Charlie Robison @ Billy Bob's Texas

[taygull]

Originally Posted by metagore

Amazing! Thanks for sharing the techniques you use to catch such sharp images under concert lights.

The only thing I did not mention of course was the gear and the settings.

I usually will use tungsten WB or just set it somewhere between 2800 and 3600 depending on how much white light will be on the performer, 1600 ISO, and shoot wide open using my 24mm-70mm f/2.8L or 70mm-200mm f/2.8L IS. I will watch my shutter speeds (shooting in AV mode) and if I see them starting to get around 1/300 or faster then I adjust my ISO (1250 or 1000 or even 800) to get them back around 1/200. This will help reduce noise. I think it is also important to note the 1D Mark IIn and its ability to focus so fast and accurate is very important.

I also only shoot RAW.

I always focus on the eye or when I'm not close enough then I focus on the top right or left part of the head. This allows contrast between the performer and the background making it easy to get the camera in focus.

[ctp93]

If you are shooting Jack, then you will probably see another photographer out there named Carl Dunn. Do a google search for Carl and his book "This is Rock and Roll."

Carl was the inspiration for me to do my book. He has pretty much done it all as far as live music shooting goes. Truly one of my heroes. Takes a while to get to know him, but he is really knowledgeable, and I really dig his style.

[wgrimes]

Great shots! I love shot #4

[jDett]

Originally Posted by taygull

Thanks Abel.

Billy Bob's is a great place....I'll try and get some "venue" shots next weekend when I shoot Jack Ingram. For years it was (maybe still is) the largest "Honky Tonk" in the world.

The "fans" tend to get kind of testy if you obstruct their view of the stage. I'm pretty thin and tried to align myself with the support poles and they still tried to give me grief. Being an official shooter with a backstage pass meant nothing.

[taygull]

Originally Posted by jDett

The "fans" tend to get kind of testy if you obstruct their view of the stage. I'm pretty thin and tried to align myself with the support poles and they still tried to give me grief. Being an official shooter with a backstage pass meant nothing.

Nice shot of Willy,

The secret is to be a moving target, don't give them enough time to get mad.

[ctp93]

Billy Bob's is not really a shooter friendly venue to be honest. Shooting from the stage is tough because it is all side shot, and shooting from the front is tough because the front seating is all tables and people are sitting...so they tend to get pretty impatient.

To be honest, the staff there can be difficult at times.

[taygull]

Originally Posted by ctp93

Billy Bob's is not really a shooter friendly venue to be honest. Shooting from the stage is tough because it is all side shot, and shooting from the front is tough because the front seating is all tables and people are sitting...so they tend to get pretty impatient.

To be honest, the staff there can be difficult at times.

I would agree mostly, it is not a user friendly venue with the layout. It is tough to find some that are. I shot Vince Gill at the Meyerson and it was the worst with respect to the ability to move around and get good angles.

I had no problem with the staff or the patrons, everything thing went well for this shoot. We will see what happens with the Jack Ingram shoot.