How To Photograph Rock Concerts – Beyond Basics
In my last post I explained some of the basics of photographing a rock concert. Aspects like watching your ISO, using spot metering for tricky lighting situations and switching to manual exposure mode. In this post I’d like to explore the more creative side of rock concert photography. After you’ve read through these examples, please feel free to post your own experiences in the comments section below.
Set The Mood
Photo by marfis75
Setting the mood can take many forms. As the image at left shows, you don’t even need to see the band to successfully set the mood. These shots usually do better when there is no main subject in the picture. Look for unusual lighting and stage effects to present themselves. If the band is dynamic it’ll be easy to find this element, as they will be putting in effort to set a certain mood with the concert. Make sure you’ve listened to some of their music before you go to the concert, if this is a band you’ve never heard before.
Go Wide
Alyse Black Benefit Concert - Photo by Peter West Carey
If you have the option to use a few different lenses make sure one of them is a wide angle lens. It won’t be used that often as most people like to have shots of individual band members close up, but a number of wide angle shots are vital to conveying a whole ensemble on stage. Wide angle shots can also allow you to capture some of the crowd in the shot as well as the band as well as the ever important huge video screen behind the stage for interesting effects. It probably won’t be on your camera long, but it will help to have the variety a wide lens can provide.
Don’t Forget The Crowd
Bon Jovi Crowd - Photo by Anirudh Koul
Concert Photographer Anirudh Koul does a wonderful job of catching the massiveness of a Bon Jovi concert by turning his camera away from the stage. For me, this gives a great feel to just how chaotic, electric and exciting the concert really was. While a completely dark audience wouldn’t convey the same feel, a hall with the house lights all the way up would not work as well either.
Look for a time when the crowd is partially lit as in this photo at right. Try to get above the crowd as well, not too hard to do if you’re allowed into the fringe around the stage, but a bit more difficult if you’re amongst the crowd. The crowd is an integral part of the show because remember, without a crowd, it’s just a rehearsal.
Look For The Unusual
Blimp At Van Halen Concert - Photo by Anirudh Koul
Big name concerts tend to have some wild things going on during the concert, making them more like stage shows than a concert. From spinning drum risers to mechanical robots to the blimp Van Halen used, you will probably have something unusual going on. As most bands with theatrics in their concert tend to repeat gimmicks from city to city, get on the band’s website/blog/fan club mailing list to get an idea of what goes on at their concert. Get hold of others who have been to concerts during the same tour to know what and when to expect it. Anirudh’s shot of the blimp shows excellent positioning and timing. it may have been luck or he may have known what to expect from past concerts.
Zoom In/Get Close
Juke Wyatt On A 5-String Bass - Photo by Peter West Carey
It’s time to swap out the wide angle lens for a zoom to get up close and personal. Get as close to the stage as you can or even better, obtain a press pass for a larger concert. With a decent zoom (70-210mm is a favorite for most) you will be able to isolate individual band members and their activity. At this point I’ll also reemphasize a point I made in my last post, don’t forget the drummer! They’re back there, all alone most of the time, isolated by the mass of equipment and pickups (microphones) around them. The only way to get good shots without a pass to get on or backstage is with a decent zoom lens.
These are just a few ideas to help get the creativity juices flowing before you shoot a concert. If you’ve shot a concert before and have other great tidbits and photos to share, please post a comment in the section below to pass along your knowledge in DPS’s spirit of learning! Thanks!
40 Responses to “How To Photograph Rock Concerts – Beyond Basics” - Add Yours
March 4th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Another thing I could advise concert photographers is this: listen to the music while you’re shooting. First, because it would be a pity to attend a concert, and be so focused on getting the good shot that you totally miss the music and forget to enjoy it. Second because generally , lights can change a lot during a song, and most often, they follow the music. So when you notice a certain splash of light coming in regularly with the music, listening to the beat might help you anticipate and take the shot at the right time.
March 4th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
March 4th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Further to what Spica said about anticipating the music, the musicians often move in time to it…. if there’s going to be a big hit, that might be when the guitarist jumps up in the air. Don’t take your camera off your face very often!
March 4th, 2009 at 4:24 am
I just read this in one of the many books I have on the go. Sorry, I can’t remember which one:
Try to shoot with both eyes open and remember, if you see it happening with your eyes, you’ve probably missed the shot!
