Taking good pictures at concerts- How???

diamondsnake · #1 09-05-2004, 10:39 PM

Anyone have some good tips for taking beautiful pictures at concerts? I finally found out my seat location for the Atlantic City concert- Row 2 a little towards the left (right in front of Stevie's mic I hope!). Anyway, I really want to take some pictures of Stevie but don't know how. A lot of the pictures I see posted on the sites from the concerts look somewhat washed out and too bright. And since Stevie's skin is so light anyways, you can barely make out her face! However, some pictures are amazing and are darker and the colors are rich and Stevie's dress is black and not a smog color. Is this because those people do not use a flash? Also, do you guys have more luck with digital cameras or regular old film style cameras that you have to get developed? Also, what about security? Are they an issue? Anymore hints on taking good pictures?

DeadliestPoison · #2 09-05-2004, 11:27 PM

At my show, I was close enough to the stage (3rd row) where I didn't have to use a flash - the lighting was bright enough to get good pictures. I didn't want to use flash because I figured that'd draw attention to me and I didn't want my camera taken away.

I used an HP Photosmart 318 digital, which I don't think they make anymore. To get the best pictures, I had to use the 2x digital zoom. If I didn't, they would have looked really far away. *shrug*

Uuuuh. Oh. If you go the digital route, I'd suggest bringing along a memory card. I had lost mine (I've since found it), and by GYOW I had to take the quality down to the lowest setting. Which resulted in heavily pixelated pictures.

To hide 'em, is a girl going with you? The easiest way (this is how I got mine in), is to have your female concertgoer friend hide it in a purse under a few "feminine products," if you catch my drift. Works best with a male security guard

You can see some of my pictures at Pneumatic-Drills.org, but that's seemingly not in operation. I posted some at Burnish in ye olden days, but those are gone, too, most likely (since the current board's new, etc). I have some more lying around on a CD-R somewhere around here. I'm too lazy to find them, though.

Songbird4 · #3 09-05-2004, 11:48 PM

I took some pictures at a couple of concerts with my Nikon Cool Pix 3100. The pictures came out decent, if I knew how to post pictures, I would. Anyway, I liked it because I could see how the pictures came out after I took them and delete them when necessary. Lindsey is easy to take pictures of, Stevie, a little bit harder. I think it might have something to do with her lighting. A good tip that I was given after my last show, when using a digital, look through the viewfinder instead of using the display. It should help when trying to steady the picture. And if you use the best quality setting on a digital, you don't have to worry about the distance thing as much. You can take the memory card to a place like Wolf and zoom and crop the pictures. But from the 2nd row, it shouldn't really be a problem. I was in the 5th row in West Palm taking pictures and I was fine.

Security you will have to feel out. It all depends on the venue. I was so scared trying to get my camera into Mansfield and they didn't even pay any attention when "looking" in my purse, which was really small and the camera was pretty obvious. Other venues, like Jacksonville, clearly state no cameras and I would be a lot more careful places like that. I would say don't use a flash. I didn't need one and I know my friend didn't either. Plus, it annoys the heck out of Stevie especially.

I wish you lots of luck and I hope you have a blast at the concert. I hope you will report back for all of us who don't have anymore concerts to go to

and share any pictures that you get!!

~Kim

Kelly · #4 09-06-2004, 07:14 AM

I have heard a few people say the security at the Borgata might be tight since it is casino security.They might be tougher on cameras. I am not taking my camera to the AC show..even though I have front row. I just want to enjoy the last two shows. If you are going to take pictures, I would not use the flash, it draws attention to you and bothers Stevie alot. I would also just take them periodically and not constantly throughout the show. Lindsey is so easy to photograph, he seems to enjoy it and even mugs for the camera. Stevie is difficult...she moves alot and her lighting is different, as mentioned above. Good luck. Four more days!!! Hooooooooooo.

Sorceress · #5 09-06-2004, 09:46 AM

Yeah, I think I've said this before, but Stevie must have some anti-photography protective aura around her.

She is so hard to photograph well, and if she sees you doing it, it's obvious she doesn't like it very much. Even without a flash. I am torn about taking more photos at the last shows...Is it worth it to displease Stevie in order to document the night and keep it in my memory?
I think I'll take Kelly's advice and just try to shoot any new and different special moments that might occur instead of snapping throughout the show. Definitely I'll not be using my flash and I'll be trying to be as non-intrusive about it as possible.

ps: I wonder if it is easier to get good shots of Stevie if you are directly in front of her? The lighting might not be as much of a factor as it is from the center or Lindsey's side.

diamondsnake · #6 09-07-2004, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

I have heard a few people say the security at the Borgata might be tight since it is casino security.

I certainly hope not. Remember a few months ago that concert at that Indian reservation casino? I heard they didn't let one person go up to the stage!

But I don't think it will be bad at this concert because it is an actual outdoor venue as opposed to a basically "invite only" indoor event.

diamondsnake · #7 09-07-2004, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Songbird4

I was in the 5th row in West Palm taking pictures and I was fine.
~Kim

That is so strange- I was fifth row in West Palm Beach too!

diamondsnake · #8 09-07-2004, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

AC show..even though I have front row.

