Concert Photography is HARD!
Dec 3, 2018 17:51:33 #
Kudos to you all who do concert photography for a living! Filled in for an absent photographer and of course being flustered, left my OIS on while my camera was still on the tripod "slap my hand"! I tried..... Let me know your thoughts and besides the above mentioned faux pas, please let me know what would have helped. I only had my 18-55 f2.8 on me at the time.
Dec 3, 2018 18:03:04 #
Good photography challenges your skill set. I think a vertically tighter crop on #2, #4 would be better, cropping off of the left side. For me the open space draws my eye away form your subject.
Dec 3, 2018 18:06:00 #
Thanks! I didn't know if the blue spot light added to the ambiance or not?
jim quist wrote:
Good photography challenges your skill set. I think a vertically tighter crop on #2, #4 would be better, cropping off of the left side.
Dec 3, 2018 18:07:54 #
The blue spot on #1 helps with the ambiance, but still draws the eye. The eye is naturally drawn to the brightest part of an image. So it becomes a distraction where your subject is the singer in #2.
Another thing are the leading lines in #2. Her eyes and the microphone draw you into the empty space and toward the bright light. So your eyes go there away from your subject.
Another thing are the leading lines in #2. Her eyes and the microphone draw you into the empty space and toward the bright light. So your eyes go there away from your subject.
Dec 3, 2018 18:13:44 #
Perfect explanation thank you!!!!
jim quist wrote:
The blue spot on #1 helps with the ambiance, but still draws the eye. The eye is naturally drawn to the brightest part of an image. So it becomes a distraction where your subject is the singer in #2.
Another thing are the leading lines in #2. Her eyes and the microphone draw you into the empty space and toward the bright light. So your eyes go there away from your subject.
Another thing are the leading lines in #2. Her eyes and the microphone draw you into the empty space and toward the bright light. So your eyes go there away from your subject.
Dec 3, 2018 19:25:03 #
Wowsa, these are nice, Fawn! Great tips from Jim; only thing I'd add is in #3 consider blackening the red rectangle on lower right of frame and removing the green fern-thing touching the first guy's sax. Love the energy of that shot.
From previous discussions, it seems that concerts are extremely hard to photograph because of the constantly changing colored lighting. You appeared to have no trouble!
From previous discussions, it seems that concerts are extremely hard to photograph because of the constantly changing colored lighting. You appeared to have no trouble!
Dec 4, 2018 02:19:28 #
Thanks Linda, you are so right - that projector “leaf” thing is distracting - photoshop time! The red box should be pretty easy to remove as well. Appreciate your feedback always!
Linda From Maine wrote:
Wowsa, these are nice, Fawn! Great tips from Jim; only thing I'd add is in #3 consider blackening the red rectangle on lower right of frame and removing the green fern-thing touching the first guy's sax. Love the energy of that shot.
From previous discussions, it seems that concerts are extremely hard to photograph because of the constantly changing colored lighting. You appeared to have no trouble!
From previous discussions, it seems that concerts are extremely hard to photograph because of the constantly changing colored lighting. You appeared to have no trouble!
Dec 4, 2018 15:29:10 #
I've never shot in those circumstances but apparently noise is one of the bugbears. I'm seeing very little of that in your shots.
Dec 8, 2018 14:05:48 #
There are excellent images! Forget about all the technical jargon! "NOISE" Who cares" It adds to the ambience?
So What's good- The Saxophone shot is beautifully composed-classic repeating patterns. You have a great profile shot of the singer with nice rim lighting supplied by the stage lighting. Then you have a perfect wide shot of the whole band- you see the lead singer all the other musicians and the back up singers. The expressions are perfect and everyone in the shot is doing their thing- you caught it at the right moment.
Blue spot??? Stage lighing is wild- colorful- and create the ambience in a jazz club or concert environment. Flare, blobs of light, wild skin tones are all acceptable and only add to the story. One thing you DON'T want in this kind of photo essay is sterile perfect color and squeaky clean images.
Forgetting to shut off your IS- big deal!?- I don't see any image degradation. Next time put a sticky note* on your camera (*that was sarcasm!)
Any photo editor at a music publication would be pleased with these results- the STORYTELLING IS THERE. If I came here for a foreign planet and didn't know what a concert is- theses photograph would illustrate and explain what it's all about. I saw the pictures and I could hear the music!
So What's good- The Saxophone shot is beautifully composed-classic repeating patterns. You have a great profile shot of the singer with nice rim lighting supplied by the stage lighting. Then you have a perfect wide shot of the whole band- you see the lead singer all the other musicians and the back up singers. The expressions are perfect and everyone in the shot is doing their thing- you caught it at the right moment.
Blue spot??? Stage lighing is wild- colorful- and create the ambience in a jazz club or concert environment. Flare, blobs of light, wild skin tones are all acceptable and only add to the story. One thing you DON'T want in this kind of photo essay is sterile perfect color and squeaky clean images.
Forgetting to shut off your IS- big deal!?- I don't see any image degradation. Next time put a sticky note* on your camera (*that was sarcasm!)
Any photo editor at a music publication would be pleased with these results- the STORYTELLING IS THERE. If I came here for a foreign planet and didn't know what a concert is- theses photograph would illustrate and explain what it's all about. I saw the pictures and I could hear the music!
Dec 8, 2018 18:41:34 #
You are so so kind sir!!! I really didn’t know how good I had done although I knew it was better than some of my other event shots (which isn’t saying much) I have learned so much in the last 3 years and a lot of it is directly due to this forum. Thank you!
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
There are excellent images! Forget about all the ... (show quote)
Dec 8, 2018 19:40:03 #
deer2ker wrote:
You are so so kind sir!!! I really didn’t know how good I had done although I knew it was better than some of my other event shots (which isn’t saying much) I have learned so much in the last 3 years and a lot of it is directly due to this forum. Thank you!
...and you next shoot will be even better. Disappointing shots are good teaching points. Experience is the best teacher.
Also remember, concert/entertainment work can be difficult as to access. Oftentimes the lighting conditions are less than ideal and there may be restrictions as to where you can shoot from. I have covered concerts at venues were I was the authorized "official" photographer or were there with accredited press credentials and yet were interfered with by "roadies" and kinda self-appointed security folks etc., although I had written permission from the artists or their management people and always maintain a low profile and never become intrusive. So...sometimes if you are less pleased or satisfied with what you have done, it is is not your fault. Occasionally a fast telephoto lens like an f/2.8 300mm is a lifesaver.
Keep up the good work!
Dec 9, 2018 22:23:54 #
deer2ker wrote:
Kudos to you all who do concert photography for a living! Filled in for an absent photographer and of course being flustered, left my OIS on while my camera was still on the tripod "slap my hand"! I tried..... Let me know your thoughts and besides the above mentioned faux pas, please let me know what would have helped. I only had my 18-55 f2.8 on me at the time.
I read the comments and I think most of what I noticed has been covered. I think you did a really nice job with these. Especially if it was your first time shooting a concert. I've got to shoot a school chorus concert this coming week. The conductor is my friend, so I always shoot his concerts. Lighting is always the biggest challenge. I think you did very well.
Erich
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