Rock the Shot

By Jenn Gidman
Images by Nikki Marie Cardiello

“With live performances, you never really know what kind of images you’re going to get.” So says Nikki Marie Cardiello, a New York concert photographer who approaches the musical arena as if she’s shooting a sport. “And you have just three songs or so to prove yourself when you’re in the pit. It’s my favorite part of the assignment when I go through the photos at the end of the night and find some gorgeous surprises.”

To assist her on this often unpredictable but exciting mission, Nikki relies on her Tamron 28-200mm F/2.8-5.6 DI III RXD all-in-one zoom lens for her Sony mirrorless camera system, allowing her to capture all the action and emotion of an onstage performance. “The 28-200mm is my workhorse lens, and a dream lens for this kind of photography,” she says. “Its versatility means I can shoot from practically anywhere in the venue and still get great shots, and my images are super-crisp, even when zooming all the way in to 200mm. The lens is compact and lightweight, coming in at under 21 ounces and able to fit in my little zip pouch. Plus, being able to shoot at F2.8 at the wider end allows me to create separation between my subjects and the background.”

NIKKI’S QUICK LIVE MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Have a vision for each artist.

This is essential for capturing the essence of their performance. When preparing for a show, I always previsualize how I’ll shoot, edit, and present the images; different artists have distinct styles and energies that can influence your approach to live show photography. For instance, I typically shoot a lot of closeups of singer-songwriter Hozier, while with singer Olivia Rodrigo, I like to incorporate some lens flare, because it resonates with her performance style and personality.

Get creative with composition.
You can be somewhat limited on how to compose a shot at a performance, depending on where you’re positioned, but there are ways to finagle that. I’m big into traditional artistic guidelines, like the rule of thirds, when I can make it happen. That can be a a little easier to do if you have a performer who sticks to standing right at the mic for most of the show, as they won’t be moving around as much.

I especially like to play around with negative space in my live show photography when I can, like in this photo of Big Time Rush. I like to take wider shots when possible to capture as much energy on the stage as I can, and in this case, the negative space around the performers, taken during their opening song, created a striking visual.


28-200mm (42mm), F3.2, 1/1000 sec., ISO 800

Make the photo your own.
Singer Loren Gray hired me to photograph her while opening for another act at a smaller venue in New York City. In those types of venues, it can be challenging to capture a shot that’s unique from other photographers’ images, because you’re all in the pit together. In those cases, I’ll add my own spin by bringing out the lighting behind the performer, like what I mentioned with Olivia Rodrigo. I used a Prism FX filter on my 28-200mm F2.8 in this case to enhance the light flare, all without overwhelming my subject. The lens ensured that my image stayed sharp and soft at the same time.


28-200mm (41mm), F3.2, 1/50 sec., ISO 1250

Appreciate the versatility of your zoom.
This photo of Australian singer and musician Luke Hemmings is a good example of how a lens like the 28-200mm F2.8 can save you when things don’t go as planned. Originally I’d thought I’d be at the front of the house for this concert. However, when I got there, I was relegated to the soundboard section, all the way in the back. Thank goodness I had the 28-200mm lens with me—I was able to grab this shot, and even capture a portion of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background to boot.


28-200mm (200mm), F5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO 4000

On the flip side, the 28-200mm can adapt when you’re up close in the pit, like I was here for actor and singer Ross Lynch, whom I photographed at 43mm. You can even zoom in enough with this lens to make it appear as if you’re on the stage with the performer, taking a more intimate portrait—like when I photographed Jungkook from BTS, part of a Today show performance at Rockefeller Center. In a venue like that, I’m not too far from the stage, so I can zoom all the way in to 200mm and feel like I’m right there with the performer. When I crop it, the image is still beautifully sharp.


28-200mm (43mm), F3.5, 1/1250 sec., ISO 4000


28-200mm (200mm), F5.6, 1/125 sec., ISO 800

To see more of Nikki Marie Cardiello’s live music photography, check out her website or Instagram.

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