Photographing The Concert Scene with Live Music

At some point in my photographic career, I decided to be a concert photographer, so how does one do that? First I studied how, what, and when. I loved rock music, so that would be my theme.

It all starts with getting access to the show, only professional are allowed in for free, but only for the first set. Ghee, they are just getting warmed up. To be considered a concert professional, you must prove you have shot at least 6 major concert events. I opted out of that because the up front costs were too expensive.

One tip for you is to get the shot with the mic not coming out of the performer’s mouth. It’s probably a lot different these days, then 15 years ago.

Here are some images from earlier attempts at the concert scene.

Live at the Pennant

I photographed a band called “Something Round the Eyes” live at the Pennant which turned out to be a great rock and roll band. They turned in a awesome performance.

When photographing venues you need to use a very fast lens (f1.8 or faster) or you are forced to use a strobe (Flash), famous bands don’t allow flash photography, I didn’t have anything that fast with me. So all of these were shot with the on-board flash, because I left the external strobe (flash)  home. The preferred lens is 85 mm f/1.4 on a crop sensor for this type of work.

 

Fiddle Crabs – Live Music

Some street photography of a band in south Florida playing good music.
The food was excellent and really enjoyed this place.
I’m on vacation in Cape Coral, FL found this great restaurant in Matlacha, FL called Ole Fish House and Marina. It reminded me of the Florida Key’s.

playing good music

Barrington Coffee House

Update the Barrington Coffee House is gone, but tot forgetting. Scoff Trif created an amazing performance center.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sharon Sable and Suzie Brown in June 2010 at the Barrington Coffee House and the performance and was awesome. It was the first I had heard Sharon sing, and I have to say she has a voice like an angle. Suzie Brown went on and gave an awesome performance as always. I could not get enough of their music, so I bought their CD’s, Suzie album “Side Streets” and Sharon’s album “Comfort Me”. You can find more about theses at the links below, or go to iTunes. Their music has a healing quality to it and enjoy it so much, thank you, Sharon and Suzie, your music heals me and makes me feel whole and centered.

I still have some CD’s by these artists. You all remember CD’s?

Artist here sharonsable.com and here suziebrownsongs.com

Suzie-brown-performing