Finally figured out why my concert photos were SO blurry

Went to a show at the Troubadour in LA last month and EVERY shot I took was a ghostly mess. Turns out I was shooting at 1/30th shutter speed thinking it was fine. Has anyone else had to relearn basic camera settings after years of just pointing and shooting?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_shah98d ago

30th is brutal for most handheld concert shots, your mileage may vary but try 1/125 next time.

christopher_coleman178d ago

@anna_shah9 wants me to freeze a mosh pit at 1/125 while I'm holding my breath and praying to the camera gods. In my experience, 1/30th is the equivalent of asking your lens to paint a masterpiece during an earthquake. Sure, you might get one or two shots that look like intentional blurry art but mostly you'll end up with photos that look like a ghost went through security at a metal show. I've found that leaning against a pillar or a wall helps, but then you're just a slightly more stable statue in the chaos. Your mileage may vary, but I'd rather take my chances with a blurry, alive shot than a sharp, boring one.