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Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Bridging Tech and Creative Photography
Education Field Instructional

Concert Photography: Nailing the Autofocus in Dark Venues

Chris Gampat
No Comments
07/22/2016
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm X Pro 1 review images mxpx (10 of 22)ISO 6400

Getting the photos you really care about at a concert can be an ordeal if you’re in a dark venue. Just naturally, most concerts are in dark venues and the lighting there can make it difficult for a camera’s sensor to be able to focus due to it changing so quickly. Years ago, many photographers used to use the zone focusing method, and that’s still an option if you want. However, if you don’t want to manually focus your lens, then try these tips to ensure that you’ve always got the image perfectly captured.

Use a Fast Aperture Lens With Fast Focusing Motors

Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Canon 50mm f1.8 STM lens review product images (1 of 2)ISO 4001-125 sec at f - 2.8

So here’s the best approach from the start: your lens should have a wide aperture and should also be able to focus quickly. If it doesn’t have either of those, then you’re mostly out of luck.

You see, musicians tend to move around a lot–or at least frontmen (and women) do. Keeping up with them is going to be partially on you and partially on how your camera can perform.

This statement and tip is simple enough, let’s move on.

Avoid Tracking Autofocus, Use Single

Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm X Pro 1 review images mxpx (14 of 22)ISO 6400

Here’s the thing: tracking autofocus can sometimes track onto something else in the scene that it thinks you want in focus but you actually don’t. So as someone is moving around, the camera may suddenly lock onto the microphone or something instead. If the microphone is in the same focusing area as the subject you want in focus, then fire the shutter. But it most likely won’t be.

Instead, use single focus mode. It will focus on a subject and lock that area. Sometimes the focus will be good enough and other times it won’t be. By far though, single focus shooting is the most effective way to shoot a concert.

Use Single Autofocus Points

Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 final review photos (5 of 8)ISO 64001-50 sec at f - 2.2

Combine single focus mode with using a single autofocus point. When you use a zone, a camera and lens are bound to look at an area and sometimes may not get what you want in focus. You need to be very particular and specific about what you want. So to that end, selecting a single focus point and shooting with that is the best approach.

If your subject starts moving around, your camera should be moving with them and you should be hammering the focusing button to get them in focus at all times.

Trust me, this is much more reliable than AF tracking.

Focus on the Most Contrasty Areas

Local Festival To Refine Your Concert Photography gservo-02772-20140723

You know those two methods that sound kind of crazy that I just mentioned? When you know how autofocusing works, you’ll understand how it makes sense. No matter if your camera uses phase detection or contrast detection focusing, it will always be able to focus the fastest on the most contrasty spot. These areas include the eyes, shadows on a face, eyebrows, etc. Doing this will help you get the shot when you combine it with the other methods.

Don’t Chimp Your LCD Screen Because You’re Going to Miss a Moment

Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm 14mm f2.8 review photos high iso stuff (4 of 4)ISO 64001-30 sec at f - 2.8

If you’ve never heard the term “Chimp your LCD screen” it basically means looking at it to check the images.

I can’t tell you how many images and opportunities I’ve missed because I chimped the LCD screen. Don’t do it. Just stay focused on the performers and chimp in-between sets.

autofocus camera concert dark lens lighting musician venue
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Chris Gampat

Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.
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