Beginner I've been asked to shoot a gig

Steven001

Steven001

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Steven
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Hello,

I've been asked by a few work mates to take some photos of their next gig which is on the 22nd November. Usually landscapes is my thing, but I've always wanted to try concert photography so I said yes. I have been told they will have "standard lights with disco/dance lights" which I suppose is a bit vague! I've asked if they will be doing a rehearsal with the lighting in place but unfortunately that wont be happening. I'm basically looking for some tips to hopefully get the best images possible! I have a Nikon D90 and the two lenses I would be using are 35mm f/1.8 and Tamron 17-50 f/2.8. My biggest worry is the noise handling of the D90 which isn't great. I also have a Nissin di622 which they said I could use however I'm reluctant to use flash.

Thanks
 
Don't get too obsessed with noise Steven - just open up the 35mm to 1.8 and crank up the ISO to get a decent shutter speed. If anything a bit of noise adds a nice something to gig shots. Plus, with the mixture of lighting you'll probably find you'll be doing a fair bit of converting to B&W in post......B&W gig shots with a bit of grain are always a winner.
 
I agree with above a bit of grain at gig photography is ok adds to the feel.
 
You could try editing in RAW if you really don't want grain but RAW images eat up your cards memory so go prepared. I don't know if RAW & JPEG is an option on your camera but if it is I'd recommend using it.

I wouldn't worry about grain too much however because as danny & rj say, it can add effect.
 
I tried gig photography with the same camera 35mm lens and also had tamron 28-75 mm 2.8

The place was a pub and lots of red light was used during performance which was super hard to maintain good detail & focus and I had really high iso, my advice would be to get in close and try & get as many emotion shots as possible I'm sure you will do great

I wasn't happy with the lack of detail and soft focus in mine but the experience was really good
 
I shot my first gig with a Canon 40D (not the best at noise anything over 800..!) and got these results with a Helios 44m F2 and a Sigma 17-35mm f2.8..
The gig was a small venue with green lighting..!

As said above, open the lenses as far as possible but also wait for good light to close it down a bit more DOF.

Don't be worried about getting in their faces, move around and also don't worry about getting in the audiences way!

View attachment 24058

View attachment 24059

View attachment 24060
 
If you want to end up with colour photos and they have disco lights flashing on their faces shoot at max photo's per second. This may not sound professional but you will be amazed just how different two photos taken a split second apart can look.
 
minnnt said:
Why the reluctance to use flash?
Click to expand...


No decent gig photographer uses flash. The bands would not be impressed, let alone the security. It also kills the ambient lighting

I've shot a fair few gigs in the past using a D90 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8, I had other lenses in the bag, but honestly, it was all I ended up using most times. You can get the full band in from front row, and at 50mm get your individual members.

Depending on the lighting, You should be up around ISO 1000 - 3200. Shoot manual to control thee exposure, don't be so worried about a little under exposing, it's a lot easier bump exposure in post than try bring back blown highlights. The D90 is well capable of putting out decent quality in that region - it's no match for the latest dslrs, but it's workable. It may take a little work in PP is all.

Here's a couple from a few years back, shot using the D90 and Tamron 17-50 @ ISO 3200 -

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr


And yeah, that white dot in the second still bugs me, I must go back and edit that one :D so um, watch for stuff like that when processing :D
 
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Cagey75 said:
No decent gig photographer uses flash. The bands would not be impressed, let alone the security. It also kills the ambient lighting

I've shot a fair few gigs in the past using a D90 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8, I had other lenses in the bag, but honestly, it was all I ended up using most times. You can get the full band in from front row, and at 50mm get your individual members.

Depending on the lighting, You should be up around ISO 1000 - 3200. Shoot manual to control thee exposure, don't be so worried about a little under exposing, it's a lot easier bump exposure in post than try bring back blown highlights. The D90 is well capable of putting out decent quality in that region - it's no match for the latest dslrs, but it's workable. It may take a little work in PP is all.

Here's a couple from a few years back, shot using the D90 and Tamron 17-50 @ ISO 3200 -

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr


And yeah, that white dot in the second still bugs me, I must go back and edit that one :D so um, watch for stuff like that when processing :D
Click to expand...

I really like the second one, love the sax player! I don't convert enough of mine to mono, if you think about it gigpics are ideal candidates; they're high contrast to start with, there's usually a lot off colour (albeit random) so lots of scope to control the tones and you're usually trying to direct attention to one particular part of the image.
 
