Advice needed please - DPChallenge Forums

01/25/2005 06:51:30 AM · #1

I went up the road to the local strip which is full of restaurants and a wonderful old art deco picture theatre with the intention of practicing a few shots of the building. Being a warm night, all the cafe's were crowded and the owner of one (who knows me because I'm a regular)asked me to take some shots of his restaurant and offered to pay me.

As I have only had my camera a few days and am nowhere near good enough (yet) I said I would be glad to do it but declined the payment. I shot off about 50 pictures with various settings and told him that tonight was just a test and after checking how these turned out would be back tomorrow to do more.

As you can see from the link : Workshop
they came out rather bad.

I did not want to use the on-camera flash and I thought the available light would just be enough. I tried to shoot with the fastest speed (and lowest f-stop)it would allow me too under the conditions. I also tried ISO from 200 upto 800. I used 'M' settings and had the kit lens 18-70 DX.

So here's the question:
Do I need a faster(?)lens or a better technique? (or both)

I don't think the colours are a problem just the blurring because people are constantly moving - and the DoF. Will a faster shutter speed fix this? The camera specs say it will go faster but I assume the lens was stopping it.

Sorry about the long post.

Message edited by author 2005-01-25 06:53:01.

01/25/2005 06:55:02 AM · #2

We can't see what is in your workshop folder, it is a private folder that only you can see. Clicking on the link take us to our own workshop folders.

David

01/25/2005 07:00:43 AM · #3

Oops, sorry, said I was new at this.

Bad

If this doesn't work can someone please say how you do do it, thanks

01/25/2005 07:08:40 AM · #4

You are trying to link to the page you use to manage your portfolio, instead of the page the portfolio is on.

Go to your profile, and click where it says 'Recent Portfolio Additions' and navigate to it like we would. Then use that link, like so: Bad.

David

01/25/2005 07:21:43 AM · #5

This one looks like the lighting is about right; dark, but that looks to be the atmosphere of the place with indirect lighting and an open window. Speaking of which, did you try shooting with the light of the window instead of against it, it should help to get better settings.

You might want to search for the threads on concert photography, I believe there have been a few that delved into the problems of shooting in low light conditions.

Good luck

David

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Canon

01/25/2005 07:23:23 AM · #6

Thanks for the tips on both the linking and the images.

garlic

Canon EOS-10D

01/25/2005 08:05:17 AM · #7

Tripod could also be handy. To see motion blurr can be a good effect when other things are steady.

Node

Nikon D300

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

01/25/2005 08:11:15 AM · #8

Originally posted by garlic:

Tripod could also be handy. To see motion blurr can be a good effect when other things are steady.

Yeah I agree.
Tripod, remote and shoot in apature priority. If you can get hold of a flash like the 800 or 600 that would help as well even used as fill flash or bounced.

01/25/2005 08:14:44 AM · #9

All good stuff thanks. Tomorrow will take a tripod and get there when he opens around 6:00pm. As it doesn't get dark 'til around 8:30 the extra daylight might help.

As I just forked out for the camera there's no budget yet for another lens.

toddnicholsphotography

Canon EOS-20D

01/25/2005 11:06:36 AM · #10

Just some advice! I would shoot with TV mode and use flash and drag the shutter! That should give you some outstanding results!

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/25/2005 02:52:12 PM · #11

Just as an added thought, the resturant is busy which on a strip with others nearby usually means it's good -- but it just looks cluttered with people. Everyone, as they will, have different styles of dress and such. You might consider isolating various aspects of the resturant with each photo, minimizing the impact of the people. What I mean by that is picture showing a couple of a table and also showing the neighboring tables can show it is crowded, but by isolating the couple at the table portrays quite a different environment. You will have to judge what is best based on your knowledge of the atmosphere of the place, of course. The shot of the cook in the kitchen area was particularly cluttered, with the usual clutter of food preperation around. For that I think I would get up close to the action I was wanting to show and minimize the background clutter.

David

dpdave

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

01/25/2005 03:00:55 PM · #12

Something else in the below picture that I noticed is that by shooting down the middle of the restuarant, it looks crowded and narrow. Along with maybe getting a little more personal, I think I would try not to have both walls in the same shot.

Good luck.

Originally posted by Britannica:

The images that are taken at f/4.5 have way too much motion blur, as you mentioned. Those labeled as f/3.5 are much better, allowing you to get a faster shutter speed, but it really needs to be a bit faster than the 1/25 you got. I don't know what the lens is capable of, but using the lowest f/# will give you the best results. Also, I doubt you will be able to avoid using a higher ISO and still get a decent shutter speed.

This one looks like the lighting is about right; dark, but that looks to be the atmosphere of the place with indirect lighting and an open window. Speaking of which, did you try shooting with the light of the window instead of against it, it should help to get better settings.

You might want to search for the threads on concert photography, I believe there have been a few that delved into the problems of shooting in low light conditions.

Good luck

David