Taking pictures of a band tonight. Advice?

[quantimturner]

So, let me preface this with the fact that I had my t3i stolen (along with my whole bag).

I borrowed what I thought was a Rebel XTi, but in fact is an XT. The flash isn't the 430ex ii I was expecting him to lend me, rather something called a Sakar Auto27B.

Wow. Can you say challenging?

I took some shots around my house and I can take passable shots for what they will need, but I'm very worried about the lighting/movement tonight. I'm wondering if someone who used to shoot with an old Canon like this combined with a cheap flash could give me some suggestions, tips, or advice for shooting inside a band inside a bar. They typically have a lot of laser lights, etc., if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Awiserbud]

My advice would be..make use of the lasers and stage lamps and shoot without the flash. crank the iso up as far as you dare, 800 would be ideal, but 1600 is still usable from the XT.
That Sakar strobe looks very primitive, all manual controls too so youll be spending a lot of time fidling with it unless you plan on staying in the same place and shooting the same distance,

 

[Pallycow]

I'm going to shoot a band tonight as well. I bring my 50mm and my 28-135. Last time I shot them the pics came out well enough. It was mostly for fun, and for them to have something on their FB page other than drunken iphone shots.

Tonight I'm doing things a bit different since my wireless flash triggers came in. Going to put two up in their lighting systems, or in general area, and use as needed.

I do both, use flash, and capture the colors of the ambient light.

When I use flash, not with triggers or stands/umbrellas....I use a fong dome on the flash on camera. It spreads the flash out well enough for a decently exposed image.

Here is a pic or two and the set if you want to see.

"Dakota" Live at Penobscot Pourhouse - a set on Flickr

 

[Awiserbud]

Nice shots Pallycow... Heres a small sample of my band shots.


Lyrics by steve watson photos, on Flickr


Idol play by steve watson photos, on Flickr


make them feel it by steve watson photos, on Flickr

 

[Pallycow]

a little bright for my liking on the first one, and I hate tilted shots..for the last. lol. but thats all personal taste.

Key is to have fun. If you're not being paid to represent them photographically, use it as a chance to have fun and practice different things to learn what works and what don't. ;-)

 

[Pallycow]

also, one thing I have learned is to do your best to capture emotion. Everyone has instrument shots and things like that, it gets old. Take advantage of emotion and try to capture either the fun and excitement, or drama of the moment.

 

[Derrel]

About halfway through their fifth song, SCREAM OUT, "MORE COWBELL! MORE COWBELL!" Make sure it's really loudly screamed.
Seriously though...make sure your lenses are all clean...front elements and most especially the rear elements need to be clean and free from smudges or hazing caused by cooking oils, fingerprints, cigarette smoking, air pollution, or the out-gassing caused by many plastic and foam products. Not kidding you.

 

[Brandon Hill]

So, let me preface this with the fact that I had my t3i stolen (along with my whole bag).

I borrowed what I thought was a Rebel XTi, but in fact is an XT. The flash isn't the 430ex ii I was expecting him to lend me, rather something called a Sakar Auto27B.

Wow. Can you say challenging?

I took some shots around my house and I can take passable shots for what they will need, but I'm very worried about the lighting/movement tonight. I'm wondering if someone who used to shoot with an old Canon like this combined with a cheap flash could give me some suggestions, tips, or advice for shooting inside a band inside a bar. They typically have a lot of laser lights, etc., if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

Great questions. If it's your first time I'd suggest getting as close as you can and shooting without a flash. Flashes at concerts tend to isolate and make the shots look like they could have been taken of someone in their bedroom, not a stage. If you can, use a lens that can open wide up like a 50, do that. I took these shots on a rebel years ago and I still like them. all ambient light, no flash.

Griffin House |

 

[Pallycow]

I got a fever, and the only prescription is MORE COWBELL!!!

 

[Pallycow]

Good call on the lens cleaning derrel. I would not have thought much about it, but after the show...yeah, a bit grimy.

I barely used flash on my run last night, wanted to get more of the colors than I did last time. I think it went well enough.

OP...how did your shooting go last night? any updates or images?

 

[Steve5D]

Use.

No.

Flash.

Nothing sucks the soul out of live music photography more quickly and more effectively than a flash.

I'd like to see some of the OP's results from last night, as well...

 

[Steve5D]

Flashes at concerts tend to isolate and make the shots look like they could have been taken of someone in their bedroom, not a stage.

They can also get you dragged out of the pit by security in a New York minute...

 

[sam250240]

My biggest advice would be to use spot metering, keep the focus point on your subject's face. Make sure you use shutter speed greater than 1/100s to prevent motion blur.
Here's a Nick Carter concert I photographed earlier this year: NICK CARTER – Boston Paradise Rock Club » Boston Wedding Photographer Ze Liang Photography