Any advice on shooting pictures at a concert?

[Arkitech]

I may have my first photo gig coming up this weekend and it's going to be an indoor concert at a fairly small location. I don't have a digital camera, so I'll be shooting everything on film (Canon Rebel 2000). Unfortunately I have very basic equipment, I'm using a stock lens (28-80mm) and flash. I've gotten very good results, but then again those pictures were just shots purely for my own interests. These pictures I may be doing over the weekend will probably end up on a blog. Basically I talked with one of the promoters for the show and just explained that I'm looking to gain some experience and I would'nt mind doing a few photos for free.

So some of my questions are:

What speed film should I use in low light conditions?
Any recommendations on exposure and aperture settings?
Should I look to use a certain type of flash? Or are powerful flashes even a good choice for a concert? (I don't want to distract the performers)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


There was a guy here who do did some shots of Lupe Fiasco performing that I thought were very good. I gotta find that thread again

 

[Arkitech]

crap, wrong forum

 

[spacejamz]

crap, wrong forum

the other forum is titled Digital and Video cameras...If you are shooting film, should you be posting there???

 

[olds]

My wife was invited along with our daughter to a AIC concert by one of the promoters.
She was taking pics, they made her put her camera away sine she didn't have a press pass.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

my wife was invited along with our daughter to a aic concert by one of the promoters.
She was taking pics, they made her put her camera away sine she didn't have a press pass.

aic?

FWIW: not allowing fans to take photos is plain stupid. But I will mention that i have a live recording of Les Claypool where at one point he siad that he loves that people are taking photos, but please turn off your flashes. So, one piece of advice. If you start with a flash on, tell the musicians before hand that you are starting out with the flash and to let them know if it should be turned off.

 

[alfa147x]

aic?

FWIW: not allowing fans to take photos is plain stupid. But I will mention that i have a live recording of Les Claypool where at one point he siad that he loves that people are taking photos, but please turn off your flashes. So, one piece of advice. If you start with a flash on, tell the musicians before hand that you are starting out with the flash and to let them know if it should be turned off.

alice in chains

 

[corkyg]

There is no film photography forum. Taking the pics at a concert is the same - digital or film. First, most concerts that have paid admission also restrict photography and videography.

I just finished a 4 day jazz festival - those are pretty much wide open. Flash should not be used. A fast lens (f/2.8 or better) is a must, and for closeups, a 70-200mm is good. Lighting is tricky - many are a low light environment with colored lights used for effect. That of course, affects your colors. A high ISO is useful, film or digital.

Here is a sample of the type of shot I like - subject is Kristin Korb, jazz bassist from Glendale, CA playing with a group of all-stars.

 

[Arkitech]

There is no film photography forum. Taking the pics at a concert is the same - digital or film. First, most concerts that have paid admission also restrict photography and videography.

I just finished a 4 day jazz festival - those are pretty much wide open. Flash should not be used. A fast lens (f/2.8 or better) is a must, and for closeups, a 70-200mm is good. Lighting is tricky - many are a low light environment with colored lights used for effect. That of course, affects your colors. A high ISO is useful, film or digital.

Here is a sample of the type of shot I like - subject is Kristin Korb, jazz bassist from Glendale, CA playing with a group of all-stars.

Thanks for the advice, I'm going to do a little research on high ISO settings. I'll do a few practice shots this week as well.

 

[corkyg]

High ISO can be very useful if your objective is not big enlargements. Most all of my concert pics are used in small copies - rarely larger than 4x6 in. The target are programs and web site illustrations. Digital purists put down high iso because of so-called noise. In film photography, that is simply graininess that goes with the territory.

Much useful information can be gleaned from high ISO work. I recall intel operations where we got positive facial IDs using Ektachrome film processed B&W and pushed to ISO 6400. The only illumination on subject's face was the glow of his cigarette.

FYI, the above sample was with a Canon EOS 5D and the Canon 70-300mm DO IS lens. Exposure was 1/40 sec at f/8, and ISO 3200.