Concert Photography - Expert Advice Needed, Please

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/25/2012 03:19:12 PM · #1

Hey guys/gals!

I *may* be getting an opportunity of a lifetime to photograph the greatest band ever, live! I do some work for the Iron Maiden official fan club, and they are currently considering allowing me to obtain a photo pass for a concert coming up in late July. I figure my chances are about 50/50 on them saying yes.

I would reaaaaaally appreciate help/advice from anyone with experience at up close (in front of the barrier) indoor concert photography

Now...if they do say yes, I'm assuming that flash will not be allowed, nor would I want to use one. Here is the equipment I have...

Camera Body - Canon EOD 50D
Lenses:
Canon EF 300mm f/4.0L IS USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 AF APO DG OS HSM
Tamron SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical

I would guess that the Canon 10-22mm camera might be my best choice, as I will literally be right in front of the stage. It's a tough choice cause that camera might not get me a close enough shot but would be great to bring in a lot of the stage. The Tamron 24-135mm would get me in closer, but I wouldn't get those cool wider shots. I'm guessing I should maybe have one lens mounted, and then another in a fanny pack or something?

I'm guessing I should shoot at somewhere between 400-800 ISO? My favorite mode to shoot is aperture priority....but would you recommend shutter priority to force a certain minimum shutter speed? Or aperture priority and just watch the shutter speed carefully?

Any advice on ANYTHING would be awesome...techniques, DOs and DONTs, etiquette around other photographers that will be up there....ANYTHING.

I took some shots at a Blaze Bayley (former singer for Iron Maiden) concert many months ago with an older Canon 40D and the Tamron 24-135mm lens, but the lighting was sooooo bad that not one of the shots really turned out anywhere near properly sharp. I was shooting at 1600 ISO just to get even a 1/80 sec exposure time. I was just really learning then...so wasn't sure what to expect. Here are some of the better shots from that show. I think I have a good grasp of angles/composition. I just need to make SURE that these shots come out 1000% better than the ones below...

Thank you in advance!

Message edited by author 2012-05-25 15:46:32.

nickyb

Apple iPhone 5

05/25/2012 03:20:34 PM · #2

i dont have much advice, but up the irons!

yanko

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

05/25/2012 03:32:48 PM · #3

I don't have much experience shooting concerts but in regards to light I would see if you can find out what the conditions will be at the concert. If it's anything like in your examples then you will need a very fast lens so my recommendation would be the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II coupled with a high ISO so you can stop down when needed. Also, when you're shooting at a high ISO it becomes even more important to get the exposure right. If you're still underexposing then the noise will be very bad so it's better to overexpose a little.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/25/2012 03:43:28 PM · #4

Originally posted by yanko:

Thanks yanko. The lighting will be excellent, compared to that small club show for Blaze Bayley that I shot. Maiden has incredible stage lighting and powerful spotlights on each member of the band throughout the show. I definitely want to use the fastest lens I can...so I'm considering the 50mm...but I'm stuck with just one focal length, then...unless (as a nice member suggested by PM) I can manage to bring a backup camera and bring both to the show with me.

rooum

05/25/2012 03:55:03 PM · #5

I've done quite a bit of gig photography but nothing on that stadium size scale. Some of the larger gigs have been press pass in front of the barrier though. The lighting on a gig that size is going to be pretty bright but you are still going to need a fast lens. The last few gigs i did i used a 24-70 2.8 but i kind of preferred using a 35mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.4/1.8. I don't worry too much about high ISO and on my cameras i tend to use Auto ISO and let that do a lot of the work. I set the top end to around 3200 and the bottom to kick in around 1/50 or so. I use aperture priority wide open or near to wide open. I often switch to spot metering a lot particularly if i'm focusing in on a single person. One thing i really like about gig photography is that it's about catching that perfect moment and that often comes at certain times in the song so it's about watching the beats, the choruses etc. You'll have an added bonus as you'll know the songs so you know just when Bruce Dickinson is going to bellow or is likely to raise the micstand in the air or whatever. I've been lucky enough to get press passes to photograph two of my favourite bands, The Fall and Swans, and its a bonus to know the songs. Keep in mind that you might only be able to photograph the first few songs. There tends to be an unwritten first three songs only rule at many gigs over a certain size so you might just have that.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

05/25/2012 04:48:36 PM · #6

Originally posted by cdpayne:

The Tamron 24-135mm would get me in closer, but I wouldn't get those cool wider shots. I'm guessing I should maybe have one lens mounted, and then another in a fanny pack or something?

