Concert Photography - George Thurgood

[The Ruptured Duck]

Tonight I could be going to the George Thurgood tonight, and I was wondering if it would be worth bringing my camera along.  I don't have an IS lens, telephoto, or a tripod, and I'm not sure what the lighting is going to be like.  I only have the kit 18-55mm Canon lens.

Any settings suggestions also appreciated

[Omag 2.0]

Push the iso of your cam up to 800 and choose the 18 mm (f 3.5) side of the lense and you might be able to come up with a reasonable shuttertime. But 18 mm is awefully wide. You can forget about close-ups - 55 mm (f 5.6). So get as close to the stage as you can. And you will have to have some light on stage, or you'll be in trouble.

I shot in an indoor playground yesterday, at f2.8 and iso 800 and still couldn't get higher than a shuttertime of 1/60. So movement will be blurred at that speed.

Take it from me, practice practice practice and choose your moment. Watch for the singer/band to be standing still for the best results with this your lense.

Oh, and don't forget that you won't be allowed to take pictures everywhere. Big concerts often pose a problem, due to security. Try local, smaller concerts to practice.

More general info. IS is not usefull in this type of environement. The IS stabilises your lense, but doesn't "freeze" the subject when it moves. Shooting a still object at 1/60 with IS can result in a sharp image. Shooting a moving object at the same speed will result in a blurred photo.

If you need a better lense for this type of photo's, choose fast lenses ( f2.8 or lower).

[Roughrider]

I think Kris has covered it quite well. I was going to say shoot as high of a ISO that you can, I have been shooting some womens indoor volleyball the last couple of weeks, I shoot at 1600 ISO and the shoots seem fine. I can't use a flash, the girls get mad when you use a flash and they are playing.

[Omag 2.0]

For some reason ISO 1600 seems VERY noisy at my 400D. I should check out if denoising could help that.

[The Ruptured Duck]

Thanks for the tips!

I'll also be taking my point-and-shoot to get some video. 8-)

[61_OTU]

I have been shooting some womens indoor volleyball the last couple of weeks

[beaky]

Even if they're bad pics, I'd like to see them. I like George Thorogood.
That's T-h-o-r-o-g-o-o-d.

[Willit Run]

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer!!!  ;)

Local Boy done good!!  8-)

It will be a great show!!!!!

[The Ruptured Duck]

Even if they're bad pics, I'd like to see them. I like George Thorogood.
That's T-h-o-r-o-g-o-o-d.

Yeah, didn't find that out till I saw the ticket.  lol, I should have known.

They didn't allow me to take myDSLR in, but I tried my best with my point-and-shoot, and I got some video (which was also not allowed), and that will be on Youtube shortly.

He was awsome!  But I came home smelling like cigarettes and beer.