Technique
GIG PHOTOGRAPHY
Low-light
gig secrets
Incorporating the crowd into the shot really helps capture the atmosphere
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm, 1/320sec at f/2.8, ISO 1000
Gigs are up and running so refresh your low-light concert photography skills with these practical tips from seasoned music shooter Shona Cutt
M
ost of us can get to gigs again, so here’s a reminder of the core skills you need for images with way more impact than the punters in the crowd will get with a phone. Whether you are shooting a massive arena show or a tribute band down the pub, the core principles of low-light gig shooting remain. Indeed, smaller gigs are often less stressful, and you’re usually able to stay after the first three songs. The performers might really like your pictures too, and ask you back to shoot them again. And who knows, that talented local band could become huge one day, so it’s well worth trying to build a relationship with them through photography.
Fast lenses and high ISOs
‘My first tip for low-light photography is to use the fastest lens you can,’ advises highly experienced gig photographer Shona Cutt. ‘I use a Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 bought second-hand 11 years ago. It was all I could
afford at the time but still works really well. I also hire a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens as needed. Being able to shoot at a wide aperture makes life much easier as the light often changes all the time – you combine it with a higher ISO and faster shutter speed, as required. I also have a Canon 50mm f/1.8 which I take to gigs, but mainly use for band portrait shots.’ Shona is also a great believer in using the highest ISO setting you can in order to get decent shots in low-light gig situations. ‘Higher ISOs are usually essential in smaller venues,’ she counsels. ‘I will happily shoot at ISO 6400 and sometimes higher. It’s always better to have a noisy shot than a slightly blurry one. The highest I usually go is ISO 6400 but will try to stay lower if I can depending on the venue/band. The highest I’ve managed to get successful results is at ISO10,000. Any higher and you risk the image becoming a noisy mush of pixels – I’ve learnt the hard way!’ In terms of camera and lens settings, Shona’s mantra is to try to get as much
Below left: Watch carefully for cool poses to give your shots character
Cxnon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm, 1/400sec at f/2.8, ISO 5000
Below: Expose lights correctly and they can look great
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 24-70mm, 1/400sec at f/2.8, ISO 6400
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07/02/2022 14:38
