in exposure! Anyone looking to fully appreciate ISO, fast lenses, and tripods, shoot a gig in a dim bar!

It was hard but I *think* I got a few good shots considering the gear I was limited to and my lack of experience.

I brought both bodys and the 18-200 and the 50 f1.8.

I used the D300s, 18-200, and SB600 for 90% of the shooting. I love that setup so much I could not really bring myself to really use the 50. It was way to dim in there to use it for no flash shooting anyway. I had the ISO cranked at 3200 with the Fstop wide open and still had blurry photos due to slow shutter speed.

Anywho, I had fun and it was a great learning experience!

Here are a few snap shots:
C+C is always welcome!

*Also, there was another photog there shooting a different band. We talked a bit as he had a D300. He even let me try out his SB800! Good times!

o hey tyler · Feb 18, 2011

Personally, an 18-200 would be the last lens I would use in a situation like this. Were you not allowed to use flash, or were you?

"I used the D300s, 18-200, and SB600 for 90% of the shooting. I love that setup so much I could not really bring myself to really use the 50. It was way to dim in there to use it for no flash shooting anyway."

I would have used the 50mm, and flash if you were allowed to. If you were exposing for mostly flash, you can set your shutter speed much higher to reduce blur as well. Shutter speed has no effect on flash exposure, unless you go over the xsync.

Biggs88 · Feb 18, 2011

o hey tyler said:
Personally, an 18-200 would be the last lens I would use in a situation like this. Were you not allowed to use flash, or were you?

"I used the D300s, 18-200, and SB600 for 90% of the shooting. I love that setup so much I could not really bring myself to really use the 50. It was way to dim in there to use it for no flash shooting anyway."

I would have used the 50mm, and flash if you were allowed to. If you were exposing for mostly flash, you can set your shutter speed much higher to reduce blur as well. Shutter speed has no effect on flash exposure, unless you go over the xsync.

Yes, flash was allowed. I used the 50 a few times. But I like the freedom of the 18-200. Much easier and quicker, for me, to find, size, and take a shot.

o hey tyler · Feb 18, 2011

Part of being a photographer is moving around though. I suggest you check out some of erose's concert photos. She uses her 50mm a lot. Just because the 18-200 is the most convenient, doesn't mean it will render the best photos.

Jack of all trades, master of very zilch is what the 18-200 is. It's a great walkaround lens if you don't care strongly about IQ, but you'd be cheating someone out of money if you used it for concert photography and were getting paid (not saying you were, just for future reference). Also, the 18-200 is not "quicker" than the 50mm, at least in terms of aperture.

Another trick that I used in the past with my Sony A-200 (complete with a garbage CCD sensor), was to shoot in Av and spot meter the skin of the band members. With that I was able to get a pretty good shutter speed, and not have a whole lot of motion blur.

Biggs88 · Feb 18, 2011

o hey tyler said:
Part of being a photographer is moving around though. I suggest you check out some of erose's concert photos. She uses her 50mm a lot. Just because the 18-200 is the most convenient, doesn't mean it will render the best photos.

Jack of all trades, master of very zilch is what the 18-200 is. It's a great walkaround lens if you don't care strongly about IQ, but you'd be cheating someone out of money if you used it for concert photography and were getting paid (not saying you were, just for future reference). Also, the 18-200 is not "quicker" than the 50mm, at least in terms of aperture.

Another trick that I used in the past with my Sony A-200 (complete with a garbage CCD sensor), was to shoot in Av and spot meter the skin of the band members. With that I was able to get a pretty good shutter speed, and not have a whole lot of motion blur.

I know what your saying.

I am still just "playing" around with the gear. I will try useing just the 50 next time they have a gig.

No worries about "cheating someone out of money". Unless you count the waved $5 covercharge to get into the bar. But I would of got that anyway since I know the drummer. lol

o hey tyler · Feb 18, 2011

Well keep playing! No harm in that. Just give the 50 a whirl and you might be surprised at how well it works, especially if you have stage access, or can get close to the stage. :thumbup:

I wasn't trying to insinuate that you were cheating anyone out of money. I'm glad you didn't have to pay the covercharge though. I'd be bit put off as a photographer if I had to, and would probably just walk out. I'm not going to pay to give someone else free publicity, knawmsayin'. :lol:

cfusionpm · Feb 18, 2011

It looks like there's some pretty heavy luminance noise reduction, giving kind of a overly smooth, plastic look to skin and other features. I personally would like a little more grit and grain if I couldn't get naturally low noise shots.

Nubbs · Feb 18, 2011

Im shooting a show this weekend and it will also be my first concert shoot. I plan on taking nothing but my 50 1.8 and maybe one of my 2.8 lenses.

As long as you learned something from your first concert I would consider it a sucesfull event.

e.rose · Feb 18, 2011

o hey tyler said:
Well keep playing! No harm in that. Just give the 50 a whirl and you might be surprised at how well it works, especially if you have stage access, or can get close to the stage. :thumbup:

^^^^ Yep! :thumbup: :sillysmi:

AmberNikol · Feb 18, 2011

I'm shooting a show in May and it will be my first show. I'm a little nervous. I only have a 18-105 lens, but I'll be able to be on stage and down in front, as fans will be up in the stands. Anyone have pointers for me? what i should set my ISO to?

e.rose · Feb 18, 2011

AmberNikol said:
I'm shooting a show in May and it will be my first show. I'm a little nervous. I only have a 18-105 lens, but I'll be able to be on stage and down in front, as fans will be up in the stands. Anyone have pointers for me? what i should set my ISO to?

As high as it needs to be to get the job done. :lol:

It depends on where you're shooting... (I see you're in PA! Where in PA are you from?) and what the lighting is like in the venue.

In most of the bar/clubs I shoot in, I end up shooting at ISO1600, but I *do* sometimes have to bump it up to ISO3200... that's without flash though.

AmberNikol · Feb 18, 2011

I'm from York, so not too far from you! It's going to be at York Barnstormers baseball stadium, so it will be an outdoor event. They will have their own lighting and then of course natural light till that ends.

e.rose · Feb 18, 2011

AmberNikol said:
I'm from York, so not too far from you! It's going to be at York Barnstormers baseball stadium, so it will be an outdoor event. They will have their own lighting and then of course natural light till that ends.

Wow, I live under a rock. I didn't realize that the Barnstormers had a stadium in York... I thought it was just Lancaster (I'm originally from Lancaster).. and I *also* didn't know they held shows at any stadium in York! Who are you going to photograph? Is it a local band or a more nationally known act?

AmberNikol · Feb 18, 2011

haha Yeah, I think York and Lancaster built their stadiums pretty much around the same time. York does do event, I don't know about Lancaster's though, I've never heard of them doing any concerts but maybe cause I'm not near there to get the information?

I'm photographing Phil Stacey, he was an American Idol Finalist on season 6, he went to country but didn't have much luck with that so he switch to the Christian genre and is doing really well.