Live music photography

[bono1985]

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.

I was only kidding mate, i just wanted some tips to start me off that's all. I didn't want to go straight into a photo pit and not really know what i am doing and panic. I'm not on here to argue pal, just to get some help and advice.

 

[ding76uk]

I was only kidding mate, i just wanted some tips to start me off that's all. I didn't want to go straight into a photo pit and not really know what i am doing and panic. I'm not on here to argue pal, just to get some help and advice.

If you want some real honest advice, no punches here it is:

You are not ready to do gig photography at the level you are trying yet. You will not get shots, some due to not having the right equipment, some due to you not know what your camera does or indeed what you are doing with it.

You will end up with poor shots, which will not do yourself any favours or the website you are writing for. You will annoy others in the pit due to fumbling with things and through no fault of your own be in the way of people who will get peeved at you. Most of us in the pit are friendly and will help the beginner if you ask, but we are there to do our work too, and if you are getting in the way, we will let you know.

You should continue reviewing larger gigs, use any local small gig to practice the photography side of things, look at getting some faster glass, and building up a zen like knowledge of your camera (not a joke you really need it) and then move up when you feel confident you can produce something worthwhile.

Lastly, in the meantime get someone to do your photos for you. You will cheapen your writing and site (or publication I forget which you are dong it for) as the photos will not be good, turning readers off before they get to the text part.

Gig photography isn't easy, I am sure you know this. But a DSLR does not help you in the slightest. You need to understand adjustments. What if you are shooting in AV and your shutter speed is going everywhere due to lighting problems, what do you do?

You need to know because 9 minutes of photography in total darkness, with big sweaty men (and women) obstacles all over the floor to take you down, cameras which play up at just the wrong moment, people relying on you to deliver perfection, crowd punching you in the back for being in their way (happened to me several times at a shoot last week) beer being thrown over your head, kicks to the head from the passing converse all star of the crowd surfers, bouncer who refuse to move so you can get the shot, and a lighting guy who puts up all red with even heavier red backlighting from the rig.

When 6400 iso won't help you and god gave up on the shoot ages ago.

This isn't photography, this is war!

Hope you take this advice with the spirit it was sent with!

 

[bono1985]

If you want some real honest advice, no punches here it is:

You are not ready to do gig photography at the level you are trying yet. You will not get shots, some due to not having the right equipment, some due to you not know what your camera does or indeed what you are doing with it.

You will end up with poor shots, which will not do yourself any favours or the website you are writing for. You will annoy others in the pit due to fumbling with things and through no fault of your own be in the way of people who will get peeved at you. Most of us in the pit are friendly and will help the beginner if you ask, but we are there to do our work too, and if you are getting in the way, we will let you know.

You should continue reviewing larger gigs, use any local small gig to practice the photography side of things, look at getting some faster glass, and building up a zen like knowledge of your camera (not a joke you really need it) and then move up when you feel confident you can produce something worthwhile.

Lastly, in the meantime get someone to do your photos for you. You will cheapen your writing and site (or publication I forget which you are dong it for) as the photos will not be good, turning readers off before they get to the text part.

Gig photography isn't easy, I am sure you know this. But a DSLR does not help you in the slightest. You need to understand adjustments. What if you are shooting in AV and your shutter speed is going everywhere due to lighting problems, what do you do?

You need to know because 9 minutes of photography in total darkness, with big sweaty men (and women) obstacles all over the floor to take you down, cameras which play up at just the wrong moment, people relying on you to deliver perfection, crowd punching you in the back for being in their way (happened to me several times at a shoot last week) beer being thrown over your head, kicks to the head from the passing converse all star of the crowd surfers, bouncer who refuse to move so you can get the shot, and a lighting guy who puts up all red with even heavier red backlighting from the rig.

When 6400 iso won't help you and god gave up on the shoot ages ago.

This isn't photography, this is war!

Hope you take this advice with the spirit it was sent with!

Thank you, i really appreciate the advice. To be fair i wasn't going to go straight into photographing band's like Metallica and Kings Of Leon. I review smaller gigs, most of which are half empty or in some cases quarter empty. I'm using it as an experiment to begin with, if the photos aren't good enough i won't put them with my review. I want to photograph local band's mostly and smaller bands in small venues, the venues i review at only hold 150-350 people. Arenas and Concert Halls are a long way off. I just want to get a bit of a portfolio started and work my way up to bigger things. I really appreciate all your help. Cheers guys.

 

[Duncan.F]

I do mainly gigs and I agree with most of whats been said.

You will need better glass, the lens you are using will be little use in low lighting.

Sometimes you are allowed to use flash, but a pop up flash will either be no use at all or blow out the atmosphere of the gig.

Practise at a smaller venue first.

If you get 3 decent shots out of 300 at your first few gigs, call it a result!

Dunc