One Ticket For Two Pleasures?
Concert Photography Tips For Beginners!
Last week I went to see the live performance of Accusefive, an indie rock/folk rock band from Taiwan. It was their first time performing in Toronto, and I was very lucky to find a spot in the centre front row. I was only 6 feet away from the band members while they were performing, and it gave me the chance to take many good photos within a short fast paced timeframe. I took my Ricoh GR3x camera with me, and the photos were reposted by their vocalist, Chuan Ching, the next day. Some of my friends said I bought a ticket for two pleasures, one as a music fan and another as a Toronto concert photographer.
I wanted to capture the brand's energy and the moments they enjoyed together on stage. These images could bring attention to the band for promotion purpose, and did grab the attention of the lead singer. Chuan Ching reposted two of my photos: one group shot and one single shot of herself. And if you also want to take good performance photos, here are some tips for you.
The first tip is to get a better camera than your iPhone. I use the Ricoh GR3x, which is a pocket-size compact camera with a 40mm f/2.8 lens. The snap focus function allows me to take quick photos without worrying about the focus each time. And the low light performance is not bad either. However, if you are in a bigger venue, you might consider a camera with a telephoto lens which has a longer focal length.
formate.com (https://www.format.com/online-portfolio-website/music/guide) has some great tips for someone who wants to take better photos at concerts. I suggest starting with the biggest aperture (the small the number, the bigger the aperture) to get more light under a low-light situation. A fast shutter speed is also important. A shutter speed that is faster than 1/250 will give you the ability to capture movements without pictures getting blurry. Try using a higher ISO. A high ISO is to shoot in low light. ISO 1600 to 3200 is an ideal setting, but some camera has a better performance at higher ISO. It is important to experiment with your ISO ratings before the concert to prevent having grainy photos.
It is difficult to shoot in a low-light environment with limited camera settings. posterjack.ca (https://posterjack.ca/blogs/inspiration/top-11-low-light-photography-tips-take-great-pictures-without-a-flash) said to reduce the camera shake. If your shutter speed could not be any higher, use a tripod or secure your camera with your body. You can also turn on the camera’s built-in stabilization feature. And remember always shoot in RAW. The RAW file will give you more room in post-production. It is easier to correct low light conditions, grain, and other imperfections when you use RAW images.
Lastly, when you post your photos on the social media, you should only post the photos that are well composed, properly lit, and are white balanced. A good photos is more likely to be reposted. Moreover, you should always tag the band's social media handles and their members’s personal accounts. You could also the location on the photo too. For my group shot of Accusefive, I added "Toronto", and they reposted it because it was their first trip in North America which is important and precious to them.
