Shooting a metal band!

[hipsterdufus]

Okay, so one of my old friends from high school is in a metal band and he was wondering if I would shoot his show. This is something I would do as a personal favor to him, without any expectation of payment. It's been a long time since I shot a concert and the last time I did one, I shot it with my manual focus Canon AE-1 w/ 50mm f1.8 lens and 400 iso film. Not the easiest assignment (especially considering how shallow the DOF on f1.8 is).

So, things have changed a lot since then. I've now got a nice Bessa R2 w/ Summitar for film and a Panasonic LX5 for digital. Right now, I'm kind of leaning toward the LX5 for the show, as it's got a fast-ish lens and decent high-ISO capability. The only caveat is that I never really use this camera (I bought it more for my wife to use). So, I don't know how it would perform with the fast-moving antics of a metal band. Also, I don't know how well it focuses in low light. I guess I could set it for manual focus and let DOF take care of the rest?

I could use the Bessa R2. I've got some Neopan 400 that I could push to 1600, I suppose. I've never shot a concert with a rangefinder before.

What would you guys use in my situation? Anyone have any experience shooting high energy metal bands? Any advice for me? Thanks in advance.

 

[pvdhaar]

What would you guys use in my situation? .

Earplugs.. definately earplugs. 😎

 

[TaoPhoto]

I don't see it as a question of rangefinder vs. digital camera. Each gives a different kind of image, and your selection will color the type of shoot it will be. One is color, one is black & white. One is autofocus, one is manual. One allows you to take hundreds of pictures, one allows 36 at a time between reloads. The method, the approach, the framing, and the resulting images are all heavily influenced by the camera choice.

The question isn't which camera, but what kind of pictures do you want to make of this band?

 

[tapesonthefloor]

My gut reaction is that the slower focusing of the Panasonic will frustrate you on almost every shot. Film also pushes more consistently and attractively, and you'll need every drop of light you can get.

 

[gnuyork]

I would use the digital in that situation.

Not sure what the high iso performance is of the LX5 or the focus speed, but here I used the Canon 1DmkII shot at iso 1600.

 

[Nokton48]

I use rangefinder M's and B&W film with highspeed lenses, for my uses. I'm new to digital, but I'm presently testing my new Nex-3 body and it's producing very nice digital files, with those same classic lenses.

I'd take and use both, then see what you prefer.

 

[MC JC86]

Gnuyork,

Those pictures are sweet. I don't think Hipsterdufus's LX5s lowlight performance is going to produce results that look anywhere near as clean. I'd prefer film grain over the noise of shooting that camera at 1600.

 

[hipsterdufus]

Great pictures, gnuyork! I'm kind of leaning towards the rangefinder, just because black & white film + lots of grain @ 1600 iso seems like it would work well for a metal band. I'm also wary of using a camera I don't know particularly well in in environment that I don't know that well. Thanks for the suggestions folks.

I would be interested to hear from LX5 owners that may have used the camera for this type of shooting.

 

[mwooten]

As mentioned above, these will help:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044DEESS/ref=oss_product

 

[hipsterdufus]

Also, a question on pushing Neopan 400. I have Rodinal and Tmax developer. I know Rodinal is a speed-reducing developer, so it's probably not best to use that to push. Any experience using Tmax developer to push Neopan?

 

[Disaster_Area]

I would shoot digital, some live shows you can get away with film as the stage lighting stays pretty much static. Metal shows usually have moving/flashing lights, strobes, smoke etc and that plays havoc with exposure. When I shoot a metal show with digital I can take 500-600 shots and still only end up with 20-30 keepers that are well framed, well exposed and visually appealing, I can't imagine doing that with film.

 

[MC JC86]

I just can't imagine a camera like the LX-5 being responsive enough for something like this... maybe a DSLR. Unless it's much much faster than my LX-3, I would leave it at home and take the Bessa or the AE-1.


Really nice looking shots, btw Disaster Area. I hope they weren't taking with a Panasonic P&S, then I'll look even sillier.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Hahahah.. no 50D and 85L.... yeah the LX3 might be a tad slow, I guess you could pre-focus to speed things up. If the OP has no access to a DSLR my vote would be to take all three. That would give you 36+36 film frames before having to reload, and as many frames on the digital as you have room for. Even if it is a tad slow, being able to just shoot and shoot and shoot should ensure you get SOMETHING usable from it.

