Need advice for shooting in a club / bar

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

04/07/2011 09:35:10 AM · #1

I have a coworker that is wanting me to shoot his band for his website. There has been a learning curve for me shooting in low light or indoors. I can usually use maybe 20% of the images I capture. His band usually play bars and restaraunts. I will be able to use a flash. With my listed equipment and a SB800 flash what should I do to get more usable shots? Should I get a flash diffuser and point it up? ISO? Manual setting?......etc.

rugman1969

Nikon D90

04/07/2011 05:06:13 PM · #2

Why are you asking for tips? You don't listen to them, like your first ever photo shoot!
;P

Message edited by author 2011-04-07 17:06:38.

ambaker

Google Glass Google Glass

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

04/07/2011 05:12:30 PM · #3

For shooting in a club or a bar, you want at least a .357. Smaller caliber, and the ones with brains soaked in alcohol may not go down on the first shot.

If you hear sirens, you need to get out now, to avoid arrest...

jmlelii

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

04/07/2011 05:21:18 PM · #4

Depending on the lighting in the bar, I would stay away from the flash. It ruins the mood/feel of the photos. Be prepared to have to hold still for a while, as you will have to use long shutter speeds some of the time. I like the movement effect that comes with some bar music type shots, but it's really about experimentation. tell your friends that this is your first time, and you would like to test/experiment this first time and can't guarantee anything.

jmlelii

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR

04/07/2011 05:21:42 PM · #5

double posted, sorry

Message edited by author 2011-04-07 17:22:08.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/07/2011 05:29:02 PM · #6

My favorite shots are from the side. It is usually less crowded and you get the front line (the guitars and the singer normally) in one frame without a lot of dead space. Often the best moments are like the pauses in sports, between songs the looks between bandmates are telling.

If you need to use flash, bounce it off the ceiling and make sure you are second curtain.

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/07/2011 05:33:10 PM · #7

If you shoot with a flash, like has been said before, point it straight up to the ceiling and use it at about 1/8 power. This way you still get the mood of the club but you're lighting the stage a little better. If you're shooting with the D70, noise is going to be a huge issue, see if you can rent or borrow a better body.

wormtown

Nikon D3s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G

04/07/2011 05:45:32 PM · #8

I shot my friend's band a number of times in a small club. The red (and green) stage lighting was a problem. And since my only lenses were fairly slow it was high ISO. Manual focus helped get a few more keepers in the poor light. And many of the shots looked WAY better after converting to black and white. Red stage lights sometimes make musicians look like they are under heat lamps at McDonalds.

04/07/2011 05:47:35 PM · #9

Originally posted by rugman1969:

Why are you asking for tips? You don't listen to them, like your first ever photo shoot!
;P

Stop derailing my shit and enter a challenge.

BTW I did listen to the suggestions and used them.

Message edited by author 2011-04-07 17:56:36.

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D ED

04/07/2011 05:55:34 PM · #10

Brennan - What is second curtain?

cryan - I thought about the ISO issue and I was assuming flash would help to resolve some of this. Am I correct in thinking this? Thanks for the advice on the 1/8th power though. Do you think that with the D70 I will have to boost the ISO setting all the way up are have it somewhere around 700-800?

As far as the body I may look into renting one but on my limited budget and since I will be doing this on an experimental (free) level I will probably be sticking with the D70 for shooting.

rugman1969

Nikon D90

04/07/2011 06:06:09 PM · #11

Originally posted by SEG:

Originally posted by rugman1969:
Why are you asking for tips? You don't listen to them, like your first ever photo shoot!
;P

Stop derailing my shit and enter a challenge.

BTW I did listen to the suggestions and used them.

Stop cursing!!! Don't take it personally, it's not like you were taking money for the shoot. What suggestions did you use? :O We just messing with you. Go back to work.

Message edited by author 2011-04-07 18:07:11.

cryan

Nikon D700

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

04/07/2011 06:22:16 PM · #12

Originally posted by SEG:

With the D70, noise will really be a problem. Flash wont solve that unfortunately. If you can get some really fast glass, and shoot at the lowest ISO you can get away with, noise might not be as big an issue.

Second curtain is also called rear curtain or slow shutter sync. Basically you are shooting for the ambient light and at the end of the exposure the flash fires. you can also to front curtain sync, thats just the opposite, the flash fires at the beginning of the exposure.

Message edited by author 2011-04-07 18:23:58.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/07/2011 09:33:45 PM · #13

Originally posted by SEG:

It really depends upon the venue... impossible to say. Go and test out exposure before if you're wondering. Last time I shot in a similar situation I was shooting at F1.4 and around ISO2000. Consider Topaz DeNoise?

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

04/08/2011 07:46:56 AM · #14

Denoise is a good idea. I've been debating gettIng it. If that will help, it would be a cheaper alternative to a new body.

NiallOTuama

Google Pixel 2

04/08/2011 08:18:27 AM · #15

I don't have advice for the shooting, but I would recommend that when you shoot his band it isn't the first band you have shot indoors in a club/bar.
Go out to some random gigs and take shots, see what angles you like, what exposures you need, what ISO works good for your camera, what flashes to use and if bouncing works better than direct etc.
That's not to say that you shouldn't plan, of course. But all the planning in the world won't cover an oversight!

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/08/2011 02:30:55 PM · #16

Originally posted by SEG:

Denoise is a good idea. I've been debating gettIng it. If that will help, it would be a cheaper alternative to a new body.

There's been a lot of talk on here about it. I've found it works the best (also have Dfine and Noise Ninja), but it is time consuming. If you know anybody you can borrow a different lens from, that would be great. While I found my Sigma 30 1.4 was pretty good for a lot of stuff, I did also use my 85 and 50. One thing that's for sure, your F3.5 lenses aren't going to cut it without lots of flash.

As Niall and I noted though, go scout things out. It will help you a lot. Also, don't hesitate to go where you need, don't be timid. Don't be an ass, obviously, but move with confidence. What sort of music genre is this?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/08/2011 04:39:29 PM · #17

They play covers. Mostly slow rock covers and 80's hits. Thanks for all the advice. I have a lot of time to practice at venues if I can get to them. He just told me to look up their calendar and call him when I'm ready and can make it to one of his shows. Hopefully I can get myself into some other similar venues to practice first. I am going to an outdoor concert tomorrow. It's not indoors but will be low light so maybe I can get some similar situations to shoot?

kenskid

Nikon D700

04/08/2011 04:50:45 PM · #18

Don't you have a 50mm 1.8 ?

Oh...I see... 35mm 1.8. That is your best bet for now.

Originally posted by SEG:

Message edited by author 2011-04-08 16:51:28.