Shooting low light without flash
Most live venues ban flash, and the best live photographs don't need it. Here is
how we work in the dark.
Choose a fast lens and use it wide open. A 35mm or 50mm at f/1.4 to f/1.8 gathers
several times more light than a typical zoom. Subjects stay sharp because you
can keep the shutter speed up.
Set the shutter speed for the subject, then let ISO do the rest. For a singer
in motion we rarely go below 1/250 s. Modern sensors handle ISO 6400 well, and a
little grain is a better trade than blur.
Expose for the spotlight. Stage lighting is contrasty, so a meter reading of the
whole scene will overexpose the performer. Meter the face, accept dark
backgrounds, and shoot RAW so the highlights can be pulled back later.
Watch the light, not only the artist. The best frames come when the stage light
hits a face, a guitar neck or a cloud of haze. Wait for it, then press.
Finally, move. A few steps left or right changes the whole picture. Work the
room, and keep checking the back, the balcony and the crowd.
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