With this lens you can probably do a quick series panning from left to right and stitch them into a single panoramic/wide-angle shot; I'd have it at maybe 50mm or whatever would avoid distortion in the stitched image (this is something you can test out ahead of time!). I think even from the front of the stage you'd want at least the 135mm to get close-ups of the singer's face and the players' hands.

Yes to the fanny-pack idea -- what's the point of having a camera with interchangable lenses if you don't change them to match circumstances?

MinsoPhoto

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

05/25/2012 05:00:52 PM · #7

I would rent a backup camera and perhaps a fast zoom. You don't want to miss anything because of a technical error on your equipment and rental prices are very reasonable.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/25/2012 08:10:45 PM · #8

ditto renting gear! a couple hundred bucks could make the difference between images that will last you a lifetime or a lifetime of regret...

get 7d or better, a 70-200L, and a 16-35L and you're good to go.

if you can, try to get in for the soundcheck. if not, at least get in early to scout out for other spots to shoot from, besides down front.

as for etiquette, try not to step into someone else's shot. be mindful of those behind you. and be mindful of what you could trip over (or unplug).

if you have a pass, that *should* allow you to go places, like the wings. if you do have freedom to move around, keep in mind that you are there to record the show, not to be the show. slip into place, get your shots, then move back into the shadows.

along those lines, look for someone who looks like a pro shooter and spend time watching them and how they cover it.

also, watch your horizons; a little tilt is ok, but too much is, well, too much.

above all, HAVE FUN! hope this works out for you!

Message edited by author 2012-05-25 20:13:18.

05/25/2012 08:36:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by rooum:

Thanks rooum! Yeah, I really want to keep the shutter speed over 1/50 actually, if I can. I like the idea of auto ISO. I wasn't aware I could set it to auto and limit to a certain ISO like 1600 or 3200. I will keep that in mind. Yes, there will definitely be a 3 song limit. Only the guy who flies around with them gets to shoot the entire show. Sadly, the only really fast lens I have at 1.8 is just 50mm. I like that you suggested wide open, as I was worried about the depth of field at that...but if you've had success, I will do that to get the fastest shutter speed I can get.

05/25/2012 08:39:55 PM · #10

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by cdpayne:
The Tamron 24-135mm would get me in closer, but I wouldn't get those cool wider shots. I'm guessing I should maybe have one lens mounted, and then another in a fanny pack or something?

With this lens you can probably do a quick series panning from left to right and stitch them into a single panoramic/wide-angle shot; I'd have it at maybe 50mm or whatever would avoid distortion in the stitched image (this is something you can test out ahead of time!). I think even from the front of the stage you'd want at least the 135mm to get close-ups of the singer's face and the players' hands.

Yes to the fanny-pack idea -- what's the point of having a camera with interchangable lenses if you don't change them to match circumstances?

Thanks GeneralE! I like the panorama idea...and I think I'll have that 10-22mm around anyway. I might...just might have access to a backup camera and I could carry two on me, then...instead of switching lenses. Someone was nice enough to PM me and suggested there's a member near me that might have a camera body I could borrow as a backup...and if not that, then maybe a rental. Problem is I only need the rental one night, and I'm out on vacation in different locations for a week and a half.

05/25/2012 08:40:37 PM · #11

Originally posted by MinsoPhoto:

I would rent a backup camera and perhaps a fast zoom. You don't want to miss anything because of a technical error on your equipment and rental prices are very reasonable.

You're definitely right...thanks! I've figured by now I WILL need two camera bodies...a different lens on each.