Photographing action on stage is quite different to any other
type of photography, and you will need to practice and practice and even then
it may require more practice.
 |
| Composing your shot |
You’ll have to work very quickly, in very low light, surrounded
by other photographers, security and fans.
You’ll need to be confident of your gear and settings and your ability
to use the camera.
If you’re anticipating having to change lenses, have the other
lens out of your camera bag ready to switch. Some photographers shoot with two
cameras, one mounted with a wide-angle lens, the other with a telephoto.
You also ought to have a spare battery and flash card ready to
go at a moment’s notice.
Camera
All concert photographers shoot with a SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera.
This is because you need a camera that can be adjusted for a combination of ISO
level, aperture and shutter speed. A camera that can handle high ISO levels is
preferred. I shoot with a Nikon D3, which I have had for some time, a camera
that is one of the best for shooting in low light and capable of high ISO
settings with low noise output
Lenses
It all depends on the venue and the light but generally you will
need to use fast lenses i.e. with a large aperture of around f2.8 or lower.
This should then enable you to use the faster shutter speeds usually needed to
capture motion in the low light.
There is a choice between using fixed focal length prime lenses
or zoom lenses. Prime lenses tend to be sharper for the price but have the
disadvantage of having to change during the shoot. I shoot mainly using a 50mm
f1.8 for the mid range, with a 85mm f1.8 for the mid to long range, an 18-24mm
f 3.5 for the occasional wide angle shot, and a 135mm f2.8 for the very long. I
also have a 100mm macro f3.5 I sometimes call upon.
Flash
It will be rare when you can or should use flash, as this will
be off-putting on stage and amongst the crowd. However, it can be sometimes
unavoidable, so if you have to use flash use it sparingly and try to bounce off
walls so as not to impact on the performers.
Exposure Settings
With a real mix of stage lights in colour and temperature
exposure is where the challenge lies for music concert photographers. Evaluative
or matrix metering has difficulty handling the mix of lighting so use spot
metering. Not surprising with spot metering you will have to be quite exact in
setting the focus point to capture sharpness where it is needed in the image. If
new and inexperienced try setting in shutter priority at say 1/125sec and
experiment with aperture changes.
A fast shutter speed of at least 1/125th
second or higher is needed. Zoom lenses may need to shoot
at a faster shutter speed, as camera shake can be more evident. At this level
even if the image is slightly underexposed it usually can be rescued in postproduction,
such as with using Adobe Photoshop.
It is advisable to set the ISO at 800 or higher with a maximum
of 1600 but try not to have to go this high. Noise is the problem at high ISO
settings so you may have to apply noise reduction in postproduction.
Raw Capture
If your camera is equipped with Raw image capture then use it.
This is best for the mix of lighting and will provide for the maximum
manipulation allowed in postproduction.
Composing the shot
In the event there’s lots of action around you so take some time
out beforehand to prepare and think about what you should look for to compose
and set up your shooting.
Take note of the stage, where the clutter is so that you may
avoid it spoiling shots.
Watch the performers – all have mannerisms that you might want
to take into account and learn to anticipate their actions. For example how
does the singer hold the mic or is a guitarist right handed or left handed.
Avoid shots where the singer’s face may be obscured by how the mic is held so
anticipate when the singer stands back from the mic.
Compose shots in the same way as in any
other form of photography. Can you shoot at an angle, does the mic stand
produce a diagonal, etc.
Watch for background. A simple backdrop is best, so position yourself
to avoid getting such things as lighting rigs and advertising banners in the
shot. Clutter distracts from the focal point of the image. Shots of drummers
can be badly affected by the clutter around them so try from the side.
Try to get a backlight behind the
performer. Move around until it’s directly behind. This can give a warm halo
effect. Use lighting to produce rim or side lighting or silhouettes.
Sometimes action off the stage is just as interesting.
If you can get the performer and crowd in the shot all the better
Try to capture the mood or vibes of the
show and respond to it. Glastonbury might have mud and wellington boots as a
feature.
 |
| Create an atmosphere |
Permissions and Etiquette
Obviously being a photographer at a
music concert you will need to have the necessary permissions from the
organisers. Make sure these are obtained and that you meet and adhere to their
requirements.
Be considerate of all others
involved at the event: the audience, other photographers and make sure you are
communicating with any security people around.
Finally, deliver your photographic
images to the best of your ability and for the purpose required by either you
or your client.
Post Production
It is not unusual to require some
adjustments to the image in postproduction. Keep it to a minimum but it could
mean adjusting lightness, colour or contrast through a levels adjustment in
Adobe Photoshop, to make sure that the blacks are black and bringing up
contrast a bit. Stage lights notoriously produce a red colour cast so try
either a curves adjustment or reduce reds using a colour balance
adjustment. If the red is too much of a
problem try converting to black & white.
