Comments on: tfttf176 - Podsafe Photography http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/ Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:57:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Administrator http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-28394 Administrator Sun, 04 Mar 2007 20:10:25 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-28394 Posting this on behalf of Andrew Darlow (www.theimagingbuffet.com), he had an issue with posting here: -Shoot wide open or one stop closed down. A 50mm 2.8 lens (Canon makes a nice one that's affordable) is a great choice because it is compact, inexpensive and sharp. Wide angle zooms are also great when shooting bands. -If the lighting is pretty consistent, set the camera to Aperture priority, then find a good shutter speed and aperture and then switch to Manual exposure and set that exposure. -I really like Auto Exposure Bracketing, but it eats up memory cards. If you shoot RAW, I would choose 1.5 stop increments. If you shoot JPG, I would choose 1 stop increments. This will take three consecutive photos. Combine it with burst mode for a quick 3 shot series at 3 different exposures (even in Manual mode). -Try to keep still and if the floor is shaking, stay as steady as possible! -Use noise reduction software-some is built into Photoshop and Adobe Camera RAW. Noise Ninja (http://www.picturecode.com/) and Noiseware are both highly regarded standalone products and I've had good success with Noiseware (http://www.noiseware.com). I often convert to LAB space and blur the A and B channels with Gaussian blur between 3-5 pixels, which reduces color noise. Posting this on behalf of Andrew Darlow (www.theimagingbuffet.com), he had an issue with posting here:

-Shoot wide open or one stop closed down. A 50mm 2.8 lens (Canon makes a nice one that’s affordable) is a great choice because it is compact, inexpensive and sharp. Wide angle zooms are also great when shooting bands.

-If the lighting is pretty consistent, set the camera to Aperture priority, then find a good shutter speed and aperture and then switch to Manual exposure and set that exposure.

-I really like Auto Exposure Bracketing, but it eats up memory cards. If you shoot RAW, I would choose 1.5 stop increments. If you shoot JPG, I would choose 1 stop increments. This will take three consecutive photos. Combine it with burst mode for a quick 3 shot series at 3 different exposures (even in Manual mode).

-Try to keep still and if the floor is shaking, stay as steady as possible!

-Use noise reduction software-some is built into Photoshop and Adobe Camera RAW. Noise Ninja (http://www.picturecode.com/) and Noiseware are both highly regarded standalone products and I’ve had good success with Noiseware (http://www.noiseware.com). I often convert to LAB space and blur the A and B channels with Gaussian blur between 3-5 pixels, which reduces color noise.

]]> By: Andrew Darlow http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-28280 Andrew Darlow Fri, 02 Mar 2007 15:44:22 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-28280 Here are a few tips that touch on some of the other great suggestions here: -Shoot 800 to 1600 ISO (I'd do a quick test at your home first to see where the "breaking point" is). Also, don't underexpose at very high ISOs. -Shoot wide open or one stop closed down. A 50mm 2.8 lens (Canon makes a nice one that's affordable) is a great choice because it is compact, inexpensive and sharp. Wide angle zooms are also great when shooting bands. -If the lighting is pretty consistent, set the camera to Aperture priority, then find a good shutter speed and aperture and then switch to Manual exposure and set that exposure. -I really like Auto Exposure Bracketing, but it eats up memory cards. If you shoot RAW, I would choose 1.5 stop increments. If you shoot JPG, I would choose 1 stop increments. This will take three consecutive photos. Combine it with burst mode for a quick 3 shot series at 3 different exposures (even in Manual mode). -Try to keep still and if the floor is shaking, stay as steady as possible! All the best, Andrew Darlow Editor The Imaging Buffet http://www.imagingbuffet.com Here are a few tips that touch on some of the other great suggestions here:

-Shoot 800 to 1600 ISO (I’d do a quick test at your home first to see where the “breaking point” is). Also, don’t underexpose at very high ISOs.

-Shoot wide open or one stop closed down. A 50mm 2.8 lens (Canon makes a nice one that’s affordable) is a great choice because it is compact, inexpensive and sharp. Wide angle zooms are also great when shooting bands.

