Before and after concert photos

I want to share some before and after examples of my photo editing with you. This is a vulnerable thing for me to do as a photographer, but I sometimes get asked “What corrections do you do to the images” or “Why do you edit the images”. Taking photographs is a small part of what I do. Administration, including editing and marketing, take up lots of my spare time.

Every concert is different. You never have the same light conditions, the venues are different and you can’t ask the artist to pose for you. Therefore, editing images takes varying degrees of time, depending on what corrections are needed.

I like my photos to look natural and realistic, clear. According: as little as possible as much as necessary, I edit my photos. Focus on creating the mood in my images and showing what it was like to be there. But never black and white.

Even with the right settings, photographers can’t always produce perfect photos.

Why do I always shoot in raw?

Shooting in JPEG can result in loss of image information as the picture is compressed. With RAW, I am able to produce higher quality images making it easier to edit.

All post-production work are carried out in Adobe Lightroom, and not Photoshop, by utilizing a variety of editing techniques. Basic settings such as exposure, vibrancy, contrast, and sharpening. And sometimes kinda every slider in Lightroom.

How much time does it take to edit an image?

It’s hard to quantify how long it takes to edit a single photo or even a full gallery. It depends on a lot of things:

  • How long I was allowed to shoot? Most of the time, three songs but sometimes the whole show.
  • Just a singer-songwriter or a band where every is not just standing around?
  • How was the light? Red LED lights, almost natural or literally no light?

Sometimes I need just 30 seconds, sometimes 5 minutes for one photo.

Before and After - Editors - Berlin
Dermot Kennedy at Columbiahalle, Berlin (2019)
Dave Hause at house show, Vienna (2018)
Dropkick Murphys at Zitadelle Spandau, Crash Fest Berlin (2019)

Before and after photos – some examples:

Drag the white slider over any of the below images to see some before and after pictures. Left the original RAW file as a not edited JPG, right the edited JPG file. 

2024

Electric Callboy at Velodrom, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 14-24 mm/2.8
  • 02. February 2024
  • 24 mm
  • 1/2500 sec … f / 4 … ISO 2000
Electric Callboy at Velodrom, Berlin (2024)

Nothing More at Velodrom, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 24-75 mm/2.8
  • 02. February 2024
  • 62 mm
  • 1/250 sec … f / 4 … ISO 5000
Nothing More at Velodrom, Berlin (2024)

2023

Tim Vantol at Cassiopeia, Berlin / Germany

  • Sony Alpha 7III, 28-75 mm/2.8
  • 19. Oktober 2023
  • 28 mm
  • 1/200 sec … f / 3.5 … ISO 5000
Tim Vantol at Cassiopeia, Berlin (2023)

2021

Vizediktator at SO36, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 14-24mm/2.8
  • 12. November 2021
  • 52 mm
  • 1/320 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 2500
BeforeVizediktator, SO36, Berlin, 2021

Pillow Queens during Pure & Crafted Festival, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 70-200mm/2.8
  • 18. September 2021
  • 135 mm
  • 1/1000 sec … f / 5.0 … ISO 1600
Pillow Queens at Pure And Crafted, Berlin (2021)Pillow Queens at Pure And Crafted, Berlin (2021)

Milliarden at Gladhouse, Cottbus / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 24-70mm/2.8
  • 22. August 2021
  • 26 mm
  • 1/320 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 2500
Milliarden at Gladhouse, Cottbus (2021)Milliarden at Gladhouse, Cottbus (2021)

2020

Frank Turner at Swiss Life Hall, Hannover / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 14-24mm/2.8
  • 12. November 2021
  • 23 mm
  • 1/320 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 2500
BeforeFrank Turner at Swiss Life Hall, Hannover (2020)

Editors at Velodrom, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 70-200mm/2.8
  • 03. Februar 2020
  • 70 mm
  • 1/250 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 200
Editors, Velodrom, Berlin, 2020Editors, Velodrom, Berlin, 2020

