Shooting shows isnt my thing. I dont find it fun, and I'm not very good at it... Tell me what I can be doing better.

Kylesa

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Amebix

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Also....

15. puppies



16. kitties



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The main thing that stands out to me with the show pics is the colour - are they lit with flash? The best thing about those sorts of shots are the cool stage lighting effects. If have to use flash, can you fire it off-camera, and perhaps gel it an interesting colour? Of course, if it's not lit with groovy light in the first place, none of this is going to happen.

The other thing is the depth of field - shots like this one might be improved if you could isolate the guy a bit more from the background:



I like this one best - it really captures some of the feel of the event, which the others mostly lack. I really like the way the crowd and the musician are playing off each other.




Hope that's in some way helpful!

That does help, thanks!

I do take a lot of live photos, and I can tell you're better than average. The first thing you did right was stand in the exact right place.

#1 is a very good photograph. A lot of times musicians look at the photos you take of them, and say "This isn't rock and roll enough." This one is, mainly due to her facial expression and how well posed her arm is. A slight problem with glare on her cheek though.

#2 is more what I would consider a mistake. The microphone blocks most of his face. Microphones can be a real pain when you're photographing singing, which is why it's best to shoot sort of from the side. I do otherwise like the composition of the shot. What I do in situations like this is hoist the camera up to approximately where the guy is looking and shoot down at his face.

#3 has a similar problem, in that you're looking at him from the side, and you don't really get much of an interesting figure. I'd say wait for him to turn more toward you.

#4 is well composed, although I don't like how your watermark covers the foot. Her feet are needed, I think. I do like the balance between band and crowd. Shots like this are severely underrated in live music photography, although I guess it's the sort of thing that's easier to do at a punk show than, say, a Christina Aguilera concert.

#5 suffers from the same thing as 2. The point of this shot I think should be the guy's hair, which is just clipped off a bit.

#6 More microphone-in-face.

#7 Better.

#8 Good shot of his face, although this is what I meant about musicians looking at their photos and saying "This isn't rock and roll enough." Shots like this need more facial expression or movement.

#9 Doesn't show any faces, but a really good shot. What kind of place is this? Looks more like a community hall, but I've never seen a community hall show with such a light setup.

#10 I think it could be better if you get a little tighter on the action, and get the faces in some participants of that. It works okay but not great as just a crowd shot.

#11 Probably your strongest shot of a non-female band member so far. Still, his face is whited out.

#12 At least you tried to get drummer shots. In order for a drummer shot to be good, I believe you need:
-at least one arm raised
-face, or a big mess of hair
This picture succeeds, but consider cropping it closer. Especially on the bottom. Ever notice how most drummers turn their heads slightly to one side? It annoys me.

#13 This picture doesn't meet either of my two criteria. It looks kind of like it was taken at a pause between songs.

#14 Strong final shot. I especially like how it captures some ambient light. That's something you should fool around with some more.

And since I made it this far,

#15 Cute, but I would recommend cropping very tight around the faces/legs.

#16 Just a little too underexposed.

#17 Just a little too overexposed.

Thanks a lot! Theres plenty of advice in there that I am going to keep in mind next time I decide to shoot at a show. I need to get an off-camera cord for my flash though, not being able to bounce it off of the ceiling or walls makes the light really harsh, which I do realize but tried to remedy as much as I could in post. I also think I may slow the flash sync speed or shutter speed to get a little more ambient light.

And about what you said in #9, its a artspace type deal, so they have shows there a lot. Usually much smaller though.

Put the puppies on the amp stacks amid the beer bottles/cups/ashtrays/etc., and shoot to include them with the band.

Posted by KublaKhan Put the puppies on the amp stacks amid the beer bottles/cups/ashtrays/etc., and shoot to include them with the band.

that would be sick!

that's my kitty you creep!!!!
stop sneaking into my room to take pictures of her..

Posted by KublaKhan Put the puppies on the amp stacks amid the beer bottles/cups/ashtrays/etc., and shoot to include them with the band.

We're getting them ready.

i hope you know that picture of my kitty has been my background since you posted it

That rules.

I can't believe you took that cat back. Now I never get to see it.

Posted by willskith That rules. I can't believe you took that cat back. Now I never get to see it.

you can't believe i took back my own cat? I"m not some 16 year old pregnant chick hoping dss takes my kids away so i can go back to crack and st. ides... jeez.
get your own kitty

Posted by jesslovesharks you can't believe i took back my own cat? I"m not some 16 year old pregnant chick hoping dss takes my kids away so i can go back to crack and st. ides... jeez. get your own kitty

I'd rather just play the illegitimate father that gets to visit once in a while.

Posted by willskith I'd rather just play the illegitimate father that gets to visit once in a while.

you would.

are you going to brad's bday. maybe ill bring her on a leash and she can play with the commodore.

Posted by jesslovesharks you would. are you going to brad's bday. maybe ill bring her on a leash and she can play with the commodore.

Yes I am and holy shit that would be awesome.