As long as you can still move enough to shoot you're not carrying too many cameras 🙂

 

[gnuyork]

When I shoot a metal show with digital I can take 500-600 shots and still only end up with 20-30 keepers that are well framed, well exposed and visually appealing, I can't imagine doing that with film.

+1!

Nice photos!

 

[jsrockit]

Use both... the LX5 is fast enough...pre-focus in anticipation. You'll have plenty of opportunity to make good photos... unless they are the most dynamic band in the world and all run all over the stage etc, you'll be fine either way.

 

[matthew J Shaw]

It's all about what you feel comfortable with...
I shoot bands alot, and I go from old polaroid rangefinders, through film & digital sLr's, and even my new (G1) and old (II) contax's.
It's what works for you, and what your happy with, don't discount very high speed film either, I work alot with fuji's 1600 colour, and its great.

I can't post all of what I do here, but you can see a good cross section at my website:

www.matthewjshaw.om

be interesting to see if people can spot whats film & whats digital?

G with what you enjoy and feel comfortable with, this confidence will have a bigger impact on your shots than anything else.

 

[ottluuk]

If you don't know the venue, show up early and plan where you can get a clear view of the stage, how to position yourself in hopes for better lighting conditions, etc. If it turns out to be a popular show, you might not get a chance later 😀

Here's one to illustrate the crowd problem:

40D, 50/2.5 (the fastest I had at that time), ISO 3200, climbed a bench and shot hands over head. This band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMImGqEkKvo (synthpop, not metal)

 

[ottluuk]

As for gear, I vote for the Bessa. You can do a lot with compacts but stage photography is not their sweet spot... Besides, there will probably be plenty of people trying to take photos with compact digitals and phone cams already.

 

[DNG]

Adding to all the great advice above, Do you have a 35mm of 28mm f/2.8 at least, in lew of the 50? With a 1600 ISO film you should be fine. Make sure to meter the face/body areas that are in the stage light... let the surrounding area fall where they fall.
It will afford a bit deeper DOV for you, which would be an advantage. Especially if you can get close to the stage.

 

[furcafe]

Good general tips:

http://photo.net/learn/club-photography/photographing-bands-musicians/

Unless your friend's band is big time & the venue significant, the lighting is probably going to suck, e.g., a few stage lights w/red gels on them. However, some clubs are better than others & some bands bring their own lighting. Per ottluuk's post, it pays to get to the venue early to check out the lighting & physical constraints. Since you're friends w/the band, you should be able to get some insight on the lighting situation.

As far as equipment, you're generally going to want the highest ISOs & fastest glass possible. Not sure how fast the Summitar is, but if it has a workable f/2 that should mostly work w/ISO 1600 provided there isn't too much motion on stage. In my experience, however, old school uncoated or single-coated lenses can have a hard time handling high-contrast stage lighting (in other words, use a hood, but be prepared for flare regardless). Again, the amount of lighting, or lack thereof, is critical & you might want to push your film to 2500 or 3200.

Okay, so one of my old friends from high school is in a metal band and he was wondering if I would shoot his show. This is something I would do as a personal favor to him, without any expectation of payment. It's been a long time since I shot a concert and the last time I did one, I shot it with my manual focus Canon AE-1 w/ 50mm f1.8 lens and 400 iso film. Not the easiest assignment (especially considering how shallow the DOF on f1.8 is).

So, things have changed a lot since then. I've now got a nice Bessa R2 w/ Summitar for film and a Panasonic LX5 for digital. Right now, I'm kind of leaning toward the LX5 for the show, as it's got a fast-ish lens and decent high-ISO capability. The only caveat is that I never really use this camera (I bought it more for my wife to use). So, I don't know how it would perform with the fast-moving antics of a metal band. Also, I don't know how well it focuses in low light. I guess I could set it for manual focus and let DOF take care of the rest?

I could use the Bessa R2. I've got some Neopan 400 that I could push to 1600, I suppose. I've never shot a concert with a rangefinder before.

What would you guys use in my situation? Anyone have any experience shooting high energy metal bands? Any advice for me? Thanks in advance.