snapping at gigs - tips and c&c

epag · 23-09-2008 10:22am #1

nothing special here but interested to hear feedback and any tips for gigs. these are my first snaps at 1600iso..lots came out blurry..but got a couple. ta

couple more here...http://pix.ie/greevyedel/album/327217

Fajitas! · 23-09-2008 10:25am

Right, well, try moving around a bit more, see what other angles you can get.

A couple is good stuff, and yep, it can all to easy to get blurry photos at gigs! Were you using film or digital?

epag · 23-09-2008 10:41am

Digital - canon 300D - this lot were shot with a 75-300 lens. I have some more to upload for main act...shot with 75-300lens and 18-55. will post in a bit. Ta

smelltheglove · 23-09-2008 11:29am

Don't be shy, you will only get a good position by moving around, and seeing what is best for the person you want to shoot. If using flash bounce as much as possible, if you see some energetic movements that were too quick to capture first time round be ready, they will usually do them again.

i.e. my hubbie always finds something to stand on, he will put his hands in the air and get the crowd going, these are the moments you want to capture.

My back up plan for a subject that doesnt interest me is simple, if all shots look the same go abstract, go for the foot pressing the pedal, apparently all the lads are now calling that my signature shot;) I now do it for every gig .

epag · 23-09-2008 11:57am

cheers.. got low and behind the stage but didnt venture up high...good tip. I could have got a great one of the stage...

here's a few more

went a lil abstract for

http://pix.ie/greevyedel/album/327281

smelltheglove · 23-09-2008 12:02pm

haha - great minds think alike

Well done on behind the stage, not always possible but a good one is if you can get behind the stage raise the camera above your head looking down on them and get a few as if you were above, this is trial and error though so run a few shots off and move the camera around a couple of positions to get it right.

epag · 23-09-2008 12:15pm

lol... yeah helps when you know the band. otherwise not sure about having the neck! though one of the guys in the band didnt know me, thought I was from some mag so that line could work

...how disappointing to learn i wasn't!

smelltheglove · 23-09-2008 12:19pm

I think it works both ways, some guys can be a bit more reserved if they know you, unless they are a bit mad about themselves, and others will come out of their shell more to someone they dont know.

It can be more fun shooting someone you dont know as you have to work that bit harder, you dont know what to expect so you need to pay really close attention.

The magazine thing is cool though, mind gig from pic above an audience member thought I was taking a pic of her and came and told me I was a crap photographer and if I worked for her mag she'd sack me. Well she was mortified when she realised I was singers wife and had no interest in taking shots of her;)

melekalikimaka · 23-09-2008 1:24pm

ok a few tips

get a 50mm 1.8, your kit lens are too slow, ie the apeture isn't low enough to capture action without blur in gig lighting.

flash - i wouldnt go down the flash route, its a big no no for gigs and maybe its ok for smaller stuff but anything bigger you'll be booted out, best learn as you mean to go on.

when composing, try get all the face, or all the instument, cut off faces and instruments is a bit distracting when viewing an image,

try avoid eyes closed shots or mouth closed shots of musicians, speakinng from personal taste (this will vary person to person) a good gig shot shows action and energy, not easy to do with a shut eye mouth shut musican

in saying all that, i do like the drummer shot

snapping at gigs - tips and c&c

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