BoogschutterA Simple Guide to Concert Photography: Equipment, Camera Set-up and 9 Pro-tips
In this article, we're going to go over the basics of concert photography: what gear you need to get going, how to work your camera correctly, and some pro tips to have a blast shooting fantastic shots at a show.
Gear for Concert Photography
Camera
There are two main types of DSLR cameras that concert photographers use. They are:
- Crop sensor
- Full frame
There advantages and disadvantages are endless. Crop sensor cameras are less expensive and more portable than full-frame cameras. They also have a lesser field of view, which is good when taking pictures from tight spots.
This also have less resolution than full frames struggles in low-light conditions. Some of the examples of crop sensor cameras are Canon 80D and Nikon D500.
Photo by Michael Mongin on Unsplash
Full-frame cameras are larger and more expensive. They have higher resolution and perform better in low light. They also offer much wider angles that can be useful when shooting within a stage arena.
The best camera for concert photography is the one that best suits the needs of the photographer. You can use full-frame cameras that suit concert photography, like the Nikon D750 and Canon EOS 6D.
Lens
The aperture is the most essential thing in concert photography. Prime lenses have larger apertures, they allow more light to pass through to the sensor. This can be very useful when taking a shot with a dark background.
Moreover, the focal length for prime lenses is short, making it easy to take close-up shots of the subject.
Generally, prime lenses are lighter than zoom lenses, and in terms of volume, they are usually smaller. so they are less trouble to carry them and less intrusion during a concert.
Of course, prime lenses are not the only options. The other alternative is a zoom lens for concert photography. It has a narrower aperture that makes it harder to achieve the cherished low-light shots typical of this genre.
A 50mm f/1.8 or a 35mm f/1.4 prime should be fine for concert photography. In the end, the best concert photography lens is the one that lets you take the shots you want to take.
If you want one that would perform well for all your needs and in any type of light, a prime lens would be an excellent choice.
Photo by Alex wong on Unsplash
Camera Setting for Concert Photography
ISO
Your ISO settings control how sensitive the sensor is to light. Your ISO setting determines your sensor's sensitivity when exposed to light. This is very important because concerts are usually dimly lit.
I would advise sticking with higher ISO settings to get decent exposure.With a dimly lit environment—say, in a concert hall—you must boost your ISO to high levels so that the camera sensor would react to the light far more quickly.
During a concert, start at an ISO of 1600. You can bump it up in another setting if this does not work for you, or if you still have blurry pictures until the picture looks good
Shutter Speed
The longer the shutter speed, the longer the time the sensor is exposed to light. A faster shutter speed means just the opposite: a lesser exposure time. For concert photography, you want—at the very minimum—an extremely high shutter speed, such as 1/250 of a second, to stop the action and not have any blurring.
Aperture
The biggest opening you can achieve is by setting your lens to the smallest permissible f-number. In this manner, your sensor will receive all the possible light. In low-light concerts, photography is best at an aperture of f1.4 or f2.8.
Manual Mode
Concert photography is tough, considering that during a concert, the lighting keeps changing all of a sudden. What could be a fabulous specter of lighting for music lovers might not seem easy for the photographer, who has to keep adjusting to different lighting conditions.
Photo by Aaron James on Unsplash
The larger the spectacle, the harder it will be for the photographer to get a good shot while changing the camera settings. Should you desire more control of your exposure setting, then manual mode is your pick. Instead of letting the camera do that job for you in low light, manual mode makes you be in complete control in accordance to the light around you.
Ways to Electrify Your Concert Photography
1. Don't Use Flash
If you have attended a concert before will acknowledge the fact that most places are really dimly lit. This can bring many problems when it comes to getting a good image.
Trying to use a flash could make matters worse. Not only is the light from a flash very overwhelming, but it can also reflect off surfaces to create a glare.
Try a higher ISO setting on your camera instead of a flash. This will enable you to capture more of the light, allowing you to capture good images even if the surrounding is not well lit. Just focus on the stage lighting effects. This can give your photos natural lighting and provide great ambiance and suspense.
2. Shoot in RAW Format With Every Photo
That way, you will have the most freedom regarding later editing. Since JPEG files are compressed, a certain amount of detail and quality of an image can get lost. With concert photos, you want to capture all that detail. RAW files might be larger in size, but they are just worth that space.
3. Use Fast Lens
Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplash
A fast lens has a large aperture, letting in more light. It will be necessary since most of the concert venues are not well lit, and you will need all the light that you can get.
A fast lens enables you to take pictures using a shallow depth of field. That means creating a blur for the background while maintaining the focus on the subject. This can create quite a dramatic effect and is perfect for live music photography.
4. Get Close to the Action
The best concert photos come from getting right up to the stage. Some of the best shots you can get are from the stage.
There are, therefore, several lovely photos to take, even for those shutterbugs who cannot be in the thick of the activity. Just ensure you zoom in close enough to make your picture clear and sharp.
5. Focus on the Composition
The actual composition of your concert photos should be your first goal. Of course, this goes without saying, but sometimes you lose sight of what to grab with all the frenzied excitement of what's happening right before you when caught up in the spirit of the moment.
Learn how to combine capturing the concert's energy with correct composition. For example, find some interesting ways of framing the stage. For this, use light and interaction with the crowd so that your photos are deep with a three-dimensional quality. Don't forget to zoom in or crop on the individual performers tightly.
6. Capture the Atmosphere
Photo by Hossein Hadi on Unsplash
This can be tough to do, but at the same time, it is where so much electric energy can be infused into your photos. To capture the feel of a show, you need to focus on more than just those who are on stage.
Obviously, not only getting great shots of the band, but looking for opportunities to get some from the crowd. Look for expressions of joy, excitement, and anticipation. Pay attention to the lighting and take dramatic effect from it.
7. Move Around
Move shooting, covering various angles and shots of the concert. You need to capture the energy of the crowd, the excitement of the performers, and the vibes at the event
First and foremost, try to spend a portion of the time close to the front of the stage, near the soundboard. This way, you've can get a general view of the performance; also, close-up views of the musicians are possible.
As the concert goes on, walk around and try all kinds of different angles and perspectives. The more shots that can be taken, the better the final selection.
8. Do Spot Metering
When photographing concerts, the best practice is to do spot metering. Focus on one frame area and take a reading of the light from there. Some venues can give off very little light, and you don't want to underexpose your shots. By taking a light reading from the stage, you can be sure your photos will be well-lit.
Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplash
9. Use Post-processing
This is where life can be filled into your concert photos. A good picture, with a bit of editing, can be taken up to the fantastic class.
So, experiment and play with a range of different effects. After a few trials, you will end up taking concert photos that are one of a kind.
Conclusion
Concert photography is a bit special and challenging in its way. Knowing the right gear and camera settings means you can capture fantastic images of your favorite musicians in action.
We hope this guide will help you in your first steps in concert photography.
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