Live music photography

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bono1985

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Today i bought a Nikon d5000 SLR with a 55-200mm lens and i want to have a go at taking some photographs at some rock gigs. Can anybody give me any tips on what settings to have it on, flash, iso etc please.
 
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bono1985 said:
Today i bought a Nikon d500 SLR with a 55-200mm lens and i want to have a go at taking some photographs at some rock gigs. Can anybody give me any tips on what settings to have it on, flash, iso etc please.
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Buy a camera that exsits would be a good start!

Presuming you mean a D50, you've got pretty much no chance with that lens. To slow and the D50 at ISO 1600 isnt pleasant. If you mean D5000, then you might has a bit more of a chance, but that lens is still far to slow.

You'll also be extremely lucky to get a DSLR into a gig without a press pass.

If you do, ISO 1600, aperture as low as it will go, you wont be allowed to use flash and it looks god awful anyway.
 
If you do, ISO 1600, aperture as low as it will go, you wont be allowed to use flash and it looks god awful anyway.
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pretty much...

oh, don't get in the way of everyone else in the pit (it's pretty self-regulating fortunately) if you do manage to get into decent size venues, and WEAR EARPLUGS.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
pretty much...

oh, don't get in the way of everyone else in the pit (it's pretty self-regulating fortunately) if you do manage to get into decent size venues, and WEAR EARPLUGS.
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Yep, elbows are god send for the few who dont quite "get it".
 
Just to reinforce the NO FLASH mesage.

Also, I think yo would be MUCH of with a fast prime as opposed to a slow zoom. I use the Canon 34L a bit from front of stage.

If you have to use a zoom then get something with decent IS, it does not freeze movement obviously but it does stop handshake up to a point and given the crazy dim lighting (with the odd flash) at most gigs I get to that is a bonus.

Good luck with the gig photography.

My view is that it is second only to wildlife in terms of having to really know your gear and the demands on it.

I could be wrong though.....
 
gary43 said:
My view is that it is second only to wildlife in terms of having to really know your gear and the demands on it.

I could be wrong though.....
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And weddings... You have 3 songs or maybe 10 minutes to get your shots. You have up to 20 other people in the size of a shoe tring to get the same shots.. If you dont know your gear without taking the camera from your eye, you have no chance in hell.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Yep, elbows are god send for the few who dont quite "get it".
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and when that doesn't work... monopods ;)


But yeah, know your gear intimately, and how to make it do what you want. Find something to be shooting for - bands want publicity, and they will let you in the pit if you can give them publicity - so have something to offer.
 
Sorry guys i did mean a Nikon D5000, i am going to sound like a real numpty here but how do you turn off the flash? I know that you can't use flash at gigs so how do i turn it off.
 
Take the camera out of the auto mode. I use aperture priority at gigs usually, some people go fully manual. As we've said above, for this type of stuff you need to know your camera and its controls intimately. If you dont know how to turn the flash off, what are you going to do when you need to change a setting in a split second to get that photo of a lifetime.
I suggest you spend time learning the camera inside out before even considering trying to shoot a gig with it.
 
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Like I said, I use Aperture priority.
 
Without meaning to belittle the OP, I think you're aiming way too high at the minute.
You clearly don't know your camera or how to change it's settings.. and why to.

Gig photography is demanding, you need to be concentrating only on the shot.. the camera and it's settings should be pretty much automatic for you.
You'll need some fast glass (f/2.8+) and a sensor that's happy at high ISOs.

I only shoot fully manual at gigs, as depending on how 'clever' your camera is and what metering mode you're in etc, something as simple as a stage light changing colour temp will throw the exposure miles off and ruin the pic in Aperature priority.
 
Zukabak said:
I only shoot fully manual at gigs, as depending on how 'clever' your camera is and what metering mode you're in etc, something as simple as a stage light changing colour temp will throw the exposure miles off and ruin the pic in Aperature priority.
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This is why you need to be watching the stage more than the camera, pick your shots. Ive never had a ruined pic in Ap yet.
If you are stood in the pit trying to figure out what shutter speed you need and dont know how to change it, you'll A) be in the way and B) come away with no shots at all
 
TCR4x4 said:
pick your shots.
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Best advice here, and also the hardest to do as a beginner.

As someone who's only shot around 10 gigs, I've already realised the importance of being selective in what to shoot..
It's SO easy to get carried away and find yourself taking 200+ pics.. which just makes it a ballache during workflow to whittle it down to 'keepers'.
 
Zukabak said:
Best advice here, and also the hardest to do as a beginner.

As someone who's only shot around 10 gigs, I've already realised the importance of being selective in what to shoot..
It's SO easy to get carried away and find yourself taking 200+ pics.. which just makes it a ballache during workflow to whittle it down to 'keepers'.
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Amen to that. My first ever gig I pretty much just kept my finger on the button for 10 minutes. Took hours to go through them all to find the 3 or 4 that were actually any good!
I havent done a gig for a while, but my last few I concentrated much more on what I was shooting, rather than just firing away. I was also carefully watching the lights to minimise the red light and catch the white light. It helps if you know the songs, as you can sort of guess where the lights will be and what they'll do. If you know in the song there is a blazing guitar solo, chances are a spotlight will hit the guitar player.. Wait for that and get a greatly lit shot.
Its also good to know where the "singalong" bits are, as often the singer will lean off the monitors to get the mic into the crowd. If you know this is coming, you can get in a position beofore it happens to get a great crowd interaction shot.
 
also visit the venue before the event you want to shoot.

this will give you ideas of who goes where, there movement level, potential good angles and lighting areas
 
I'd suggest getting the 35mm 1.8 lens. Crackin' little lens, fast and relatively cheap.