March 4th, 2009 at 7:08 am
Great hints on photographing the ever changing environments of live concert venues. One thing that would be beneficially useful in these tutorials would be to add the shutter speed and aperture settings for all of the sample shots displayed. These give a great example of some various environments we could encounter and it’d be nice to have a reference as a starting point for our own shots.
March 4th, 2009 at 7:12 am
I attended the metallica concert in manchester a couple of days ago, and i have a sony dsc h9 cam, i was sitting way high up, and damn it was hard to get some good shots, i think the most important part when it comes to taking pics in a concert is knowing the songs they are playing, cse ull have an idea of when they would do some tricks with the lights, it will help u get some really nice pictures, of if u dont know them, at least listen for a 1min, and get a feel of how the lights and effects follow the music, cse its usually repetitive. i ended up with some great great shots.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
The photographhing the crowd is a neat tip, there is always something interesting happening in the crowd. To take this pic at the Future Music Festival in Perth I asked a punter to hold a wheelie bin firm so that I could hop in it, I took a few shots using the add-on flash on my D90 but the crowd was not well lit, so I turned the camera upside down and aimed the flash down to get the crowd in the foreground lit up http://flickr.com/photos/pantone801/3322080986/
This is a pic I took at Good Vibrations in Perth, some guys decided to bring a Jason Priestly Poster to the concert, and I snapped this candid shot http://flickr.com/photos/pantone801/3305670529/
March 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
I’m sitting here nodding my head at almost every comment! Listen to the music, get taken away by it… NEVER take your camera off your face – you will miss THAT shot… (Love your music shots Tanya) Keep your eyes open…
Dave, in sime cases you can click the photos above and head over to flickr, there may be exif info on the photos (more properties on the right) and Tarek, totally! if you know the music, it always helps… But sadly that’s not always going to be the case – feel the music.
Nice article Pete.
Sime – dPS
March 4th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
My tip would be to go to a smaller club where you can get closeer to the band. Then play with the shutter and a handheld flash.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3005975555_37ddac1094_b.jpg
March 4th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Try not to use the flash in concerts. Even with a point & shoot camera in auto mode (and high ISO if needed) you can get decent shots because concerts usually have strong lightning:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/1190936349/in/set-72157601579709666/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/1366913279/in/set-72157601983283413/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/2739166894/in/set-72157603907725338/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/3279086708/in/set-72157612238015615/
March 5th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Jesus. That was bloody terrible.
Yet another post which says everything and yet absolutely nothing all in one fowl swoop.
You want to get good advice on taking photo’s at gigs? Then look of Todd Owyoung ishootshows.
This sort of watered down gack makes this trade look like any tom dick and harry can do it. Well they can’t there is more to make really good concert photographs than ‘looking at the pretty lights’, using expensive ‘fast glass’ shooting wide and ‘dont forget the crowd’.
I am by no stretch a pro, and I have been flamed a plenty for trying to give people advice on shooting but this says nothing.
March 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hey, Avangelist…. Take a look up there, no… further… The url for this website *digital photography school* ….not “Ishootshows” (yep, its a great website) …maybe your rant would suit them better over there??
People starting out don’t jump straight in and know what to do, the need a bit of slowly slowly… They come here to try get just that, so thanks for your comment, but if you bothered to work out what this sote was about prior to leaving it, maybe even you would agree that your comment really doesn’t fit?
Sime
March 6th, 2009 at 12:56 am
Thanks for the fantastic insight! I am supposed to photograph some friends who DJ at a club… I was very worried about the ISO and general lighting conditions there… These articles are exactly what I was looking for!
March 6th, 2009 at 4:28 am
Thank you Sime! Nothing worse than a know it all nay sayer!
I find this site very helpful and useful. I am always looking to dps for insight.
I am in the amature stage of my photography, but dps is what helps me grow!
Thanks to all!
March 6th, 2009 at 8:47 am
“People starting out don’t jump straight in and know what to do, the need a bit of slowly slowly… They come here to try get just that, so thanks for your comment, but if you bothered to work out what this sote was about prior to leaving it, maybe even you would agree that your comment really doesn’t fit?”
