Another Newbie to this forum

[fototaker27]

Hi Everyone. My name is Brian I am a freelance photographer based in the South West of Scotland. I work mainly front of stage at music events, gigs and Fests around the UK. I started doing photography while in the RAF as a hobby. Very soon it became to expensive, so I tried my hand at events such as the dances and birthday parties on my station. This quickly progressed into taking pictures of the serviceman's children and eventually to doing weddings. On leaving the RAF I joined a local company ABC School Photographics taking pics of the Kiddies at school. I came out of photography in 1995 and started my own computer business, which I sold to my partner in 2003. I have been working with digital equipment since my first paid job in 2003 doing a time lapse of the stage build for the Bristol Balloon Fest Rock concert. Manually taking a shot every 5 minutes over a period of 3 days. This is how I got to work front of stage which I have done ever since. I also take landscapes of my beautiful Scotland, which seem to sell well to our American cousins. Well that's about it from me now you know pretty much who I am. Cheers Brian.

[Donald]

Hi Everyone. My name is Brian I am a freelance photographer based in the South West of Scotland.

Brian - Great to have another Scots based person on the CiC forum. I hope you enjoy being involved.

You've maybe already seen that this is very much a learning resource, with part of that being the willingness of people to share knowledge and experience. I very much hope that you will feel able to do that as I'm sure an awful lot of people on here would be very keen to receive your advice and guidance.

[fototaker27]

Brian - Great to have another Scots based person on the CiC forum. I hope you enjoy being involved.

You've maybe already seen that this is very much a learning resource, with part of that being the willingness of people to share knowledge and experience. I very much hope that you will feel able to do that as I'm sure an awful lot of people on here would be very keen to receive your advice and guidance.

Hi Donald, I never would have believed that my first contact would be with another Scot. Thank you for your kind welcome to the Forum. I will try my best to help where I can and also to look and learn what I can. I may not be the best example to up and coming photographers, as in my line of work I tend to bend the rules if not break them sometimes to get the desired results. There again I suppose you need to know the rules to break them ha ha. Maybe we can meet up sometime when I travel up to do some landscapes, we could go on a shoot together. Cheers and Beers for now Brian.

[tbob]

If you are bending the rules this exactly the sort of stuff we need. One of the joys of this site is the variety of styles and subjects. I may not post as much as I would like, or even sufficiently enough to pay back for all the wonderful help and inspiration I have garnered on the site. But be assured there is a core group on the site, Donald is one, who more than compensate for my laziness.

Welcome.

[wlou]

Hello Brian. I see from your post that you have a lot of experience with stage shooting. I would appreciate some pointers for my first (volonteer) photo shoot of first a religious consert in a church and also an indoor stage show. I will not be allow flash during those two events but it will be permitted before the shows. I will be using 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm f/2.8 on a Sony a77. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[fototaker27]

Hello Brian. I see from your post that you have a lot of experience with stage shooting. I would appreciate some pointers for my first (volonteer) photo shoot of first a religious consert in a church and also an indoor stage show. I will not be allow flash during those two events but it will be permitted before the shows. I will be using 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm f/2.8 on a Sony a77. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Hi Louise, good to hear from you, Now then when I do gigs you've got all sorts of problems to overcome. First of all the lighting, if you have ever been to a rock concert you will have noticed how the lighting is continually changing and how bright and colourful it is. Plus the subject is usually cavorting all over the stage, so yes I use flash. Now without knowing what the lighting situation will be at your venue all I can suggest is for you to get some shots of all who are taking part. Take some individual shots of the subjects and also some group shots, don't forget to take some pics of the audience to capture their reaction to what is happening on stage especially when they are clapping. As to the actual show you have lenses that are quite fast so not using flash shouldn't be a problem in the church. Churches tend not to be the brightest of places so use your 50mm and crank up the ISO If you can brace the camera against a solid object all the better for you to get a good sharp pic. A wide angle lens would have been a handier lens but the 50mmm will have to suffice. Don't forget while taking your shots to bracket your pics and take lots of them. For the stage show most of what I have said already will apply. Which lens to use depends on what position you will take up to photograph the events plus you can use the 100mm to get close ups of the subjects again bracing your self or your camera against a solid object if possible. Ordinarily you would use a tripod in poor lighting but this is impractical when shooting front of stage as you are moving around a lot to get in your shots. Maybe a monopod maybe a good idea to help to steady your shots. Not being familiar with the Sony A77 I don't know if it has any anti shake system if it has then obviously use it. I hope this has been of some help to you. If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to get in touch

[wlou]

Brian thank you for your answer. Everyone has to start somewhere I belive. It just makes me a little nervous.

[clari]

Hello everyone! I am Clari from the Netherlands. My profession is really a painter of art/ cq teacher. But now I am retired (!) and besides painting, taken to photographing. Surely I would like to upload some photo's, but i am still a bit confused finding my way on this forum! One day though I'll show up!