The best way to start as a concert photographer is to get a lens with

a large aperture (small aperture number e.g. f1.4, f1.8, f2.8). One

no-brainer is the 50mm f1.8 lens (available for all brands) which is

lightweight, unobtrusive and cheap. The aperture of 1.8 will give you

the ability to shoot in low-light conditions and is just perfect for concert

photography.

Gogol Bordello N i ko n D 7 0 0 7 0 m m @ f 2 . 8 1 / 2 5 0 s e c I S O 6 4 0 0

1. PURE APERTURE MADNESS

Apocalyptica N i ko n D 7 0 0 8 5 m m @ f 2 . 2 1 / 4 0 0 s e c I S O 1 6 0 0

Have you ever been to a concert where the artist was hyperactively

jumping from one side of the stage to the other? To freeze these

movements, you have to use a fast shutter speed. In general, I set my

shutter speed at 1/200 sec or faster.

Additionally I want to remind you of this rule of thumb: 1/focal length is

the shutter speed you need to overcome camera shake (which results

in blurred images). So, if you‘re using a 50mm lens, you should have a

shutter speed of at least 1/50 sec.

2. FREEZE THE ACTION!

ISO or film speed refers to the sensitivity of analog film. These days, the

term is used to quantify the sensitivity of your digital sensor. The higher

the ISO setting, the less light is needed for a proper exposure, but the

more noise you‘ll encounter in your photos. Depending on the capabilities

of your camera, an ISO setting of 1600-3200 is a good starting point for

concert photography.

Fink N i ko n D 8 0 0 4 4 m m @ f 2 . 8 1 / 1 2 5 s e c I S O 6 4 0 0

3. FILM SPEED IN THE DIGITAL ERA?

When I started out as concert photographer, I used the Aperture

priority mode (Av). This mode allows you to set the aperture and your

camera will automatically set the shutter speed for the correct exposure.

In the beginning it can all be a bit overwhelming. Standing in front of the

stage for the first time is a great experience, but you might find you have

too much to think about.

“Do I have the right settings? What does the artist think of me waving

my camera about in front of him all the time?“ So I would suggest

starting out in Av mode and, once you feel more comfortable with the

situation, change to manual mode, which will give you more freedom to

set your exposure.

Atari Teenage Riot N i ko n D 7 0 0 5 0 m m @ f 1 . 8 1 / 2 5 0 0 s e c I S O 1 6 0 0

4. AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL MODE?

The last setting I choose is the continuous shot mode. The situation

in font of the stage is really challenging for your camera. It’s a low-light

situation and fast movements are not the easiest things to deal with, so

you’ll therefore need to take lots of photos during the concert. Using

the continuous shot mode allows you to take 3-4 frames in a short time

period which increases the probability of getting the shot.

5. CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!

Slash N i ko n D 7 0 0 2 0 0 m m @ f 2 . 8 1 / 4 0 0 s e c I S O 4 0 0

With these 5 Secrets of Rockstar Photographers in mind you

should be able to get pretty good results from your camera.

These pages cover the main points for all kinds of low-light stage

photography and can be achieved by any DSLR (with an ISO

setting of at least 1600) and a fast lens (e.g. 50mm 1.8)

Do you want to know more of how to become a Rockstar

Photographer?

If your answer is YES, then my step-by-step Guide To Rockstar

Concert Photography will provide you with all the information

necessary from shooting your first concert, learning which camera

gear and settings you need, understanding the rules of the photo

pit, getting signed by magazines to shooting exclusively for your

favorite bands and hanging out with them backstage.

www.howtobecomearockstarphotographer.com

Feel free to contact me! If you have any questions, comments or

you want to send your feedback to my project, drop me a line:

office@matthiashombauer.com

Rock on!

Matthias

Copyright © 2014 Matthias Hombauer. All rights reserved.