COOPH has released a 4-minute video with photographer Michael Agel, decoding the mystery behind shooting great concert photos. Concerts and gigs typically feature challenging, but also very unique, lighting situations.
This can make for incredible images, but if you don’t know exactly how to handle the drastic lighting changes and colors then it could go very wrong for you!
Better concert photos
“Photography, for me, is painting with light,” says Agel. “You have to look where there is interesting light, and create a good image.”
Agel is also a big advocate of putting down the camera and building rapport with the musicians you are shooting. This will help you to create better shots, but also avoid potentially disastrous situations (such as standing in front of a confetti cannon that’s about to go off!
Staying invisible will help you to nail those perfect shots; knowing when and how to choose your moments is paramount. You don’t want to get in between the singer and the crowd, and it’s key things like this that will make for a much smoother shoot – and hopefully get you booked again!
Check out the full video above to hear from Agel himself and see more of his work.
More reading
For more on concert photography check out these dPS articles:
- 11 Ideas for More Unique Concert Photos
- Tips for Doing Concert Photography like a Pro
- 5 Tips for Better Concert Photography in Low Light Conditions
- Concert Photography 101: Cameras and Lenses for Beginners
- 10 Must-Have Camera Settings for Concert Photography
- Anatomy of a Concert Photography Shoot
