Gig pictures help

[Furyous]

Seeing as I spend a lot of time going to smaller pub type gigs, I fancy taking my camera and getting some good band action shots.

Couple of questions....

Flash - I dont currently own a seperate one, and I guess this is fairly critical, so, which of the 2 current Nikon flashes (SB4/600) would you recommend and why.

Glass - I can use either the nifty 50 or I have an 18-70. Which would you go for ? If neither, then recommendations please.

Finally, any hints and tips ? Ive not seen much in the way of gig stuff here, but I remember Tony H did some a while back.

[Lambochick]

If you use flash you run the risk of losing a lot of the atmosphere within the shot provided by the ambient lighting. For ambient lit situations I would go with the nifty as it's a fast lens. If the location really is so dark that you just have to use flash, go with whichever lens you feel will give you the best results.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Avoid the flash, it really does remove all sense of an atmosphere and makes images look pretty boring in comparison. A fast prime is probably your best bet, and if you've got a hood for it (if there's lighting) then so much the better.

[Dr MAD]

From my limited experience of this type of work I'd say don't use flash at all as you will lose the atmosphere. I used high iso setting and opened the lens up as far as possible (f2.8 in this case)

Here's a couple at iso1000 f2.8

This is a friends band taken at The Joiners Arms in Southampton



This is Estellle taken a couple of years ago at Wakestock. I was on assignment for Casio who sponsored the event so was lucky enough to get a pass for the 'togs pit. First 3 songs NO FLASH allowed

[JurekB]

I would agree with the don't use flash sentiment however don't disregard it completely because you can come up with some nice effects if used properly. Combine your flash with a slow exposure of around half a second and slower and you'll get some lovely light trails which won't destroy the natural ambiance of the gig.







Take your zoom with you aswell and use it to crash zoom on your subject whilst doing the above which will create some nice effects.

Edited by JurekB on Wednesday 30th December 16:28

[andy-xr]

I'm in the "would use flash" camp as well, and I'd probably take a few flashguns. One thing I dont like about band photography is the colour casts you get across skin from the stage lighting setups, thats personal preference more than anything though

OP - forget the SB400, a torch would be more powerful. SB600 is OK, you'll need a trigger if using it off camera as CLS in that kind of environment might not work as well as it should

[Ravell]

Like others said, use flash very sparingly if at all, if there are smoke machines on stage you'll just end up seeing fog. Use whatever lens you have at the largest apeture, the bigger the better. I tend to put ISO to the highest setting I can before I get unacceptable levels of noise and then set shutter speed to a fixed value in manual as the light meter can have a really hard time with the fast changing light conditions, especialy when strobes are involved. Anticipation for the right light you want and setting the shutter speed to match beforehand is the most tricky bit IMO.

I tend to set the camera to ISO1600, f-4 or less and 1/30 to start off with and adjust from there.

[Trackside Junior]

I'd say it depends on what the venue is like. Small pubby venues won't have very good lighting, so you'll need a flash. However, bigger venues should have a decent enough lighting rig to be OK, although it also depends on where the band members are standing.

A good way to explain it would to tell you about the two main venues that I go to.
Craufurd Arms in Wolverton is a pub with a venue stuck to it. It's a small venue so the lighting rig isn't very good.
I find if I up the ISO, the picture gets noisey, which CAN look good, for example,

But sometimes it just ruins it.
Then obviously slowing the shutter speed can make the picture blurry and without a flash, it looks crap.
So the best bet for venues like that is a middle range ISO, slowish shutter speed and a decent flash (curtain flash is my best friend).

Pitz in Milton Keynes is a big venue so the lighting is great... as long as the members aren't at the side, THEN you need a flash, but other than that the lighting will usually be fine.
However, I use a flash as much as possible. If you use it right and get the angles right then it works with the lighting instead of drowning it out.
Like this, this isn't a great picture but it's a good example.


Another excellent, brilliant, amazing invention is the flash chord, gives you a lot more freedom because you can have the flash pretty much wherever you want it and it can create some really nice effects.

Lenses depend on how close you can get to the stage/ band members. It's good to have a decent focal range because then you have a choice of how close you can be, instead of a fixed lens when you might not be able to get close enough to take a decent photo. Zoom is good.
Also a lens with a wide aperture for obvious reasons.

Hints and tips -Talk to the bands, if possible, get to know the venue owners and get to the gigs early. That way the band will see that you have a camera before they need to go on, probably talk to you and ask to see the photos and then send them. I've gained a lot of contacts by doing this and now I get bands and venue coming up to me asking if I have my camera or if I can take photos/ do promos before the dates so it definitely works.

Hope this helps.


P.S: JurekB I really like your photos.

[Furyous]

Cheers all, some good stuff here.

Most of the venues are indeed small pubs, so I think I may get away without flash for now.I also reckon the nifty will be the weapon of choice.

My only real concern is the 200's not great at much more than about 600 iso, but hey, it may add atmosphere.

As far as getting to know the bands, I would say I know at least one band member well at most of the gigs I go to.
This says more about the incestuous nature of the High Wycombe muso scene than it does my ability to make friends !