-If the lighting is pretty consistent, set the camera to Aperture priority, then find a good shutter speed and aperture and then switch to Manual exposure and set that exposure.

-I really like Auto Exposure Bracketing, but it eats up memory cards. If you shoot RAW, I would choose 1.5 stop increments. If you shoot JPG, I would choose 1 stop increments. This will take three consecutive photos. Combine it with burst mode for a quick 3 shot series at 3 different exposures (even in Manual mode).

-Try to keep still and if the floor is shaking, stay as steady as possible!

All the best,

Andrew Darlow
Editor
The Imaging Buffet
http://www.imagingbuffet.com

]]> By: Nigel Dalton http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27378 Nigel Dalton Fri, 09 Feb 2007 09:56:36 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27378 I agree with Landon with regard to the aperture priority to give you best overall alternative. Watch out for the focussing - easy to get carried away by the music. Also shoot at the highest ISO setting you can get away with. Although there will be a lot of light close up - if you're far away the light quality will fluctuate. I agree with Landon with regard to the aperture priority to give you best overall alternative. Watch out for the focussing - easy to get carried away by the music.
Also shoot at the highest ISO setting you can get away with. Although there will be a lot of light close up - if you’re far away the light quality will fluctuate.

]]> By: Landon http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27338 Landon Thu, 08 Feb 2007 22:08:13 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27338 Hey CC, manual is great, I shoot in full manual mode about 90% of the time, then switch to Aperture Priority as needed. For concerts, meter for and expose for the face, and you will be very close, otherwise the changing lights and colors will throw you off a lot. Get the faces right and everything else is secondary. Aperture priority will lock the DOF, but leave the exposure floating all over the place. Shutter priority will lock the speed at which you take each shot, but will let the DOF float all over the place. Manual gives you the most control and quicker adjustments that don't float around on you. It is my best friend in most situations. Remember too that with shallow DOF (f/1.8, f/2, f2.8) your focus needs to be spot on, especially as you get closer to the subject. Happy shooting indeed! Hey CC, manual is great, I shoot in full manual mode about 90% of the time, then switch to Aperture Priority as needed.

For concerts, meter for and expose for the face, and you will be very close, otherwise the changing lights and colors will throw you off a lot. Get the faces right and everything else is secondary.

Aperture priority will lock the DOF, but leave the exposure floating all over the place.

Shutter priority will lock the speed at which you take each shot, but will let the DOF float all over the place.

Manual gives you the most control and quicker adjustments that don’t float around on you. It is my best friend in most situations.

Remember too that with shallow DOF (f/1.8, f/2, f2.8) your focus needs to be spot on, especially as you get closer to the subject.

Happy shooting indeed!

]]> By: J. D. Harper http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27336 J. D. Harper Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:11:23 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27336 You can cross grade from CS2-PC to CS3-Mac, when it comes out. You'll have to call Adobe, but you can do it. You can cross grade from CS2-PC to CS3-Mac, when it comes out. You’ll have to call Adobe, but you can do it.

]]> By: zadian http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27314 zadian Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:42:20 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27314 Hi Chris, I would recommend to wait until CS3 is available before you make a paid upgrade. CS2 won't run natively on a Mac with intel CPU - it will run on an intel Mac, but much slower and it will need very much RAM. Hi Chris,
I would recommend to wait until CS3 is available before you make a paid upgrade.
CS2 won’t run natively on a Mac with intel CPU - it will run on an intel Mac, but much slower and it will need very much RAM.

]]> By: Luis http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27312 Luis Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:47:27 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27312 Chris, Also, there is a product called Parallels that lets you run a version of Windows on your Mac, that will allow you to still use your Windows software, also you can use bootcamp, but for both of them you will need an extra copy of Windows. I must add, it was about time the you switch to the Mac platform. : ) Thanks for another great show, Luis Chris,

Also, there is a product called Parallels that lets you run a version of Windows on your Mac, that will allow you to still use your Windows software, also you can use bootcamp, but for both of them you will need an extra copy of Windows.

