How to take good pics in clubs?

[michaelbirney]

I have a 5mp DigCamera, and last month at Sasha @ Crobar, NY, had difficulty getting the shots I wanted? Any suggestions regarding light settings, dealing with smoke, flash, etc. etc. Thanks

[palmer]

damn whatup birney.....
I still owe you that email.



I'm sure someone here has an answer for you. I know a bunch of the guys manage to get off some good shots.

[Hos]

up the exposure and if you're using a digital camera check to see if it has a night time mode.

other than that, experiment, it's where the fun is!

[xeb]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

each camera is different - play around with the different settings to see what works.

dealing with smoke - generally avoid using flash as you'll end up with a washed out image unelss you have a very good flash. turn the flash off and wait till the strobe starts then take picture after picture after picture until you chance the timing and get a shot while the strobe is flashing.

if theres an exposure time length increase that and prop tha camera against something.

my camera has a pre-set that gives a long exposure time and a flash, but the flash doesn't seem to go as brightly, so you get no smoke haze, one strong image and trails around it which can give some pretty cool effects

[fumanchu182]

easiest way to make sure the picture is not blurry...

DON'T GET SHITFACED!

[federicog]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

If you're far from the dj booth I never use the flash, because it first gets the heads of the people near you :wink: . And sometimes without the flash you can get some interesting things .

[arielus]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

This will be LONG.. sorry guys :wink:

what camera have you got michael?


I own a canon A80, and usually select one of the preset modes for nocturnal scenes (the one with a moon on it).
That will show the flash and leave the sutter open for couple seconds so you can capture the light from the background.
That's when you try to take a pic of a person with a low light background

here's an example


F-Number: F/2.8
Exposure Time: 1 sec. 1/1

The other set is manual, but you might have to increase the ISO you are using in order to reduce the exposure time. That way you can capture lights better if they are moving.

2 examples

First with long exposure, to capture the effect of the light.

F-Number: F/5
Exposure Time: 2 sec.

Second, less time, more ISOs because the dj is moving.

F-Number: F/2.8
Exposure Time: 0.5 sec. 1/2


A tip, wait for the correct lights.
A club has a lightning routine, i mean, you listen to music, and if you know a bit, you can expect what light would come.
I mean, a big flash, where the tracks comes up after a breakdown.

Example:

That was taken in semi-automatic, without flash.

Another, from behind the booth, where the big lights were on for a second
It took me 8 shots, 15 minutes to catch the right lights :P


A last example

I got it on 2nd shot.
The guy doing the lights actually waited till i got the pic done


So, to be honest, the camera is the less importante object :P
The picture always depends on you. Take advantage of digital technology. Take several shots until you find the one you like.
Try to catch hot girls (we love those pics!) people enjoying the party, the dj making looking at you for the pic (yes, wait.. he will look )

HAVE FUN! Taking pics is fun... but you have to spend some time in the dancefloor as well

[arielus]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

If you're far from the dj booth I never use the flash, because it first gets the heads of the people near you :wink: . And sometimes without the flash you can get some interesting things .

exactly. the light rebounds on the first object near you.
i mean, you have to rise the camera and take a pic from an upper angle, or get closer to the booth (that's my option)

Be careful with the zoom.
The more you zoom in, the more light you need. Try to capture frames with zoom wide open, you'll need less exposure time.

Be aware of your flash settings, i mean, the reach of a standard flash isn't longer than 20 ft (probably less too)
you'll see the closer objects with too much light, and fading out. (a crowd for example) In that case, use the night setting of your camera. As i said in the previous post, it will keep the shutter open and you'll capture more light from the background.

[DreamGirlie]

My friend Mike takes amazing photos, Ive never really seen a bad one. He even gets shots with the smoke and lights in perfect sync lol.

[arielus]

cool...
has he got a website or online album?

[michaelbirney]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

I have a Kyocera S5R, ----thanks a lot for the help fellas. I'll post my pics of Sasha @ Vision in Chicago, and @ Crobar from this year. I also hope to get some good pics tonight, as I'm seeing Digweed @ Sound-Bar in Chicago. Thanks again.

[michaelbirney]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

Palmer, --just saw your reply. No worries about the email. I'm sure you've got your hands full right now. I hope all is well

[hypoluxxa]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

Sometimes you have your shot framed, and someone jumps in front of your shot:



And sometimes it comes out just fine:

[Paul Simon]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

I'm no expert, i just got a camera and like taking pics in the clubs, here's a few things i've taught myself:


My fav little trick is to change the flash speed to slow mode, you then usually get a bit of blurring, but if the lighting is good then it looks wicked, almost as if the picture is dancing.

Basically if there is a lot of smoke it's a problem to get a decent pic, the more flash you have the more it lights up the smoke. Try putting ur finger partly over the flash while taking?

When ever possible, rest the camera on something.

Be patient, don't flash at anything... At Gods i can always tell when the lighting guy is gonna whack the lights on, so stand there ready aiming at the crowd, wait for the arms to go up.... lights flash, and SNAP!







Go to http://www.diehardclubbers.co.uk/gal...ic%20menu.html and click on the most recent ones.

[nbpgt]

Re:: How to take good pics in clubs?

get a chic to lift her shirt.. unless your in a biker bar with 50+ year old women.

"yawna see my boobs"
"why yes i do" - ron white