band photos

[jonnyscans]

i am the photographer for a good friend of mine and his band. i have a digital camera but i want to use real film. i will be shooting in low light and need to snap photos quickly. does anyone have an idea on a set up.
camera, lenses, film.....(anything else i would need)

thanks
jonny

[kumod]

Here is a link from someone that actually does this type of work, check it out, good information for you.

http://www.photo.net/concerts/mirarchi/concer_1.htm

[fotodog]

I've been shooting bands for years.
If you're in clubs the lighting will suck and most likely you won't be able to shoot without a flash.

Be prepared.

I personally shoot with 100 or 400 speed film and a fill flash (vivitar 285) set at slow speed synch. (i.e. f/5.6 at 1/15th sec)

Get close! I hate shots that you see just the bar and an underexposed out of focus band.

Shoot manually. autofocus will have a hard time in club situations. Cig Smoke and stage fog will even throw it off.

Get the money shots. Get something on film before you get creative. (long exposures, funky films etc)

High speed film or pushing film is ok if you've got spots on your performers. This guy's link is ok but it assumes you're in a concert venue.

Here's some shots' I did recently

emmaline (http://www.angelpix.20m.com/emmaline_muchmore.htm)

squabs (http://www.angelpix.20m.com/roost/roost_here.htm)

Have fun and shoot lots of film. Get on stage if they'll let you. Can't wait to see what you come up with.


[Edited on 30-12-2002 by fotodog]

[kumod]

foto

Your second link doesn't seem to be working. What equipment are you using in the first link Lens that is

[fotodog]

Links fixed.

What I use is a Nikon 6006 and a Nikon FM2. I use a 24-80 f/2.8 wide angle zoom, a 50mm 1.8 and a 70-300 f/4-5.6 tele zoom.
Flash I use either a Vivitar 285 or a Sunpak 120j on manual modes. automatic modes get funky with stage lights and mike stands and stuff.

I like Ilford XP-2, Ilford Delta, Kodak T-Max films and of course Kodak Tri-X and Plus-X.
For color films I like Fuji and Agfa films. Great color and grain at a lower cost than Kodak.

[Denny]

Hmm.. so you want to take pictures in a low-lit area quickly.
This is what I recommend
ISO 400 film - allows more light in but pictures are more grainy
F-stop of 2-3 - low focusing allows more light in
Shutter speed at 1/50 sec - 1/10th of a second slower than normal camera speed so hold your camera still.
You may need an external flash if you're too far back
Also use telephoto zoom lens if you need to. If there's a lot of shinny equipments and your flash will light off it, get a polarizing filter.