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12/04/2007 11:38:11 PM · #1 |
My work is sponsoring a christmas concert in a hall (about 500 people).
It will be a band on stage and a chorus of many children behind.
We do not have the means to hire a photographer for this and ive been volonteered to do it. I have no experience and have told them this and the expectations are not very high.
SO, if anyone has a tip let me know.
Ive reaqd that using spot metering and a 2.8 lens should do the trick basically. Also any tips on what to shoot are welcome |
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12/05/2007 06:05:42 PM · #2 |
Panos, you seem to have some good low-light lenses.
Did you want to use your wider angle 2.8 lens to catch the whole group? Otherwise, wouldn't the 1.8 give you a better chance at sharper indoor photos? I suppose it may depend on how well the stage is lit.
I'd suggest trying to move around so you don't have the same photo over and over again. Can you use a monopod to help steady your hand?
Well, I hope someone with more experience than I can give you advice! |
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12/05/2007 06:32:56 PM · #3 |
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12/05/2007 07:01:03 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by idnic:
Crank that ISO, baby. :) |
and read here
//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=668340
Message edited by author 2007-12-05 19:01:14. |
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12/05/2007 07:06:20 PM · #5 |
| Also, take a small pocket camera and pre-set it to a fixed aperture and speed and to a higher ISO, turn the FLASH OFF. Give the preset camera to one of the members of the band for pictures taken on stage. Ask them to pass it around - also to the choir - so others can take internal pictures. With luck you'll get some good ones and you may get your camera back. Tie a red ribbon with your name on it so something like it for identification (I use a large luggage tag). |
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12/05/2007 07:07:13 PM · #6 |
| Hey, something I've actually done. I've shot all sorts of orchestra shows. 2.8 lens is all you need. Last one I did was with a 300mm 2.8 and a 1.4tc perched way up in the back. Got all sorts of great, unobstructed shots. |
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12/05/2007 07:10:48 PM · #7 |
At this concert, do you have any idea what they are doing for lights? I mean did they hire someone to bring in lights to light the band, small par cans on a light pole or are they just going to dim the lights in the hall except for the overhead lights where the band and kids are. If its the latter bring the 50 1.8 the others will be hard to get enough light. If they have lights coming in you could use spot metering or just put the camera in manual and look at the test shots until you get what you like. If the light doesn't change much in brightness during the show, in manual your meter wont be fooled since its not in use. Like cindi said, don't be afraid of the ISO, 800 should look good. The standard rule is to get twice the shutter speed of your focal length. But sometimes with concert photos in small venues it just can't get there, I try to get around 1/60 and be still when I shoot. If you use your 17-50 you could a slower shutter speed 1/30 at 17 mm and might be ok, but will get the musician's blurred. I would also recommend from experience to not try and push the raw file of a high ISO shot. When I first took photos of bands, I would try to use a fast shutterspeed to stop motion at say ISO 800 and the brighten up some and the results generally not ideal. I now prefer to just up the ISO to 1600 and even overexpose a little and bring it back down.
I don't know how realiable this is, it just what I do. :P |
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12/05/2007 07:41:49 PM · #8 |
THat's what I do: NO FLASH, WB to tungsten, ISO 1600 (if you're keeping your shots more towards the bright parts of the stage, noise is not a huge issue), Program Mode (once in a while I shifted to get a higher shutter speed), tried to over-expose slightly (better blowing out some whites than getting the faces grainy), used a monopod (ALWAYS).
I was on the balcony walking around so I had a better angle (higher elevation) to get pics of all members of the Concert band.
If you're on the same height as the players are you will have a hard time getting unobstructed pictures of the players. If you're away from them, they will be more natural.
all wide shots were done with my 16-35 2.8, the close ups with my 70-200 4.0.
If you know what the orchestra is playing, you will know where the "action" / solos will be. Position yourself diagonally away from the solo players (the orchestra is set up in arches (half circle)). SO if the solo player is on the left, you should be on the right. They will always have eye contact to the conductor. THis is the moment you want to pull the trigger (head will be up).
At the end all will stand up, a good shot for a group picture.
THe only PP I did was: shadow/highlight slightly, auto-level, auto color, and sharpen once.
Good luck.
Here some samples
concert pictures |
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