How to Shoot Camera Phone Photos at a Live Concert
This entry was posted on Apr 20 2008
Now for something completely different.
Last Thursday night, I was sitting in the 7th row for a Rush concert. I have been a fan of Rush for about 22 years now and I’ve seen them maybe five times, possibly six. Regardless, I’ve never been so close to the stage. Since the band didn’t seem to mind the hundreds of camera phones, I snapped a few shots.
Of all the photos I took, this one is my favorite. Yes, it’s a bit blurry, but that’s exactly where I’m going with this post.
I learned a few things shooting in an unpredictably lit, concert environment. It’s hard to pull off with a camera phone. But if you try, here’s a few tips:
- Hold the camera steady. It’s dark in the arena and slight motion will blur everything. (Note: consuming too many beers may increase this task’s level of difficulty.)
- Don’t be afraid to turn the camera sideways. Yes, it looks dumb as a wallpaper for your phone, but that’s not the point. Get the best shot and then get it off of your phone for further enjoyment in all its 1200×1600 glory.
- Try to capture your shots while the subject is not moving around too much. Good opportunities usually come while Geddy Lee is singing or Alex Lifeson is doing a guitar solo. Neil Peart never stops moving, so don’t even try. Wacky light conditions + flailing guitarists = blurry photos. Also see note above regarding beer consumption.
- Hold the camera proudly, high in hand.* If the band is tolerating camera phone photography, then hold your camera phone up as high as possible to eliminate as much crowd as possible. To the camera, the crowd is a big, dark mass that will overcome the well-lit stage and possibly confuse your light sensor, resulting in a bad exposure.
- Utilize the projection screens for interesting compositions. It’s a great way to get a neat picture-in-a-picture effect and enhances the photo drastically. In this photo, the foreground subject (Geddy) is visible, but Alex is just a blur. With the projection screen, we can achieve great detail of Alex playing his guitar, giving his overexposed outline some much needed personality. Neil is invisible because he drums faster than the speed of light.
- Know when the pyrotechnics are fired. If you’ve already been to a bazillion of the band’s shows, it’s likely that you know when the good parts will come. Be ready for them.
By the way, the concert was great. Any other Rush geeks out there?
* Name the song I’m alluding to and you win a super-duper link to your blog from my most-awesome PR3 blog. I know, it’s hard to resist. 
Congrats to Phred on being first to correctly name the song reference! “Hold the Red Star proudly, high in hand.” Rush geeks unite!
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That is a good photo – and much better than the ones I have sent you separately!
Very good advice
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Oooh…oooh. That song would be 2112. “Temples of Syrinx” to be exact.
Great pic, by the way. SO sorry to have to miss that show, but it was obviously understandable.
Lovin’ the link love,
Phred
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um…Oooh…oooh. That song would be 2112. “Temples of Syrinx” to be exact. I am such a copy cat. Its oaky if you don’t give me the link.
Not really sure what the song you are alluding to is, although I once was a heavy metal, hair band fanatic back in the 80’s.
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Great post (and shot)!
I was listening to 2112 a couple of days ago, thinking how great it would be for my 8-hr-old to listen to … she’s just about to start guitar lessons in school
This post could work with camera’s or camera phones, nice!
Love the theme in here, really sharp.
These are excellent tips, not just for camera phones, but for P&S cameras as well. I found myself doing most of these things when I watched an Incubus concert a few months back. Of course, it was a bit more difficult for me to get a shot like this – I was pretty far from the stage.
Rush is cool, not a Rush nerd though. I need a good camera…mine just sux without good light, and even then its pedestrian at best.
I’ve never been a Rush freak but band pictures are great, if you can get them. Good tips, you probably should add one more tip – how to avoid the 350lb bouncer who would destroy your camera if he catches you :p
Nice shot of Getty.
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Hi Pete! Man, I haven’t seen Rush live in 10 years. From a musical standpoint, they are one of the greatest bands ever. It’s too late to guess, but I don’t need to – I have 2112 and have heard it thousands of times. Great photo by the way!
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