Mr. K Loc: VA

I have been asked to take pics at a live concert of a well known artist at an area college tomorrow night. I will be given a photographer's pass and can capture anything I wish. The sponsors would only like to have a few photos for their website. Since I've never had this opportunity, nor do I have any experience working with such diverse lighting schemes that change so rapidly, I would Appreciate some input/advice from you guys. Thanks in advance for any and all comments. My equipment is as follows:
Canon 7D
Canon XSi
18-55mm kit lens
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Canon 70-200mm s/2.8 IS STI II
SIGMA 50mm f/1.4
Canon 430ESII FLASH
CPL & Neutral Density filters for the 18-55, 28-75, and 70-200 lenses

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

I shoot classical music concerts, and have shot an opera production (so no flash or anything else that will distract the audience).
Shoot RAW as it will give you more control when post processing.
I use fast primes (f2 or faster) on multiple bodies, and shoot aperture priority (usually wide open or near wide open) with some exposure compensation, if need be, and take what ever shutter speed I can get.
Be prepared to shoot at high ISO (1600+), especially with only f2.8 lenses. Remove any filters from your lens and use a lens hood, it may help to control flare.

twowindsbear

Check with the lighting tech in advance He should know the type & quality of the lighting. Should know the intensity, too so you can choose your exposure(s). I doubt you'll need your flash. Use an incident light meter. Shoot a lot & 'chimp' & bracket.

Good luck & have fun.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

Your 70 200 lens should be sufficient along with your 28 75.You will probably have mixed lighting so I would shoot in raw as you will have control over your white balance and pp.Along with your 480 flash you should be good to go. I would probably shoot in tv and let the aperture take care of it self. I have problem with the WB in these kind of settings so I shoot in RAW. I have the same camera along with a 60D that I prefer for these type of settings. If you have two bodies I would set up both with two lens you mentioned. Good luck and learn form it.

jcboy3

I usually shoot concerts with fast primes at high ISO, mostly FF equivalent of 150mm, 90mm, and occasionally 50mm. You can probably get by with the Sigma 50mm and the Canon 70-200mm. You won't need any of the rest (although bring the flash in case you get a back stage moment).

If you can do so in advance, shoot a white balance target for various lighting setups. This will help you with color adjustment in PP. Shoot RAW so you can adjust WB afterwards. You can do a custom WB if there is a typical lighting scheme. The hardest to deal with is multi-color LED lights; they are very harsh and color balancing can be difficult.

You can use live view to assess exposure, or use spot metering. Because I shoot Olympus, I set photo boost to off so the viewfinder is WYSIWYG, turn on highlight display, and use exposure compensation to avoid blown highlights.

Olympus E-M5, 75mm f/1.8, 1/125s, ISO 6400


Olympus E-M5, 75mm f/1.8, 1/125s, ISO 6400

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mr K, not shot a concert, but I've shot a lot of dance from backstage. I could shoot anywhere the audience could not see me.
I normally used a 50mm f1.4 which you have, but it's slightly longish on your crop camera if you are shooting tight. Also at the bigger apertures it not possible to get more than one person in focus at a time.
Since dance MOVES a lot, I always shot on Tv to minimize motion blur. I could sometimes go as low as 125 but preferred 180-200. You don't mention the kind of concert. Does it move(critical)?
My most important factor was shooting on Auto ISO to keep the noise to a minimum(very important)!
By my mind ALL of your other lenses are TOO slow unless it's really tame and there is a lot of light.
My performances had several hundred lighting cues in a multitude of colors.
Good luck. ;-)
SS

Didereaux Loc: Swamps of E TX

Canon 7D
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Canon 70-200mm s/2.8 IS STI II
SIGMA 50mm f/1.4
Canon 430ESII FLASH

covers all the bases. Enjoy, and don't let the event make you twitchy. ;)

:mrgreen:

James56 Loc: Nashville, Tennessee

My advice is the same as SharpShooters...set your camera for ISO-Auto and use Tv mode and keep shutter speeds as high as you can to eliminate motion. From experience, purple or red lights are the worst and harshest lighting scenes to photograph, but work through those and hope for better lighting to come. Get as close to the stage as you can. Then, shoot...shoot and shoot. Get as many exposures as you can. You can weed out the bad ones later and you'll be thankful and surprised with the good one's you got. Good luck...here's a couple of mine at big venues from a longs ways off to hopefully inspire you. Oh, and don't forget to have fun...!

(Download)


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SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Hey...., what is Scott Kelby doing holding hands with MY wife?!?!
Oh well...., as long as I get a 1Dx out of it, I'm ok with it!! :lol: :lol:
SS

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

One other thing, try to get to a rehearsal, preferably a dress rehearsal, so you will know what is comming during the performance and lighting wise.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mr.K, here is a sample shot. Though most of these girls are off the ground I was able to stop them at 1/160th and shot straight into the lights. All of the exif data is intact.
5Dmkll, 160th, f1.4, auto ISO @ 800.
I could have been at 1/200th at about ISO 1000. But every bit of less noise helps!!
This is not a concert but there is a lot of fast movement and fast changing very harsh lights. Some noise, harsh light, flare and shallow DoF can add to these types of shots. ;-)
SS

Can-Can

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wotsmith Loc: Nashville TN

Some good advicein other answers. I shot some events at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for record labels. I think your 70-200 like from the balcony may give you some good things. Like the others, shoot raw, high iso, no flash. your 18-55 will be useful also. look for shots from the stage from the side that shows the artist and the venue; the artist will like those. If a standing ovation is likely, try for a shot from the side that will show the artist and the enthusiastic audience. Lots of fun. If they change lighting like reds or blues on the preformer, you can get some really neat effects, my website has examples of all of the above. I have shot some with a 85mm f1.2, but the depth of field is really critical, and the focus spot on this fairly expensive lens was off, and I had to microfocus it ahead to be spot on. I have not found much use for a 50mm in your situation. Dont forget to try for shots in the dressing room ahead of the concert. I always try to arrive very early for the sound check, so that I can look around to check out the possible angles for the best shots. If important guests are allowed backstage after the concert to greet the artist, try for some of those; use flash for that; both the artist or the guest will like those shots, depending on who is more important!!

Mr. K Loc: VA

Thanks SS. This is a contemporary Christian concert. Usually there is some movement but not too fast. However in recent concerts other bands tend to use lots of bright, multicolored LED lighting (from various spots to full screen LED video behind band). While the lighting looks good it can change very fast in color and intensity. Singers and band usually have lots of harsh lighting behind them.

Mr. K Loc: VA

Thanks RichardTaylor.

Mr. K Loc: VA

Thanks twowindsbear. Will do.