BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Questions

Any tips for concert photos PLEASE!!!

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February 26, 2002

I will assume you're asking about "rock" concert color photography, without tripod or monopod, without flash, and don't need great enlargement. Even so, film choice still depends on what you want from the photographs:

Following are based on avoiding contrasty or highly saturated films for shooting what is inherently already very contrasty and often saturated (due to colored lighting) subject material. Most of these will also allow reasonable enlargement. Film speed depends on lighting levels and your lens speed.

Color Negative:
ISO 400: Kodak Portra NC or Fuji Professional NPH. DON'T USE Kodak Gold 400, Kodak Max or Fuji HG.
ISO 800: Kodak Portra or Fuji Professional NHG-II. DON'T USE Kodak Max Zoom

Color Transparency:
ISO 200: Kodak Professional E200 (use EI 320 and push 1 process or EI 640 and push 2 process). DON'T USE Fuji Sensia 200.
ISO 400: Fuji Provia 400. DON'T USE Kodak Professional Ektachrome 400, Kodak Elitechrome 400 or Fuji Sensia 400.
ISO 800: Fuji Provia 400 (use EI 800 and push 1 process).

If it's shot under tungsten stage lighting, often found in smaller clubs (to get colors these lamps have a "gel" placed in front of them) consider using tungsten balanced film: Kodak Professional Ektachrome 320T (EPJ). Use EI 640 and push 1 process.

The only B/W films that come to mind are ISO 400: Kodak Tri-X (consumer 400 or professional which is ISO 320) and Ilford HP5+400. Kodak's TMax 400, while finer grained, is too contrasty for this.

-- John

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February 27, 2002