Mastering the Exposure Triangle: Concert Photography Basics

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty—the exposure triangle. If you want to be a master of concert photography, you’ve got to understand how ISO, shutter speed, and aperture work together. This is the foundation of everything you’ll do.

ISO: Your Light Sensitivity Control

ISO controls your camera’s sensitivity to light. In concert settings, you’ll often need to crank up the ISO to capture enough light in dark venues. But be careful—pushing the ISO too high can introduce noise, that grainy texture that can ruin an otherwise sharp shot.

I usually start around ISO 2500, but every venue is different, so be ready to adjust on the fly. Modern cameras can handle much higher ISOs than older models, so don’t be afraid to push it when necessary. The key is finding the balance between getting enough light and maintaining image quality.

Shutter Speed: Freezing the Action

Shutter speed is all about how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light. In a concert, things move fast—singers are jumping around, guitars are swinging, and drummers are a blur of motion. To freeze that action, you’ll need a fast shutter speed—1/250th of a second is a good starting point.

If the action is slower, like with a singer-songwriter strumming gently on an acoustic guitar, you can experiment with slower speeds to capture a bit of motion and make your shots sharper by lowering the ISO and cranking up the aperture. Just remember, the slower the shutter, the more steady your hand needs to be to avoid unwanted blur.

Aperture: Controlling Light and Depth

Aperture, measured in f-stops, controls the amount of light that hits your sensor and the depth of field in your shot. A wide aperture (low f-number like f/2.8) lets in more light, which is crucial in low-light settings, and it also gives you that beautiful, blurry background that makes your subject pop.

However, a wider aperture also means a shallower depth of field, so focus is critical. Start around f/2.8 or f/3.5 and tweak it based on what you’re shooting.

Putting It All Together

Mastering these three elements—ISO, shutter speed, and aperture—will give you the control you need to handle any lighting situation a concert throws at you. And the best way to learn? Practice, practice, practice. The more you shoot, the better you’ll get at finding the perfect balance between these settings.

Think of the exposure triangle as your creative toolkit. Each setting affects the others, and understanding these relationships will help you make quick decisions in the heat of the moment. Remember, there’s no “perfect” setting—it all depends on the mood you want to create and the story you want to tell.