Sorry Sime, on this particular topic I’m with Avangelist. The blog post said nothing of any real substance. I’d bet a weeks salary that “those starting out” as you put it would come away from a gig with pretty crappy images if they followed the limited advice on this post and feel pretty deflated too.
March 6th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Hey Paul,
You’re welcome to your opinion… At the end of the day, we both know that its going to take more than this one blog post for someone to go shoot a band, and then they’ve got to get a photo pass… I dare say by that point that they are going to have done a little more research and know a little about what they’re trying to do. I did.
“Those just starting out” are not going to benefit by going to ishootshow (but should, great www) any more than they are from this post. But they’re going to start here and end up there is my point.
Now, I welcome you to write and submit to me an article that you’d prefer to see up here, on the topic? (Yes, really)
Simon@digital-photography-school.com
S
March 6th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I think that I already take pretty decent concert photos and I still felt that there were a few points in this and the last post that were helpful. Such as using wide-angled lenses, and scoping out the venue ahead of time. And even some things that I’d already kind of figured out for myself were reassuring to have confirmed by a pro. To Avangelist and Paul: good for you if you’re beyond this. So what if it is useful for some of us? Get over yourself. Also, I use the exact lens that was recommended in the last post (the 70-200mm f/2.8) and I get great results with it.
March 6th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
There is plenty of information here, it is much like reverse engineering others photographs, in that one has the principals for application, if they choose to use them wisely. If it was all written out like algorithms, then it would create a group of cloned photographers, which is never good.
If I may add this: If you do get a press pass or even backstage pass and was not able to make it to the lighting checks, put your camera down for at least one song and study the lighting. Don’t just look at it, analyze it for merits of creative lighting effects with intensities and gels duly noted. Then position yourself for some very creative backlight with dynamic butterfly or key lighting effects.
Don’t be afraid of higher ISO’s, setting the triangle properly will help in limiting noise and some noise can actually add a very nice dramatic effect. Also, do not be afraid of lens flair as that can really add some cool drama to the finals.
March 6th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I had been to a Bryan Adams concert in Cyprus (My first ever concert) and i enjoyed, both from the concert point of view and the photography point of view. Yes, it was difficult first to achieve a balance between the right ISO and shutter speed. Once i got the right setting for different areas of the stage, it was a great shoot!
I completely agree to the fact that capturing the mood is as essential as capturing the rockstar. I got a good photo where the light from all the mobile phones in the crowd was visible –> Photo here
March 8th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
As with most advice, it is not meant to be a hard and fast rule, you have to adapt all of the above situations and try to find the best option for the gig at hand, another thing to look for is a sequence in the lighting and try to anticipate the bright portion DO NOT USE FLASH, this really does annoy the artist(s), it’s fine for crowd shots, but make sure you don’t over-expose it !
By the way Avangelist, the phrase you meant to say is “One fell swoop”
March 9th, 2009 at 5:10 am
I photograph loads of bands and i find it trial an error. Each concert / event if different and i continously switch between modes depending whats happenig with lighting. I never use flash at concerts. The lighting is usually great so you capture that ambiance as you see it. I did pics of ONE REPUBLIC and my lens was 18-55 and ISO was 1600. Had to push ISO as high as possible (Cannon 400D) I got a clear crop pic, but i was right infront of the stage by his microphone looking up and lighting was perfect. I also use 70-300 F4.5 lens to get close ups. Again it depends on the lens, which is not fast so im limited to getting some great shots hads i had faster lens. Where red spots lights are involved, i try avoid that shot as the light comes out pinky and hazy, so red does not work well at all. Also i never take my camera off my neck. By the time a concert is finished i have taken about 1300 pics…. out of those only a limited amount are really good. Got to keep snapping so i dont miss that shot. International conerts, only allowed to take pics of the first 3 songs, so its quick (International standard). I make mates with most of the bands and share my love of them though my eyes. Its has opened many doors for me with bands and getting a photographers press pass for an event. Im still learning after many concerts and photographing top internationals like MUSE, 30 Sec to Mars, Korn, CHris Cornell, Kaiser Chiefs, Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, One Republic …..
If anyone has any comments or further tips… please feel free to post up in response….
