Event Photography

[Pedey]

Hey guys,

First post. Who else here does event photography? I do quite a bit for http://www.slavelabour.co.nz

http://refreshonline.co.nz/ben/slavelabour/wp-content/gallery/deep-hard/IMG_4770.jpg

http://refreshonline.co.nz/ben/slavelabour/wp-content/gallery/deep-hard/IMG_4702.jpg

http://refreshonline.co.nz/ben/slavelabour/wp-content/gallery/deep-hard/IMG_4594.jpg

Shot deep hard and funky on the weekend. Cant say I've ever been to one of those events sober before. It was very interesting... Check out the shots on the link above, the ones from Crow Bar are mine too.

[thirdkid]

what lighting did u use??

[Pedey]

Just a 430EXII, creatively bounced ;)

[thirdkid]

nicely bounced..

[David]

cool man, I like some of the photos on your site especially this one here (http://refreshonline.co.nz/ben/slavelabour/wp-content/gallery/crow-bar/IMG_3381.jpg) pretty cool lighting effect.

Must be hard to keep the colour noise down in those dark environments :S

[smurff]

very kewl, really like this one
http://refreshonline.co.nz/ben/slavelabour/wp-content/gallery/parties/thumbs/thumbs_IMG_9231.jpg

-smurff

[Haim]

i quite like the first one

[keriboi]

pedy , what lens/ camera?

[Pedey]

pedy , what lens/ camera?

A 30d and the shittiest 17-55mm kit lens imaginable

[Nat]

Nice pics (Y) never heard of Slave Labour before.

I do pics for www.biggie.co.nz and just started doing them for www.nzrave.com

Have been a bit quiet recently so haven't got anything new to share but should be doing some gigs coming up soon.

[Rick0r]

I dunno, the more I see club photography, the less I like it. It doesn't really have much of a business market, there's minimal technical difficulty (find subject, bounce flash, press butan), and it seems like it's one step up from putting photos of your mates on Facebook.

I was going to get involved with Snapstar (http://www.snapstar.co.nz/) when they were first launching, but decided against it after realising that all they have are 50 pages of photos for each event, and in each photo is just another bunch of people. It's facebook.

Sure there are exceptions (when they focus on the performances rather than just people in the crowds) but for the main part, it's facebook.

[Haim]

^ I actually quite agree with you about this problem/situation!!

you have described it pretty well.

[keriboi]

yeap all my female friends have the smallest canon p&s's tjat they keep in their handbags that they must take out where ever they go, then upload 40 photos to their facebook lol each week.

[smurff]

im sure there could be alot of creativity in these sorts of enviroment, with how to use the stage lighting, but theres may be plenty of hit and miss kind of shooting

-smurff

[keriboi]

ive got to do a coyote ugly night next week, problem is the bar has little lighting and im going to be forced with a flash i think :(

thinking of hiring a 24-70mm F2.8L or 24mm F1.4L

[Rick0r]

ive got to do a coyote ugly night next week, problem is the bar has little lighting and im going to be forced with a flash i think :(

thinking of hiring a 24-70mm F2.8L or 24mm F1.4L

Where abouts? I've been watching the ultimate coyote ugly reality show on tv, thinking "man, there needs to be one of these in NZ"

[keriboi]

www.newbrew.co.nz

[Moppie]

I dunno, the more I see club photography, the less I like it. It doesn't really have much of a business market, there's minimal technical difficulty (find subject, bounce flash, press butan), and it seems like it's one step up from putting photos of your mates on Facebook.

I was going to get involved with Snapstar (http://www.snapstar.co.nz/) when they were first launching, but decided against it after realising that all they have are 50 pages of photos for each event, and in each photo is just another bunch of people. It's facebook.

Sure there are exceptions (when they focus on the performances rather than just people in the crowds) but for the main part, it's facebook.


Looking at all the stuff I've seen done in NZ, I would agree.
Lots of snap shots, often by perverts just looking for T&A.

Find some stuff from overseas, the US and Europe in particular, and lots of talant and creativity on display.

Find away to do high quality work here and I could see a real potential market.

[Rick0r]

Looking at all the stuff I've seen done in NZ, I would agree.
Lots of snap shots, often by perverts just looking for T&A.

Find some stuff from overseas, the US and Europe in particular, and lots of talant and creativity on display.

Find away to do high quality work here and I could see a real potential market.

They're so so rare.. The only one i'd think about admiring is nicky digital (http://www.nickydigital.com/)

Even then, his shots aren't too much above what people would throw on facebook and forget about.