The lights are always going to be the main issue at gigs, and it's just a matter of getting used to this and picking your shots, as people have mentioned.

I generally stay in manual mode.
 
OP : dont worry to much about grain in your images as this is something that works well with Gig photography.as already said a 50mm a/f f1.8 lens would be useful and can be picked up used for around £60-£70.if you can extend to it purchase a good used 18-50 f2.8 a/f sigma which can be picked up for as low as £150,or a sigma 24-70 f2.8 for around £180,even cheaper think about a couple of older manual focus nikon ais lenses,50mm f1.8 around £35 and 35mm f2.8 around £50 ish,though with the later 2 you would definately have a percentage of images that are unusable if you are not quick enough with focus
 
bono1985 said:
Sorry guys i did mean a Nikon D5000, i am going to sound like a real numpty here but how do you turn off the flash?
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Put a piece of insulation tape round it so that it can't pop up.

Probably a more technical solution as well, but do this too, don't want it accidentally coming up.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Put a piece of insulation tape round it so that it can't pop up.

Probably a more technical solution as well, but do this too, don't want it accidentally coming up.
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On the flip side if the singer dives in the crowd and there is no light put onto him, it accidentally popping up and firing a couple amongst the hundreds of others, well things can happen
 
To the OP. Learn your camera, shoot small gigs first and invest in fast glass of some sort, dependant on your budget.

I shoot on average 150 - 200 shots per gig, I shoot full manual as it gives full control. As said before aperture priority if you are new to it, but learn your camera, learn how to change iso without thinking, know how many clicks it takes to move a full stop, leanr the effect of changing this. Practice with your camera, then practice on a gig, then practice some more, and then practice some.
 
ding76uk said:
On the flip side if the singer dives in the crowd and there is no light put onto him, it accidentally popping up and firing a couple amongst the hundreds of others, well things can happen
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fair point, though dunno if it's worth it.

I usually use a flash on my short zoom camera for AF-assist, so I'd be quickly turning the flash on it back on :)
 
Which lens shall i use, i have the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
and the 55-200mm f/4-5.6 DX VR Lens
 
Neither of those will be fast enough really. You'll not get a shutter speed fast enough to get anything sharp. Ideally you need an f/2.8 or faster lens.
 
TCR4x4 said:
Neither of those will be fast enough really. You'll not get a shutter speed fast enough to get anything sharp. Ideally you need an f/2.8 or faster lens.
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Will i not get any decent shots with these lenses then?
 
Not really no, unless you are very lucky.
I still dont see how you intend to get this equipment into the venue, or indeed use it. Have you read the advice above about knowing your gear inside out?
 
TCR4x4 said:
Not really no, unless you are very lucky.
I still dont see how you intend to get this equipment into the venue, or indeed use it. Have you read the advice above about knowing your gear inside out?
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I am a music journalist i review gigs for a living, so will have no problem getting my equipment in. I am trying to incorporate photography into reviewing gigs.
 
bono1985 said:
I am a music journalist i review gigs for a living, so will have no problem getting my equipment in. I am trying to incorporate photography into reviewing gigs.
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and thus the decline of the professional continues further...

hire a professional.


but yeah, you'll get the occasional good shot with the 18-55. Keep it wide and close, and wait for the light to be good. Pick your moments and hit the shutter.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
and thus the decline of the professional continues further...

hire a professional.


but yeah, you'll get the occasional good shot with the 18-55. Keep it wide and close, and wait for the light to be good. Pick your moments and hit the shutter.
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What maxiumum sensitivity and minimum shutter speed shall i go for?
 
C'mon, lighten up..you've been given some top quality advice in this thread.

It just seems that you're now going down the menu screen and asking how to set every single one.
 
Zukabak said:
Do you want to just pass Dave your camera..? :D
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beat me to it... the button on top of the camera's the one to press.... :D

high iso NR off, do it in lightroom instead.
picture style....doesn't matter. 'vivid' will give you punchy jpgs if you want.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
beat me to it... the button on top of the camera's the one to press.... :D

high iso NR off, do it in lightroom instead.
picture style....doesn't matter. 'vivid' will give you punchy jpgs if you want.
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Cool, cheers my man. I am sure i will pick it all up everybody starts somewhere right?
 
Zukabak said:
C'mon, lighten up..you've been given some top quality advice in this thread.

It just seems that you're now going down the menu screen and asking how to set every single one.
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I'm sure you knew all the right settings when you had your first SLR Zukabak!!!
 
FWIW, my current camera IS my first SLR (well, I had a D40x for a month but sold it as it was too small, but I digress).. and I've only been shooting gigs since Feb, so I'm still massively new to all this.

However, I've had to learn how to use the camera, learn what the different settings do, learn how to make adjustments on the fly in a tiny dark sweatbox 2' from a moshing frontman and 1000w of Marshall stack without taking my eye off the camera.

Key there though is I'VE had to learn. Just getting settings from other people won't do it, you need have a play about and see what everything does and how one setting effects the others etc. You can't just say "What should I set everything to?" as it's not that simple.

Don't be so bloody defensive, I added a smiley after all. ;)
 
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