014 - May 7, 2010
Answering your questions: My pictures are too dark
This question comes from Mary in Mattituck, Long Island. Mary had no photos of her son performing on his saxophone, even though he had been in honors ensembles since he was in middle school. All of the photos she had tried to take always came out too dark and usable. Realizing that she wouldn’t be successful in getting any good photos at this performance, I was commissioned to photograph her son’s Senior recital at a local music school. After the recital, Mary was reviewing some of my photos on the LCD of my camera and wondered why photos that she takes indoors always come out so dark, yet mine were very clear. The most direct answer is that not enough light is striking the sensor plate to record a good photo. But first, I think a description of the needs of this assignment and concert photography etiquette is necessary as part of the answer.
We’ve all seen, or attended concerts where there were lots of cameras being used – most of them with flashes active. At a rock or jazz concert, many performers view all the flashes going off from the audience as enhancing the excitement of the concert. Many of the bigger name performers limit photographers with credentials to photograph from close to the stage for the first 2 or 3 numbers only. Generally, at a “classical music” performance, flash photography is definitely not encouraged – sometimes even with announcements made before the concert prohibiting all photography. Limited non-flash photography may be allowed with prior approval.
Here’s a check list to successfully photograph a “classical” recital or performance (if your camera will allow the settings needed):
- First - get permission if there are any doubts that you’ll be allowed to photograph. Particularly in a classical performance, the performer or audience will not want the distraction of a photographer close to the stage and the artist may even have a clause in their contract prohibiting any photos.
- Turn off any sound that your camera may use to signal when it’s ready ( the shutter sound will be bad enough – the beep signaling it’s ready will be maddening to the audience and performers)
- Turn off your flash. The stage is darker than it seems and if you are shooting in an automatic mode, your flash will engage and the camera will set for a flash exposure; besides, on most point and shoot cameras, the flash isn’t effective beyond 10 to 15 feet.
- Set the f-stop for the lowest setting possible (this will allow more light through the lens). Keep in mind, on most automatic cameras, zooming in will require higher f-stop and slower shutter speeds.
- With the flash off, push the ISO setting up ( this will add “noise” to your photo, but will allow you to use a faster shutter speed).
- Now notice the shutter speed – most auto modes won’t allow the shutter to release unless it’s faster than 1/30th of a second (most people can’t hold the camera steady for a shot at a slower speed). Also, keep in mind that if there is a lot of motion on stage, 1/30th second will not adequately freeze the motion.
- Plan on staying at the back of the audience and away from people so your movements cause the least disturbance possible.
- Wait for the pauses between numbers if you have to move.
Back to the recital I was asked to photograph. I met with the soloist to confirm that I could take photos of his performance. I assured him that I had photographed performances prior to his and being a musician myself, I would be doing nothing to distract him and I would not be using a flash at all.
For my camera settings, on my main camera, I chose an f-2.8, 70-200mm image stabilized lens. This is a fairly fast lens with good zoom capabilities so that I could stay back out of the way, yet zoom in for close shots; the low f-stop setting allow me get good exposures at 1/50 second at 800 ISO (without a flash).
After the recital, I asked the soloist and his accompanist to go back on stage (no audience) to stage a few more shots that I could not (would not) take during the live performance.
The end result is that the family has about 50 very good shots to select from and with angles and poses that go well beyond the photos the audience could have taken from their seats.
If photographing in low light situation such as a concert or other performance you may need to use manual settings:
Tip #1: If the subject is beyond the range of your flash, turn it off.
Tip #2: Push the ISO setting up to a higher number; this will allow faster exposures.
Tip #3: Set the f-stop to a low setting; this allows more light through the lens.
Tip #4: Use a tripod for slower exposures to help eliminate camera shake.
Tip #5: If your camera has a “night-time” setting, give it a try (with the flash turned off); it may automatically set your camera for Tips #2 - 4.
Tip #6: Experiment beforehand to determine if your camera will allow this type of photo.
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