Concert Photography Workshop at Photoshop World
Do you guys remember a while back when I had concert photographer Alan Hess here as my guest blogger? He did a kick-butt article on how to shoot concerts, and it was a huge hit.
Anyway, that got me to thinking; we’re always trying to bring new really cool things to Photoshop World—stuff you wouldn’t find at any other conference, and that’s why I’m psyched to tell you that Alan himself will be teaching a pre-conference workshop at the upcoming Photoshop World Conference in Las Vegas.
Here’s how we have the day structured:
- It starts in the Classroom, where Alan will show you the ins and outs, tricks of the trade, and all the inside stuff you need to know (everything from which gear to use, to shooting under ever-changing concert lighting conditions, to “getting the shot” when you’ve only got the standard three-song limit to get a killer shot).
- Then the class heads to a live concert shoot where they get to take the skills they just learned in the classroom and put them to use.
- After the shoot, it’s back into the classroom for more learning, and critiques of the work from the day’s shoot.
If you’ve ever wanted to shoot concerts, this is an incredible opportunity to learn from a seasoned pro, and actually get some hands-on experience in the process.
This optional pre-conference workshop is limited to just 40 participants, and takes place on Sept 30th (the day before the actual conference kicks off). Here’s the link to the Photoshop World site to sign up (by the way; if you’re already registered for Photoshop World, just call 1-800-738-8513 to reserve your pre-conference class spot).
Wow. I might just sign up just for this! How cool.
I see you have some band shots in your flickr stream. I have actually shot at the Rams Head in B’more a few years ago. Great site lines from the balcony and really nice high stage.
It will be a fun time. We’ll talk gear, credentials, restrictions, and then shoot some music, then talk some lightroom, and photoshop. I mean it is Photoshop world.
If only I could clone myself. I opted for Ziser’s Wedding Photo Shoot already. So many choices — I am confident that I won’t regret my decision though!
Hello Mr. Kelby -
Your photo’s are awesome. I tried to understand “layering” by looking at some youtube videos. I have to say that I am lost. My brother just recommended to me your digital photography books, Vol’s 1 & . I will purchase them this week.
rgds
Brian
In all honestly, if you’re intested in concert photography. Rent a D700 (/5d mkII), 24-70 and 70-200. Auto iso above 1/30th of a second and you’ll be fine. Look at some good stuff at pitchfork.com.
Consider the class covered.
Wow, thanks. You just saved me a ton of money!
Who knew it was that easy.
Wow. I have so many things screaming in my head to say back, but all I can put is: Wow.
Concert photography, or landscape, portrait, wedding, sports, street, architecture, geeze, everything, is not about buying expensive gear and setting it to auto mode and getting PHOTOGRAPHS, at best you’ll get snapshots. You have to make a picture not just take it.
I wouldn’t expect you to buy a Yahama Motif keyboard and Ableton Live and say you can play a concert at Glastonbury.
It’s not that easy same, though having 7 grand in gear makes it a lot easier than without. However, I have concert shots blown up to 13″ x 19″ shot on an canon original rebel and the 50mm 1.8 lens.
That doesn’t mean gear is not important. You are not going to kill a grizzly bear with a .22 rifle no matter how good you are [though I guess you good shoot through the eye to the brain. God be with you if you want to try and make that shot]. You just don’t need to rent an elephant gun outfit as you suggest and most people would find impractical to do.
Also, 1/30th is way too slow.
I browsed through four or so galleries at pitchfork and found the photos average examples. There are far better examples that are both technically excellent and emotionally interesting. Most of the pitchfork photos I saw looked technically good [though one of Perry Farrell was out of focus, the camera focusing on the lights above him]. However, most were emotionally boring to me. Yes, I think I can do better.
Regardless, its not simply point and shoot with a high end dslr. You also totally missed the processing angle which is often the make or break between a good concert shot and a great one.
Scott,
Thank you very much for the link to Alan Hess’s article. That was BK for me (Before Kelby), so I really enjoyed the read and the terrific tips and workflow he shared. I recently shot a band, and wish I had thought of some of these things beforehand!
Will you continue to link to pertinent previous posts? I know I can search, but a topic presented at hand is much more likely to be read than those I am always thinking of but can’t remember when I sit down for education.
Anyway, thanks again to Mr. Hess for the excellent post.
Levi
Hey Levi,
thanks for the kind words, glad you liked the guest post.
If you ever have any concert / live music questions, please feel free to ask.
Alan (not Mr. Hess. that sounds so old.)
Alan,
I’ll plan to take you up on that. In the meantime, if you are invited to shoot a band, why the three song limit? or are you invited as an assignment from a magazine? Does the band itself ever invite you directly?
As for Mr., better safe than sorry. Thanks,
Levi
I do a fair amount of concerts so this would be really nice – but damit I just can get over the trip to the USA
Oh how I wish I could attend this. Shooting concerts is what sparked my interest in photography. When I couldn’t get those wonderful shots you would always see, I started reading everything I could on the subject. I have bookmarked Alan’s guest column so for future reference. Great stuff there.
Cheers,
Clay
Hi Scott,
here is the great concert photographer:
http://www.bjorklid.net/new/prtf/index.php?list=2
Kalle Björklid is a phenomenal photographer but that gallery to me is one of his worse. Though a certain graininess is part of his style, most of the photos in that gallery are way too grainy for my taste. The couple that do hit, are exceptional. He has way better photos than what’s displayed there. I didn’t see any of my favorites.
What’s great about Kalle is he has a clear look/style, so that if you put him and a dozen other photogs in the pit shooting the same act and same angles. His photos would look different than everyone else.
Hi,
I found this thread through checking my site’s traffic sources.
Thanks to RockStarPhoto and Eugene for your comments regarding my photos.
Grain is a matter of taste, I guess. I don’t handle grain as a separate aspect of an image as I think it is a part of the whole, part of what the photo conveys to the viewer. Therefore I personally don’t really think something as of being “too grainy” no more than I think of a photo being “too black-and-white”. I can understand that many nowadays are distracted by the grain, but I’m – of course – aiming to create photos to please myself.
One reason why I think grain, softness, and other imperfections are some times good is that they help the viewer to see more than just the surface. Just like paintings that are not overly detailed they require the viewer to “fill the gaps” and make the viewer use their mind more, as it is not what you’d see with a “naked eye”.
And I guess having Anton Corbijn and Henri Cartier-Bresson as my greatest inspirers does not help regarding the grain thing, either
Best Regards,
Kalle
Total off subject, but the concert shot just reminded me. What happened to Thursdays “embarrassing photos” segment?