Whispering Sons at Velodrom, Berlin / Germany

  •  Nikon D750, 70-200mm/2.8
  •  03. Februar 2020
  •  70 mm
  •  1/250 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 200
BeforeWhispering Sons at Velodrom, Berlin (2020)

Dave Hause at UT Connewitz, Leipzig / Germany

  •  Nikon D750, 24-70mm/2.8
  •  02. Februar 2020
  •  70 mm
  •  1/250 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 2000
BeforeDave Hause at UT Connewitz, Leipzig (2020)

Amaranthe at Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin / Germany

  •  Nikon D750, 70-200mm/2.8
  •  25. January 2020
  •  200 mm
  •  1/1250 sec … f / 3.2 … ISO 250
BeforeAmaranthe at Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin (2020)

2019

Dermot Kennedy at Columbiahalle, Berlin / Germany

  • Nikon D750, 70-200mm/2.8
  •  10. November 2019
  •  12 mm
  •  1/1250 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 1250
Dermot Kennedy at Columbiahalle, Berlin (2019)Dermot Kennedy at Columbiahalle, Berlin (2019)

Leoniden during Nah Am Wasser Festival, Münster / Germany

  •  Nikon D750, 14-24mm/2.8
  •  13. July 2019
  •  14 mm
  •  1/800 sec … f / 6.3 … ISO 500
Leoniden at Nah Am Wasser, Münster (2019)Leoniden at Nah Am Wasser, Münster (2019)

Dropkick Murphys at Zitadelle Spandan, Berlin /  Germany

  • Nikon D750, 14-24mm/2.8
  •  29. June 2019
  •  14 mm
  •  1/400 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 200

More photos from Zitadelle Spandau here

Dropkick Murphys at Zitadelle Spandau, Crash Fest Berlin (2019)Dropkick Murphys at Zitadelle Spandau, Crash Fest Berlin (2019)

Mercy Union at The Falcon & Castle, Birmingham / UK

  • Nikon D750, 14-24mm/2.8
  •  25. June 2019
  •  21 mm
  •  1/200 sec … f / 4 … ISO 2000
BeforeMercy Union at The Falcon & Castle, Birmingham (2019)&

13 Crowes at The Classic Grand, Glasgow / UK

  • Nikon D750, 50mm/1.8
  •  24. June 2019
  •  50 mm
  •  1/200 sec … f / 3.2 … ISO 2000
before13 Crowes at The Classic Grand, Glasgow (2019)

2018

Gang Of Youths during Pinkpop Festival / Netherlands

  • Canon PowerShot GX 7
  •  16. June 2018
  •  32 mm
  •  1/320 sec … f / 3.2 … ISO 2000
BeforeGang Of Youths at Pinkpop Festival (2018)

Parkway Drive at Lido, Berlin / Germany

  • Canon PowerShot GX 7
  •  13. March 2018
  •  15 mm
  •  1/400 sec … f / 2.5 … ISO 1000
BeforeParkway Drive at Lido, Berlin (2018)

2014

The Gaslight Anthem at Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt / Germany

  • Nikon D610, 24-70mm/2.8
  •  14. November 2014
  •  70 mm
  •  1/400 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 1250
beforeThe Gaslight Anthem at Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt (2014)

Frank Turner at Westlands, Yeovil /  UK

  • Nikon D610, 24-70mm/2.8
  •  29. September 2014
  •  70 mm
  •  1/1250 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 2000
beforeFrank Turner & The Sleepings Souls at Westlands, Yeovil (2014)

The Gaslight Anthem at Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt / Germany

  • Nikon D610, 24-70mm/2.8
  •  14. November 2014
  •  40 mm
  •  1/400 sec … f / 2.8 … ISO 800
beforeThe Gaslight Anthem at Jahrhunderthalle, Frankfurt (2014)

© Adina Scharfenberg Photography
All photos are copyrighted material and all rights are reserved. No commercial use without prior written permission via contact.
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