Advice for concert photography. Having trouble with red lighting?
I've recently gotten into concert photography for a website. I've been doing photography for a couple of years now, mostly just casually until a friend of a friend saw a few shots I put up from some events I had attended.
Long story short I've started doing photography for his music website. When I do larger shows, I tend to not have any problems. There's enough lighting that I'm competent enough to get the shots I want. However when I do smaller shows, particularly at this one place that loves red lighting, I'm struggling. Is there any advice someone can give me for shooting in red lighting? My photos are coming out somewhat blurry and washed out.
I've figured out the blue lighting the place likes to use. Using Photoshop's skin tone corrector seems to clear that up no problem, but red is a thorn in my side.
I'm shooting with the Sony Nex system, with mostly prime lenses, but I've had the same trouble with the zoom lenses as well. Don't knock the camera as I have plenty of great shots from the concerts I've attended. I'm more concerned with knowing a setting that might get me past this lighting, not "Get a Nikon/Canon".
B K and Briar give some good pointers, I have some decent camera experience and don't shoot in RAW I'm not alone there, it's not something everyone does even if it is something they should,
Since you are just new at this, then I'd simply mention to the band that you're not a fan of this venues lighting set up and it's just not happening for you, by all means, turn up and try to find a way round the problem, just let the band know that's what you are doing, even the best photographers in the world come across venues or places that they just can't conquer for one reason or another, sometimes it's the challenge that makes you work that bit extra hard, anyway red lights are something that I'd steer clear from, they normally mean Stop or someone's looking for you to get your wallet out.
You may need to use a better lens with a larger aperture. Or use a tripod with a long enough exposure where the band members don't start to have motion blur. You may need to also use fill light. I'd practice before the show until you get something you like.
Some sensors struggle with some colours, it's just one of those things. Don't give up, keep trying to find a way round it, that's the part of photography that makes it all worthwhile for me.
Stop shooting and enjoy the show.
You may need to use a better lens with a larger aperture. Or use a tripod with a long enough exposure where the band members don't start to have motion blur. You may need to also use fill light. I'd practice before the show until you get something you like
Blurry means either you shutter speed is not fast enough, or focus is not right - possibly caused by the fact that it's low light. The camera might struggle to auto focus, so use manual focus. Have you tried a custom white balance to cancel out the red light? Or shoot RAW and adjust white balance in post processing.
Obvious option - shoot in B&W!
OR
Does your camera have a custom white balance setting? Take in something white and use that to set the white balance.
OR
Shoot RAW, make sure that one of your shots includes something white. Post process your RAW files with that white object as your white balance benchmark
Well pro, s use filters on there lenses. I did.still do.
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