Photographing Concerts at Night
Apr 27, 2012 22:42:26 #
Saturday night I will be going to the Sugarland concert in an amphitheater. I have a Nikon D90. I will not take a tripod or monopod. I will be 60-80 feet from the stage. Any suggestions as to the lens and settings to get good photos from that distance?
If I could convince Jennifer Nettles to come home with me, that would be ideal....what a voice and "presence" she has.
If I could convince Jennifer Nettles to come home with me, that would be ideal....what a voice and "presence" she has.
Apr 28, 2012 00:05:57 #
I'd call ahead to make sure you can take the camera in - a lot of venues/acts don't allow "professional type" cameras, meaning SLRs/dSLRs.
Long end of the lens and one of the program modes - probably "sports" or the like - no flash (it will only light up the backs of the heads of those in front of you. You can probably set the WB to custom using one of the white stage lights.
Long end of the lens and one of the program modes - probably "sports" or the like - no flash (it will only light up the backs of the heads of those in front of you. You can probably set the WB to custom using one of the white stage lights.
Apr 28, 2012 00:30:30 #
snowbear wrote:
I'd call ahead to make sure you can take the camera in - a lot of venues/acts don't allow "professional type" cameras, meaning SLRs/dSLRs.
Long end of the lens and one of the program modes - probably "sports" or the like - no flash (it will only light up the backs of the heads of those in front of you. You can probably set the WB to custom using one of the white stage lights.
Long end of the lens and one of the program modes - probably "sports" or the like - no flash (it will only light up the backs of the heads of those in front of you. You can probably set the WB to custom using one of the white stage lights.
What he said!
Apr 28, 2012 05:25:40 #
cwilliams31
Loc: Salisbury, North Carolina
A warning - detachable lens are not usually allowed in concerts.They say you can sell the photo's.
Better take a different camera.
They have employees watching for people with your kind of camera.Believe me, it's not a good feeling when you get caught using one. Been there - done that .....
Better take a different camera.
They have employees watching for people with your kind of camera.Believe me, it's not a good feeling when you get caught using one. Been there - done that .....
Apr 28, 2012 08:23:48 #
I checked the site for that TWC Walnut Creek/ Sugarland:
Camera Policy: Personal cameras are allowed in the venue. Flash photography, video and removable lens cameras are not permitted without venue approval.
You need to take a point and shoot..
for concerts I take
panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 I get terrific concert pics with it.
I set the ISO to 200-- the stage is BRIGHT and cameras tend to want to over expose because it is dark where you are sitting.
Sugarland puts on a terrific show--have fun!
Camera Policy: Personal cameras are allowed in the venue. Flash photography, video and removable lens cameras are not permitted without venue approval.
You need to take a point and shoot..
for concerts I take
panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 I get terrific concert pics with it.
I set the ISO to 200-- the stage is BRIGHT and cameras tend to want to over expose because it is dark where you are sitting.
Sugarland puts on a terrific show--have fun!
Apr 28, 2012 10:45:37 #
Thanks for all the advice! The last time I went to that venue, I saw many "flashes" going off. I can enjoy the concert without my camera!
Apr 28, 2012 12:03:45 #
mlj wrote:
Thanks for all the advice! The last time I went to that venue, I saw many "flashes" going off. I can enjoy the concert without my camera!
I think most of these flashes you see are on point & shoots and have an effective range of about 10'. Good to light up the back of the heads in the row or two in front of you but doesn't help anything further. Me thinks you're better with the flash off, widest aperature, expose for the stage and hold steady!
Apr 28, 2012 12:54:58 #
JBTaylor
Loc: In hiding again
The ironic thing is until the last few years, it was the point and shoot cameras that could take the prohibited audio and video while all dslr's could get were stills.
I've only had an issue at two concerts where I was told before hand that pictures were not allowed. It was somewhat annoying to see flashes going off here and there while I followed the rules laid down by the ushers. I'm still not clear if it was official policy for that particular event. At the other concert, an almost offensively aggressive announcement was made before the concert. Nobody took a picture that I could see at that one.
I haven't had an issue with the others even after I got my DSLR but I check ahead of time.
I've only had an issue at two concerts where I was told before hand that pictures were not allowed. It was somewhat annoying to see flashes going off here and there while I followed the rules laid down by the ushers. I'm still not clear if it was official policy for that particular event. At the other concert, an almost offensively aggressive announcement was made before the concert. Nobody took a picture that I could see at that one.
I haven't had an issue with the others even after I got my DSLR but I check ahead of time.
Apr 28, 2012 14:35:31 #
I've never seen Sugarland, but I have seen others (Charlie Daniels, Garth Brooks and a few others.... Live concerts are usually too pricy for me. I did splurge though (last year??) and went to the TSO Christmas concert here in St. Louis and got some pretty nice pics (and it was a terrific show!!). I don't remember what my setting were...I think i had it in auto. Wanna see them?
Apr 28, 2012 14:37:42 #
Apr 28, 2012 15:21:14 #
So would I!! The most exciting ride I've taken was about 20 minutes in a 2-seat Pitts going every which way but loose (with apologies to Clint Eastwood). At a local airshow some L-39 pilots were auctioning off rides for a charity, but they got too expensive. I think one of them went for $850...and that was years ago (too rich for my blood, but probably worth every penny). I took that pic (my avatar) last year at Oshkosh and it won Picture of the Week in an daily online aviation newsletter (my only photo contest victory, but I'm proud of the baseball cap they sent me). The plane is an F-18, one of several different types of planes that were painted in different schemes (most of them old squadrons) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of naval aviation. I hope you enjoy the TSO pics. They're a random sample of what I was able to get...and it was 2010 that I went to the concert.
Apr 28, 2012 19:26:38 #
If you were allowed to bring in a detachable lens camera I would use a 2.8 70-200 mm lens. i use one with my Canon 7D and at 60-80 feet you can get some awesome closeups and head shots. In a small club if you are allowed to shoot closer to the stage, I would use a 1.4 50 mm prime. The extra two stops can really help out when the light is dim.
Apr 29, 2012 08:21:30 #
We go to concerts at the local county fairs, and I have found I get the best results if I use "spot metering".
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