Tarryne Rautenbach
March 10th, 2009 at 5:43 am
One great trick i’ve taught myself is to shoot with both eyes open.
while you’re focusing on the bassist, who usually doesn’t move that much, trying to compose the perfect shot, the lead singer might be on the other side going absolutely bananas!
and If you keep your non-camera eye closed, you would have missed it.
March 17th, 2009 at 3:37 am
my tip – pratice practice practice, a year later since starting this, a few publications and I’m still learning!
(www.robigophotography.com)
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:04 am
I really enjoyed reading all the comments here. All of you have some valid points and for me the issue is not the concert itself but the crowd. I mainly shoot portraits but each year (for the past four years) I am invited to participate in a major festival’s photo team. This year they really want some good crowd stuff. To show the Immensity of the crowds. (several thousand at each nighttime show) if you’d like an idea of what I’m talking about see the artist section at http://lifest.com/photoViewer/.
I know that I would like to get either a 14mm 2.8 or a 17-55 2.8 but am having a hard time deciding. What are your Suggestions?
BTW I fully agree with katelovely on the both eyes openthing. I even started doing that at weddings when kids are around.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
and another important point is, do not just take pictures but enjoy the show as well! This will show on your photos!
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
My best rock concert picture EVER, is this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulosacramento/3735743030/
August 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Hi everyone,
There are some great concert photography tips out there but this is something I would like to mention about the limitations of using autofocus in low light with overlapping planes as in a stage situation. My son is a drummer and I found much better results using manual focus as at the last nanosecond if the lights change or the autofocus is hunting you will get blurred sections and a case of severe disappointment.
Always take 2 extra seconds to set up your shots and check every single corner of the frame before pressing the shutter.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:10 am
I’m lost….My husband is a music journalist whom is without a photographer (boss won’t pay up for another). He is in need of a killer camera for a beginner of rock concerts. I dig the advise that has been given on both basics/beyond basics which he can/will easily follow (of course practice makes better pictures, he doesn’t expect to be perfect out the gate). What camera should he get?
December 1st, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Hi Michelle.
Your man doesn’t need a “killer” camera to start – though, I guess it all depends on what access he has, what venues etc.
e.g. I shoot with two cameras – a Canon 30D and a Canon 5DMk2 – the 30D is great in well lit conditions, takes a great photo and for press resolution is just fine. The 5DMk2 is amazing in almost all situations – the low light performance though is what sets them apart.
For example – this image was taken with the 5DMk2 at iso2500 – if I had the 30D at iso2500 there would be noise and no Keith Flint
Keith Flint | The Prodigy
This is a shot with the 30D at iso1000 – With the right light, you can get a fine shot.
10cc | Indigo2
I think what I’m trying to say is this – don’t worry that much about the gear, get a camera (loan one) and try it out – you can have the best camera in the world but if the lighting is rubbish, you’re still going to have a hard time getting anything other than a nice arty black&white (Which I’m sure your hubby knows newspapers nine times out of ten won’t take)
If I can help at all – you can find me in the dPS forums (Sime) or email me – simon@digital-photography-school.com
If you just wanted your question answered though… Canon 5D Mark II is a great camera for gig photography.
Best,
Sime
December 23rd, 2009 at 6:45 am
Could anyone provide advice specifically for small venues that have very little lighting? My boyfriend is a local musician who plays mostly small clubs that either have no lights but the neon beer signs or maybe a couple stationary colored spotlights. I often have to use nightvision when I shoot video because that’s just how dark most of these venues are. Would the same settings apply as mentioned here or should they be tweaked a bit?
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 am
Hey Angie, Yeah – bad lighting is tricky and plagues us all from time to time… I have a venue I love going to, great sound but the worst light (purple LED lighting) possible for photos – convert it all to black and white, hope something works…
If you can, use a higher iso and a fast lens combination…
If all you have is a neon beer sign, sure – give it a go, but maybe just enjoy the music instead! A couple of colored spots and you might get away with it…
Sime
December 30th, 2009 at 5:42 am
Here’s something interesting that I’ve never encountered before. While shooting Jeff Tweedy’s solo acoustic show in Phoenix on Sunday I was unusually aware of the sounds my camera makes. Beeping, lens movement for focus and shutter clicks. Since it was an acoustic show there were moments when Jeff was playing rather softly.