I must add, it was about time the you switch to the Mac platform. : )

Thanks for another great show,

Luis

]]> By: Daniel http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27307 Daniel Thu, 08 Feb 2007 09:00:50 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27307 Hi Chris! Take a look at the Adobe website. Go to the shop and you will see there is an Upgrade section on the buy product page. Any version (Win/Mac) of PhotoShop is qualified for an update to the latest version (Win/Mac). There are some legal statements about upgrading on the Adobe website but it is for sure simpler to give them a call and ask. On http://preview.tinyurl.com/ytprbb (adobe.com) is a "not sure what to buy" link that states updates start at 130 EUR. Unfortunately I did not find any update for less than 250 EUR ... might be that the 130 EUR are for same version platform upgrades. You will have to call them. By the way: As far as I could figure out upgrading from a cheap eBay PS 3 to the latest version is completely legal and about 700EUR cheaper than the regular version. (Could you verify that too, when you call them?) Hi Chris!

Take a look at the Adobe website. Go to the shop and you will see there is an Upgrade section on the buy product page. Any version (Win/Mac) of PhotoShop is qualified for an update to the latest version (Win/Mac). There are some legal statements about upgrading on the Adobe website but it is for sure simpler to give them a call and ask.

On http://preview.tinyurl.com/ytprbb (adobe.com) is a “not sure what to buy” link that states updates start at 130 EUR. Unfortunately I did not find any update for less than 250 EUR … might be that the 130 EUR are for same version platform upgrades. You will have to call them.

By the way: As far as I could figure out upgrading from a cheap eBay PS 3 to the latest version is completely legal and about 700EUR cheaper than the regular version. (Could you verify that too, when you call them?)

]]> By: nSonic http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27305 nSonic Thu, 08 Feb 2007 07:31:05 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27305 a tip for playing the videos on mobile devices: - i havn't tested chris' videos yet (not at home at the moment) but the "TCPMP" is able to play a lot of formats - including mpeg4 (but i'm not sure which variations of that) If someone likes to try - take a look at: http://picard.exceed.hu/tcpmp/test/ Good luck a tip for playing the videos on mobile devices:
- i havn’t tested chris’ videos yet (not at home at the moment) but the “TCPMP” is able to play a lot of formats - including mpeg4 (but i’m not sure which variations of that)
If someone likes to try - take a look at: http://picard.exceed.hu/tcpmp/test/

Good luck

]]> By: Tom http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27303 Tom Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:52:31 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27303 I have a 350D (a step down from CC's 400D) and I've shot concert photography a few times. It is indeed hard, but heres some tips: Manual focus. Your camera/lens will probably be angry in the low light which would make it difficult for it to focus, so use the focusing ring instead. Use the 50mm 1.8 like CC has...it's not the best one that you can use but it is certainly the cheapest. Get in the front row - out of the mosh pit ;) I woulden't go FULLY manual like Chris advised, unless you are really really comfortable with it. I would switch back and forth between Aperture and Shutter priority modes. Use a beanbag :) I have a 350D (a step down from CC’s 400D) and I’ve shot concert photography a few times. It is indeed hard, but heres some tips:
Manual focus. Your camera/lens will probably be angry in the low light which would make it difficult for it to focus, so use the focusing ring instead.

Use the 50mm 1.8 like CC has…it’s not the best one that you can use but it is certainly the cheapest.

Get in the front row - out of the mosh pit ;)
I woulden’t go FULLY manual like Chris advised, unless you are really really comfortable with it. I would switch back and forth between Aperture and Shutter priority modes.

Use a beanbag :)

]]> By: Jordan N. http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27257 Jordan N. Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:00:36 +0000 http://www.tipsfromthetopfloor.com/2007/02/08/tfttf176-podsafe-photography/#comment-27257 Hey Chris, I shot a lot of concert photography this past summer and I posted a quick little tutorial on my blog. www.digitalexplorer.typepad.com You hit a lot of my points in my blog, but just thought I'd pimp out my blog tutorial as well :) Cheers! Another great show. Hey Chris, I shot a lot of concert photography this past summer and I posted a quick little tutorial on my blog. http://www.digitalexplorer.typepad.com

You hit a lot of my points in my blog, but just thought I’d pimp out my blog tutorial as well :)
Cheers! Another great show.

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