B&W gig pics tend to go down well with the bands too. Often you get mad blues and reds blobbed on their faces from the strong mixed lights, and B&W will very often improve such shots. Colour can work too, but is trickier get right/natural in PP
 
all good advice
I've used flash before but very very rarely. I bounced it from the wall behind me instead but generally I avoid.
Don't worry about noise, just worry about not having blurry guitarists.
to be honest, it sounds like you have the right lenses for the job to me.
 
Don't worry about noise, I used to use a 20D at 3200 and they were more than acceptable.
Flash kills atmosphere.
 
Cagey75 said:
No decent gig photographer uses flash. The bands would not be impressed, let alone the security. It also kills the ambient lighting

I've shot a fair few gigs in the past using a D90 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8, I had other lenses in the bag, but honestly, it was all I ended up using most times. You can get the full band in from front row, and at 50mm get your individual members.

Depending on the lighting, You should be up around ISO 1000 - 3200. Shoot manual to control thee exposure, don't be so worried about a little under exposing, it's a lot easier bump exposure in post than try bring back blown highlights. The D90 is well capable of putting out decent quality in that region - it's no match for the latest dslrs, but it's workable. It may take a little work in PP is all.

Here's a couple from a few years back, shot using the D90 and Tamron 17-50 @ ISO 3200 -

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr


And yeah, that white dot in the second still bugs me, I must go back and edit that one :D so um, watch for stuff like that when processing :D
Click to expand...

happygolucky said:
Don't worry about noise, I used to use a 20D at 3200 and they were more than acceptable.
Flash kills atmosphere.
Click to expand...

While when you get into bigger bands most don't allow flash, it is not something that kills atmosphere and there is a massive myth that this is so. Badly used flash definitely does, but this mantra that "no good gig photographer uses flash" is simply not true. Many do, many venues it is the only way to do it. Red light is fine to turn to B&W, but what about when this is not allowed by your editor? Then what? Flash sometimes has to be used. Also it gives an aesthetic to a lot of stuff in the punk rock scene, where it is encouraged. Now when you get to stadium shows, lighting is generally a lot better, but in clubs and lower end shows sometimes flash is necessary, you just need to learn how to use it. There are at least 2 shots on my portfolio that use it, and I would imagine most wouldn't be able to tell which shots.

Now unless you are experienced and know what you are doing it can look horrible, so beware of going in firing flash, but flash that is 1-2 stops under the exposure can just add a little pop and make a picture in the same way bad flash can ruin it.

www.carlspring.net if you want a look, but it is out of date as i am currently in the final stages of my new site.
 
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Of course it can be used to good effect, but most bands get p***ed off if you start using a big flash in the front row. You say yourself there, you have a couple of flash shots, meaning you mostly do not use it!

Great shots btw :)
 
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Cagey75 said:
Of course it can be used to good effect, but most bands get p***ed off if you start using a big flash in the front row. You say yourself there, you have a couple of flash shots, meaning you mostly do not use it!

Great shots btw :)
Click to expand...

I've shot a lot of bands.
None have been in the least bit bothered when I have to use flash. In fact of the bands I know and have discussed it with, they simply don't notice.
Sure, it's better when the lights are good enough that I don't need to, but it's a myth that it p***es bands off.
 
I used flash for fight gigs and still do for pro wrestling, no one notices as you're not just hitting them in the face with a powerful light but using a bit of fill.
however, the potential is that it's distracting, so it's discouraged or banned. then if you get one person using a bit of flash, okay...but then have 3-4 photographers going full felt and I can imagine that it IS distracting., esp if you're about to get punched in the face!
 
RichardtheSane said:
I've shot a lot of bands.
None have been in the least bit bothered when I have to use flash. In fact of the bands I know and have discussed it with, they simply don't notice.
Sure, it's better when the lights are good enough that I don't need to, but it's a myth that it p***es bands off.
Click to expand...


Just because the bands you've shot don't mind, doesn't mean it doesn't p*** a lot of them off! I've seen it first hand. I'm not a gig shooter, I have shot gigs, but been to hundreds of gigs as a regular punter besides. I've seen some bands moan about strong flashes - whether they're right or wrong about it. Of course idiots who point direct, full power flash in their faces don't help matters.

On the wrestling ... I watch UFC all the time, the photographers ringside never use flash. The lights are more than strong enough to shoot even lower ISO without flash.

I don't really care personally, but I wouldn't give the advice to use flash to someone who has stated they are reluctant to use it, So unless you want to start teaching the ins and outs of shooting gigs using flash, it's not what the OP asked. It's not about "Well I do this or that" ... thing is, you should be comfortable shooting either way. But shoot more the way you're more comfortable with. OP, who you should be responding to, ... doesn't want to use it.
 