I turned the beeps off – and waited for louder moments of music to shoot photos. I didn’t want to be the guy ruining other people’s experience.
December 30th, 2009 at 5:46 am
Light is always key with concert photography. For the photo of Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers below the light was perfect and I could use ISO400 at 2.8 – other nights I’ m pushing 1600+ trying to get a shot to deliver. Know your camera, know your settings and then trust your instincts.
June 20th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
For a guy who’s just starting in the world of live music photography (and, I’ll be honest, photography in general), this article is a godsend. I read the earlier article first and then came to this. Simple, sensible advice! Thanks a bunch, and also to all the extra tips from the comments!
June 21st, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Hi there. Thanks for the tips. I have a concert (Germando Brandino) to photograph next Tuesday and I found these two articles very helpful and inspiring. As soon as I have the photos I promisse to share.
I took some pictures of a friend’s band (Ambervision And The Night Drivers) previously but, as the club manager did not allowed me to photograph the gig, I had to do it hidden under a table on the place’s second floor and far away from the stage. I used a 75-300mm 4-5.6 lens on my Canon EOS Rebel XSi. Unfortunately the lens weight and my positioning didn’t helped me to hold the camera still, so I’ve got some blured images.
Click here to see the whole gallery.
Thanks again and hope to write back soon with good news and good shots!
June 26th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
thank u so much for such lovely and helpful article
)
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:12 am
I just started taking band photos – lots of trial and error and a couple of camera upgrades later, I see lots of improvement, and that’s due to sites like this. Thanks so much for the tips! Knowing the band is a HUGE boost. I get to scout out the venues during sound checks so I can take some test shots. That gives me the opportunity to work out what settings I need in advance. I can’t afford the high-end equipment yet, but have found that creative angle, cropping, and Photoshop are my best friend. I also learned that the best shots are the ones you luck into just by being in the right place at the right moment. These were taken at some very small local venues. I’ve got some bigger ones coming up and can’t wait to try out some of these suggestions!
These photos aren’t nearly as good as the ones others have posted, but considering my beginner status, I’m rather proud of them – especially since they were taken in some seriously sad lighting.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1668&id=103335119708392&l=ed74fedd4f
January 28th, 2011 at 3:37 am
I started to photograph rock concerts in 1976. Luckily in the right place at the right time. A Washington Post writer needed a photo of Eric Clapton performing. The thrill of having my name for credit below photos I had taken was a blast. For two years I photographed the biggest names in rock from the Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen.
I started up again this past Fall photographing local bands in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
I’ve been posted by work on facebook: PHOTOROCK-USA
Paul J. Kasko
August 17th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Apparently this is still a hot topic, as I get a lot of hits on my pictures which I posted above.
For concerts I started using these settings with my Canon A590 IS point&shoot camera:
- turn off all “helpers” (face detection, IS, sounds, review)
- use P mode, no flash
- use Manual Focus mode and set the distance to infinity
- set exposure compensation to -1 or -2
- use high ISO if needed
With these settings, if you focus the middle of the frame on a strong light, the exposure time should be automatically calculated to around 1/60 seconds, enough to take a decent non-blurry picture. In addition, the manual focus shortens the time needed by the camera to snap the picture, allowing more action shots.
Some pictures from a Rammstein concert:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/4375142443/in/set-72157623354463609
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/4375149903/in/set-72157623354463609
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alex_stanoi/4375150829/in/set-72157623354463609
August 17th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
I think like in all areas of photography, first you have to have an eye & instinct. Second, already being a fan of that group, knowing the songs should help, since you’d know where and when to expect the lighting or the movements of the band members to change.
I have started using a DSLR to concerts very recently and I have no formal photography training. I try to teach myself, read read read and look at photos. Yet the most important thing is to go out there and try. You start knowing your camera, your lens and you learn from your mistakes and you get faster.
I am not a concert photographer at all, I only shoot for my own liking and I hope one day, if I aim at that direction of course, I’d get to be invited to shoot concerts
These sorts of articles are in my opinion of great help for beginners. For example, using spot metering for certain shots is something I found out after a few trials and disappointments. However some else will save time and effort after reading this, so good job.
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