Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Usually you aren't allowed to bring a camera into a concert unless you are the Press.
Some places/artists don't care, especially if you don't use a flash. I had a great time last time I saw The Dixie Dregs....brought my SLR, sat down in the front row and snapped away. The band members were mugging for me all night long. Even had a few people pay me for copies of the photos!
My advice is:
Get close if you can. Use a wide aperture, a fast ISO/ASA speed, and the fastest shutter speed your aperture will permit. In other words, use aperture priority mode and open it up all the way. Hold your breath when you fire, and try to get shots when the lights are brighter. Lighting effects change quickly and are very hard to capture effectively on film...in many ways they make it harder, as you've metered a 1/30 sec exposure and as you pull the trigger, suddenly the light level drops.
Last piece of advice is not as important in the days of digital photography, but don't take too many pictures. A guy singing or playing an instrument pretty much looks EXACTLY the same no matter what they are singing or playing. Using the sports photography tactic of "let the action come to you," I often like to follow a particular person and wait until they do something interesting. That way you don't have 150 shots of a guy who appears to be just standing there playing the guitar.
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