[robo git]

Lots of snap shots, often by perverts just looking for T&A. Wait.... There's something wrong with that?

/Innocent look

[Haim]

^lol

[smurff]

rofl!

-smurff

[Nat]

I dunno, the more I see club photography, the less I like it. It doesn't really have much of a business market, there's minimal technical difficulty (find subject, bounce flash, press butan), and it seems like it's one step up from putting photos of your mates on Facebook.

I was going to get involved with Snapstar (http://www.snapstar.co.nz/) when they were first launching, but decided against it after realising that all they have are 50 pages of photos for each event, and in each photo is just another bunch of people. It's facebook.

Sure there are exceptions (when they focus on the performances rather than just people in the crowds) but for the main part, it's facebook.

heh yeah I wouldn't exactly be looking at it as a business market :p most of the places people go to view photos are the genre/nightlife/clubbing forums who have members who are amateur photogs who do the pics in return for free entry to the gigs/because the are passionate about the music and scene.

Because of that you definitely get different levels of skills and dedication. However there are some fantastics guys out there giving their skills for free week in and week out, you just have to know where to look. They of course have to balance the creative shots with the shots of people as the shots of people are what draw people in to the websites in the first place.

The quality definitely varies from site to site though lol.

Examples of some shots of some friends of mine from www.nzrave.com (http://www.nzrave.com)

http://www.nzrave.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=207707&g2_serialNumber=4

taken by Matt/Gouba

http://www.nzrave.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=202417&g2_serialNumber=4

taken by WillSeal

[smurff]

i would like to give gig photography ago, just for the hell of it really and its great seeing people who are intoxicated

-smurff

[Nat]

lol yeah it can certainly be entertaining, however much less so when said drunk people attempt to paw your lenses or flail their drink about everywhere.

Also when people who are drunk beyond the stage of looking anywhere near good want you to take their photo and then can't quite understand why they don't look so hot.

Fun times ^_^

However all that aside, it is fun and its great when you get shots that capture the energy and the vibe of the night.

[Rick0r]

I love concert photography (I was one of the only people allowed into Vodafone homegrown with a camera/media pass), just "dance gig" photography doesn't interest me, I could see that on facebook if I wanted to.
I don't want to see 50 pages of people attending the event, I want to see the entertainers, and a few shots of the people.

[smurff]

ur've said that already Rick0r :P

but like some one said, take photos of what draws the crowds to the site.
i like to check the pics of a gig, so i can see how busy it was and wether or not i regret not goin lol

-smurff

[NikonF4s]

Hey guys, my first post on here, so it might as well contain photos!

I've always loved club pics, so i'll post up a few of my favourites.

also, if you're a club/event photographer, your job is simple, make it look like an amazing night even if it wasn't ;)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_68581.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_70381.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_58936.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_40422.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_39692.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/DSC_41671.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/A4.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/nikonf4s/V11.jpg

[Nat]

I love concert photography (I was one of the only people allowed into Vodafone homegrown with a camera/media pass), just "dance gig" photography doesn't interest me, I could see that on facebook if I wanted to.
I don't want to see 50 pages of people attending the event, I want to see the entertainers, and a few shots of the people.

tbh I think you underestimate the quality of what is out there. Sure there is a lot of crap, but there is also some good stuff. Clubbing photography and concert photography are different beasts altogether though. Have you ever seen a clubbing photo set that is entirely performer focussed? Newsflash, djs aren't actually all that interesting compared to bands/other performers and a set full of photos of just them gets old reaaaallly fast and isn't actually all that reflective of the 8 or so hours that are spent at an event.

I think the key to a good set is getting a balance of people, crowd/atmosphere/lighting and performers. The most interesting sets always seem to be roughly 1/3 of each.

Also as I mentioned earlier, the photographers have to balance their desires with their responsibilities, not just to the website they are taking photos for, but to the promoter too. The sets constructed as described above seem to keep everyone happy
-the punters who get to see pretty photos of themselves
-the people who didn't attend who get to see their mates and get a good idea of what the gig was like so they know whether to attend next time
-the promoter because if you did a good job you've attracted those people who didn't attend to come to the next gig and made them look good
-the website because you've drawn viewers to their site

tried to quickly find a good example from recent sets. Will's one from Chemistry isn't bad, especially seeing as he didn't (officially) have access to the stage heh, which makes it pretty hard to get decent dj shots. I think he captures the mood of the night. And i'm pretty sure you wouldn't find one like that on some girl with a little point and shoot's facebook :p

http://www.nzrave.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=28&g2_itemId=211935&g2_GALLERYSID=TMP_SESSION_ID_DI_NOISSES_PMT

[jakedarwen]

Shot this 21st last night,
Just thought i'd add to the mix!