Lucky you! How'd you score front row? I can not wait for this concert- I'm already debating what to wear!

diamondsnake · #9 09-07-2004, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorceress

Yeah, I think I've said this before, but Stevie must have some anti-photography protective aura around her.

She is so hard to photograph well, and if she sees you doing it, it's obvious she doesn't like it very much. Even without a flash. I am torn about taking more photos at the last shows...Is it worth it to displease Stevie in order to document the night and keep it in my memory?
I think I'll take Kelly's advice and just try to shoot any new and different special moments that might occur instead of snapping throughout the show. Definitely I'll not be using my flash and I'll be trying to be as non-intrusive about it as possible.

ps: I wonder if it is easier to get good shots of Stevie if you are directly in front of her? The lighting might not be as much of a factor as it is from the center or Lindsey's side.

I'm sort of wondering if I should bring a camera and worry about taking pictures or if I should not worry about it and just enjoy myself. I think I have to bring a camera though because what if something amazing happens and I get to meet Stevie and can't get a picture of her? I would be kicking myself!

Phil Lee · #10 09-07-2004, 03:46 AM

I took my camera to 2 of the 5 concerts I went to in the UK and was in the front row for both concerts that I took my camera to. For the first concert I switched my falsh off and set the camera to auto mode. Someof the photos were OK but most weren't. Before the second concert I was chatting with Pip and one of the FM techs. The tech had a look at my photos on the net then suggested I set the camera to manual. I chose a fixed exposure of 1/13s and opened up the aperture. I also switched the flash off. For the most part my second batch of photos came out really well. This does of course rely on your camera having a manual mode. My Canon A70 digital is good in that respect.

Kelly · #11 09-07-2004, 08:01 AM

Diamondsnake...I got the front row for AC from a broker for alot less than the fan club platinum package. I bought a second row for Camden from a friend, again for much less than the platinum thing. I had to sweat it out for the Camden ticket but I just kept looking and checking brokers, ebay and TM everyday. I am very happy to have good seats but sad that this will be it for awhile. ( Get back into the studio and make some more music!) Are you flying up from Florida just for the show? You are from Florida, right? Or am I thinking of someone else?!? Three days!

Songbird4 · #12 09-07-2004, 11:04 AM

Diamondsnake~

I was in the 5th row directly in front of Stevie. I don't know how much attention you were paying to others in the 5th row, but I was with my friend Alex and one of his friends. We all had on light-up moon necklaces. Where abouts were you??

~Kim

diamondsnake · #13 09-07-2004, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Lee

I took my camera to 2 of the 5 concerts I went to in the UK and was in the front row for both concerts that I took my camera to. For the first concert I switched my falsh off and set the camera to auto mode. Someof the photos were OK but most weren't. Before the second concert I was chatting with Pip and one of the FM techs. The tech had a look at my photos on the net then suggested I set the camera to manual. I chose a fixed exposure of 1/13s and opened up the aperture. I also switched the flash off. For the most part my second batch of photos came out really well. This does of course rely on your camera having a manual mode. My Canon A70 digital is good in that respect.

That picture of Stevie and the first one of Lindsey are absolutely stunning! So, you did not use the flash, correct? And these were digital?

diamondsnake · #14 09-07-2004, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Songbird4

Diamondsnake~

I was in the 5th row directly in front of Stevie. I don't know how much attention you were paying to others in the 5th row, but I was with my friend Alex and one of his friends. We all had on light-up moon necklaces. Where abouts were you??

~Kim

I was exactly in the middle of Stevie and Lindsey's mics. I don't remember any moon necklaces- to be honest I couldn't take my eyes off of Stevie. It was my first time being upclose and I was shocked that she was just ten feet away from me! Where were you sitting in relation to the stage setup?

diamondsnake · #15 09-07-2004, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly

Diamondsnake...I got the front row for AC from a broker for alot less than the fan club platinum package. I bought a second row for Camden from a friend, again for much less than the platinum thing. I had to sweat it out for the Camden ticket but I just kept looking and checking brokers, ebay and TM everyday. I am very happy to have good seats but sad that this will be it for awhile. ( Get back into the studio and make some more music!) Are you flying up from Florida just for the show? You are from Florida, right? Or am I thinking of someone else?!? Three days!

I did the fanclub thing which has been a nightmare (why do they wait until the last second to tell you your seat location and tell you the tickets will be at willcall?), but I am happy with my seat. I am flying up from Florida but had to convince my parents to take me. You have to be 21 to book a hotel room and I wasn't going to take the chance of being homeless for a weekend! Anyway, they weren't going to book a flight or hotel without knowing that I had a ticket in hand so my only option was doing the Platinum ticket package so I could say that everything was taken care of.

Regardless of first row or second row this weekend is going to be great! By the way, does your ticket say section B on it? I am getting really confused because on ticketmaster it says that section B is the center Pit section. However, on the Borgata official saite it says that section B is floor level 2 for the Event Center. This is different then the outdoor arena right? I would be going insane if I found out my row 2 was row 2 on the balcony! Anyways, my seat is Section B, row 2, seat 10. On ticketmaster this shows up as actual row 2 right in front of the stage. That is the correct seating chart right?