A “stop” is the unit of measurement for the amount of light that makes up the exposure determined by the shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. For example, you can increase your exposure by one stop by increasing your ISO from 100 to 200, your shutter speed from 1/60th to 1/30th, or aperture from 11 to 8.

Third-stops are especially important as they’re the increment that most cameras use for their settings. These are just imaginary divisions in each stop. So, to decrease your shutter speed by a third of a stop, you reduce it by a third of the value necessary to decrease it by a full stop.

focal length

Specifically, one stop is a doubling of exposure, or a doubling of the amount of light that reaches your camera’s sensor. So you might say that an image that is overexposed by one stop, which means that you let in twice as much light as you needed to in order to get a correct exposure.

A stop is a doubling or halving of the amount of light let in when taking a photo. For example, if you hear a photographer say he’s going to increase his exposure by 1 stop, he simply means he’s going to capture twice as much light as on the previous shot.

Half-stop steps are used on some cameras. Usually the full stops are marked, and the intermediate positions are clicked. As an example, the aperture that is one-third stop smaller than f/2.8 is f/3.2, two-thirds smaller is f/3.5, and one whole stop smaller is f/4.

What happens when you adjust the shutter speed. When you increase the shutter speed the camera shutter opens and closes more quickly, reducing the amount of light that enters the camera. You’ve increased the shutter speed by two stops, and so you have two stops less of light entering the camera sensor.

As a rule of thumb, your shutter speed should not exceed your lens’ focal length when you are shooting handheld. For example, if you are shooting with a 200mm lens, your shutter speed should be 1/200th of a second or faster to produce a sharp image.

To recap my recommended camera settings for concert photography:

• Exposure Mode: Manual.
• Aperture: Wide Open.
• Shutter Speed: 1/100-1/200 or faster.
• ISO: 1600-3200 (or whatever gets the job done)
• AF Setting: AF-C/AI Servo AF.
• White Balance: Auto WB.
• Drive Mode: Continuous High.
• File Format: RAW.

35mm for smaller venues may be best, while those shooting with taller stages may benefit more from a 50mm. Overall, I’d say that the f/1.8 versions in these focal lengths are fast enough to provide a big benefit, while the cost savings over a f/1.4 lens makes these lenses a much more budget-friendly option.

Let´s sum up my tips on how to shoot low light concert photography:

1. use a fast lens e.g. 50mm f1.
2. use a small aperture number.
3. use a shutter speed of at least 1/250 sec.
4. start with ISO 1600.
5. use aperture priority or manual mode.
6. research the band before.
7. wait for the right moment to shoot your photos.

Photo Tip: How to Photograph Stage Performances and Stage…

• Turn off the Flash.
• Increase ISO setting (film speed) to 400 or 800.
• Shoot in the Av (aperture priority) setting if you have one.
• Open aperture all the way up to largest opening.
• Set the light metering sensitive area to spot (the default setting might be something like Average or Evaluative.)

Here is a summary of my ten must have camera settings:

1. Use manual exposure mode.
2. Use your lowest aperture number.
3. Use fast shutter speeds.
4. Use high ISO values.
5. Use spot metering.
6. Use your middle autofocus point.
7. Use the auto white balance setting.
8. Use burst mode.

10 Concert Photography Tips for Rookies and Amateurs

1. Know Your Limits.
2. Use Manual Exposure.
3. Set a Fast Shutter Speed.
4. Go with a Fast Lens.
5. Avoid Using Flash.
6. Use Autofocus Single Mode.
7. Start at the Outer Edge.
8. Increase ISO Sensitivity.

6 Tips to Photograph Concerts and Fireworks Using Your Phone’s Camera

1. Turn off the flash. Unless the subject is directly in front of you, your camera’s flash isn’t going to do any good.
2. Use a tripod.
3. Move closer instead of zooming in.
4. Download an app.
5. Utilize built-in iPhone features for low light.
6. Use Burst Mode.

Top 11 Low-Light Photography Tips: Take Great Pictures Without a Flash

1. Increase ISO Settings.
2. Use Slower Shutter Speeds.
3. Adjust the Aperture.
4. Reduce Camera Shake.
5. Use Other Light Sources.
6. Use a Faster Lens.
7. Adjust the White Balance.
8. Shoot in B&W.

In general, you are not allowed to use a flash in concert photography. Imagine ten photographers burst their flashes at the same time. This would be quite annoying for the artist and this might also the reason why they came up with the rule “no flash” in the photo pit.

Daytime Outdoors The majority of the time, shooting outdoors doesn’t require firing a flash, even in the shade, as the sun does most of the hard work for you. If you have a subject that you can move, try to get them to change their positioning so that the sun hits them from the side rather than from behind.

Entry-level photographers: Those who are just getting started in the world of professional photography after taking some formal education typically charge $50-$150 per hour or $25-$125 per image.

2. When to Use a Flash. Most people use flash photography only when it’s dark, at night or indoors. This is because there isn’t enough natural light or ambient light.