:)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3779475833_811938af50_b.jpg

[Nat]

Anyone have any recommendations/tips for reducing the effect of enthusiastic smoke machine use? I was doing photos at a gig last weekend and was struggling a bit because of the amount of smoke in the air. It can work in your favour I guess and give some cool effects but trying to get crisp, clear shots of the crowd was nigh on impossible.

eg.

http://www.nzrave.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=219436&g2_serialNumber=4

http://www.nzrave.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=219454&g2_serialNumber=4

[robo git]

Get them to use a hazing fluid rather than a fogging fluid? Increases light penetration while still catching the light like fog fluid.

If that's not an option, more lighting - flashes or static-lights, give out light-sticks, that sort of thing.

And if THAT is not an option there's not much you can do other than push your equipment: Higher ISO, slower shutter-speed, wider apertures

---------- Post added at 02:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:07 PM ----------

My three vices: Camera equipment, Stereo equipment and Party lighting (though not yet to the scale of the above except when I've got a hireage budget) :D

[Nat]

Yeah these are commercial gigs. So definitely can't be telling the promoter to go changing their equipment to suit me lol. Especially when the crowds love it.

Ah well guess I'll just keep playing with the settings on the night and see what works best. Is there anything in photoshop that can be done to reduce the effect?

[robo git]

Much love for Lightroom's "Clarity" slider (except when there's a visible light-source, then it's pants unless you use the effect brush)

Get yourself Noise Ninja if you're going to push ISO. Seems to be a really quite effective at quashing unpleasant camera noise without making the scene look like it's made out of plastic, though you do need to tweak the sliders off their defaults a little. Far better than the Lightroom and/or Photoshop default noise filters IMO.

There's a few other noise filters around.

[Rick0r]

Smoke is really easily illuminated by light, so it's a bitch to use if it's between you and your subject, but gives an awesome clean background if it's behind the subject..

Some of mine from Vodafone Homegrown

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/3791795428_b6da1d3d07.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3525/3790981073_7485057671.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3790980975_bdbc9c5f11.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/3790980817_5fbf81bfcb.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/3791794654_157f6fe05c.jpg




To use it when it's between you and the subject is fricking hard, and mostly just guesswork.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2640/3791795330_fa4c87e530.jpg

[smurff]

hey guys

so was anyone here taking photos at the 'our house, extravagansa' on saturday the 5th??

i was dissapointed with the night, but noticed alot of people taking photos with some nice gear.

-smurff

[Nat]

hey guys

so was anyone here taking photos at the 'our house, extravagansa' on saturday the 5th??

i was dissapointed with the night, but noticed alot of people taking photos with some nice gear.

-smurff

I wasn't but some of my mates were. Heard the night was average heh.

[smurff]

yea, night was piss poor, lighting was wrong(for a gig of its type ) and the sound from the main stage was so bad

-smurff

[iain]

I'm late to the party, but here's a party bus trip I did here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainisbald/sets/72157620049604256/detail/

and a 21st birthday here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iainisbald/sets/72157622155975954/detail/

[Bailey]

I've shot a couple of gigs for local Wellington bands recently, mostly featuring people I know one way or another. Each one presented lighting challenges which result in a blend of joy and frustration :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclipsephotographic/sets/72157621850404301/ - my first live music shoot, and I was kinda spoiled - the stage was only a step above floor level and there were lots of cool lights and a smoke machine, so I was able to nail some great shots, tho it bugs me that one of the best ones was just a little too far out of focus.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclipsephotographic/sets/72157622336260251/ - this one was a little trickier - only ambient light from the room, plus a projector screen and a lamp. The saving grace was a very low white ceiling which was perfect for bounce flash.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclipsephotographic/sets/72157622385533101/ - the middle ground - reasonably well lit with stage lights, but not overly interesting ones, just coloured spots, the results of which generally added up to an orangey-yellow.

The main thing I've found with these gigs is that the fail rate is way higher - constant changes in the lighting, the need for high ISO, shallow DOF and longer shutter speeds to get light in there, the fact that the performers tend to be moving about a lot - means I've needed to shoot waaaaaaay more to get a few good ones.

Drummers suck to photograph, BTW :) They sit at the back in the dark, they don't have time to pose and they move really fast.

B.