Photographing live music: The drummer

[dawntwist]

Does anyone have any tips on how to best photograph the drummer (when playing on the stage, obviously!)

Any further tips on live/concert photography would be well appreciated!

 

[Moos3h]

I would recommend using a long telephoto, so help squash the image a bit, and going for a pin sharp face, with the hardware out of focus, or vice versa. Try and get some nice angles etc.

You could also try a longer exposure with a tripod, so the kit remains sharp, but the trails of the drummers arms etc. show up?

Cheers,
James

 

[Hopkin Green Frog]

Drummers are a pain in the arse, to be blunt. I think I've only ever taken a couple of drummer shots that I'd say were any good. It depends on the size of the stage as well - on big stages, things (including the drummer) tend to be well lit. On smaller stages, drummers tend to be somewhat left in the dark.

If you're shooting a pro gig, then you don't have time to be messing around with different lenses since you can only shoot three songs usually, a tripod is far too cumbersome for those circumstances, and you can't use flash obviously, so I tend to use the f/1.4 50mm - seems to work for me pretty well most of the time (though I wear glasses which makes manual focus a no no - and autofocus is a pain with drums - it's always attracted to the shiny bits of hardware).

General gig photography hints?

Erm... check your layout in advance, don't turn up as the band are going onstage... Be friendly and have a little chat with the stage security, you'll be thankful when they aren't dropping crowd surfers on your head as you're lining up a shot... Be discreet, you're inbetween the band and the audience, but you don't want to be in the way of the audience experience... focusing on the guitar strap tends to be a good focal point to get everything in nice and sharp... watch out for autofocus hitting shiny hardware (mics, drum hardware etc).

Finally, don't bother with the bass player. They all look the same, they never do anything, and are essentially interchangable units

There's a bunch of gig shoots at http://www.myspace.com/wehaveyourmonkey (plug plug )

 

[minky_monkey]

Waterproof your camera , as the old joke goes How can you tell when you`ve got the drum riser level?

The drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth.....

 

[DavidJColbran]

Usually quite hard as they will back further on the stage than other performers. Get as close to the stage as possible, use a long lens, and don't worry too much about 'freezing' all of the action. Here are a couple of mine;

 

[sakura]

yes drummers like hiding in the dark behind lots of 'scaffolding'!

like hopkin green frog said one of the main problems is if using autofocus it can focus on the drums and not the drummer - I focus manually most of the time.

I'll put some drummery pics up later.

 

[dawntwist]

thanks for the tips guys! hopkin, thanks for the link, ive seen men women and children live, i love them!
david, i love the first picture, it looks great how youve got his head in focus (and what a shiny one it is too )
i did my first gig photoshoot on friday, still got lots to learn but i was satisfied with a couple i got, though because of the lighting, i didnt use half of them. trial and error, i suppose!

 

[Hopkin Green Frog]

yes drummers like hiding in the dark behind lots of 'scaffolding'!

like hopkin green frog said one of the main problems is if using autofocus it can focus on the drums and not the drummer - I focus manually most of the time.

I'll put some drummery pics up later.

I'd like to manual focus, but I wear glasses, and it just becomes impossible. I've been trying out contacts, but now I'm having to learn to focus quickly on manual, don't want to risk it at a proper gig yet.

 

[whitewash]

pretty much as paddy says, it can be a hit and miss afair with lighting, using the central focus point on your camera to focus on the face and not the stands and cymbals also helps, dont let the camera decide what to focus on, tell it! cant say ive ever had a problem with my slr focusing on the kit, as im generally not asking it to focus on it, saying that the camera would find it easier if it had the opertunity!

at some gigs you might be able to get away with a bit of slow sync flash to brighten the subject but maintain some stick trails etc

and specially for patrick, not a great image but still

oh and i use an 85mm prime to get a bit closer in so you get more FACE! and less kit!




wish i got to take some more band pictures, not done any for over a year (the last lot were on film!)

 

[moomike]

Drummers are a pain in the arse, to be blunt.

Waterproof your camera , as the old joke goes How can you tell when you`ve got the drum riser level?

The drummer drools out of both sides of his mouth.....

Oy You're not bassists by any chance are you?

 

[J Gordon]

Deffo go manual focus and frame the shot you want with blurred hardware. Take your time and wait for the real action, let the drummer get a sweat on to get the real shots...love the first of the two put up here, very charcterful. Much, of course, depends on the character of the drummer.
It helps if you are moved by the music too, one of my best shots was of Bruce Foxton doing an accoustic version of That's Entertainment just 12 feet in front of me. Hard to concentrate when it is that good, others of course love the camera and really play up to it so use every advantage you have and don't be afraid to experiment either as you may be able to produce something out of the ordinary.

 

[sakura]

Some various drummer pics:

this was taken about 4 years ago - terrible lights, flash was used - its a bit hard but hey hey its the 70's!(not!)
I'm happy with it! Taken on an Olympus 5060wz:

Fran from The Tommys, a bit of slow sync to give some action, fantastic exciting drummer! sigma f2.8/18-50mm @ f3.2:

Chris Rivers from Roadstar, no flash, so lucky to catch the stick in the air! f2.8/28-70mm:

Gian from Electric Eel Shock ahem.... well it got banned from my myspace page...but he's wearing a sock!! I will have to do this as a link I reckon! f2.8/28-70mm:

Electric Eel Shock

 

[Elaine]

Drummers are the bain gig photography ..but I have had some good encounters..just helps with the venue having decent lights in most cases
Here's a few of my efforts...

Also Paddy how did my shots come out of your band?

 

[DavidJColbran]

Just found another - great 'sex face'

 

[Dino f]

Heres my fave shot of a drummer ive taken, dont slate the dreaded red (light) i happen to like it.

Dean.

 

[Hopkin Green Frog]

People talking about flash, that's fine at some gigs, but if you're shooting at a "proper" gig, you're very rarely allowed to use it - so I've learned to always do without Also, in those circumstances, you'll not often get to shoot more than three songs (sometimes less) so you don't really have time to wait for the perfect shot - I find it's best to hammer it and keep shooting. 65daysofstatic were kind enough to let me shoot the whole gig, and I got some blinders though

Elaine, love that shot of Darren. Jamie, thanks for the shot of oor Bobby. Let's see if I can find some of my faves... it's often Chazz, I think his ginger attracts the AF.

 

[sakura]

i thought all gigs were proper gigs - from pub to large venue

but that's just me

 

[Hopkin Green Frog]

Yeah, by "proper" gigs, I mean gigs with a tour manager in major/large venues by signed bands with a lot of support and tech behind 'em. It was a badly chosen word.

On the other hand, being in my band, god knows we don't play proper gigs.


We play improper ones

 

[Dino f]

Yeah i agree with HGF, i never use flash, even at low setting it can be a bit of a atmosphere killer.

i thought all gigs were proper gigs - from pub to large venue

but that's just me

Good call - S, know what HGF meant tho'.
Dean