Help with live band shots.

[Cannibalized]

I'm always being asked to take photos of live band shows. I'm terrible at it. I don't want to use the on camera flash because it makes the photos look terrible. And handheld in lowlight is just impossible, because of all of the movement of both myself and my shakey hands as well as the band members.

Would a speedlight solve all of my problems? I've never even used one but I will eventually invest in one, but does it even make the lighting look subtle enough so that you can see stage lights and such as well? Rather than blown out white faces? I know I can change the exposure on the flash, but even so, I've never had success!

(I decline paying jobs all the time because I have no clue how to do this!)

[mommymomo]

Steve or Adaptive?

Can either of you help?

[MillerPhoto]

How close are you able to get to the band? Cause that will make a big differnce. If you can be like front row right in front of the stage, i would suggest like a Sigma 30mm EX AF f:1.4
Distance is the biggest factor for what your looking for.

[Adaptive]

I'm always being asked to take photos of live band shows. I'm terrible at it. I don't want to use the on camera flash because it makes the photos look terrible. And handheld in lowlight is just impossible, because of all of the movement of both myself and my shakey hands as well as the band members.

Would a speedlight solve all of my problems? I've never even used one but I will eventually invest in one, but does it even make the lighting look subtle enough so that you can see stage lights and such as well? Rather than blown out white faces? I know I can change the exposure on the flash, but even so, I've never had success!

(I decline paying jobs all the time because I have no clue how to do this!)

Basically I'd recommend a speedlight and a flash bracket. Flash bracket is not necessary but it would help eliminate shadows caused by flash, and when you use telephoto it really helps eliminate redeye! In all honesty any speedlight would work fine, but if it were me and if you could afford it I'd go with either the 550ex or 580ex. 580ex is my flash of choice but not everyone can afford this unit so the 550ex still does a dam good job and if you learn to love using flash you can start using multiple flashes wirelessly if you get either the 550 or 580. I have no experience with other speedlights but I'm sure they would do the job just as good as long as it is a canon.

You can make the light subtle depending on what settings you are using, there are alot of variables and settings to play around with and learn. It could take you a while to learn everything but once you do you will be more valuable as a photographer. If you just snap the flash unit on the camera without learning anything and without changing any settings and expect to take awesome shots you have another thing coming. And you can always cheat and get a gary fong light sphere but there's only so much you can do with that pos. If you take the time to learn your equipment you will get great results, like I always say, you can't get a flash today and expect to be a pro by tomorrow... It takes time.

But to answer your question yes a speedlight would help a great deal. Just to give you an idea, I've had my 580's for a while now and I still havn't mastered them!!! But the journey on the path to knowledge has been fun and it feels very rewarding when I learn something new!!

good luck with your decision!





Maybe drop some hints to your parents... "yea if I had a flash I could take some great xmas pictures..."

[Cannibalized]

Basically I'd recommend a speedlight and a flash bracket. Flash bracket is not necessary but it would help eliminate shadows caused by flash, and when you use telephoto it really helps eliminate redeye! In all honesty any speedlight would work fine, but if it were me and if you could afford it I'd go with either the 550ex or 580ex. 580ex is my flash of choice but not everyone can afford this unit so the 550ex still does a dam good job and if you learn to love using flash you can start using multiple flashes wirelessly if you get either the 550 or 580. I have no experience with other speedlights but I'm sure they would do the job just as good as long as it is a canon.

You can make the light subtle depending on what settings you are using, there are alot of variables and settings to play around with and learn. It could take you a while to learn everything but once you do you will be more valuable as a photographer. If you just snap the flash unit on the camera without learning anything and without changing any settings and expect to take awesome shots you have another thing coming. And you can always cheat and get a gary fong light sphere but there's only so much you can do with that pos. If you take the time to learn your equipment you will get great results, like I always say, you can't get a flash today and expect to be a pro by tomorrow... It takes time.

But to answer your question yes a speedlight would help a great deal. Just to give you an idea, I've had my 580's for a while now and I still havn't mastered them!!! But the journey on the path to knowledge has been fun and it feels very rewarding when I learn something new!!

good luck with your decision!





Maybe drop some hints to your parents... "yea if I had a flash I could take some great xmas pictures..."

Well I don't even live near my parents so I doubt that will happen, haha. But I do think i will be getting 2 580's in the near future

[Adaptive]

If the "near future" is before January 13th you can save yourself $60 by buying 2 580ex's!

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/Pro...Form_Oct06.pdf

Also here's a pretty good deal on B&H $359
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search



good luck!

[Adaptive]

Oh and I guess I should have asked how big the venu is for this band shoot you plan on doing? If you are thinking it's a big concert like what I was thinking then use flash. If it's a small private venue then definately don't use flash and wear all black to keep the attention off of yourself. If it is a small quiet concert like jazz or something cool you will most likely need to use nice primes with low f-stops. You can probably do a great job with a nice 2.8 lens like the 70-200L f/2.8 IS, or maybe even a 24-70L f/2.8 might work.

If you can get alittle close without being distracting to the audience maybe try a 50mm f/1.8 ($60) or f/1.4 ($300).





Dunno, but basically if it's a small quiet concert you don't want to be distracting and annoying by constantly popping off your flash! Your job as a photographer is to take pics of the event and do so without being noticed!!!!
I'm sure I know the type of music you listen to and I'm sure it's far from quiet and calm so flash away!!

[studio206]

lol everyone is always so quick to go out and buy expensive equipment :-P

using the built in flash doesn't necessarily make the pictures look bad... if u know how to use it. I've use my built in flash several times when i shoot bands and stuff... but since i use film, i just get high speed film lol but anyway what i do, i am under expose a few stops... this turns the flash into nothing more than a fill flash... therefore there will be no hot spots and the light becomes very soft on your subject... don't really have to worry about what lens you are using because flash will freeze everything... the only downfall is the red eye... which the speedlight will fix but since the bands that i shoot for loves b&w pictures i never have to worry about red eye ^_^ lol

[Adaptive]

good luck with that

[Billyj571]

70-200 mm f2.8 is works for me.