I need some help with band photography

[Phazan]

A band is paying me $50 to take pictures and video Friday, and I need help with band photography. The problems I had last time were I couldn't focus in the low light, and I also getting fast enough shutter speeds. I've got a 50m 1.8, and a 17-85 4.0 IS. even at 1.8, I still got low shutter speeds. Hopefully this time it will be brighter. I know it can be done, but how?? Also any other help in general or links about band photography would be great! Thank you!

 

[bigtwinky]

What was your ISO set at? If you are in a dark club, you'll be looking at 1600+ I would think.

In such low light, the 1.8 might give you depth of field issues if shooting a bigger scene as well.

 

[musicaleCA]

If you really can't get the shutter speed faster, find a way to stabilize the camera. A tripod is preferable, but you might also be able to improvise with various flat surfaces and small items to prop-up the lens or body depending on your environment. I agree, 1.8 is going to give you DoF issues; that's a *really* short DoF, especially when shooting moving subjects, like a band.

If you can, you might also want to consider a flash. But that's largely dependant on your environment and what sort of things you have to strap onto your flash to throw light where you want.

 

[KmH]

The DOF is also effected by the lens to subject distance. The further from the subject the lens is the deeper the DOF.

 

[William Petruzzo]

What was your ISO set at? If you are in a dark club, you'll be looking at 1600+ I would think.

In such low light, the 1.8 might give you depth of field issues if shooting a bigger scene as well.

I think this, combined with bracing yourself against various stable objects, is probably going to be your solution.

 

[delizo23]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/people-photography/166965-boogiejuice-hip-hop-event.html

here is a link to a thread i made a couple days ago here on TPF.
its not a band but its a DJ
it was really dark in there.
i used a sb-600 flash at 1/4 power
stock 18-135 lens at f/4.5, iso 200
shutter speed of 1 second

this is a kinda of effect you can use, light trails. if you dont want the trails. maybe you can put your cam on a tripod. use a flash so that it freezes the scene. and let the extra seconds of the lens being open to gather the extra light. and since theyre paying you, maybe you can make it even more professional and set up an umbrella or something. do some off cam strobing.

ps: oh yea i dont know if you have a flash or not. if you dont, then ignore this whole post haha.

 

[Phazan]

^I have a flash, I'll see if I can use it. Those pictures are pretty cool too!
Thanks for the replies everyone, I guess I'll have to settle for grainy pictures haha. I really hope I can use a flash, that seems like my best bet but I'll have to play around. I have a 3 song, and then later a 4 song area to try and get some good pictures..Then back up to run the camcorders Busy night haha

And another thing though, they want me to get "artistic" shots. Like one behind the drummer they said, looking into the crowd? If anyone has any ideas, please let me know! Thank you

 

[Overread17 5]

see if you can get to the club they are playing at to scope out the scene = also if you get the chance as soon as you can see if you can watch them play (or at least setup onstage in practice) so that you have an idea for space - shots like that are all well and good but its no good if your bumping into the drummer as he plays. Might be that they have to move a few things around to get the shot if they want it.

 

[bigtwinky]

Actually, warm up sessions and sound checks are often a good time to snap some pictures as well. There aren't many people there and you can still get in close for some decent detailed shots, facial expressions and so on.

 

[Phazan]

Hmm. Sounds good, I forgot to mention they're playing at a theater. But Thanks for the help, I'm gonna be with them all day while they set up and stuff so hopefully that will help

 

[bigtwinky]

Its always good to get some pictures of bands "goofing off" backstage as well. The more personal / intimate moments behind the scenes that fans don't always see make great additions inside any CD cover

 

[farmerj]

Why are you using ISO200?

If you are going to use your D200, crank that baby up and get it to ISO1000 at least.

Try to keep it low to keep the noise down, but try a higher ISO.

 

[nrois02]

bigtwinky, great advice!

 

[epp_b]

I don't know what the 40D's ISO performance is like (I imagine it's quite good), but you need to be using higher ISOs for shutter speeds that allow you to avoid camera shake in concert lighting, even with fast lenses.

 

[bigtwinky]

I believe the 40D has a standard 1600 ISO with a HI ISO function to boost up to 3200. Never having shot in low light with one, I can't speak for the quality of 1600 or 3200 ISO. I figure the 1600 would be decent enough, better than my max of 1600 on my XSI which was ok.

I did shoot with my XSI @1600 ISO and a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS lens during a theatre performance and the results were fairly good in terms of image quality. No reason why the 40D and a 50mm 1.8 wouldn't net some good results. You might have issues with close up shots though.

Can you rent or borrow something faster?