Concert photography help

bigrob

bigrob

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,225
Name
Robin
Edit My Images
Yes
I am going to a school reunion next week (500 years old - not me the school!!).

There is a concert starting at 8pm. It will a philharmonic orchestra and opera singers. It is outdoors but imagine the stage will be well lit.

Just looking for any tips on exposure, things to look out for etc as I'm more used to sports photography.

I'm not sure how close I can get but have the following that I can take with 2 bodies.

24-105/4
70-200/2.8 II
300/2.8 non IS
1.4 & 2x extenders
580ex II flash
Monopod.
 
Last edited:
I think you may get more response in a bother area of the forum, but I would go 70-200 as you have the extra stop of light. You will be looking at 1600-3200 as a starting point I would think.

I shoot manual for gigs (not of this type though) and my general starting point is f4, 1/125th at 1600 and go from there. Not sure if you are comfortable with manual but exposures can be tricky, if not spot metering generally works better for this kind of photography.
 
Thanks Carl. Yes happy with Manual exposures.
 
70-200, don't use flash (not because it'll distract the musicians, but cos it'll look pants), job done. You might need to crank the iso a bit, even outdoor stages can get pretty dark.
 
find yourself an elivated position to get the whole orchestra in shot
 
Thanks Dave.

Hopefully the barriers won't be too far away. As the concert will be on for a while I should be able to try out different settings.

Just got a 5D3 to go with my 1D4 so it will be good to try both. Was thinking put the 70-200 on the 1D4 for 'the reach' and the 24-105 on the 5D3 for wider shots, then switch them around.

Now I need to go and look and how to shoot fireworks as it ends with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture to the fireworks.
 
KIPAX said:
find yourself an elivated position to get the whole orchestra in shot
Click to expand...

Thanks Tony. I have a look round. I do have some little step ladders but they wouldn't get me very high.
 
for fireworks, i used a tripod and then on the camera i used B on a remote release and locked the shutter open and then used the lens cap to allow the exposure - on slide film

not tried on digital - so looking forward to that myself
 
Well, my wife insisted that we go to a local charity event with a Take That tribute group and some bloke off X-Factor - I was really impressed then I thought I could take my camera! The only positive was that it didn't rain, much but it was gloomy all evening. I was still attempting to shoot at 10pm, really pushing the ISO on a D200 to 2500.

Here is an example of my efforts (not great, but it was the first time).

G08_5301a_TP.jpg


G08_5314a_TP.jpg


I must try to get all the band in next time :bang:
G08_5309a_TP.jpg


But the best bit is trying to photograph the audience. This was more a 'festival' type event so just wandering around photographing people enjoying themselves was fun....a lot of people were not aware of my presence, some were so acted up and those that I missed shouted for a photograph.....great night really but I've got a lot to learn so my advice on one event is just enjoy it :thumbs:
 
Turns out the barriers were 17m back.

I don't think that they are too bad for a first attempt although I am sure that there is plenty of room for improvement.

No vantage point to get higher unfortunately.

The beautiful lady singing is the daughter of my old Geography teacher.

7488028118_ee71acff81_c.jpg
[/url] RMW_0351.jpg by BigRobinRob, on Flickr[/IMG]

7488033132_d967563af4_c.jpg
[/url] RMW_0365.jpg by BigRobinRob, on Flickr[/IMG]

7488035394_c7552e6139_c.jpg
[/url] H83A0730.jpg by BigRobinRob, on Flickr[/IMG]

7488038688_2b52390310_c.jpg
[/url] H83A0745.jpg by BigRobinRob, on Flickr[/IMG]

7488042540_90435a9a07_c.jpg
[/url] H83A0786.jpg by BigRobinRob, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
personally the actually sining pictures are rather flat. like the no emotion. but thats probably because im used to shoot quite agressive bands playing.
 
Yes not quite heavy rock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top