Live band shots

groovemaster

groovemaster

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Nick
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Hey,

I’m looking into band/gig photography, I have loads of bands willing to let me snap away at their gigs which will give me the chance to experiment and get the hang of it.

What lens would best fit this type of photography?
I currently have Nikon D40 with 18-55 kit lens.
Most snaps will be intimate close ups and mostly in low light.

I’m a student so I’m on a budget but know how pricey they can be. It would be good if I found a cheap(ish) less to start of with.

Also, could any band photographers give me some general advice!

Thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
The search function will do wonders for you.

Fast glass is king, 50mm primes are always good for a budget. Something like a 35 f/2 could be cheap as well, though I don't know Nikon's lens line-up.

Tips; atmosphere is key, only use flash if you really know what you're doing with it.
Show the crowd, bands like that.
Don't get in people's way, be it the crowd, the band, the security...
Enjoy it, be friendly, talk to people while you're shooting if it's an 'informal' gig.
Work quickly.
Don't drink and shoot.
 
Hey thanks for the reply fast reply :)

I shal get looking for some prime lenses on here then, and maybe ebay for a bargain!

The first gigs I will shoot will be very informal so I will have loads of time to try different things out.
 
Yeah, I do bands. And I deffo dont drink while shooting. I work in a Rock Club and it's funny seeing the drunks towards the end of the night!

Add me on flickr.com, www.flickr.com/jake-lewis
 
Depends how you like to shoot I guess... there isn't really a right or wrong answer, unfortunately.

On a crop sensor now I'd probably prefer 35mm, but then I shot a lot of gigs on my 400D with a 50mm before I got the 5D.. Really is personal preference, and a little bit dependent on venue. But you can make any size venue work for you if you have a look around.
 
Play about with the kit lens and see where your shots sit most of the time.

If you're close up with the 50 you might find that you're chopping bits of guitar/bass off.

My husband plays bass and I was always getting wrong for lopping the headstock off the photos as I was concentrating on the face all of the time.

Just a little niggle but some musicians like to see how their gear looks in photos as much as themselves.
 
Your kit lens will be fine for the job if you are close to your subjects, but if they are above you on a stage you may want a bit more range than 55mm.
 
siggy 30mm 1.4 is a cracking little lens for gigs... great in low light, good range, and not to bad price... think it was 290 or somthing new...
 
Jayst84 said:
You wouldn't be allowed to though, would you? :p
Click to expand...

Well i'm not but at other places where I get paid to go. they don't know my age. and there's nothing stopping me getting a few cans and stashing them ;)
 
I use a combination of the 24-105 f4L (if the light is good), 85mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8. It really depends on the venue though, some small venues in Glasgow, you're right on top of the band, so even the 50mm on a crop sensor is a little close, and usually in the smaller venues the lighting is poor so the f4 is a no go, unless you up the ISO!

Dave
 
Don't be afraid to bump up the ISO. People get hung up on the getting the least noise but sometimes it adds to the atmosphere.
Take some safe shots and some more experimental ones to develop yourself a style you're happy with.
 
TriggerHappy said:
Don't be afraid to bump up the ISO. People get hung up on the getting the least noise but sometimes it adds to the atmosphere.
Take some safe shots and some more experimental ones to develop yourself a style you're happy with.
Click to expand...


Agreed
You can get some really arty shots with the grain
 
+1 to above - use the flash occasionally then play about with the colour on the sharper shots.
 
Loopy said:
Agreed
You can get some really arty shots with the grain
Click to expand...

You're not wrong there :thumbs:. My favourite gig photo of all time (and also the only image on display anywhere in my home) is this classic album cover, taken by Pennie Smith ...

IMG_0173.jpg


I'm not totally sure if the forum rules permit me to post this version :thinking:, as it's not my image, but whilst it's here, you can see how much grain and blur there is on it ;) ...

LondonCalling.jpg


Cracking shot though. Get one like that and you'll be minted :thumbs:!
 
film grain (as on the london calling cover) is so much more pleasant than digital 'noise'

shooting gigs in B+W high speed film is great fun, no chimping and a big long wait to see the results, hell it was worth it though
 
I wanna try it whitewash :P

you don't have an external speedlight but sometimes I like having mine on with the flash disabled to help the AF with its IR grid.

on the don't drink thing, whats the score with that I usually have one or two at the open mike (whether I'm teching or shooting) or is that only really cricket with the informal nature of student stuff?
 
i used to vary between drinking nothing before and during a gig i was shooting to having 1 or 2 during, it all depended on the band and whether i ws just shooting a band, or whether i was out to enjoy a gig (friends band etc), if it was a big gig (anything signed!)then it would be no booze til the end :)
 
inaneredstripe said:
totaly agree. there are some realy grainy shots i love.
but they capture the atmosphere

i love the guitar alcove naboo
Click to expand...

Thanks, inanerdstripe! Actually, that picture's 3 years old and those basses were sold to fund my camera equipment :'(, but it was the only pic I had of my Clash poster.

I cringe at the (lack of) quality of that "photgraph" now, having moved on from 2MP pocket cameras and learnt a bit more our fine craft ;).
 
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