Name: Photographing a Lewis Capaldi Concert
Uploaded: 2021-07-05 12:20:06
Duration: 12 min 56 s

Question 1

How do you photograph a concert if you’re not an experienced concert photographer?

Accepted Answer

I treated it like a learning session and focused on fundamentals: light, timing, and storytelling. In the pit you’re limited, so I kept moving left/right to find better angles and waited for moments where the lighting and emotion lined up. I also made sure to shoot the fans, not just the artist, because that’s what makes the show feel alive.

Question 2

What camera and lenses did you use to shoot the Lewis Capaldi concert in Kuala Lumpur?

Accepted Answer

I used a Canon EOS R (back when I had it) and a Canon 5D Mark IV. Lens-wise I brought the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4 II, EF 35mm f/1.4 II, and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS III. I picked the 24 and 35 because I knew it’d be dark and I wanted fast primes, and the 70-200 was my only telephoto zoom at f/2.8.

Question 3

Why do concert photos from the photo pit look unflattering sometimes?

Accepted Answer

Because you’re basically forced to shoot upward from a low angle, and it can make the artist look a bit weird (like “no neck” vibes). I really didn’t like that look in some of my early frames. If I could change anything, I’d try to find higher angles sooner or work the sides to reduce that straight-up perspective.

Question 4

How do you capture better concert lighting and atmosphere in photos?

Accepted Answer

I’m always hunting for beams of light cutting through haze — that’s where the magic is. When I saw that spotlight from the side, I quickly swapped to 24mm because it showed the beam and the stage context better. Later, the backlight + haze combo gave me my favourite set of shots because the texture and shadows just popped.

Question 5

How do you tell a story with concert photography in one frame?

Accepted Answer

I try to include context: the crowd, the stage, and even the artist’s name on the backdrop if possible. I specifically tried to get Lewis and his name in one frame so it could work for PR use like a banner. The crowd heads in the foreground also helped sell the scale and vibe.

Question 6

How do you deal with purple and blue stage lighting on Canon cameras?

Accepted Answer

You have to be mindful because heavy purple and deep blue lighting can be tough for Canon sensors to capture cleanly, even in RAW. For me it meant waiting for better lighting moments and not forcing shots when the colours were just too extreme. Knowing your camera’s limits is a big part of getting consistent results.

Question 7

How much did you get paid for photographing an international artist concert?

Accepted Answer

Zero ringgit — literally a grand total of 0. It was a last-minute call through a friend who shoots for the agency a lot, and he couldn’t make it. I was happy to do it for free because I wanted the experience, the portfolio piece, and I was also helping a friend out.

Photographing a Lewis Capaldi Concert

🛍️ Products Mentioned (20)

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon EOS R

Canon EF 24mm F1.4ii

Canon EF 35mm F1.4ii

Canon EF 70-200 F2.8 IS III

Main photo/video camera

Back up body

Favourite lens

Second favourite lens

Best on-camera shotgun mic

Cheaper version of ^

Alternative on-board shotgun mic

Best wireless mic

Favourite Backpack

Affordable external SSD I use

Favourite gimbal

Affordable drone

Favourite action camera

Music I use

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