I need a how to?? for concert photo's

[kgreen]

I have tickets to see Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Sprint Center in KansasCity. I only have the kit lens 18-105 that came with my Nikon d-7000. I know I won't have the reach I need but I'm still going to give it my best shot. Assuming photography is allowed.. the website said camera-picture taking may or may not be allowed, varies from event to event.

Can anyone give me a few tips, this will be my first concert with a dslr.

 

[photo_chick]

Expose for the stage, not the crowd. Many concerts are actually fairly well lit on stage. And don't be shy about bumping up that ISO. Also, make sure you have sufficient shutter speed for the shot. This is the type of event that I like to use Tv (I think it's S on the Nikon) mode. I'll set the shutter speed to what I need, then bump up the ISO until I have the exposure (this is pretty much my go to method for low light shooting where shutter speed is critical). A lot of times the aperture is wide open or close to it, but that's OK in this type of event because you usually have the distance to give you sufficient depth of field.

 

[kgreen]

Hey thanks! That helps. Where should I start with my shutter speed?? With no tripod 1/30 is about as low as I can get without chancing the blur. The higher ISO/noise always worries me, but I know it can be cleaned up in photoshop just the same.

 

[atsolomon]

You should be able to get compelling photos with the kit lens. Stage lighting is usually very good in that the performers are very well lighted. It's complicated by the dark backgrounds and the unlight audience. That kind of throws the automated exposure modes off.

Here's a photo I shot of a concert at a small venue: http://www.flickr.com/photos/atsolo/5521851896/ using my kit lens (18-55mm). It was shot in manual mode: 1/100th sec, F5.0 iso1600. This situation is different from what you're facing in that I was a few feet from the band which made it a lot easier.

You can do a bit of shooting and adjusting until you find the right settings for the concert. Manual mode or shutter priority is the way to go. Aperture priority will result in shutter speeds that are too slow.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/atsolo/5521851896/


--Adam

 

[KCmike]

Fellow KC resident?

 

[photo_chick]

Hey thanks! That helps. Where should I start with my shutter speed?? With no tripod 1/30 is about as low as I can get without chancing the blur. The higher ISO/noise always worries me, but I know it can be cleaned up in photoshop just the same.

1/focal length is the rule of thumb to stop camera shake, with 1/30 being about as slow as you want to go. Some people are more unsteady than others though and find that they need to go a little faster with a crop camera at longer focal lengths. After that you have to add in what you need to stop the subject's movement. How much depends on how fast they're moving but it's probably going to be at least a couple stops.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sprint Center does have rules about what you can bring in. I've been there several times for Disney on Ice. Once the rule was no cameras with interchangeable lenses. Last I knew it was no lens over a certain length, maybe 3"??? I'm not certain of that. But you'll want to pin that down. They DO have metal detectors, so no hiding it in your bag. Not that I'd try........

Our last visit there was March 2010 and I brought in my DSLR with 50mm f/1.8. We were maybe 10-15 rows back so I got a few decent shots with that.

For me the biggest improvement in this type of photography came when I figured out how and why to change my metering mode. Many just leave the camera on evaluative metering which averages the light available throughout the entire scene. If it's a stage show brightly lit against a dark background you need to be using spot or evaluative metering.

 

[kgreen]

Fellow KC resident?

I grew up in Olathe. I have since moved to the Clinton MO area. Nice to see someone from my neck of the woods!

Thanks for all of the advice, I sure hope cameras are alowed, but I will inquire before I get there. Thanks again!

atsolomon- Nice work!!

 

[thomas998]

I can usually get decent results at 1/125 to 1/100 shutter speed and make my adjustments for exposure by adjusting the ISO. Better yet go outside and see what the camera at whatever zoom you plan on using gives in the daylight... then when you go there set your camera on manual at those settings. As others have said the stage lights are usually very good, if you let your camera meter for it you will likely get over exposed performers because lots of times the performer are in a sea of darkness and unless you are on spot meter and aimed at them the camera will adjust for the full frame.

Good luck taking a dslr... most of the places I've gone don't allow you to take in dslr's.... but often will allow point and shoot cameras, so you if you have a decent point and shoot you might want to consider taking it if you can adjust it manually.

 

[krb2g]

Sprint Center does have rules about what you can bring in. I've been there several times for Disney on Ice. Once the rule was no cameras with interchangeable lenses. Last I knew it was no lens over a certain length, maybe 3"??? I'm not certain of that. But you'll want to pin that down. They DO have metal detectors, so no hiding it in your bag. Not that I'd try........

Our last visit there was March 2010 and I brought in my DSLR with 50mm f/1.8. We were maybe 10-15 rows back so I got a few decent shots with that.

For me the biggest improvement in this type of photography came when I figured out how and why to change my metering mode. Many just leave the camera on evaluative metering which averages the light available throughout the entire scene. If it's a stage show brightly lit against a dark background you need to be using spot or evaluative metering.

I went to the circus at our local college basketball arena a few weeks ago and the rule was no professional cameras (no lenses longer than 3"). I wimped out (wasn't sure if any DSLR counted as "professional" in the eyes of the hired security for the event) and the only lens that for sure was under 3" (the kit lens was very close) was my 35mm f/1.8. We had bought the cheap seats, so I was also assuming we'd be far away from the stage (false, as it turned out, but that's what I get for not doing more research on our seat #s ahead of time) and I didn't want to get turned away/have to check my DSLR so I brought my old p&s and my camera phone. I didn't get many great shots (and the okay ones I did get will need a little loving post-processing), but I found that for that particular camera, the best way to increase the shutter speed and defeat the metering (bright on the performers, but mostly dark around) was to crank down the exposure 2 stops.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Here's a link to my pictures from the Taylor Swift concert last week.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=43015676#post43015676

I used shutter priority mode and the majority of them were shot at 1/80 shutter speed. ISO was 1600.

You can take a lot of test shots during the act before to see what works best.