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Cagey75 said:
On the wrestling ... I watch UFC all the time, the photographers ringside never use flash. The lights are more than strong enough to shoot even lower ISO without flash.
Click to expand...
the lighting is far better at promo events, and at a recent boxing match I didn't use flash in spite of horrible horrible horrible lighting.
most of my fight stuff is in working men's clubs rather than dedicated venues.
the wrestling stuff, is 'pro wrestling' so a far cry from UFC
and I think I've use flash at a gig once, and only because I bounced it off of the wall behind me to completely diffuse it. (Har Mar superstar as I recall :p) who then got mostly naked and walked through the crowd to the bar, so it serves him right !!
 
Thanks for your comments guys really appreciate it.

Cagey75 said:
No decent gig photographer uses flash. The bands would not be impressed, let alone the security. It also kills the ambient lighting

I've shot a fair few gigs in the past using a D90 and the Tamron 17-50 2.8, I had other lenses in the bag, but honestly, it was all I ended up using most times. You can get the full band in from front row, and at 50mm get your individual members.

Depending on the lighting, You should be up around ISO 1000 - 3200. Shoot manual to control thee exposure, don't be so worried about a little under exposing, it's a lot easier bump exposure in post than try bring back blown highlights. The D90 is well capable of putting out decent quality in that region - it's no match for the latest dslrs, but it's workable. It may take a little work in PP is all.

Here's a couple from a few years back, shot using the D90 and Tamron 17-50 @ ISO 3200 -

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr

Pearl Jem @ Swan lane, Navan, Co. Meath by Cagey75, on Flickr


And yeah, that white dot in the second still bugs me, I must go back and edit that one :D so um, watch for stuff like that when processing :D
Click to expand...

I didn't think I would get away with the Tamron 17-50mm, but after your comment I think I'll start with that and see how I get one. It would be nice to get some full band shots rather than just individual shots.

I was expecting people to say shoot in aperture priority mode because the light changes so quickly. I didn't think I would be able to adjust the exposure manually quick enough to get the shot, but manual seem to be the preferred option? Love both your images!

ding76uk said:
While when you get into bigger bands most don't allow flash, it is not something that kills atmosphere and there is a massive myth that this is so. Badly used flash definitely does, but this mantra that "no good gig photographer uses flash" is simply not true. Many do, many venues it is the only way to do it. Red light is fine to turn to B&W, but what about when this is not allowed by your editor? Then what? Flash sometimes has to be used. Also it gives an aesthetic to a lot of stuff in the punk rock scene, where it is encouraged. Now when you get to stadium shows, lighting is generally a lot better, but in clubs and lower end shows sometimes flash is necessary, you just need to learn how to use it. There are at least 2 shots on my portfolio that use it, and I would imagine most wouldn't be able to tell which shots.

Now unless you are experienced and know what you are doing it can look horrible, so beware of going in firing flash, but flash that is 1-2 stops under the exposure can just add a little pop and make a picture in the same way bad flash can ruin it.

www.carlspring.net if you want a look, but it is out of date as i am currently in the final stages of my new site.
Click to expand...

Your portfolio is incredible, very inspiring! I don't shoot many portraits never mind gigs so I am a little apprehensive. I think I'll take my flash with me and see how I get on without it first, if I decide I need to use, at least I have it with me.
 
My old band want me to stand in on bass for a gig in a couple of months when their current bassist is on holiday so I am going to watch them soon as they have added quite a few new songs in the set and thought I might take the camera along and see if I can get some decent shots.

So just to clarify its a decently high ISO with the lens wide open, no flash to ensure I get the colours in and is it apperture priority that's the best bet ??
 
Not really as the shutter speed may not be fast enough.
Shoot manual with 1/100 F2.8 and whatever ISO is required.
 
I've shot a few gigs and festivals - all great advice so far and your kit should do fine.
The biggest challenge shooting wide open is getting focus, especially when people are moving around. If mic stands are being used then it is relatively easy as you know exactly where they will be.
I don't like to go below 1/125s as the blur shows on enlargements.
There is quite a steep learning curve; don't be afraid to experiment.
Another top tip - take earplugs! I seem to spend a lot of time in front of the speaker stack and my hearing suffers.
Oh yes - and have fun :)

Here's a couple of mine...
20120505-123737-IMG_2563-S.jpg

20120507-223257-IMG_4513-S.jpg
 
Just been having a play about with my camera in our low light level conservatory and think I have managed to understand but just for clarification.

Set camera to manual
High ISO ( highest mine goes to is 1600 )
Shutter 125 or possibly faster if lots of movement
Apperture at lowest number ( widest so most light let in but not as much depth of field ? )
Take plenty pictures

That sound about right ??
 
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