Bad Lighting for Band: Colored stage lights are difficult to photograph. Well, for me it is. Messing around, I went extreme at increasing brightness and contrast. This seem to work.

Ugly Hedgehog - Photography Forum

Home Active Topics Newest Pictures Search Login Register ☰

Check out Bridge Camera Show Case section of our forum.

Photo Gallery

Bad Lighting for Band

Page 1 of 2 next>

Feb 11, 2012 20:47:19 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Colored stage lights are difficult to photograph. Well, for me it is.
Messing around, I went extreme at increasing brightness and contrast.
This seem to work. Just blow it out for a different look.
If anyone has tips, please jump in!
Pat

Edit: These guys are playing the exact same thing to one of the Eagles, tunes.
Rockbox Theater, Fredericksburg, TX

Image 1

Image 2

Feb 11, 2012 21:06:36 #

ftpecktim Loc: MONTANA

settings/lens?

Feb 11, 2012 21:29:05 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

ftpecktim wrote:

settings/lens?

My problem is the colored lights. Red, Yellow and blue, mostly on some, one white spot light on the singer.
The brightness does change. When it does, I have to make adjustments.

These images have been cropped to a size that is about 25% of the original size.

Canon 30D
Canon EFs 17-55, 2.8 Lens

Both images:
1/160
f6.3
ISO 1000
Focal length 51mm
Manual Mode
Use center metering and this blind aiming was off and image came out dark.

Also,
This theater is assigned seating.
I was sitting on front row off to one side.
I am blind aiming the camera towards the cast from my lap. I do not hold up to my face
To not bother anyone, image review is turned off. I check images by holding camera down and blocking anyones view of the back screen.

Thanks,
Pat

Check out Traditional Street and Architectural Photography section of our forum.

Feb 11, 2012 21:34:43 #

Dback4430 Loc: Lockport Il

Not perfect , but they tell a story . YOu can see it wasn't posed , they are playing live and the lights add to it . Maybe its just me . If you were shooting for a magazine , maybe things have to be different . I like em , thanks

Feb 11, 2012 21:45:13 #

dirtpusher Loc: tulsa oklahoma

otta try shooting the moody blues. they do have a great light show though

Feb 11, 2012 21:45:29 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Thank you, Dback.
I'm snap shot guy with a hobby. Just having fun and trying to get "The Shot".

You can check this link for some other shots from this theater. This lady is so fair skinned... These are some of the best of her by me.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-14636-1.html

Feb 12, 2012 11:02:36 #

Wheezie

Hey Pat, what if you de-saturated a little might take some red out?

Check out The Dynamics of Photographic Lighting section of our forum.

Feb 12, 2012 12:07:41 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Wheezie wrote:

Hey Pat, what if you de-saturated a little might take some red out?

I use Paint Shop Pro.
I found where I could increase or decrease Red.
The adjustments I made seem to effect the second and third guy, mostly. The first one is bathed in red light.
I don't know on this one. I see where I can use that adjustment on others that not so extreme.
At this show, I am usually saved by the white spot light. Well, sometimes.
I enjoy, trying to get the "shot" at ths show!!!
Thanks for the tip!

Feb 12, 2012 12:21:30 #

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Jay Pat wrote:

quote=Wheezie Hey Pat, what if you de-saturated a... (show quote)

well it is a theater and they do use multi-colored lights so it seems to me given all you've said you got decent results. Hotel California?

Feb 12, 2012 12:48:07 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

docrob wrote:

Hotel California?

I think that's right. They go into this intrumental at the end of the song.
The house (audience) goes "crazy!" at the end and the show, also, ends!!

Feb 12, 2012 17:14:38 #

Bob Curtis Loc: Bay City, TX

I am a retired Band Director and hate the fact that guitars have taken over so strongly today. Give any one a guitar and before you know it they are playing (?) in a Rock Band. While teaching in a college band my major drummer had to transfer to another school. An individual whom I knew volunteered to play with us. He had very little experience in a regular jazz band and didn't know his chords hardly at all. All in all, it was a rough half year. Lesson of the story - be sure you know what you are doing before you take the job or you will make a MESS of it!

Bob Curtis

Check out Close Up Photography section of our forum.

Feb 12, 2012 18:18:10 #

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Jay Pat wrote:

You'll never get perfect skin tone but you could reduce red saturation to get rid of the overwhelming red.

Feb 12, 2012 22:15:27 #

rballard29 Loc: Albuquerque, NM

Jay Pat wrote:

I am blind aiming the camera towards the cast from my lap. I do not hold up to my face. To not bother anyone, image review is turned off. I check images by holding camera down and blocking anyones view of the back screen.
Pat

I wish everyone would be as considered as you, Jay. Unfortunately they aren't. I especially dislike the individuals who are taking pictures from row 50 and have their flash going off like that is going to make a difference.

Feb 12, 2012 23:37:55 #

nikron7 Loc: Indianapolis

Jay, this isn't a resolution for your situation, however it might be something you might want to try. I shot several album covers back in the day of film. They were dark situations much like you experienced. There was a process called "10,000" where in a dark situation you pushed your ASA to 10,000. Never mind the film processing. The results were that the shots got really grainy and actually looked pretty creative. I am not certain how far you can push your ISO with your camera but maybe you might try doing grainy in that situation.

Ron

Feb 13, 2012 00:20:08 #

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Bob Curtis wrote:

I am a retired Band Director and hate the fact tha... (show quote)

You must really have had some crazy kind of jazz band if your drummer had to know chords...

Page 1 of 2 next>

If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.

Check out Film Photography section of our forum.

Photo Gallery

Home | Latest Digest | Back to Top | All Sections

UglyHedgehog.com - Forum